I do a fair amount of off-roading in our Jeep, but I usually don’t bring bikes along when I do. One of the reasons is that I hate watching the bike get bounced around on the rack in my rearview mirror. With other hitch-mounted racks, that’s what I’d see back there: the bike mounted to the rack, floppin’ all over the place. It can be hard to watch.
But, my 1UP USA Super Duty Double hitch rack is built for severe off-roading. And when my Super Duty is combined with the 1UP USA‘s Wheel Savers (now in XL size for MTBs) and Wheel Chocks, the shakey shenanigans are eliminated.
The 1UP USA Wheel Savers and Chocks aren’t just for vehicles that go off-roading. These accessories work great to stabilize the bike on the rack, keeping any unnecessary movement at bay. And they work very well, especially when working together.
1UP Wheel Chocks
- Retail: $110 (both standard size and fat tire size)
- Standard Size will fit tires up to 3″ wide, and the Fat tire Size will fit tires from 3″ up to 5″ wide.
The Wheel Chocks are great at preventing that annoying front wheel sway that most “tray-type” hitch-mounted bike racks suffer from. That sway doesn’t actually do any harm to the bike or the wheel (as long as the uprights are tight), but man, it’s annoying. The Wheel Chock eliminates that sway, and makes the mounted bike more stable on rough roads.
The Chocks are made from machined aluminum and are anodized black and red. They come with the ratchet rail and all of the mounting hardware. They are very well made, and I’m confident that they will last for a very long time.
Once installed, they’re easily removable as well, with the ratchet rail staying on the rack tray. I keep one on my rack all the time. But, doing so does risk the chance of someone taking it while you are parked. They slide on a notched rail that sits at the center of the tray.
After you get your bike on the rack and snug the load arms down, you can install the Wheel Chock. When attaching or sliding the Wheel Chock onto the notched rail, you’ll hear a pleasant ratcheting sound when pushing the Chock on from the inside of the rack, with the “Y” facing towards the bike’s tire.
When you have it snug up against your tire, you tighten the big aluminum knob down onto the rail. Then, tighten down the black safety collar to keep it from accidentally releasing. That’s it; you’re good to go, knowing that your mounted bike will be safe, secure, and virtually movement-free.
1UP Wheel Saver
- Retail: $18 (standard size), $26 (XL size)
These lil’ wheel helpers are nice to have around and are a pleasantly useful addition to the rack. These are made from nylon and seem to be made to withstand some abuse.
The Standard size is compatible with the following 1UP USA racks: Quick Rack, Heavy Duty, and the Super Duty (tested). The XL Size is compatible with Quick Rack, Heavy Duty, and the Super Duty, plus the Equip’D. 1UP also says that one per bike is sufficient. I’ve been using two per bike, and it seems to work great that way.
I’ve used both the Standard and XL size Wheel Savers numerous times. The Standard size fits on tires up to 1.7″ (44mm). The Teravail Cannonball tires that I run on my gravel bike are 47mm, and the Standard size fits tightly, but does fit. The XL says it can fit road, gravel, and MTB tires (up to 2.6″) tested. Both sizes have a center section that is designed to fit smaller road tires, while the XL version has a second standoff for gravel tires, while MTB tires fill up the whole tray.
The Wheel saver increases the contact patch for the rack’s load arm to add stability to the front wheel while offering an added level of protection for high-end wheels.
A good use for these is if you have your rack high where there is a lot of wind force, like the top of a car or high up on the back of an adventure van. Or when the bike/rack is going through added stress, like spirited driving or going off-road.
In Conclusion
I’ve used both the Wheel Saver and the Wheel Chock non-stop since I’ve gotten them. They both work well separately and very well when working together. They work exceptionally well when taking a road that may be a little less friendly. I used them while doing some light off-roading, and the bike stayed very still. The only downside is that they’re not included with a new rack. Adding both accessories will quickly rack up the price tag for your 1UP setup.
Fortunately, both of the products are made very well and definitely up to the 1UP standard of manufacturing. I expect them both to last a long time. They are a welcome addition to my rack setup, and I don’t want to use the rack without them.
If you have one of the above-listed racks and are looking to stabilize your steed better, I would highly recommend these additions. Our bikes aren’t getting any cheaper, and it’s worth the investment to keep them as safe as possible from damage while transporting them.
