Hitch mounted bike rack (1 Viewer)
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Hey Cole, when does your kid outgrow that XS 26er Fuel? I’ve got a 10 year old that needs a proper bike... been trying to find him an XS single-pivot 26er with no luck!
Sorry about that! I am a longtime lurker, finally created an account and am still learning the ropes. I changed album permissions, please let me know if you can see pics now.
@208Cruiser Yes, all better now!
Another vote for 1Up USA. Incredible durability, build quality, support and design. There is basically no plastic, it's aluminum.
One downside however is if you have a model that has 2 or more trays, when the tray is in the folded up position (when the bike is not on it), the tray will partially obstruct your license plate. From the research that I've done, it seems like tickets are occasionally given for the license plate being obstructed when the trays are in up position (I would image other tray models would have the same issue). When the tray is down, no license plate obstruction and nobody get tickets. Because of the tray coverage issue, I bought the 1 tray super-duty model of 1Up, and purchased second tray which can be added or removed in about 30 seconds if needed.
All in all I'm very happy.
One downside however is if you have a model that has 2 or more trays, when the tray is in the folded up position (when the bike is not on it), the tray will partially obstruct your license plate. From the research that I've done, it seems like tickets are occasionally given for the license plate being obstructed when the trays are in up position (I would image other tray models would have the same issue). When the tray is down, no license plate obstruction and nobody get tickets. Because of the tray coverage issue, I bought the 1 tray super-duty model of 1Up, and purchased second tray which can be added or removed in about 30 seconds if needed.
All in all I'm very happy.
My daughter is 11 and probably has 1-2 more summers on the fuel. She absolutely rips on it (my son did as well) wins almost every race she enters: CC, DH and enduro.
I’m sure as you know most kids bikes are a joke. So this one is a ‘14 women’s XS, the last year for the 26” wheel. However Trek still makes it. Now it’s called the fuel ex jr. only comes in the one size and is a solid build. 3 other kids have them up here on the circuit now and it is a nice bike. Looking back I would have saved money if I had just bought the jr as even though I already had components. Suspension set up is tough for kids and i had to switch the fork and shock to the fusion (that comes on the fuel jr ex) or completely rebuild the Fox the adult came with and there is no guarantee that would have been enough. It took a lot more time setting up the pressures and rebound for the kids as they were ~70 lbs when they started on it. Now my daughter is 5’2” and 90 lbs.
Specialized makes the Grom but it comes with 24” wheels so you would also have to buy a set of 26” that makes it $$$. Transition makes some nice kids bikes as well but $$$$$$$. Or you could watch Pinkbike (like eBay for bikes) for a few year old 26er but know you will have to most likely change the fork and shock out at least.
I’m sure as you know most kids bikes are a joke. So this one is a ‘14 women’s XS, the last year for the 26” wheel. However Trek still makes it. Now it’s called the fuel ex jr. only comes in the one size and is a solid build. 3 other kids have them up here on the circuit now and it is a nice bike. Looking back I would have saved money if I had just bought the jr as even though I already had components. Suspension set up is tough for kids and i had to switch the fork and shock to the fusion (that comes on the fuel jr ex) or completely rebuild the Fox the adult came with and there is no guarantee that would have been enough. It took a lot more time setting up the pressures and rebound for the kids as they were ~70 lbs when they started on it. Now my daughter is 5’2” and 90 lbs.
Specialized makes the Grom but it comes with 24” wheels so you would also have to buy a set of 26” that makes it $$$. Transition makes some nice kids bikes as well but $$$$$$$. Or you could watch Pinkbike (like eBay for bikes) for a few year old 26er but know you will have to most likely change the fork and shock out at least.
Can you open the tailgate with this model? If so under what conditions? Thx!!!I got this on sale last year and I am very happy with it https://www.rei.com/product/854781/yakima-fullswing-4-bike-hitch-rack
gaijin
GOLD Star
Someone else reported that the lower tailgate actually rests on the pivot point. looking at kuat products as several have had success with those.My guess would be yes:
If you swing it to the side
1Up USA for me.
The biggest thing I hate is having to pull that little trim clip to take off the rear hitch cover. Anyone found a quick solution for that?
- Super Duty version with the 2" receiver, since the only rig I have with a hitch is the Land Cruiser.
- I got the single bike version and a single add-on. Its just me and the wife, and sometimes its just me. Love the "forever alone' version when its just me since it is so compact.
- Ball/jackscrew method of retention is super solid. I check it at the first pitstop then daily throughout the trip, never had a problem. Hit it with a little light oil once in a while since aluminum+stainless+steel have a tendency to gall together
- Used it through winter, hosed it down, still looks new. Can't say that about steel racks.
- Installed one of the fat bike adapter kits on the main rack. Does not have to come off to haul my CX bike with 35x700c tires. Still super stable.
- So simple my 5 foot nothing wife can load her bike all by herself.
- Does not affect departure angle. Very clever design
- Works with everything from my size large fatty to a 20" BMX very easy. Super important for me since I do have a few BMX bikes I haul around here and there.
- As others stated, pivoted down both gates open, pivoted up the upper gate opens and it lays very flat to the lower gate so you can still load and unload easy as long as stuff is light enough.
- Neither gate opens with a bike in the first position unfortunately. But pivoting with a single bike is very easy. It grabs the bikes rigid enough you can pivot it up by lifting the bike instead of the rack which is nice.
The biggest thing I hate is having to pull that little trim clip to take off the rear hitch cover. Anyone found a quick solution for that?
If you go for a tray style, I highly recommend the Kuat. Their support has been amazing. I've said it before, but they sent me a whole new tray when it had a tiny paint bubble (I just inquired about matching touch up paint). I also had a jackass back into my rack in a parking lot and take off. Kuat was great about giving me a good discount on replacement parts and helped me diagnose exactly what to replace.
And they are the only rack company I consistently see sponsoring clubs, races and trail development. It makes sense as they are riders too. I don't recall seeing 1UP sponsoring any club event or race I have been involved with. You can usually get the Kuat (and many others) for 20% off at Als.com (coupon on main page). Free shipping too.
And they are the only rack company I consistently see sponsoring clubs, races and trail development. It makes sense as they are riders too. I don't recall seeing 1UP sponsoring any club event or race I have been involved with. You can usually get the Kuat (and many others) for 20% off at Als.com (coupon on main page). Free shipping too.
Just back from 1st race of the year this morning.
Reminded again how great the 1-up rack is (have had it for 2 years).
Had a Thule hitch mount 4 bike swing out rack for 10+ years - which was great - but it was too heavy for my wife to install.
My wife loves this rack and can easily install on her NX300. Have the add on rack for when we carry 2 bikes - kids are grown & gone so don’t need to carry more then 2 bikes now.
Reminded again how great the 1-up rack is (have had it for 2 years).
Had a Thule hitch mount 4 bike swing out rack for 10+ years - which was great - but it was too heavy for my wife to install.
My wife loves this rack and can easily install on her NX300. Have the add on rack for when we carry 2 bikes - kids are grown & gone so don’t need to carry more then 2 bikes now.
Funny, my wife has a NX300H. Is your wife's NX a hybrid as well?
I bought my hitch mounted tray style bike rack last summer (Hollywood) from Amazon. I use it on my LX. My wife refuses to have anything attached to her NX.
Amazon product ASIN B000QJC4AY
I almost got a Kuat from a REI clearance sale, but the price of the Kuat with the extension is almost double of the Hollywood, so I passed on the Kuat.
It's a great rack, can hold 2+2 bikes with the included attachment. Lifetime warranty, very sturdy. Reviews of other racks I've read claim they broke! The Hollywood rack I believe has a lifetime warranty. I've used this rack to hold 4 adult sized mountain bikes with no problem. Also used it to hold 2 adult + 2 kid sized bikes. One of the kids bikes was a bit short so I compensated by adding a padding around the top of the bike frame to hold it in place.
Only negative I can think of is that it's heavy and takes up some space in the garage. I don't think my wife can install the rack as her physical frame is on the shorter and smaller side. The rack also adds a maybe a foot long extension to the rear, so I take it off when I don't use the rack.
I have a riding buddy that has a North Shore. As I mentioned in another thread on here, I had some major paint rub off my bike after a number of shuttle runs (some on bumpy fire roads). Wish I had pics to share, but I don't think I ever took any and that bike is long gone. His rack got to the point that it had rusted out so much he scrapped it (NS had a 1 year warranty at the time IIRC and wouldn't do anything according to my friend). This is a pic I found online, my friends looked worse to the point we thought the bike holder would break:
I have people I have ridden with that also have the NS. I will say that the pads on the NS racks I've seen recently look a bit better than my buddies did, but that could be because they aren't worn yet, I'm not sure. His weren't worn through but still caused rubbing. He did keep his rack on year round. We were in KC had somewhat regular winter riding available with fairly mild winters with good access to Arkansas trails. Not sure about rubbing issues with the new NS racks, as I refuse to shuttle with them, (don't mind damage on the trail, but a rack shouldn't damage my bike). Sounds like many here have had good success, so hopefully NS fixed some issues, not sure about rust. With the cost of racks, I'd prefer a Yakima/Thule/Kuat where they will be around and have a lifetime warranty followed closely behind by 1-UP and Alta. I've heard good things about 1UP warranty service, and have first hand been very impressed with Thule and even more so with Kuat.
My buddy has been running a Kuat since scrapping his NS, and I liked it so much I got one myself. The T2 was very good too, but couldn't open the lift gate with it closed (had to swing it back a few inches to open, so my wife refused to drive with the rack on) so I moved to the Kuat. My t2 was also very old and was starting to rust a bit, and the parts were getting sloppy. I was very happy with the performance I got out of the Thule over roughly 10 years FWIW. I'd happily run a Thule again. Not sure if the new Thule would block the liftgate.
If I went for a shuttle style, I'd probably lean towards a Recon or Alta Rack, although I am not sure the Recon folds up very small like the NS. I'm not sure what Recon's warranty is either. Alta Rack has a lifetime warranty and has a cool ski/snow attachment too. Really expensive though.
I'm thinking about just buying a Tacoma or Tundra for my bike, kayak and home improvement chores. Trucks with a good tailgate pad seem to be the easiest option to move bikes around. Easy access to shuttle bikes and WW kayaks are what I miss most about having a truck.
I have people I have ridden with that also have the NS. I will say that the pads on the NS racks I've seen recently look a bit better than my buddies did, but that could be because they aren't worn yet, I'm not sure. His weren't worn through but still caused rubbing. He did keep his rack on year round. We were in KC had somewhat regular winter riding available with fairly mild winters with good access to Arkansas trails. Not sure about rubbing issues with the new NS racks, as I refuse to shuttle with them, (don't mind damage on the trail, but a rack shouldn't damage my bike). Sounds like many here have had good success, so hopefully NS fixed some issues, not sure about rust. With the cost of racks, I'd prefer a Yakima/Thule/Kuat where they will be around and have a lifetime warranty followed closely behind by 1-UP and Alta. I've heard good things about 1UP warranty service, and have first hand been very impressed with Thule and even more so with Kuat.
My buddy has been running a Kuat since scrapping his NS, and I liked it so much I got one myself. The T2 was very good too, but couldn't open the lift gate with it closed (had to swing it back a few inches to open, so my wife refused to drive with the rack on) so I moved to the Kuat. My t2 was also very old and was starting to rust a bit, and the parts were getting sloppy. I was very happy with the performance I got out of the Thule over roughly 10 years FWIW. I'd happily run a Thule again. Not sure if the new Thule would block the liftgate.
If I went for a shuttle style, I'd probably lean towards a Recon or Alta Rack, although I am not sure the Recon folds up very small like the NS. I'm not sure what Recon's warranty is either. Alta Rack has a lifetime warranty and has a cool ski/snow attachment too. Really expensive though.
I'm thinking about just buying a Tacoma or Tundra for my bike, kayak and home improvement chores. Trucks with a good tailgate pad seem to be the easiest option to move bikes around. Easy access to shuttle bikes and WW kayaks are what I miss most about having a truck.
I just ordered a north shore nsr 4, I’m pumped to receive it. The four bike trays were too long and heavy for me.
While I don't think that rust is good, it certainly isn't a structural issue. A wire brush and some rustoleum or another shot of powder coating would solve that. For more than 4 bikes, you really can't beat the north shore. Ive had mine for about 3 years and looks nothing like that, and its suffered in colorado. Off road, winters, stored outside, etc.
I also own a Kuat NV tray style rack. they both have their own uses. if its just me and the wife going, Kuat it is. If its the whole family, the north shore just makes sense.
That pic wasn't his rack, just one from the net. My buddies was worse. The frame holders were to the point you could bend them. They scratched my bike too. Pretty bad. He took it to a scrap yard. The fact they wouldn't do anything for him is what convinced me to stay away. Having owned a Thule for 15 years and a Kuat for three, both have been solid and rust free and Kuat was awesome on warranty (tiny scratch out of box, asked for touch up and they sent a whole new piece. Someone backed into me and they hooked me up on the replacement pieces too).
The Recon and Alta are both pretty cool shuttle style racks with no touch on fork or frame. I personally wouldn't buy any product that rusts like some NS racks have, but especially one in that price range.
I am a big Kuat fan. They have been SO supportive to the biking community. See them at so many races and events. Happy to support them back (part of the reason I got a Kuat when my Thule was still serviceable). I have only seen 1UP at one in all my years.
Here is my north shore currently sitting in the garage where I store it off the LX. I think this is my 4th summer with it. I don’t leave it on the truck but do use it year round and all the time. Even drive on the beach and through salt water. There is a little oxidation on the aluminum hardware and I have a couple cosmetic rust spots if you are really looking for them.
