Allen Deluxe Swing Away 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver)

by Allen Bike Racks

Product Features

• Model 740RR
• Bicycles swing completely out of the way for eazsy lift-gate access.
• Patented folding arm system.
• Patented tie-down system indivi- dually secures and protects bicycles
• Lifetime on workmanship and materials

Product Description

Deluxe Swing Away Hitch Mounted 4-Bike Carrier for 2-Inch hitch

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 58.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000ELOKWO
• Item model number: 740RR
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,282 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars overly complicated design prone to failure, September 1, 2007

By 

Tim Ault "tim" (DC Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Allen Deluxe Swing Away 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver) (Sports)

The 740RR (MSRP: $400) is a swing-away hitch-mount bike carrier that permits access to the rear of a vehicle without first dismounting the rack or its load of bikes, a convenience that you'll wonder how you ever got along without. The 740RR folding design is unique from other competing swing-away bike carriers, admittedly very cool to see in action though it provides no obvious advantages. An animated video of the 740RR movement is available on the manufacturer's website.

However, the 740RR seems to suffer from a few design flaws that quickly become apparent during typical use, raise concerns about the product's safety, and may eventually render the rack unusable. My observations after using the 740RR:

1) Unnecessarily complicated swing-arm.
The 740RR folding swing-arm requires more component hardware and pivot points than competing single-hinge swing-away carriers. More pivot points mean over a half-dozen lubrication spots, more mechanical points of failure, and several exposed and potentially serious pinch hazards.

2) Swing-arm flex.
The 740RR swing-arm flexes considerably when it is swung out from the vehicle under a full load of bikes. The flex can cause permanent misalignment of the locking mechanisms that hold the rack safely closed. When this happens, the 740RR is unusable.

3) Poorly designed locking and safety mechanism.
The locking mechanism is the most significant problem with the rack. The 740RR clicks closed by use of a spring-pin. However, this pin does not secure the carrier to the vehicle. Instead, the owner must subsequently hand-tighten an ordinary threaded bolt before the rack is safe for transport. Forget to tighten that bolt and the carrier will swing away from the rear of the vehicle at the first bump regardless if the rack is empty or carrying bikes, an unnerving thing to experience.

Note that securing the rack with a threaded bolt appears to be a typical safety feature of most swing-away bike carriers. However, the 740RR's implementation seems poorly applied:
- The long threaded bolt must be tightened from the front of the swing-arm, access to which is difficult and awkward when the rack is loaded with bicycles;
- The bolt threads become stripped under normal use and eventually can no longer be tightened, making the rack unusable;
- Neither the spring-pin or the bolt will engage if the swing-arm is misaligned, again rendering the rack unusable.

4) Significant weight.
The 740RR is heavy and cumbersome to attach/remove from the receiver hitch, and awkward and bulky to move when detached. The carrier does not stand up on its own when not mounted. As an alternative to hefting the thing up onto wall hooks, the manufacturer sells a stand which allows upright storage of the 740RR.

5) Instructions contain errors.
The 740RR design has apparently changed since the instructions were last updated. A few images do not match actual rack components, and some parts are mislabeled.

Great Warranty.
The manufacturer warrants their products as such: "If one of our products fails to function properly due to defect in materials or workmanship over the lifetime of the original purchaser, return the product and we will repair it or replace it free of charge." Indeed, to my satisfaction, the manufacturer replaced my first problematic 740RR (on which this review is based) without any hassle and free of charge including shipping. The replacement rack has lasted longer than its predecessor, but the threaded bolt again shows signs of eminent failure.

Buying a Used 740RR.
It is probably a very bad idea to purchase the 740RR used. The original owner may be unburdening themselves of a rack afflicted with one of the many inherent problems I mentioned above. Also, you would loose the protection of the manufacturer's warranty.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Rack! Great design & quality. Very heavy., January 6, 2007

By 

Jimmy (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Allen Deluxe Swing Away 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver) (Sports)

This is a great rack and the price is even greater. Super heavy duty construction. Easy to operate. Great design. The only negative thing is it's heavy because it's made from such heavy gauge steel. That's the only reason for 4 stars. If it was lighter I would give it 5 stars.
I have an Expedition which is very wide. I was concerned that when the rack swings to the side it may not swing out wide enough and the bikes may hit the truck. Not a problem. The rack swings out plenty wide to clear the truck.
I usually buy Thule racks but I'm tired of the high prices and the quality keeps getting worse & worse. I am very happy with this Allen rack. Not only do I get exercise riding my bike. I get a work out carrying the rack as well ;-)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Allen Swing Away 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack, January 4, 2007

By 

steven J. calhoun "kahuna" (long beach, ca usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Allen Deluxe Swing Away 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver) (Sports)

Starting with the good. The rack was very easy to assemble & is very sturdy. The rack will hold securely 4 different style of bikes if you alternate handlebars. It locks and unlocks easily with the push of a lever & twist of a heavy duty, rubber coated wingnut. It does swing & lock out allowing access to a tailgate or lift gate. I can also access my liftgate glass while the rack is not swung out. The bike mounting arm (which I have used as a surfboard platform at the beach while changing)can be collapsed when not in use.

Now the downside. The rack fits a standard 2" receiver but I had to enlarge the hole on the rack hitchpost to accept my locking bolt for my hitch. The rack is very heavy. When not mounted, the rack has to be laid down, it will not stand up by itself. I would buy this item again but I would do a more thorough search for a swing out rack that allows you to place the wheels of the bikes on a mounting platform in wheel racks.