Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely secure platform, April 7, 2008
Pros: this rack carries 4 bikes without any of them touching, and they are supported exactly the way they are designed to be supported. The carrier appears indestructible. If you have a lift back, the hatch can be opened when the carrier is mounted (but not when the bikes are on the rack). Any size or shape bike can be carried. When driving, the bikes are secure and silent.
Cons: weight -- the disadvantage to indestructibility is that a lot of steel was used to build the rack, and that makes it heavy (about 60 lbs without bikes). This weight only comes into play when putting the carrier on your car, or taking it off. loading -- If you have a lift-back, you need to get into it before the bikes are loaded. The upright bars can be tilted away from the back of the car far enough to open the back. length -- you have to remember that this carrier is sticking out a few feet behind your car. Storage -- even folded up it takes a lot of room in your garage.
We need to carry several bikes at a time: road, hybrid and "step-through" (ladies) -- and sometimes a mountain bike.
The wheels fit in lower channels, which may be adjusted for wheel length and to avoid interfering with the next bike's pedals. Then the "hold down" hook keeps the bike firmly in the channels, and the hooks are well padded. You can leave your frame pump on the bike if you want (although a rough road may vibrate it off if it's not secured). Finally, Velcro straps across the tires ... well, I'm not sure what these are for, but we use them. Once on, the bikes don't sway or bounce relative to the car, and any shocks are delivered through the tires -- where the bikes are meant to receive shocks.
A 2 inch receiver will allow for 350lbs -- or more -- of tongue weight. A 60 lb rack and 4 40 lb bikes will only be 220 lbs, well within the limits of the receiver. If you've got the hitch, you can handle the weight.
The assembly is not straightforward: it took me about an hour, and I had leftover pieces. After it was assembled I realized that I mounted the "hold-down" bars in reverse (the long one has to be in before the short one). Assembly is a one-time event, and, while difficult, should not dissuade you from getting the rack.
Tilting the upright bars, or shrinking the carrier from four to two bikes is done by moving cotter pins. The receiver has a screw-in bolt to keep it mounted to the car. Adjusting the wheel wells or hold-down hooks is done using handles that screw in or out.
Once the rack is adjusted for your bike, getting the bikes on and off is quick and simple.
For us, this is exactly the rack we need to carry 3 or four bikes at a time for any distance.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Careful when assembling, September 11, 2008
I bought this because of price, free shipping, and reviews. I agree that it is a well made (heavy) carrier. But beware when assembling that the hardened bolts are threaded into soft square nuts that are held in place with plastic inserts. The directions leave a lot to be desired but they say to install hand tight and not use mechanical devices. I got out my combination wrench and proceeded to tighten the bolts after I had assembled and snugged up everything. I am an above normal size guy and with the bolts being hardened metric bolts I thought they would stand tightened as tight as I could get them with a wrench. The first bolt I tightened, I stripped the soft square nut in the insert. I need the carrier for this weekend so sending back was not a good option. I ended up grinding off this hardened bolt which took about two hours and then drilled through the framework with a 7/16 hole on my drillpress to install hardened bolts and nuts through the framework and not use the inserts. When I had to do one I went ahead and did all 6 connections. I would have worried that the thing would fall apart while driving down the road. I installed on vehicle and my son and I put our bikes on carrier and drove to the store for a short trial. With these modifications I am pleased with the rack and I think it will be very functional. In the for what its worth catagory, the carrier is made in Tiawan. I like to know where things are made.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hitch Mount Bicycle Rack, October 10, 2007
This bike rack is everything it is advertised to be. With this rack you don't have to worry about potholes in the road because the bicycles are supported by their tires. The bicycle absorbs shock where it was designed to, not in frame members that weren't. This rack also accommodates any type of bicycle; road, mountain, etc. Even my wife's Giant Revive can be secured with no problem. The only concern is weight. The 2" version for four bikes is a little heavy so make sure your vehicle can handle it.
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