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Bike Rack Recommendations (horizontal tray style)

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Bike Rack Recommendations (horizontal tray style)
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flag rumspringa
Posted: Mar 1, 2019 at 4:13 Quote
So I think I need to pick up a tray style hitch mount rack to replace the traditional hang and strap rack I have now. The rubber straps wear the paint on the bike frames when on the highway for a while, and I want to be able to easily open the trunk on my grand cherokee without unloading the bikes.

So Im looking for your guys experience with these types of racks. I need one that tilts, primarily, but also want the most rigid one I can get. Im also wondering about protection on gravel roads when having the bikes so much lower to the ground. Do rocks tend to kick up and hit the bikes ever?

I was looking at the Saris models but have read they arent as sturdy as some had hoped. Anyway, let me know your thoughts. Thanks
flag rumspringa
Posted: Mar 1, 2019 at 4:42 Quote
I should also mention that I am looking for a rack for 2 bikes
flag gotohe11carolina
Posted: Mar 1, 2019 at 7:29 Quote
One up racks are quite nice and only grab the tires. They aren't cheap though. I've used a Hollywood tray rack for about 4 years with no frame damage. I have friends with saris and Thule racks that have hard rubber on the arms that have rubbed spots on their frames. They both use socks under the arms for protection now.
This is the rack I run
https://hollywoodracks.com/collections/platform-hitch-racks/products/trail-rider-2-bike-hitch-rack?variant=15862462278
I put my weight into it when putting it on the frame, and because the rubber on the arm is soft it can be put on quite tight.
flag Branmuffin
O+
Posted: Mar 1, 2019 at 17:55 Quote
gotohe11carolina wrote:
One up racks are quite nice and only grab the tires. They aren't cheap though. I've used a Hollywood tray rack for about 4 years with no frame damage. I have friends with saris and Thule racks that have hard rubber on the arms that have rubbed spots on their frames. They both use socks under the arms for protection now.
This is the rack I run
https://hollywoodracks.com/collections/platform-hitch-racks/products/trail-rider-2-bike-hitch-rack?variant=15862462278
I put my weight into it when putting it on the frame, and because the rubber on the arm is soft it can be put on quite tight.

I use the Thule T2 and it’s great, integrated bike locks and hitch lock. Grabs tires instead of frame and fits skinny to fat bikes.
I hear 1up is great but the rack itself is ugly as all get out IMO. Guy at my work has one and it looks more likely to carry a motorized wheelchair than a bike.
flag TwoWheelMike
O+
Posted: Mar 1, 2019 at 21:27 Quote
Saris also has the freedom superclamp, which uses an arm on each tire to hold the bikes in place. I'm using the 4 bike version and like it plenty fine, but I do have to admit the 1up racks would be nice. The price tag is a deterrent for me though.
flag CP-Bike
Posted: Mar 3, 2019 at 11:35 Quote
I have a 1up rack for 1-1/4" receiver. I have 3 trays for it but the best part is that you can remove trays in about 30 seconds, so when I am rolling on my own I just have a single tray on the car or my truck.

They are killer strong and work amazingly, even in the winter with my fatbike, which required a cheap kit to allow for the wider tires.

Cheers
flag surreybcrider
Posted: Mar 3, 2019 at 16:38 Quote
rumspringa wrote:
So I think I need to pick up a tray style hitch mount rack to replace the traditional hang and strap rack I have now. The rubber straps wear the paint on the bike frames when on the highway for a while, and I want to be able to easily open the trunk on my grand cherokee without unloading the bikes.

So Im looking for your guys experience with these types of racks. I need one that tilts, primarily, but also want the most rigid one I can get. Im also wondering about protection on gravel roads when having the bikes so much lower to the ground. Do rocks tend to kick up and hit the bikes ever?

I was looking at the Saris models but have read they arent as sturdy as some had hoped. Anyway, let me know your thoughts. Thanks

I've been running a Saris SuperClamp EX 2 hitch rack since last July and have had zero issues with it. I've used it up forest access roads here in B.C., a 1,200km highway return trip and journeys to local trails. The rack uses shepherds hooks that securely attach to the top of the wheels and the rack has been completely sturdy. I mount my XC bike and my carbon road bike on it and they've never budged once properly secured.

It's mounted via a class 1 hitch to a Volkswagen Golf and seen no evidence of rock or stones from the road impacted the rack (do you run mud guards/flaps on your Cherokee?). I also like that it is compact and can easily be removed by one person when not in use.
flag Staktup
FL
Posted: Mar 3, 2019 at 22:16 Quote
I have a Thule T2 (2 bike model) and a Kuat NV (4 bike original model). Both work very well, but the 4 bike rack is heavy AF. But it does have the integrated work stand. I upgraded the T2 with the fatbike replacement attachments, and the Kuat can take 4" tires already.

Both were Craigslist finds so I paid very little for them. For the T2 I actually traded a police detective 2 Thule Sidearm roof racks for it. If you have a car and not a truck or minivan, the Sidearm is the best roof rack.
flag rumspringa
Posted: Mar 17, 2019 at 10:52 Quote
I like the Saris Superclamp a lot.. They seem to be the best all around to me.

I also like the 1Up rack as I do have a 3rd bike that I expect I's bring from time to time, so the ability to add another tray is great. However, they look like the points of contact on the bike are all metal which i dont love. And they are very expensive.

Do any of the saris models have the option to add/remove a third and fourth tray to the standard 2 bike rack?
flag surreybcrider
Posted: Mar 17, 2019 at 11:12 Quote
rumspringa wrote:
I like the Saris Superclamp a lot.. They seem to be the best all around to me.

I also like the 1Up rack as I do have a 3rd bike that I expect I's bring from time to time, so the ability to add another tray is great. However, they look like the points of contact on the bike are all metal which i dont love. And they are very expensive.

Do any of the saris models have the option to add/remove a third and fourth tray to the standard 2 bike rack?

I'm pretty sure adding an additional tray is not an option for the Saris racks. It certainly isn't on my SuperClamp EX.
flag CP-Bike
Posted: Mar 17, 2019 at 11:18 Quote
rumspringa wrote:

I also like the 1Up rack as I do have a 3rd bike that I expect I's bring from time to time, so the ability to add another tray is great. However, they look like the points of contact on the bike are all metal which i dont love. And they are very expensive.

The 1Up rack only touches the tires of the bike at the tray and the arms. It doesn't touch any hard parts of the bike, and I have used it for road bikes, mountain bikes, and my fat bike without any concerns or touch points. They are expensive but they are built killer tough. I expect mine to be the last rack I buy, unless someone hits it with a car. Even then you can get all parts needed to fix it.

Cheers
flag rumspringa
Posted: Mar 17, 2019 at 19:21 Quote
looking at the saris superclamp some more, it looks like the bikes are "uneven" enough that the tire stick out on each side of the vehicle.

Does the Thule T2 or the 1Up "center" the bikes more so that there is less overhang exposure passed the sides of the vehicle? (I have a 2016 grand cherokee if that helps size it at all for you guys
flag R-M-R
Posted: Mar 17, 2019 at 19:25 Quote
rumspringa wrote:
Does the Thule T2 or the 1Up "center" the bikes more so that there is less overhang exposure passed the sides of the vehicle? (I have a 2016 grand cherokee if that helps size it at all for you guys

The T2 Classic can be moved laterally. 1Up, too, I think.
flag Branmuffin
O+
Posted: Mar 17, 2019 at 19:36 Quote
R-M-R wrote:
rumspringa wrote:
Does the Thule T2 or the 1Up "center" the bikes more so that there is less overhang exposure passed the sides of the vehicle? (I have a 2016 grand cherokee if that helps size it at all for you guys

The T2 Classic can be moved laterally. 1Up, too, I think.

Yep the T2 wheel clamps move side to side. They can also be swapped out for ones that fit fat tire bikes. Very sturdy and a solid rack.
flag R-M-R
Posted: Mar 17, 2019 at 19:54 Quote
Branmuffin wrote:
Yep the T2 wheel clamps move side to side. They can also be swapped out for ones that fit fat tire bikes. Very sturdy and a solid rack.

The whole rails slide laterally on the central beam on the Classic.
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