Hitch-mounted bike rack question.
 

Hey, guys..

Trying to decide between these two racks right here..

Thule T2
http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-R.../TH916XTR.html

Thule Doubletrack
http://www.amazon.com/Thule-990XT-Do.../dp/B0018TFUHA

Was wondering if any of you who are using these could tell me a little bit more about them from personal experience..

I intend to haul everything from dual suspension downhill with the cables routed on top to light and skinny alum track bicycles..
The car is a 2011 Toyota Camry..

Strictly highway and tooling around town..

Thank you!

with hitch mounts, I don't think it matters one way or another which model you use. The hitch isn't going to move, and the bikes will be secure. If it were up to me, I'd pick something that holds the bikes up by the frame. It makes mores sense to me to hold them up above their center of gravity, so it pulls them up as opposed to holding them up from the bottom. It'll probably be easier on the wheels too, particularly if you're constantly accelerating and slowing down. But I've never owned one of them before

I use a Hollywood rack that supports the wheels. It seems easier to load one bike, though two would probably be a bit awkward. In any case, the front wheel doesn't need to be restrained from wobbling around and maybe messing up the car's paint job. Also, my bike has a sharply sloping top tube which would be less convenient to support by the frame.

So, spectastic and I disagree. Fortunately, they make both types.

Can you even get a hitch onto a Toyota Camry?


Well,... I just looked on Etrailer.com & they have pictures of the 990XT on a Camry, so I guess you can get a hitch for the Camry. I own a T2 and have no complaints. Love being able to remove any of the bikes without having to touch the others unlike the ones that hold up the bike on the top tube.

I have a 4-bike Thule and like it a lot. As far as the difference, I personally think the one from etrailer might be better in that you don't have to secure the front wheel and it will probably be a bit more flexible if you're looking to transport bikes of different types. It's true that the bikes will be secure with any hitch rack, but I always secure my front wheels because if you don't either do that or remove them, they'll move a lot in the wind.

Thanks, Guys.. Spectastic, I was thinking that same thing regarding the front wheel.. Seems like that would only make it easier for it to throw the wheel out of true.. But the thing sells, and gets amazing reviews.. So I guess that could be a testament..

And, Nermal. I definitely appreciate the fact that there is no need to tie the bikes down to keep them from flopping around.

Ratdog and Cafzali. I read that the T2 rusts really quickly and that it's too heavy and bulky.. Any merit to that? I don't have a garage, so would probably have to store the rack in my apartment when not in use..

Camry is easy and off-the-shelf. You can put a hitch on just about any vehicle. I know guys with hitches on a Porsche 911, a Jaguar, and few other sporty bike haulers. The Jag hitch was custom fabricated and used to tow a small open motorcycle trailer. I don't know about the Porsche hitch.

Rear engine Porches and VWs, the hitch would have to unbolt, from the frame, easily
for Engine Bench Service, of Course..

I have a 4-bike Yakima Doubledown Ace on my Scion xB (same chassis as a Camry). My wife has a 2-bike Yakima HighLite on her FIAT 500. Both hitches were ordered from etrailer.com and installed by me in our driveway. The HighLite is very lightweight (about 20#) and comes with a cable lock built into the frame (uses the same key as the SKS core in the locking knob that attaches the rack to the hitch. Both racks are awesome- they use a wedge like in a quill stem to secure and lock the rack to the hitch, so they don't sway at all.

I won't be of much help to you regarding the rust, I only have mine on the mini-van from May to October and most of the time it's parked indoors. Theree is minimal rust from the days it does sit in the rain.

The rack is heavy but I don't think any bulkier than any other hitch mounted rack. I used to have a hitch mounted, swing out Thule (4) bike hanging style rack & got tired of getting the first bike #1 off by having to take of the other (3) bikes.

Another thing to note, though the T2 has locks allowing you to lock up against the wheel and a lock to lock the rack to the hitch receiver, I have seen pictures where thieves just dismantle the bike rack at the pivot point. I don't know if they've rectified that or if Thule has upgraded the locking mechanisms on the other hitch mounted racks. Regardless, when I got the rack as an exchange for an older recalled style at REI, the T2 had the best options for locking up the bikes at the time though things may have changed.

I never take my rack off and don't have a garage. While there's a tad bit of rust on it, it's not an issue whatsoever. At this point, it's at least 4 years old. As far as heavy, I can't really say because I leave mine on and don't worry about taking it off for winters.

Placed my order for the T2 today.. Thanks, guys!