cvcman

looking for decent bike rack that slides into hitch for 2 bikes,,,I don't want them touching each other

prj71

Thule T2

SkyDog75

If you don't want the bikes to touch each other, a tray-style rack (aka platform rack) is the way to go.

eTrailer has a bunch of options HERE, and I've been happy with their pricing and customer service in the past. Thule and Yakima are probably the best-known brands. Hollywood and Saris racks tend to be good, too.

The size (1 1/4" versus 2") and class rating of your vehicle's hitch will affect your options.

prj71

Not at all because you can get adapters to go from 1-1/4" to 2" and vice versa.

fietsbob

trailer .. one you can lock the doors on.

one4smoke

I have this one, and have been very pleased.

https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-...ks/HR1450.html

Dan Burkhart 

I have that one too, and I am also pleased with it.
It is very versatile, in that I can space out the wheel holders to accommodate my long wheelbase bikes, something I could not do with the Thule T2 I had previously.
Not really knocking the T2, it's actually a more sturdy, high quality rack than the Hollywood, but when I got rid of my pickup truck with it's 2" receiver, and went to a car with a 1 1/4", the T2 didn't work for me.

prj71

But you can do that with the T2 via the sliding rear wheel holder.

Dan Burkhart 

Yeah, it has a little bit of flexibility, but not enough for my longtail cargo bike, tandem, and LWB recumbent.
The Hollywood accommodates all of them. Not at the same time, obviously.

cvcman

????but this one you say you have now is for a 2" receiver

sdmc530

Thule Vertex 2. Rock solid!! Love mine.

Dan Burkhart 

It is made with a 1 1/4" bar, but comes with an adapter to fit a 2".
I bought 2" TO 1 1/4" adapter so I could use the T2 on this car, but it stuck out too far to be practical.
plus, I could not mount my long bikes on it, so I sold the T2 and bought the Hollywood.
No regrets.

Dan Burkhart 

Over all, I prefer a rack that holds the bike by the wheels rather than by the frame. Way fewer fit issues.

Canker

The BEST is going to be a Kuat or 1up usa. I went with the 1up myself.

using an adapter to put a 2" rack in a 1 1/4" receiver cuts your max tongue weight in half.

cvcman

Why would you care about tongue weight ,,,,im hauling bikes not a trailer...smh

Kevindale

This is incorrect. I thought so, too, and so bought a class 3 (and therefore 2" hitch) bike rack, along with the 2"-to-1 1/4" adapter. I was gobsmacked to find that the adapter wouldn't work with my class 1 hitch receiver on my Prius. Class 1 and 2 receivers and hitches are 1 1/4", while class 3 and 4 are usually 2". However, the class 1 receivers have a tab welded inside the receiver box so that a class 2 hitch tongue (or the adapter) won't go in far enough to bolt. This is for a good reason -- class 1 receivers can only handle 200# at the hitch ("tongue weight"), while class 2 receivers can handle 300# at the hitch.

So I ended up buying a rack (and adapter) that I couldn't use on my Prius, which can only handle a class 1 receiver (because the hitch receiver doesn't not bolt to the frame, as is required for classes 2, 3, and 4). I finally found a great rack that is class 1 and handles 3 bikes (as long as they're lightweight bikes like road bikes). No way you'll find a tray rack for class 1, unfortunately.

If you're hauling your bikes on the open road, you really need to make sure you respect the specs of your vehicle, your hitch, and the weight of your rack and bikes. It would be very easy to used an adapter and a class 3 bike rack, with some heavy bikes, on a class 2 hitch receiver and have the whole rear of your car cave in at 70 mph on the freeway.

Kevindale

Yes, this is another very important factor. The 'tongue weight' is the weight the hitch can handle where the rack tongue goes into the hitch receiver. The adapter sticks out from the hitch receiver, generating torque (Force through a distance). It's the same principle that we use when we use a really pipe on the end of a wrench to generate extra force on a stuck bolt. Your class 2 hitch, which can handle 300# at the receiver, can handle less tongue weight at the end of the adapter.

Same principle is why you put your heavy bike closest to the car on the rack. I can put 90# of bikes on my 3 bike rack, but I'm taking a big chance if I put a 90# bike on the 3rd spot, because that's generating much more torque on the hitch than a 90# bike in the first position.

Kevindale

Put more simply, tongue weight is ALL you care about with a hitch mounted bike rack. Towing capacity of the hitch is irrelevant. Better to stop shaking your head and understand this stuff, or you'll come to grief.

Mountain Mitch

I've used Swagman. Less expensive than Thule or Yakima. Has a sleeve adapter for 1.25 or 2 inch receivers. Gets your bikes from a to b; doesn't damage them. What more do you want?

cvcman

Even if you do put a 90# bike on the rear you are safe putting it out on the end with a class 2...lol ive hauled bassboats with class 2's with a heck of a lot more tongue weight,,,it wont break trust me,,,

cvcman

Lol...yea I guess the several hundred thousand miles ive hauled on a class 2 I better not overload it with a couple bikes...lmao....

Kevindale

Have it your way, cvman. My guess is that you're not actually hauling a bass boat, but hauling a trailer that has a couple of wheels, and the bass boat is sitting above those wheels. Those wheels are supporting most of the weight of the trailer, and virtually all of the weight of the bass boat (unless you don't know how to load a trailer). That's why you can easily grab the trailer tongue and hold it level with the hitch while you make adjustments before the trailer is attached to the hitch.

The actual tongue weight of your trailer with bass boat loaded is likely a lot less than the tongue weight of a bike rack and a couple of bikes. It's simple physics. But whatever, you're the expert who can't figure out why tongue weight matters on a hitch-mount bike rack.

bobwysiwyg

Well, my two bike rack on my Honda Pilot (pretty substantial box steel by the way and a class 2 hitch) carries a 75 lb weight limit.

qpb52

We have a swagman too and its worked very well and didn't cost a lot, relative to the others.

cvcman

Lol,,,you CANT grab the tongue and lift it easily,,,unless you can easily lift over 100 pounds ! And IF you could that would mean the tongue was WAY to light,,,and the trailer would whip all over the road,,,trust me,,,ive trailered hundreds of thousands of miles...this may help educate you a little Boat Trailering: Tongue Weight | Boat Trader - WaterBlogged


My 20ft Ranger and motor weighed over 2k pounds,,,so 10 to 15% of that SHOULD be tongue weight,,,think you can lift that easy ???
If you think the tongue weight of a 20ft Ranger bassboat is lighter than a rack with bikes,,,well YOU really have NO clue what you are talking about and have NEVER hauled a bassboat...I may not be an expert but again have set up hundreds of trailers,,,,and have towed boats all up and down the east coast thousands of miles,,,,so I really do know what om talking about,,,its clear YOU do NOT ! Good day !