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 Hitch Bike Rack Styles and Features
There are two main styles of hitch bike rack -- hanging and platform or tray style. Which one is best for you? Read on to find out.
Hanging Style Hitch Bike Racks
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When most people think of a hitch bike rack, a hanging rack is what they think of. Hanging racks use one or two cross bars to hold bikes by the frame. These racks are the most common and popular because they are very easy and quick to use, and are available in the greatest variety. |
Pros: Hanging bike racks can carry up to 5 bikes, and are available with many great features. The rack installs quickly, and bikes can be put on and taken off in a hurry. These racks tend to be less bulky than platform racks, and many fold out of the way when not in use. It is easy to find a great value when choosing these racks.
Cons: These racks can’t accommodate all types of bikes; some suspension and Y-frame bikes will not fit on these racks without a frame adapter.
Buy this rack if: You want to carry bikes with standard frames using your trailer hitch.
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Platform / Tray Style Hitch Bike Racks
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Platform / tray style hitch bike racks carry bikes by the wheels; this allows them to carry the widest range of bike sizes, types, and frame styles (Y-frame, suspension, etc).
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Pros: Platform bike racks carry up to four bikes, regardless of style, size, or suspension. These racks also typically fold up out of the way when not in use.
Cons: These racks are somewhat bulkier than hanging racks; they will take up more room when in storage. These racks are usually more expensive than hanging racks.
Buy this rack if: You need to carry bikes with non-standard frames (suspension, Y-frame, etc.) using your trailer hitch.
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Hitch Bike Rack Features – Folding, Tilting, and Swing Away
Fold-Down Arms
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Hitch bike racks with fold down arms allow you to fold the rack arms/bars down when you are not carrying bikes, or when you are storing the rack when not in use.
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Fold-Down / Tilt-Away Rack
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This feature allows you to access the back of your vehicle with the rack still attached. A hitch bike rack with this feature has a hinge at the bottom of the upright stand that allows it to tilt away from the vehicle when released. You must remove bikes from the rack before tilting it.
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Swing Away
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This feature gives you full access to the back of your vehicle with the rack still attached, and with a full load of bikes. The entire hitch swings to the side of the vehicle, allowing you to get to the back of your vehicle. When you are ready to drive again, the rack swings back and locks in place.
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Fold-Up Rack
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Platform racks that have the fold-up feature do just that—fold up out of the way when not in use. This can actually restrict access to the rear of your vehicle, but does allow you to leave the rack on and still be able to parallel park!
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