I’m looking for a new hitch rack, the style that holds your tires. I have a rack that holds the frame, and I should add I had a bike fly off of it once doing 60mph. Don’t want that to happen again!
What is the best rack to get?
My needs:
Usually I travel with just my bike, but on occasion- a few times a year or more, I may need to travel with up to 4 bikes. Not sure if there is a rack that can be only 4 bikes when it needs to be, because that’s a bike rack to lug around when I’m generally just hauling 1 bike. I also have a seasucker rack that holds 2 bikes. It worked well for my old car, but won’t work with this car.
Yep. After several different versions of racks with the cables attaching to the trunk, all breaking in one way or another.
I splurged, had a hitch mounted on our Jeep and bought a 1Up USA.
I really like my Kurt Sherpa, really simple to use. I like the way it tightens up inside the receiver so the whole thing doesn’t move around at all while driving. I believe their nv can expand to 4. But I’ve seen a few 1ups and have been impressed. Will definitely consider a 1up next time I might need a rack.
I see everyone says 1up. Curious why not Saris, Kuat, Yakima, Thule?
Looking at pics, the design doesn’t look “out of this world”. I have not seen one in person, so tell me what I am missing.
Why I like it:
It’s very easy to take on and off the car. Slide it into the hitch, One bolt tightens it up. The bikes are easy on and off.
I like that it tilts, even with bikes on it so you can get into the hatch if you need to be. (I know it isn’t the only one that does that.)
It isn’t plastic. Seems well made and will hopefully last. Every other rack I had was mostly plastic and broke or cracked in some way or another.
It folds up nicely and I can just store it in the hatch when not on the car.
I see everyone says 1up. Curious why not Saris, Kuat, Yakima, Thule?
Looking at pics, the design doesn’t look “out of this world”. I have not seen one in person, so tell me what I am missing.
I think the only thing you are missing between Saris and 1Up would be the fact that you can add on to a 1Up rack. I do not think you can add on to a Saris rack. As a long time Saris hitch rack owner, I love my Freedom Super Clamp. Before that, I owned the two bike Thelma and prior to the Thelma, I owned their notorious Bones rack. Lifetime warranty, and great customer service.
I have the kuat NV with the 2 bike add on. No complaints.
It has locking cables for each bike and a portable work stand attaches to the top.
I also purchased it at performance bike, so you can get a hefty discount if you time it right.
I feel the 1up is better in that it’s easier to go from 2 to 4 bikes, and it may be lighter.
I like how the kuat has one bar to hold a wheel and a strap for the back tire.
The 1up has two ratcheting bars, one for each wheel. It may be more to wear out, just a thought.
I liked having built in cable locks and the performance discount gave the Kuat the edge for me and that’s why I bought it over the 1up.
Much higher quality materials, all aluminum with stainless hardware. The other brands you mentioned use much cheaper powder coated regular steel and plastic.
Back in my 2013 blog review of the Kuat NV I mentioned that it was bomb proof, well it seems like it is not. I do like the Kuat NV and have enjoyed it for the past 4 years, but if I were looking again at the moment I would go with the 1Up for sure. The plastic front wheel scoop cracked months ago and it did not take much to break it. It held up for a while, but now is at the point that it cannot be used. I have a replacement wheel scoop on order. Also the front wheel holder and ratchet system is not as smooth functioning as it once was. Just a little disappointed at the moment so take my post for what it is. Perhaps most still feel as if the NV is bomb proof.
I’m the OP and I have a sea sucker. Always worked great, no problems.
Bad news for me is that my new car has a roof that has ripples in it, in the design- it isn’t flat. So, I can’t put the sea sucker on it! It’s weird to trust the suction cups, but I never had a problem. I’m not sure that I would trust it on a 6 hr drive though. Not to say it wouldn’t work. I’m just fearful.