Bike racks -hitch mount

[dgaddis]

The 2 inch fits a 2 inch receiver. The1.25 fits a 1.25 receiver. They sell (as do auto parts stores) an adapter that makes the 1.25 fit in a 2 inch receiver. Both of the 1 up’s I have are 2 inch because that is a more common hitch type so those are the receivers I have...in other words boat trailers or other things you can think of will need a 2 inch. BTW, I bought my second 1up after the QR’s came out because I saw the “improvements” to be nothing more than an excuse for the original inventor to renege on his sale non-compete and were solutions looking for a problem. In other words totally bogus and unnecessary. Back to your original question...get a 2 inch receiver and a 2 inch rack and nothing will beat it and it will be solid as a rock ATMO. And to put perspective on it...I have at least one hitch on one car going the 469 miles each way between the two places I live once a week.

Oh, and another thing...I got the two bike rack first but the next one I got a one bike rack and the extra rack you add on. That was the best solution I wish I had realized when I got the first rack.

On the hitch size - 2" is common with trucks and SUVs, but most cars that have hitches (or more commonly are added aftermarket) are 1.25". The hitch receivers I put on two Civics and an Accord were all 1.25".

[xjoex]

Another thing...you might want to consider a hitch extender (thru the rack manufacturer or auto parts store)...depends on your car and the hitch receiver. Makes getting in and out of the hatch on one car easier if the rack is on the car and even if there is a bike on the rack. On the other car it isn’t necessary. But the one it is nice to have it was worth the 50ish bucks.

I needed one on my jeep, I tried a few and my favorite because there is no rattling is the heininger advantage sports rack adapter. The key is the bolt in cam. I can take mine on and off the jeep in 30seconds.

[ChristianWong]

You read my mind, was wondering about the superclamp. Made up the road from me in Wisco. I'll probably go this way. Do you think it would work on a bike with full fenders? I have a rando bike that I need to haul .. .

I have a Superclamp 2-bike sitting in my parents' garage in Canada. The hitches are different and weird in Europe so it didn't make the trip over. I'm now using a Seasucker for a variety of reasons. But I digress..

I like the Superclamp a lot. Lifetime warranty and MUSA is comforting, so is having a Saris dealer nearby in case I need parts or whatever. In its stock configuration, it holds my 700x28c and my 29x3.0" tires without issue. It's super solid since it screws into the hitch (no rattling). It went on and off the car somewhat frequently so the light weight was appreciated. If I had a burlier car where the rack would be a permanent fixture, I'd probably get the 1-UP. Although I would worry about what Canadian winter (salt) would do to the 1-UP. For better or worse, there is a lot of plastic on the Superclamp so I was always less concerned about corrosion.

[Shoogs]

I have the 1UP and LOVE It. Most of the time I only have one tray on, adding trays when people come along. Extra trays are light compact and easily attached.
When making my purchase our family the cars had different hitches so I also have the 1up 1.25 - 2 conversion, it fits over the insert. I like that it doesn't add to the length the rack extends from the car as the sleeves do.

I've also had the pleasure of dealing with their CS, they stood behind their product and shipped replacement parts expeditiously.

[guido]

I have the 1UP hitch rack. Best rack I have ever owned...

I was rear ended with it in the up position, completely prevented the car from getting any damage, while the car that hit me was toast. Impact bent the bar that goes into the receiver, 1UP happily sold me a replacement for short money, easy to install. Good as new!

Holds bikes fabulously too. Secure and stable. 5" tire fat bike to race bikes.

Ill say it again: Best rack I have ever owned... Made in USA if you care about that too...

[Drew]

And they certainly aren't putting as much stress on the bike as actually riding the thing.

As for the Saris - if you want to use something with fenders, that's the only way to go. That said, I don't like it because it's grabbing the frame. If you've got some dirt on the bike (and I usually do), put a clamp on it, then vibrate it for a couple hours while driving around, that can't be good for the paint.

Probably not as much stress as riding, I agree, but to get the thing secure and tight in a 1up, it was enough that I didn’t like it.

I had one of the Fox Kashima forks that had The Click of Death in the stanchions, and I am sure that it was caused by the 1up rack. Fox replaced the fork, it was a common issue... but I rode that fork hard for a year and it never clicked until the first trip using the 1up rack. Coincidence... maybe. Props to Fox.

I tried (borrowed) both a 1up and a Saris, each for a week. I bought the Saris. It’s lighter, the clamp system in the hitch is awesome. The 1up cam/ball system in the hitch sucks. It stuck together and had only been on my truck for a few days.

Saris Superclamp doesn’t clamp the frame. I am not sure what would work well with fenders. I have never tried one of their racks that clamps the frame. Superclamp only touches the tires.

The 1up clicker system was a little clunky. The Saris... drop the tires in the trays, rotate the arms, smack the clamps down, done. I don’t use the straps that go through the trays.

Saris uses a reducer gizmo to go between the small or large hitches. It is rock solid. You give up the folding race to get one that is light and doesn’t move. It uses a bolt to pull the rack tight to the hitch, then a lock goes on the end of the bolt.

I do not work for Saris. I just like the Superclamp. I haven’t used any of their other products. My only bitch about the Superclamp is that the crossbar is about 2” too short for modern long travel 29” mtb.

[Drew]

I see that they say "universal hitch mount" for either 1.25" or 2" hitches. How solid is it given this? does it just hold firm or does it rattle around?

Of course my desire to get a hitch rack is for going back and forth to AZ. That may all become moot soon if we are deemed to be National Security threats and can no longer go south .........

Rock Effing Solid. Bolts tight to the hitch receiver, with either size.

What you give up in folding clearance, you gain back in lighter weight and solid stability. And it is only about 6” longer than a folded up 2bike 1up rack. Also several pounds lighter.

[Drew]

I’m curious what you mean by “squeeze” the bike. The 1-Up rack retention arms hold the front and rear wheels. If they squeeze anything, they squeeze the tires. Not sure how they put stress on the headtube—they’re just holding the bike upright.

I found that when the 1up rack was tightened, whichever wheel was tightened second would “roll” a little bit and effectively shorten the wheelbase of the bike. The bottom of the tire, that is in the 1up tray, does not move. When the clamp was raised against the tire and “squeezed” back to tighten the bike, the clamp would push into the tire a little and roll the wheel back. I thought this would be a little hard on the steer tube and bottom headset race, to leave it loaded for a long period of time.

[VA_MEL]

If you want to take your rack on and off your vehicle regularly or move it between vehicles, the Thule Helium Aero racks are nice. My three-bike version weighs about 20 pounds and goes on in about 30 seconds without tools. Once on, it's steady with absolutely no noticeable shake or sway. Not the best option for big, heavy bikes, but fine for my road and gravel bikes. The anti-sway connection works to keep bikes from swinging and the bike attachment points are easy on the frames and not going to come open on their own. I've done a 10 hour drive at highway speeds several times with bikes on with no issues. Would definitely buy it again.

[happycampyer]

I found that when the 1up rack was tightened, whichever wheel was tightened second would “roll” a little bit and effectively shorten the wheelbase of the bike. The bottom of the tire, that is in the 1up tray, does not move. When the clamp was raised against the tire and “squeezed” back to tighten the bike, the clamp would push into the tire a little and roll the wheel back. I thought this would be a little hard on the steer tube and bottom headset race, to leave it loaded for a long period of time.

I'm currently using my trays as bike stands (since the hitch assembly was bent from the rear-end collision), so I just tried to recreate what you describe. Imo one would have to exert a lot of force on the retention arms in order to shorten the wheelbase of a bike or to put strain on the headtube or headset. When I close the retention arms, there is just enough pressure to hold the bike stationary, i.e., so it can't roll forward or back on the tray. I would be curious if anyone else who has a 1Up has a different experience.

[Drew]

I wonder if it’s easier to do with MTB low tire pressures.

[Brandon White]

I put on a 1Up Roof Rack last week and I really like it. I can convert it to a hitch rack when I feel like installing a hitch on my car. I was on the fence between the NV 2.0 and 1Up - but the flexibility to go roof first, then hitch made it a no-brainer for me. I can always switch back and forth if needed, depending on my trip.

[htwoopup]

I'm currently using my trays as bike stands (since the hitch assembly was bent from the rear-end collision),

You could probably save that 1 UP...they sell parts (I had to replace the side pieces that go onto the piece that you bent after once forgetting it was still on the car with no bikes and backing it into a stone wall). On their website under products/replacement parts. Much cheaper than buying a whole new rack from any manufacturer.

[happycampyer]

I could definitely salvage a lot of the parts, but the parts I would need to buy are a decent way towards the cost of a QuikRack (if it’s ever actually available). If the QuikDack isn’t available soon, I’ll probably cave and rebuild the 1Up.

[sbornia]

Revisiting this thread from a couple months ago...anyone have experience with the Rockymounts Monorail rack? I'm putting a 1.25" hitch on my GTI, and saw the 2-bike version of the Monorail as a pragmatic choice. I have Rockymount roof trays and they seem well-built. Most obvious drawback is that installation requires a tool and is not as quick as Kuat, 1UP, etc. I don't intend to keep the rack on all the time, so that could be annoying.

[guido]

I put on and take off my 1up all the time. It is quick, easy and trouble free.

[joosttx]

I put on and take off my 1up all the time. It is quick, easy and trouble free.

just ordered a 1UP Heavy Duty today. They look real nice.

[joosttx]

Revisiting this thread from a couple months ago...anyone have experience with the Rockymounts Monorail rack? I'm putting a 1.25" hitch on my GTI, and saw the 2-bike version of the Monorail as a pragmatic choice. I have Rockymount roof trays and they seem well-built. Most obvious drawback is that installation requires a tool and is not as quick as Kuat, 1UP, etc. I don't intend to keep the rack on all the time, so that could be annoying.

Man, I just sold my Kuat Serpa about an hour ago. Would of loved for you to buy it.

[sbornia]

Man, I just sold my Kuat Serpa about an hour ago. Would of loved for you to buy it.

Doh! How was your experience with it? I wish it could handle kid-size bikes without an adapter, and that REI would put it on sale already...then I could get my girl over to Stafford Lake bike park nice and easy.

[joosttx]

Doh! How was your experience with it? I wish it could handle kid-size bikes without an adapter, and that REI would put it on sale already...then I could get my girl over to Stafford Lake bike park nice and easy.

Very nice. My sons 24in wheel bike fit no problem. I did not try a smaller wheel.