Hollywood Racks has been around for years and is known for its range of relatively affordable hitch bike racks, including several made for use with RVs and electric bikes. Generally speaking, however, Hollywood hasn’t been one of the first brands that comes to mind when considering a rack for high-performance bicycles.
Which is why it was noteworthy when the brand launched the CrossTrack in late 2024. This tray-style model uses dual wheel arms to hold bikes, making contact with the tires only. In fact, I believe the CrossTrack is the only rack in the Hollywood lineup that doesn’t make any contact with your bike frame — or even your rims.
With the CrossTrack, Hollywood Racks finally made it on my radar, and I tested the original version when it came out. I was pleasantly surprised by its performance and felt it made the brand a viable option for performance-minded users who had previously avoided their frame-contact racks. Now, the updated CrossTrack addresses one of my main complaints about the original. A new tilt-release handle position opens the door for add-ons to expand capacity, while maintaining the same user-friendliness, stability, and versatile bike fit.
- MSRP: $750
- Number of Bikes: 2 (up to 3 with add-on)
- Receiver Sizes: 1.25" and 2"
- Rack Weight: 60 lbs.
- Per Bike Weight Capacity: 2": 66 lbs.
- Max. Wheelbase: 52" or 1,320 mm
- Max. Tire Width: 4"
- Wheel Size Compatibility: 20 to 29"
- Security: Locking hitch pin and keyed cable lock (wheel locks sold secparately)
Pros
- Hold bikes with no frame contact
- More affordable than similar options from other brands
- Compatible with 1-bike add-on and LED light kit
- Relatively sleek looks
- Versatile bike fit
- Relatively high weight limit
Cons
- Lacks some refinement compared to higher-end competitors
- Opening wheel arms requires 2 hands
Hollywood Racks CrossTrack Details
The CrossTrack is a tray-style or platform hitch bike rack. The bikes rest on horizontal trays and are secured with opposing arms that sandwich the bike between the front and rear wheels. This style of rack has been around for years and was popularized by 1Up-USA and has since been employed by other brands, including Kuat, Saris, Rocky Mounts, and others.
The wheel arms only make contact with the bike’s tires, so there is nothing to scuff your frame’s paint or even your rims. The arms use a release button that needs to be held down when opening, and they ratchet closed when securing a bike or folding them down all the way.
Hollywood Racks states that the CrossTrack is compatible with 20” to 29” wheels and tires up to 4” wide. A 5-position adjustable spindle on the wheel arms accounts for changes in wheel size. Moving the wheel size spindle requires tools, but it is a fairly quick and easy process. If you need to change wheel sizes frequently, Hollywood Racks sells a knob version for $15, which makes it a tool-free affair. It’s worth noting here that the wheel arm design is not compatible with bikes with fenders.
Each tray also includes a wheel chock that is intended to add stability to the front wheel. These can be shifted on the tray (with tools and a few minutes), with two pre-drilled positions.
The CrossTrack comes in 1-bike and 2-bike versions and in 1.25” and 2” receiver sizes. It has a per-bike weight limit of 66 pounds, which should work for the majority of bikes out there, including full-power eMTBs. The 1-bike rack retails for $400, and the 2-bike version sells for $750, which is very competitive for racks of this style.
The 2” version has an anti-wobble cam, which eliminates play and stabilizes the rack in the hitch receiver. It’s easy to tighten with a threaded handle at the end of the receiver arm. The 1.25” version does not include the anti-wobble cam. The CrossTrack is approved for use on Class B motorhomes.
CrossTrack Specs
- 1-bike or 2-bike versions
- Rack weight: 1-bike: 37.5 lbs., 2-bike: 60 lbs.
- Hitch sizes: 1.25” and 2”
- Per bike weight limit: 66 lbs.
- Fit tires up to 4” wide
- Works with wheel sizes 20” to 29”
- Max wheelbase: 52” (1,320mm)
- ”No wobble” hitch system (2” only)
Security
The CrossTrack comes with a locking hitch pin with a fairly beefy metal lock pod as well as an 8-foot-long cable lock that’s keyed alike. In the middle of the rack, a welded lock loop makes an easy spot to lock through, whether you’re using the included lock or an aftermarket option. Hollywood also sells sets of wheel locks ($40), which can be keyed alike if ordered with the rack.
Other Accessories
Additional aftermarket accessories include a CrossTrack Loading ramp ($100) to roll heavy bikes into place on the trays. They also offer an LED light bar ($150) that functions as a brake light, turn signals, and emergency flashers. It connects directly to a 4-pin flat plug, but comes with an adapter to 7-pin round, too.
Add-Ons
When Hollywood updated the CrossTrack, they changed the tilt-release handle design and location, making it possible to add on to the rack. They now sell a 1-bike add-on kit that’s compatible with the 1-bike and 2-bike versions of the rack. The 1-bike add-on sells for $350.
When used to add a 2nd bike tray to the 1-bike rack, the add-on has a weight limit of 66 pounds. When adding a 3rd tray to the 2-bike rack, the add-on’s weight limit goes down to 50 lbs — the 1st and 2nd positions stay at 66 pounds.
Assembly
The CrossTrack comes in a fairly large box that weighs around 70 pounds. Inside, the rack is in a total of five pieces: the main hitch assembly/support arm, and each of the trays in two pieces. You can scan a QR code to watch an assembly video, and it comes with detailed printed instructions and all of the tools you need to complete the assembly. I found it to be relatively easy, and it took me just over 30 minutes to put the CrossTrack together.
Assembling the rack is easiest wth the hitch assembly in your vehicle’s receiver. Then, you simply join the two halves of the trays with the junction brackets and bolt them on. The supplied tools work just fine, but I used my own socket wrench to expedite the process. The instructions are thorough, and I think most people should be able to put the rack together themselves with little difficulty.
Right out the gate, I noticed the support arm had a little side-to-side play at the main pivot. This wasn’t really an issue in use, but I still took a few minutes and tightened the large bolt at the pivot until the play was gone. Now it doesn’t wobble at all, and the pivot still moves smoothly.
I used the Cross Track in its 2-bike configuration for a few days, then installed the 1-bike add-on. This process took all of 15 minutes. All you need to do is remove the rack’s end cap, then bolt the rack extension in its place. After that, you join the halves of the add-on tray and bolt it onto the rack.
I also got the LED Light Bar accessory, which I installed just recently. Again, this was super easy. It required removing the rack’s end cap, then bolting the LED bar in its place. The hardest part was routing the cable from the light to the 4-pin plug on my truck. Thankfully, Hollywood provides several stick-on clips for routing, plus a strap to contain any excess cord. I appreciated the inclusion of a 4-pin to 7-pin round adapter, which was needed for my setup.
Installation
Like most hitch racks, the hardest part of installing the CrossTrack is picking it up and carrying it to your vehicle. It weighs 60 pounds in its 2-bike configuration, so it isn’t super heavy, but it can be a bit awkward to carry given its shape. I haven’t weighed it with the add-on installed, but I’m guessing it added ~15 pounds to the total.
Regardless, all you need to do is insert the receiver arm into the receiver until the pin holes line up. Then, insert the hitch pin, and lock the rack onto the receiver. Turn the threaded knob on the end of the receiver arm to tighten the anti-wobble cam, and give a few shakes to ensure that all the play has been removed from the system.
Using the CrossTrack
The CrossTrack folds flat up against the rear of the vehicle when it’s not in use, and it has a fairly slim profile and generally tidy appearance. Pulling up on the tilt release handle allows it to pivot to three other positions: 45 degrees for access to the rear of the vehicle, flat for use, or tilted down for vehicle access with bikes loaded. This handle is easy to reach, making it a one-handed operation to raise and lower the rack when it’s empty.
Opening the wheel arms requires the use of both hands, which is my biggest complaint about the CrossTrack. You need to press and hold the red release button with one hand and use the other to open the arm. I quickly learned that this can get a little awkward if balancing a bike in one hand, and adapted my loading approach accordingly. I just started opening the arms before even wheeling the bike(s) out of the garage, or leaning the bike on the truck instead of trying to pull off some balancing act.
Comparatively, the piston-actuated arms on the Kuat Piston Pro X are very user-friendly, but that rack sells for over $1,500. Likewise, the latest racks from 1Up-USA have a one-hand-operable tab on the wheel arms that’s easy to use and helps you avoid awkward balance games. 1Up’s racks (with the one-handed tabs) are a bit more expensive than the CrossTrack, but they are also known for their legendary durability.
With the wheel arms open, lift the bike into place on the rack with the front wheel against the wheel chock. Push the front and rear wheel arms tight against the wheels, and you’re good to go. Racks like this can be a little prone to front wheel wobble, and the wheel chock reduces this significantly.
The 66-pound per-bike weight limit is more than enough for my needs. I’ve been using it to transport a Levo 4 Alloy (54 pounds) and a Levo 4 Evo (52 pounds) at the same time, and that hasn’t been an issue at all. Even with that much weight, it has been super stable at all times, and the bikes have remained super secure. Likewise, it handles my 30-pound trail bike and 25-pound Mach 4 SL cross-country bikes with absolute ease.
Bike-on-bike conflict hasn’t really been an issue for me while carrying the same types of bikes all the time. With three mountain bikes loaded at once, I was able to easily mitigate any possible handlebar interference by slightly offsetting the outermost bike (see photo below) so the tire wasn’t resting on the wheel chock. If you were to run into any significant handlebar conflict, potentially a greater issue with drop bars, you can shift the position of the wheel chocks, although this requires the use of tools.
With the add-on, I’ve appreciated having the option to carry a third bike when needed. It adds a bit of heft to the rack, so tilting up and down is a little bit more cumbersome, plus the release lever isn’t quite as convenient. Still, I haven’t found it to be problematic. The add-on is bolted on, so I’m inclined to leave it on all the time. That said, I think it would probably only take about 15 minutes to install and remove it once it’s assembled.
The LED light bar seems to work quite well. It’s fairly bright and appears to be of decent quality. It also has a spring-loaded pivoting design, so you can shift its angle along with the orientation of the rack. All you have to do is pull a little handle, and you can rotate it 90 degrees so that it’s always facing straight back.
In terms of security, the metal lock pod on the hitch pin seems pretty solid. The included cable lock is long enough to fit through 3 bike frames and the welded lock loop. I think it’s a nice inclusion and great to have as a theft deterrent for low-risk situations, but it could easily be cut by even simple tools — like most cable locks.
The wheel locks aren’t infallible either, but they add another couple of layers of security if you lock up both wheels. Seems like a bolt cutter could make quick work of them, but they’ll definitely deter an opportunistic thief. Long story short, don’t leave your bikes unattended on any rack if you can help it.
Final Thoughts
The updated Hollywood Racks CrossTrack builds on the solid foundation of the original version, which, in my opinion, already elevated the brand into a new performance category. While it may not be the most refined example of this style of rack, it is reasonably priced, and it doesn’t have any compromises that would keep me from using it on a daily basis.
My biggest complaint — needing two hands to open the wheel arms — is fairly minor and something that’s actually pretty easy to get used to. Otherwise, the CrossTrack carries any bike in my garage with ease, it’s stable and secure in transit, and it doesn’t look half bad, either. It’s also the least expensive rack of this type that I’m aware of. The 2-bike version is half the price of the Kuat Piston Pro X, and slightly less than the comparable 1Up-USA Heavy Duty, too.
In my experience, the CrossTrack is an easy rack to live with and gets the job done while leaving little to complain about. Now, updated with add-on capability, you can build a 3-bike, no-frame-contact (or rim) rack for $1,100, which is very competitive. If you’re searching for a new bike rack, I think the CrossTrack is another solid option that’s worthy of consideration.
