Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More - View Single Post - Hitch Racks

05-12-2004, 01:24 AM

Mr B <ladeeda@hahaha.com> wrote in message news:<8c33a091aq0j6mnu9qbi9tl722k6je0a77@4ax.com>. ..
> On Sat, 08 May 2004 23:39:48 GMT, Mr B <ladeeda@hahaha.com> wrote:
>
> >Howdy,
> >
> >I'm in the market for a trailer htich bike rack and am looking for any general recommendations. I
> >want a 4 bike holder that is made for a 2" hitch and doesn't need some sort of adaptor.
> >
> >From what I've gathered, Thule, Saris, and Yakima seem to be the top brands. I've also seen other
> >brands at local stores and wanted to get input on pros and cons so I don't buy something and find my
> >bike behind me on the freeway.
> >
> >Here are the ones I've come across recently at local stores:
> >Schwinn 4 bike hitch rack (Dunhams) - $119
> >Thule 934 (Sport Mart) $174
> >Saris T-Rax (Local bike shop) $169
> >Impact Stealth (online) $150ish
> >Outback HitchRack (Target) $99
> >
> >I'm sure the Saris or Thule would be the highest quality but I hadn't ever seen the Schwinn one
> >before and was told it was relatively new at the SportMart I was at.
> >
> >If anyone has firsthand experience with these or would recommend one over the other, please let me
> >know. The rack would probably only be used a couple times per year so I'm leaning towards the
> >cheaper ones but a open to other info.
> >
> >Thanks.
>
> Anyone?

Check usenet news with google. www.mtbr.com reviews.

I posted recently re: a GM hitch rack purchase. Such a price! Seems
hitch racks are widely available at competitive prices right now. I
do not recall seeing the same choices five years ago.

My hitch rack was a Yakima Roc-4. It was strong (enough) and easy to
use. Carried top tubes bars in either of two trays... the main
difference being the straps (rubber vs. ratchet). The Roc-2 or Roc-4
came with an arm to stabilize the bike... attached to the down tube.
Using the rack with bungy cords for the front wheel was simple.
Carried four bikes a lot. $160 on sale (obsolete?).

So you need to know if the bike rack can actually carry four bikes
without squishing them together. How do the bikes mount? How to keep
them from swaying? Frames and front wheels will move about. Is the
hitch receiver pin threaded? If no, then an anti-sway attachment is
needed to keep the hitch rack from clanking. Lock system? The ROc-4
included a theft deterrent (sp?) cable that went around the outer-most
bike frame. It was something anyway. Oh... $40 extra.

http://www.qbike.com
http://www.bestwebbuys.com/bikes/stores
http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=54

try froogle too.

HTH.

05-12-2004, 01:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
Gene Posts: n/a	Re: Hitch Racks - Recommendations needed Mr B <ladeeda@hahaha.com> wrote in message news:<8c33a091aq0j6mnu9qbi9tl722k6je0a77@4ax.com>. .. > On Sat, 08 May 2004 23:39:48 GMT, Mr B <ladeeda@hahaha.com> wrote: > > >Howdy, > > > >I'm in the market for a trailer htich bike rack and am looking for any general recommendations. I > >want a 4 bike holder that is made for a 2" hitch and doesn't need some sort of adaptor. > > > >From what I've gathered, Thule, Saris, and Yakima seem to be the top brands. I've also seen other > >brands at local stores and wanted to get input on pros and cons so I don't buy something and find my > >bike behind me on the freeway. > > > >Here are the ones I've come across recently at local stores: > >Schwinn 4 bike hitch rack (Dunhams) - $119 > >Thule 934 (Sport Mart) $174 > >Saris T-Rax (Local bike shop) $169 > >Impact Stealth (online) $150ish > >Outback HitchRack (Target) $99 > > > >I'm sure the Saris or Thule would be the highest quality but I hadn't ever seen the Schwinn one > >before and was told it was relatively new at the SportMart I was at. > > > >If anyone has firsthand experience with these or would recommend one over the other, please let me > >know. The rack would probably only be used a couple times per year so I'm leaning towards the > >cheaper ones but a open to other info. > > > >Thanks. > > Anyone? Check usenet news with google. www.mtbr.com reviews. I posted recently re: a GM hitch rack purchase. Such a price! Seems hitch racks are widely available at competitive prices right now. I do not recall seeing the same choices five years ago. My hitch rack was a Yakima Roc-4. It was strong (enough) and easy to use. Carried top tubes bars in either of two trays... the main difference being the straps (rubber vs. ratchet). The Roc-2 or Roc-4 came with an arm to stabilize the bike... attached to the down tube. Using the rack with bungy cords for the front wheel was simple. Carried four bikes a lot. $160 on sale (obsolete?). So you need to know if the bike rack can actually carry four bikes without squishing them together. How do the bikes mount? How to keep them from swaying? Frames and front wheels will move about. Is the hitch receiver pin threaded? If no, then an anti-sway attachment is needed to keep the hitch rack from clanking. Lock system? The ROc-4 included a theft deterrent (sp?) cable that went around the outer-most bike frame. It was something anyway. Oh... $40 extra. http://www.qbike.com http://www.bestwebbuys.com/bikes/stores http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=54 try froogle too. HTH.