Hitch Mounted Bike Rack (1 Viewer)

[MT Dweller]

I'm looking to pick up a hitch mounted bike rack for my 100. I have narrowed it down to 3 different tray style racks; Kuat NV2, Yakima holdup, and Thule T2. All of these racks tilt away from the vehicle for rear hatch access (so they say). Does anyone here have any of these racks and can you comment if you can open the rear window and/or tailgate with the rack on and bikes loaded? Thanks in advance....

 

[LTrain0800]

Thule T2 all day long. It is the Land Cruiser of hitch racks. Ha

 

[MT Dweller]

Can you open the liftgate with the rack on and loaded up? How about the tailgate?

 

[Stuckinthemud]

Check out these guys too: http://www.northshoreracks.com/

 

[yotasavg]

I've had this one since I was a kid on my dad's truck, now I'm using it again. I can lift the top gate with it all in place, and it swings and locks to the side so I can open the lower gate when I need to. I love this style and it's stout as hell.

I know it's not the style you were looking at, but I recommend this style highly. I lock it to my 2" receiver, and there's a lock on the bike mount as well.

 

[phsycle]

I don't have the models you've got listed, but I have a basic Yakima rack (with the two prongs sticking out instead of the trays). I cannot lift the hatch without tilting it down. And if you've got bikes on there, tilting it down and back up sucks big time. For my next rack, I want to go with a swinging style rack, like the Swingdaddy. Would be much easier. Just something to think about.

 

[MT Dweller]

Thanks for the reply's...my buddy has the NorthShore for his Xterra....Great rack, but can only carry Mountain Bikes...different problem with the swing out racks is getting full suspension bikes without the standard frame geometry. Thus I'm looking for tray style so I can carry any type of bike; mountain, road, beach crusier, etc....keep 'em coming...

 

[yotasavg]

Makes sense, it is a bit strange to mount a bike without a traditional top tube, or a women's bike. No idea what they're called but they other style I like is the tray kind that folds up flat against the tail when no bikes are mounted. But then you lose easy rear access with or without bikes.

 

[SmoothLC]

Got a Yakima SwingDaddy for the LC (2 inch) and have used it since buying the truck. It works great, carries four bikes, and has a bar that can be attached for bikes without a top bar.

Last year purchased a Kuat NV (1 1/4 inch) for the Maxima. Got a hitch adapter for the NV so it could be used on the LC too. Have to say it works really well. Tilts away so both the glass and gate can be opened while loaded.

The fit and finish on the Kuat is great.

 

[electro992]

Check out http://www.1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html. Very well reviewed on the biking forums.

 

[Tecnos]

Check out http://www.1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html. Very well reviewed on the biking forums.

1 up is probably the best. Quick mount, vey well built in the USA. Pretty expensive, but not crazy out of line.

 

[fireball]

I have a Thule T2 for 5-6 years now and it works great. Love it. That said, I never used it on the LC with the stock rear bumper, so I'm not sure how much help I can be with fitment questions. The trays can be adjusted slightly inboard and outboard. I had to swap mine around so that the rear tire of the bike closest to the rear of the car was on the passenger side where my spare tire is. With only one bike on in the outward position, I can drop it down and have full access to the back. I'm not sure if my BIOR rear bumper hitch is any further inboard or outboard of the vehicle than your stock hitch.

The Kuat is a nice rack as well. I've got a few friends with that one. The Yakima tray rack is at least 2 or 3 steps below either the Thule or the Kuat. My experience if with road bikes only.

 

[Jack90210]

Check out http://www.1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html. Very well reviewed on the biking forums.

1 up is probably the best. Quick mount, vey well built in the USA. Pretty expensive, but not crazy out of line.

I have one (the double bike 2"). It works very well, all metal, spare parts available, can get a bike on or off in seconds. And Made In USA (duh).

Highly recommended.

 

[Jack90210]

Oh, and as far as I know the only style that will let you open the rear glass/hatch is the type that swings away..

 

[MT Dweller]

Thanks for the info folks....I think I may go with the Kuat...I head back from another user on another forum that when tilted away, you can access both the liftgate and tailgate. Another guy who has an 80 series recommended just taking the bike off closest to the cruiser...problem solved

 

[leej]

To open the liftgate and the tailgate, I simply added a hitch extender which moved the bike rack back about 8 inches (they have them in other sizes), which was all I needed with my rack.

I don't have a tray style, I have the Yakima Double Down 4 (the bikes' down tubes rest on two forks), regardless, I think a hitch extender would work for other style racks. The extender I have is here: http://www.rampconnection.com/Trailer-Hitch-Extender-HE-3-3.html
although there are variations elsewhere on the internet (and likely cheaper). This does push the bikes further back from the truck (in my case about 8 inches), but that is the idea, right? You may need a different extension length depending on your rack and I can't guarantee that this would work for other racks - the best thing to do is measure how much clearance you need with the rack on the truck. I would assume that going too far back would not be a good idea and that the extra length may put additional stress on the receiver, but it worked for me! I keep the extender attached/locked to the bike rack all the time, so I don't have to install the extender each time; it's like it is part of the rack. I can open my liftgate and tailgate no problem and access the cargo area no problem!

Hope this helps.

Lee
2004 LX470
2000 LC

 

[stonepa]

I have the thule and the Kuat . Although I love thule racks Kuat wins on this one.

 

[smileyboy]

Has anyone used the 1up rack with a BIOR rear tire carrier?

 

[smileyboy]

Never mind, I found that it won't work.

 

[ogsuv]

I have a cheap Allen brand

$70 shipped on Amazon. Since we only use a couple times a year it works. I use zip ties and can koozies to protect and secure the bikes more than just the straps.