dmanders

What do you recommend for a hitch rack for an SUV (2in) to transport two CF road bikes? Cost is less of a concern than quality. TIA, David

CGLTD

I bought the Thule Trailway 2 bike carrier from Dicks for $160. It works fine. It "leans back" when hitched so you can still open the tailgate/hitch.

prj71

^^^Thats a bad choice. Those type of carriers damage the paint/frame.

Best off getting a tray type carrier.

https://www.1up-usa.com/

https://www.thule.com/en-us/bike-rac...---2-_-1691037

CGLTD

Good point. I never thought of the possible swaying damaging anything. I do have a Thule roof carrier that I use for longer distances. The hitch "handing" style is used for short trips around town. It's easier for my wife to use. I will have to devise a clamp system for the pickup bed and sell the hitch rack!

c_m_shooter

1up USA

burnthesheep

I own a Kuat Transfer 3. They also sell a double tray instead of triple tray. I've had it 3 years now. It's the kind that doesn't touch the framesets. It has held up to rain and use fine. Nothing is worn or broken yet. A lady has hit it with her Mercedes and driven off with no damage to it, just damage to her car.

If you own "carbon fairing" wheels, you do need to remove the rear wheel and replace with an alloy version to transport so the ratchet strap doesn't crush the thin fairing.

Also, there is a small design flaw (in my opinion) where the way that the optional thread-in lock system threads into the wrong side. Meaning, as the rack goes over bumps the motion slowly tries to loosen the thread-in lock instead of tighten it. Not a big deal.

It doesn't look as super nice as the NV, but it works. The cups or trays are also pretty darn big, so it would probably fit a MTB or Fatbike size tires fine also.

I got it on sale at the LBS as it was the display model. I would buy it again.

pdlamb

While I've only been using a similar carrier for 15 years, I haven't seen that kind of damage (yet).

Ubie

Personally never understood this complaint. I've used mast style hitches for most of my life and this has never been a problem, perhaps it is user error?

The tray types are nice though, my sister's family uses a Saris 3-tray. The only problem I've seen with it is when my bike was next to my brother in law's we had to remove his seat, my handlebars were in the exact wrong position.

August West

I have a 1up USA and love it. All metal construction that should last a lifetime. Kuat also seems to get great reviews here but I've never used one myself.

sarhog

With your requirements, there’s absolutely no reason to look at anything other than OneUpUSA.

phughes

Thule or Kuat in a tray type rack. I have been using a Thule with no complaints for the past eight years.

jpescatore

Put me down for Team Kuat, I have had a NV model for 2 years, many thousands of driving miles on it. Very easy to use, reliable. I used it to carry some touring cyclists ebikes, strong enough for that.

Koyote

In a very similar thread recently, I raised the same concern about that type of rack, and several users reported that it had never scratched their frames. So it might be fine, and that type of rack will certainly cost much less than a tray-type hitch rack.

In the end, I bought a Thule xt pro t2, and am happy with it. But it seems like the Kuat and One-Up tray-type racks are also very well-liked. If you are willing to spend big money, and also add a hitch receiver to your car (or you already have one), any of those options will be great.

Kapusta

1UP is awesome, as long as you don’t have a bike with full coverage rear fenders. It is still usable, but. PITA. I know this from experience. Luckily, seldom transport that bike. Otherwise, it is a wonderful rack to use. What I really like about it is that if I am only needing to transport one bike for a while (like over the winter when my wife does not ride) I can just leave a single tray on, and that folds up against the bumper when not in use and it completely out of the way.

I think the hand-wringing over hanging racks is a bit overblown. I used a hanging rack on my old CR-V for 13 years, probably had bikes on the back for at least 40K miles during that time, including a CF bike. I made many trips back and forth across the US, and for a few years my bikes pretty much lived on that rack as I spent summers on the road. No damage. Ever. I did use one or two strategically placed bungees to prevent swinging and the front wheels from flopping around.

Many of my riding friends (both mtb and road) have used hanging racks for years. None of them ever had a problem with damage.

prj71

My buddy had a hanging rack. Put my bike on it once and it scraped the paint away on the top tube. All of his bikes had similar damage from that type of rack. He eventually dumped it and got a 1up rack

I've seen similar damage on other hanging racks as well. Would never buy one.

Gundo

1up usa

Ironfish653

My biggest beef with the mast-type racks is that they're designed around adult-sized, level-top-tube 'Diamond Frame' bikes. Small (kid's) bikes, 'ladies' frames, or unusual frame shapes, like many full-suspension MTBs end up with wheels and handlebars sticking out all over the place. It's just ugly.
The tray-type racks certainly play better with bikes of different sizes and shapes.

I actually got very good use out of an inexpensive Hollywood rack, damn simple, but that made it rugged and easy to use. My current car is too low for a hitch, so the Yakima trays are back on the roof.

yamsyamsyams

I have a 1up USA and love it. Had it for 5 years and literally done no maintenance yet works like it is brand new.

It even got rear ended with the rack on and no damage - the car that hit me it though was less fortunate. Rack still worked perfectly but now has a small scuff on a corner.

100% worth it!

sean.hwy

Kuat Sherpa 2.0 Hitch Mount

love mine

jlockwood98

I also have the Sherpa 2.0 and highly recommend it, especially if you're looking for something light and easy to install and remove. It is significantly lighter than every other similar rack.

Moe Zhoost

I have a Rocky Mounts SplitRail that I like a lot. If I were in the market for another, I'd take a serious look at the QuikRack Mach2, developed by Cal Phillips, the inventor of the 1up racks.

prj71

Can you slide the trays left and right on the Sherpa 2.0?

kingston 

Most of my bikes have fenders so I got a cheap nashbar version of the hollywood trail rider for around a hundred bucks eight or ten years ago. It's fine. I only use it a handful of times a year to get to the start of brevets, so I've never seen any reason to get a fancier one.

Barry2 

+1 on Thule
The T2 classic will take two bikes and grabs em by the Wheels. No frame contact.
My F700 "Beer Can" CAAD3 frame has never been even touched by the rack.
You can also add-on for an additional two bikes.

Heavy - Yes, but I've never worried about being missing a bike or two on arrival. 8-)

Barry

veganbikes

I would go Küat NV 2.0 if it were me. Love that rack plus the trail doc is pretty awesome should I need to do something trail side.