Best hitch mounted bike rack for Tri bike

Triathlon Forum
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Hey, I just got a hitch installed on my suv as the trunk mounted bike rack i had was waaaay too sketchy. Anyway i was wondering if anyone had a reccomendation on a hitch mounted bike rack? Brand , Model etc? I am looking at some online and some of the straps that hold the bike to the rack look like they might not work with the wide tri frame etc…

Thanks

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This is the Cadillac of bike racks. It’s fit every road or tri bike I’ve tried hauling. I have a Scott Plasma, and it fits fine. The rack has lots of rubber in the places you want it most. Granted the velcro strap they include for locking your front wheel in place aren’t very long but that was easily remedied with a bungee cord.

The best part is my wife who is a bit short can lower the rack to get bikes on and off very easily. It lowers while maintaining horizontal to the ground. It also has a cable that will pull out and over the top tubes, you supply the lock.

http://www.softride.com/rack-products/specifications/softride_dura_hitch_bike_rack

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I love my Yakima DoubleDown. I have the older DoubleDown 5 (family of 4 and an extra slot for a friend) and it’s on my SUV all of the time. Even my 8 year-old daughter can lower the rack with no problem. When the bike is secured, I can lower the rack without taking the bike off the rack. The rack is also useful for hanging my wetsuit before and after a races/OWS.

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Thule T2. Had one since 2008 hooked to a Hidden Hitch on my Subaru. Never a problem with 1/2 Tri Bikes. Only possible gripe is the strap that helps secure the rear wheel down to the tray should be a little longer to accomodate deep dish (808) wheels.

cheers
S.

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Whatever rack you look at go for one that the bike sits in (Thule T2 for example) rather than one where the bike hangs from the frame.

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Yakima HoldUp. Love it. Put a hitch on my accord and can switch to or 4Runner in under a minute. No straps to mess and no friction points with the frame. Awesome rack.

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Hey, I just got a hitch installed on my suv as the trunk mounted bike rack i had was waaaay too sketchy. Anyway i was wondering if anyone had a reccomendation on a hitch mounted bike rack? Brand , Model etc? I am looking at some online and some of the straps that hold the bike to the rack look like they might not work with the wide tri frame etc…

Thanks

I will always prefer a platform rack to a hanging rack. Full disclosure, I work for a Thule dealer. However we sell a couple of different brands and I recommend the following every time.

http://www.thule.com/en-us/us/products/carriers-and-racks/bike-carriers/hitch-mounted-bike-carriers/thule-t2-2-bike-916xtr-_-916xtr

Since it clamps the front wheel, your frame can be any shape at all. It also doesn’t have the “centerpost” that most platform racks do, this makes loading the rack much easier, especially with 2 bikes on the rack.

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I use a basket, and then mount a locking Thule fork mount to it. You can fold it up when not in use, you can mount multiple bikes, and you can use it for other things when not being used for your bike.

Think about it…Theyre also really cheap!

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I have a Saris Thelma 3 bike hitch mount. It is great! Straps go on wheels, not frame. Only issue I have is strapping a disc wheel, just need more straps to wrap over wheel.
http://www.amazon.com/Saris-Thelma-Bike-Universal-Hitch/dp/B0039SYOUC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396447374&sr=8-1&keywords=saris+thelma+3-bike+hitch+rack

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Kuat Racks are the best I’ve seen and used.

http://kuatracks.com/en/

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Thanks for all the suggestions…I will look into these today!

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Kuat Racks are the best I’ve seen and used.

http://kuatracks.com/en/

+1 for this as I almost bought one of these but went with a different route because I found a craigslist deal that I couldn’t pass up.

But, to the OP, if you are buying new REI is having their annual 20% sale and it should work on Thule and Kuat (they are special order for their racks). I was going to buy the Kuat from REI with the sale until I got an opportunity to pickup a Thule T2 for a smoking deal on my local craigslist (can’t say no to $100 for a fully functioning T2 but I got lucky and the guy I bought it from is buying an NV to replace it but it was working fine). (I did get the 20% coupon to work online in my cart for the NV a couple of months back for a different 20% sale they had for online orders and it if you ship to store they won’t charge shipping but I never pulled the trigger as I was waiting on my divedend).

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1up

Hands down, awesome rack : http://www.1upusa.com/

After almost daily use for the last year, including two cross country trips (21 states!) with full a 26er squish, road/cx bike & a big 29er hard tail - bikes are still rock solid in the rack. Mounting on the hitch is super simple. Bikes are easy on, easy off.

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14

Thule T2 is great but sort of heavy. If you are a REI member, use your dividend and 20% off coupon for a pretty good deal. I really like the bottom wheel holder of the T2 much more than my old hitch frame holder.

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Thanks for all the suggestions…I will look into these today!

x2. Kuat NV2 gets my vote.

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Kuat Racks are the best I’ve seen and used.
http://kuatracks.com/en/
Which one do you recommend? I don’t see a comparison chart on their website.

x2. Kuat NV2 gets my vote.
What about it do you like over the Thule T2 XTR? It does get good reviews on REI.

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I have used the Sherpa. With the NV you can add an “add on” that allows for an additional 2 bikes to be carried (4 total). A cycling buddy of mine has it and it’s quite nice (and $$).

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kuat. did a road race couple of weekends ago with a bud of mine and he had one. totally impressed with structure. most sturdy, and functional rack i have ever used/seen.

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great report and great car, just bought a 14’ mazda3s touring hatchback. same white color too.

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+1 on the 1upusa. From tri, to 29er’s this thing is the bomb. Expensive but worth it!