Bike Racks

[twisteroo]

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I have a hitch rack made by these guys. http://www.sportworks.com/
It seems that they no longer make racks for the average joe.
My opinion is it was/is the best rack going, but maybe the price kinda killed them.

I do recommend a rack that holds the bikes by the wheels rather than let them hang and swing.

Wait, wait, they must have sold the design or something. http://www.bikerackshops.com/TUT2XTRK.html

Yep, after looking around it seems that Thule now owns the racks.

For a cheaper option I have also not heard anything bad about these guys.
http://www.swagmanbikeracks.com/shopnew/product.php?productid=16151&cat=253&page=1

http://www.amazon.com/Swagman-Cross-Coun...B0001VO1YY

You know I do like shopping for bike stuff....

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_100...000_202378

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_100...000_202378

I also have pretty expensive tastes when other people are spending the money.

Do not buy anything from bike nashbar without a coupon code for a discount or free shipping. EVER!

[Twitchin Kitten]

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OK Twist - I managed to split this off the other thread and rename it so it's all about bike racks.

You read our minds! We've been toiling over a rack.

It has to be a hitch mount. We could use one of those things to put them in the bed, but if we haul shit too, we don't want things packed around the bikes.

I've got a class 4 hitch with a 2" receiver.

I don't like the idea of the kind you hang from the frame, especially since my bike does not have a straight bar across and it will be flopping around at an angle. Not good even if you tie them down.

The one you have on the Amazon link is more within my budget right now. Top it off, it's going to have to go on the Sears card.

So, this is the list of contenders, not in order of want - tell me what you think.

http://www.amazon.com/Swagman-Cross-Coun...B0001VO1YY

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM241810792P?prdNo=9&blockNo=9&blockType=G9 <-- I wish they had a better photo of this one.


Now the one you sent me for the Swagman on their site for $150 - well I saw one similar on the Sears site for twice the price. I got a feeling it's a hitch size issue.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM2959321602P?prdNo=3&blockNo=28&blockType=G28

I like that Thule one the best but I just can't afford that kind of money right now.

If you search Sears for Bike Carriers you'll get the list I got. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_...ke+carrier

Right now we can put them in the bed and tie them down with the motorcycle straps but that's a friggin' pain to climb in and out of that big ass bed (the tailgate is near my shoulder when it's down - a good three inches above Matt's waist and he's 6' tall) and it's not really good to tie bicycles down like that. It's a lot of pressure on the handlebars and fork to keep it from bouncing and a two man operation to get it on and off the damn truck.

So - gimme your opinion on these that I picked. I'm leaning toward that Swagman but it has to be for a class 4 hitch. I think their site says up to class 3.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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OK double checked the specs and both Amazon and Swagman say fits a 2" receiver but it keeps saying Class 3 hitch. It'll fit, but does it make a difference between class 3 and class 4?

I almost got the class 5 hitch on this truck but they didn't have any in stock! Had it on the other trucks and man, class 5 is NICE. You can haul anything but the dealer said the 4 was just as good for what I did with it, hauling horses.

[twisteroo]

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OK, after looking around....you know I have no idea what class my receiver is...anyway, your class 4 is fine. Better than a class 3. http://www.discountramps.com/articles/tr...dlines.htm

I would also lean towards that swagman from amazon for the price, as I said, I have never heard or read anyone saying that they are trash. I mean they gotta be better than having them hang, swing, and needing to tie or bungee them to the rack You will see that all the time, they sell kits of foam blocks and stuff to try to keep the bikes from banging around.

Also.....if you go with the swagman don't forget to get one of these. http://www.amazon.com/Swagman-Locking-Hi...y_sg_img_b

It looks just like mine, they give you a bolt but it has the threads only on the head end, so it isn't like you can even make something. I had to order my lock after I got the rack and pay shipping on that somebitch after I got free shipping on the rack.


Also, it looks like they might just be universal between the 1.5 inch and 2 inch receivers, this kinda looks like just a shim they might give you or something. I'm not 100% sure about the size thing though.

I did see something about the adapter being made of steel though, so if that is the case it sounds like it should be sturdy.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Yeah, class 4 is better than the 3. On all hitches, the higher the number, the better the hitch. If you're not driving a full sized truck, the highest you'll have is a two I think. It's all due to how it welds to the frame of the truck and all that good shit.

I know about locking pins. I have one now because I don't like the idea of some asshole stealing my ball if I keep it on

I'm leaning toward that Swagman on Amazon too. It's a nice carrier from the description and the pictures and if I ever need to tow and carry bikes, I can get some kind of fancy coupling to allow me to do both. I already have a two foot extension for the hitch from our trip out west years ago.

[twisteroo]

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OK, just make sure you buy their locking pin, yours will not work, believe me. Been there. Save the postage on the pin when you need to order it a week later.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Why wouldn't my locking pin work? It's the same pin that holds a hitch onto the receiver and it has a lock on the end.

If the male part of the rack goes into the receiver like any other hitch ball, the pin is the same diameter and length, all it has different is a lock where the cotter pin is.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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OK looking at the middle picture, that bolt is the locking pin? Threaded like that? That's weird. You would think the threads wear at some point. I mean, it just don't look "right" to me.

I shall keep your words of wisdom at hand though!

[twisteroo]

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Those threads at the wrong end of the pin are what is gonna pull that hitch and the rack tight together so it doesn't wiggle all over, trust me, just buy one, you will not be able to find a bolt threaded all the way to the end, grind the threads off and put a lock through it or anything, you would need a welder, a metal lathe and know how to use all that stuff. Just spend the $20 when you get the rack and save the shipping.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Ah so the stupid adapter sleeve is what is getting threaded then, by what I gather from your description.

I was figuring they just used a standard hitch pin. I guess that would work if I had the smaller receiver and didn't need to make it fatter.

I might have a sleeve somewhere too.