When it comes to transporting larger objects, few resources can come in as handy as a vehicle. While it may take longer to drive somewhere yourself, it is often the best option as delivery would simply be inconvenient, too expensive or some combination of both of these factors.
Of course, the thing that you will always have to consider is how much cargo space your vehicle has available and whether or not it is enough for you and your family. This is something that should always be taken into consideration when purchasing a new vehicle, and more is typically better than less.
Since it is more than likely that you already have a vehicle, however; there aren’t many things that you can do to improve the storage capacity. Of the available options, the best choice is to install a cargo box or find the best bike rack for SUV or car, depending on the type of cargo that you plan to carry.
Over the course of today’s article, we are going to be looking at the latter of those two products in our bike carriers reviews. Finding the best bike carrier for your needs shouldn’t be a challenge, and we are looking to make the process much less painless by giving you all of the info that you need to make an informed decision.
You may be wondering just how much of a difference there can be between different bike rack models, as many people assume that they are all the same. Once you try one of the best bike rack units on the market, however, you will come to realize that everything is different, from the mounting to the build quality.
After we cover our bike rack reviews, we’ll also offer some advice on finding the right product for your needs by letting you know some of the more important features to look for. Having a deeper understanding of what you need in your best bike rack means that you will be more likely to be satisfied with your purchase.
Nobody wants to end up suffering buyer’s remorse, even on something like a bike rack, so make sure that you know what you are getting out of your product. Doing your research can be the difference between buying a bike rack that will last you six years and one that will last you six months.
Regardless, without any further delay, let’s move on to our best bike rack reviews, which we have split into three categories. The first kind of bike rack we will be looking at is the best bike rack with a hitch mount; then we will go over roof carriers as well as trunk mount rack models.
Best Hitch Mount Rack
Winner: Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack
Product Specifications:
- Only fits vehicles with two-inch trailer hitch
- Bikes are secure with the Allen tie down system
- Has twenty-two inch carry arms, providing an adequate amount of space for your bicycles
- Quick and easy to install
- Not for use on trailers or front of vehicles
The Allen Sports Deluxe 4-bike hitch mount rack is a great choice for anyone out there that has a family that loves to be active or a group of friends to be engaged with. If you have a vehicle that has a two-inch trailer hitch, you will be able to start using this bike rack for car as soon as it gets out of the box.
This product was specially designed to make the installation process easy and quick, so all you have to do is secure the few bolts that are included to your vehicle, and you are done. There is also a no-wobble bolt included within the hitch to ensure that there is no movement when transporting your bikes across the city.
Another great thing about this product is its tilt-away main mast. Since the bike rack can only be installed in the rear of your car, you will need access to your truck while it is installed. The main mast of the rack can be pulled away from the back of the car to allow enough space for you to access your trunk without any issues.
In addition to this, the carry arm on the rack is foldable. This gives you the option to put the carry arms down when it is not in use. A bike rack sticking out without anything attached to it is unnecessary on any vehicle.
If you are worried about how secure your bicycles will be once strapped into this bike rack, you won’t be worried for long. With Allen’s patented tie-down system, you can rest assured that your bikes will be protected. The tie-downs lock in place so that your bike won’t be going anywhere while you are driving. They also rotate, allowing any style bike to be stored.
Runner-Up: BV 2-Bike Bicycle Hitch Mount Rack
Product Specifications:
- Ability to tilt backward when trunk needs to be accessed
- Has a safety reflector to ensure that other drivers see the rack at night to prevent any accidents
- Equipped with tray-style loops and padded arms to fully secure bicycles while on the rack
- Made with a patented 2-way anti-wobble system to keep your bikes in place at all times during the trip
Overview
If you are looking for the best hitch bike rack stand that can get the job done at an affordable price, this 2-bike hitch mount rack from BV may be the perfect option for you. It is not the very best on the market, but this does not stop it from being an excellent choice for those of you that do not have a large family or bike group to ride with.
The feature that sets this car bike rack from the rest is the measures that are taken to secure the bicycles once they are on the rack. The tray-style loops that are installed on this product, along with the vertical arm situated on the top make sure that your bike stays in place. The vertical arms on top are padded to prevent any scratching that can occur on your bicycle.
Like many bike racks out there, the BV bicycle hitch mount rack uses a tilt-back and fold-up design so that the installed bike rack does not cause any inconvenience. Since it can tilt back, you can access your rear gates or trunk with ease. Having to take off the bike rack in between each use is a hassle.
The fold up design is excellent in that it allows you to fold the carrying arms when the rack is not in use to save you space when no extra is needed. This is used on most bike racks on the market, so always look for this feature when you are deciding which one to buy.
This bicycle rack is made for only two bikes, so naturally, if you have a big family that is active, you may not have much use for this one.
Best Roof Carrier Rack
Winner: Cyclingdeal 1-bike Car Roof Carrier Rack
Product Specifications:
- Designed with steel powder coating on the rack
- Frame holder that is included molds to all bike styles
- Features a lock that allows extra security while the bike is in transit
- Taking off the front wheel of the bicycle is not required
Overview
If a rear bicycle rack is not your style and if you have no use for a multi-bike rack, the Cyclingdeal 1-bike carrier rack may be a product you want to try. Since it is situated on the roof of your vehicle, you will have easy access to the rear and front of your car.
Another reason why we love this product all of the measures that are taken to keep the bike on the roof of your car while you are driving. The frame holder on the rack is very sturdy and prevents your bike from moving around too much while the car is running. This is an excellent feature for those of you that may have been worried about this since the bike is on top.
There are also tie down straps installed on the rack to further hold your bike in place. Even with a sturdy rack, your bike still runs the risk of coming off of the roof if there is nothing to keep it in place, making these straps important. There is also a lock on these straps and other parts of the rack in place as well.
As mentioned above, this bike rack is for one bike only, making it perfect for those of you that go solo riding or do not have to carry anyone else’s bike on your bike trips. If you are one for riding through the park or nature alone to get some time to yourself, you will enjoy the simplicity of this product.
If this is not your first time using a rooftop bike rack, you may be familiar with the type that requires you to remove the front wheel of your bike. This may be convenient for some customers, but not everyone will have the time and patience to put the wheel back on at your destination. The Cyclingdeal hitch mount rack does not require this, saving you a lot of time.
This product is an excellent choice for many people out there, and if you are interested, you will be happy to see that it is not an expensive option. Online, you can expect to pay just below $50 for this bike rack, making this product very affordable and available for everyone.
Runner-Up: Yakima Frontloader Bike Mount
Product Specifications:
- Fits bikes of all sizes and styles
- Transports your bike with the front wheel attached
- Can fit wheels from 20” to 29”
- Easy to assemble when out of the box
Overview
The Yakima Frontloader bike mount is a great alternative option to the product mentioned above. This bike rack is perfect for those of you that go bike riding alone as it is made for only one bike. Most bike racks that are on the rooftop of a vehicle are just for one bike, so if you find yourself packing multiple bikes for trips, this is not the product for you.
There are usually two types of rooftop bike carriers, the kind that you have to remove the wheel and the one you don’t – and this is the one that you don’t. We all know the hassle of adding and removing the wheels on a bicycle, and if you are not too handy with the tools needed to do this, this process is not for you. This is the perfect choice for those that want the wheel on.
Another impressive feature that this bike rack has is that it fits any and all types of bikes out there. No matter if you have a small or child’s bike or the biggest bike out there, you will be able to find a way to mount your bike on top of your car.
Also, the lock method on the rear of the rack allows the frame to have no contact, making it perfect for new bikes and those of you that want to protect the exterior of your bicycle. If you recently got a custom paint job for your bike, you will not have to worry about the bike rack ruining it.
Installing the Yakima Frontloader bike mount is easy for anyone to do. There are no tools required when setting up this bike mount, saving you a lot of time and energy. All you do is take it out of the box and set it up on your car, and you are good to go.
If you have a little bit of extra cash to spend, you could also invest in the SKS locks that work with this product. These can be attached to the rack and allows you to secure your bike even further by putting a lock and key on it.
Best Trunk Mount Rack
Tyger Auto Deluxe 3-Bike Bike Rack
Product Specifications:
- Perfect fit for any car that does not have a spoiler in the rear
- Holds three bikes
- Lower frame is padded to keep the bikes from rubbing against the car
- Carry arms are made with soft cradles that allow your bikes to be secure and protected
- Easy installation
- Foldable carry arms
Overview
The Tyger Auto Deluxe bike rack is the best trunk mount rack on the market. There aren’t many trunk mounts out there that are made for your convenience, making this one the perfect choice. A lot of trunk mounts have the issue of allowing you to use your trunk without any problems.
As you may have known, a trunk mount is different from standard rear bike mounts because it straps on to the entire back of your car, covering your full trunk. With this product, opening your trunk is not an issue since the straps are only on the opening of the trunk itself and the roof of the car.
With the amount of security that this bike rack has, you will not have to worry about removing the bikes before opening your trunk. The bikes will not fall over onto the car once turned upside down and will not cause any interference, so if this was something that concerned you, you would not need to worry.
The individual soft cradles that hold each bike in place is also specially made to make your life easier. They are soft to keep your bikes free of any scratches and scrapes since this tends to happen with most bike racks out there. Also, the cradles are very secure and robust, so you will not have to worry about your bike going anywhere.
There is also a safety strap included, to add even more protection. On the lower part of the frame, you will see that there is padding, there for the same reason as the soft cradles. This means that there will not only be any scratches on your bikes but on your car also.
Another difference in trunk and rear bike mounts is that trunk mounts can be used on any vehicle that does not have a spoiler. So, whether you have a very small car or a large van, you will be able to take your bikes out to ride around town with your family or friends.
The Tyger Auto Deluxe 3-bike mount rack is a great choice for anyone that loves to ride their bike with their loved ones.
On What To Pay Attention When Choosing Your Bike Rack
How Many Bikes Are You Carrying?
Of course, the most important thing that you can consider before you make your new bike rack purchase is the number of bikes that you can expect to carry. Most of the time, you will want to consider how many people are in your household who can ride a bike, and also account for their likelihood of wanting to bring their cycle along.
You can opt for anything from a one-bike rack that is designed for the lone biking enthusiast, or you can opt for a four-bike rack that is made for family biking excursions. You may even find that some bike racks are optimized to carry both adult-sized and child-sized bicycles, which brings us to our next point.
Size Of The Bikes
Having enough spots for your bikes doesn’t guarantee that they are going to fit in the first place. There are many different kinds of bikes, and they have wheels and frames of varying sizes, meaning that they all won’t fit into every single type of bike rack that you will come across.
Whether you are carrying both children’s and adult bikes or if you are just carrying different sizes of adult cycles, you will want to make sure that they will fit into the rack you are looking at. Take thorough measurements of your bikes to ensure that they are within the acceptable dimensions for your rack.
Size Of Your Car
The next thing to account for is just how large your car is, as bike racks for cars and those for minivans and SUVs are a little different, especially when it comes to their size. Just as you will want your bikes to fit on your bike rack in the first place, you will want your rack to fit on your car.
There will usually be a mounting guide available from the manufacturer before you purchase a bike rack so that you can rest assured that it will be able to fit on your vehicle. Some makers will even provide a list of models that they are sure that their product will work with, though this is less common.
Do You Have A Hitch On Your Car/RV?
You have now reached the point where you will have to decide how you want to mount your bike rack to your vehicle, and a very popular option is hitch mounting. As you may have guessed from the term, a hitch mounted bike rack will use your car’s trailer hitch for support while attached.
Simplicity tends to be the primary advantage of hitch mounts, and it makes sense when you consider that not much has to be done to the vehicle to make it compatible with a system such as this.
Do You Have A Roof Mount?
Many customers fall under the mistaken impression that you need to have a roof rack to attach a bike rack to the roof of your car, but your vehicle merely needs to have provisions for a roof rack. As long as your vehicle is compatible with a roof rack, you may not necessarily need one to attach roof bike mounts.
Conclusion
Finding the right bike rack is mostly a matter of choosing the best mounting method for your needs, but the product will also have a bearing on your experience. We hope that our reviews of the best bike rack models have helped you make a decision. Happy cycling!
