The Best Hitch Bike Racks of 2024

Thule has been making T2 models for many years and the T2 Pro XTR is the latest iteration that sits near the top of their line of hitch mount tray racks. This model has been around for years and recently has only seen minor updates to its tried and true design to enhance its user-friendliness. While the Kuat Piston Pro X might be our new favorite, that rack costs several hundred dollars more which decreases its appeal to the masses.

With a rock-solid tool-free mounting system that locks the rack onto your hitch and prevents it from wobbling, installing and removing it is quick and easy. Bonus points for the built-in wheels to help you roll it in and out of your garage when not in use, as it is fairly heavy. The tilt-release handle is large and easy to reach so you can fold the rack up or down easily with one hand while you balance a bike in the other. Loading bikes is quick and easy with large front tire trays with front wheel hooks and a ratcheting strap for the rear wheel, plus it holds them in place securely without any frame contact. Features like tooled side-to-side tray adjustments, extra space between bikes, 5″ tire capacity, 20-29″ wheel compatibility, a 50″ max wheelbase length, and a generous (e-bike friendly) 60 lb bike weight limit mean it will work with almost anything you ride.

The tool-free AutoAttach knob that makes installation and removal so easy also locks the rack to the vehicle. Integrated cable locks slide out of the front wheel clamps and can be looped around the bike frame to deter theft of your precious bicycles. It comes in both 2” and 1.25” receiver sizes, and a T2 Pro XT 2-bike add-on ($500) can increase your carrying capacity to 4 bikes. 

Our biggest gripe with this rack is one that it shares with most other hitch mount tray racks. Its bulky size makes it a little burdensome to store when not in use. The integrated bike locks work well enough, but that’s one area that could use a little improvement, and we’d always add an additional lock if leaving bikes unattended or out of sight for an extended period (as we would with any other rack). Otherwise, we feel you can’t go wrong with the durable, versatile, and user-friendly Thule T2 Pro XTR.

In our opinion, the Rocky Mounts MonoRail is among the best values you find for a tray hitch rack. This model performs alongside the more expensive competition despite costing several hundred dollars less. Yes, it still costs $500, and sure, you could pay a little less for a different model, but we think the MonoRail outperforms the less expensive models we tested. It’s impressively easy to use, highly versatile, and our experience has shown it to be very durable as well.

The MonoRail uses folding front wheel trays with hook-shaped clamp arms that fit everything from 5-inch wide fat tires to narrow road treads and wheel sizes between 20 and 29 inches. The rear wheel is secured with a ladder strap and it even comes with extenders to fit those fat bike tires. It has a 60 lb per-bike weight limit and the trays are intended to fit wheelbases between 36 and 50 inches (1,270mm), so it should be able to handle all but the smallest kid’s bikes or some extra-long mountain bikes. The trays are laterally adjustable as well, so you should be able to avoid bike-on-bike interference, even with drop-bar bikes.

The remote tilt release handle is easy to access to fold the rack up or tilt it down, even with bikes loaded. An included hitch pin lock and cable lock are nice touches to help deter opportunistic bike thieves with lock pods that are keyed alike for convenience. One of our staff has been using this rack for over five years (it has been converted to a BackStage Swing Away), and it is still going strong with only a little rust starting to show. Should you need to expand capacity, Rocky Mounts sells a 1-bike add-on (2-inch receiver size only) that can bump you up to three bikes.

Given the comparatively lower price of the MonoRail, our complaints about it are surprisingly few. One thing worth mentioning is the lock pods that come for the hitch and cable lock have plastic bodies that can be easily broken. We’d suggest upgrading to something more robust and maybe consider adding a burly chain lock to keep the bikes extra secure. It also sits pretty close to the rear of the vehicle and may require the use of a hitch extension to avoid handlebar contact on certain styles of vehicles. A select few vehicles with rearward-facing mufflers may also be incompatible due to the potential to melt the plastic with hot exhaust. Thankfully, this issue seems relatively limited.

Beyond that, we feel the Rocky Mounts MonoRail is a great rack that performs above the asking price. Want easy access to the rear of your vehicle? The Rocky Mounts BackStage is essentially the same rack directly mounted to a swing-away arm.

Kuat’s latest hitch rack model pulls no punches when it comes to design or price. Yes, it is very expensive, but that price is backed up with top-of-the-line performance and unique features that make it the best tray-style rack we’ve used. The Kuat Piston Pro X secures the bikes by the tires only so there is no frame or even wheel contact on your expensive bikes. The opposing clamp arms are incredibly easy to operate with One Touch hydraulic pistons that make loading and unloading bikes more user-friendly than other similar models. It also has Kuat’s signature tilt-release pedal that can be operated with your foot or hand to fold the rack up or down.

The Piston Pro X is also incredibly versatile as the clamp arms are easily adjustable without tools to fit wheel sizes between 18 and 29 inches and everything from skinny road tires up to 5-inch wide fat bike treads. It can even handle bikes with fenders when used with the optional fender kit. A maximum wheelbase of 53 inches, or 1,346mm, works with the longest of mountain bikes, and the 67 pounds per-bike weight limit (60 lbs for 1.25″ receiver version, 42 lbs off-road) means that it’s capable of carrying heavy electric bikes. Kuat even sells an optional loading ramp so you can roll them into place instead of straining to lift them. One or two bike add-ons are also available, and just as expensive, to increase your carrying capacity to 3 or 4 bikes. 

If you get the Piston Pro X delivered to your home, assembly is quite easy. It also comes with some robust security features including a beefy metal hitch pin lock and a thick, 12mm cable that’s long enough to loop through both the frames and the wheels of two bikes. As an additional safety measure, the anti-wobble cam in the hitch itself requires a security allen key that is housed securely at the end of the rack so it’s always there when you need it. Integrated LED lights function as both brake lights and turn signals and are impressively bright. Kashima-coated pistons add a touch of bling, the powder-coated finish looks good, and the almost entirely metal construction should help ensure you get your money’s worth. Kuat also sells a license plate mount kit should you wish to add one.

Like most tray-style hitch racks, it is fairly heavy at 63 pounds, it is also quite wide and bulky, and it takes up a bit of storage space when not in use. The cost of this rack is undoubtedly the most significant barrier to entry, but for those who are willing and able to spring for the Kuat Piston Pro X, we doubt you’ll be disappointed. Don’t need lights or Kashima-coated Pistons? The Piston Pro is essentially the same exact rack without lights and a black coating on the pistons that’ll save you $300.

For a more in-depth look, read our full review of the Kuat Piston Pro X.

The 1UP USA 2″ Heavy Duty Double Rack is a super popular tray rack option and the brand has a devoted following. Known for their durability, these racks often outlast the vehicles that carry them and are well worth the investment. Crafted entirely from steel and aluminum with replaceable metal hardware, there are no plastic parts to break and it won’t rust or corrode over time the way most other racks eventually do.

In addition to its legendary durability, the Heavy Duty Double is also impressively versatile. It can handle bikes up to 50 pounds each, fits 16” – 29” wheel sizes, and any tires up to 3.1” wide (and you can use their spacer kit for tires up to 5”). You can add on additional trays to extend the rack’s capacity to 3 or 4 bikes, too. It uses opposing ratcheting arms that sandwich the bike from the front and rear and touch only the tires, so there is no risk of damaging your frame’s paint or the finish of your rims. Also, the trays do not have a designated direction, so you can place your bike in the rack either way and adjust the bikes laterally to avoid bike-on-bike contact. 

The “tire hold” design and opposing ratcheting arms fold down to a very compact package when not in use, and when folded up, it sits close to the vehicle and is less obtrusive than many other options. It weighs a moderate 46 lbs, so carrying it isn’t too difficult, plus the trays fold in the middle making it one of the most compact and user-friendly tray racks to store when not in use. It also comes fully assembled, so all you have to do is remove it from the packaging and unfold it to prepare it for use. 

The Heavy Duty Double is also rated for use with RVs and travel trailers, as well as off-road use. The trays are also tiered slightly, providing a little more clearance for driving over water bars and the like. Have heavier bikes? The 2” Super Duty Double is essentially the same rack that can handle bikes up to 75 pounds. Have a 1.25” receiver? The Equip-D Double comes in both 1.25” and 2” sizes with similar functionality and a more convenient tilt-release handle. 1Up also sells a V Style Ramp accessory ($122) to make loading heavy bikes easier. In addition to accessories like light kits and locks, 1Up sells replacements for virtually every part of their racks.

There’s little not to like about the 1Up USA 2” Heavy Duty Double, but we found that the ratcheting clamp arms are not as user-friendly as some other models we tested, requiring two hands to open from their stowed position. The tilt-release mechanism is also more difficult to access, making it slightly more cumbersome to fold up when not in use (1Up sells the EZ Pull accessory to address this problem). It has an anti-wobble cam that requires a security allen key and comes with a hitch bar lock, but you’ll need to supply your own cable or chain lock to secure the bikes (something you probably want to do with other racks too).

If you’ve got a camper van or simply want wide open access to the back of your vehicle, we recommend the Rocky Mounts BackStage Swing-Away. While most brands offer pivoting swing-away attachments that can be added to your already expensive rack, Rocky Mounts integrated this awesome feature directly into the design of the BackStage. Not only does this weigh less than a rack plus a pivoting attachment, but it also costs significantly less than most rack plus attachment combinations. This rack uses the same design as their popular, affordable, and versatile MonoRail tray rack mounted directly to the swing-away arm and it keeps your bikes much closer to the vehicle.  

Loading bikes is easy and intuitive with folding front wheel cradles and clamp arms to secure everything from 5-inch wide fat bike treads down to skinny road bike tires and ladder straps for the rear wheel. It will work with everything from 20 to 29-inch wheel sizes and the 50-inch, 1,270mm max wheelbase means it works with all but the longest of mountain bikes. A 60 lbs per-bike weight limit makes it capable of transporting your heavy e-bikes as well. The well-positioned tilt-release handle makes folding the rack up when not in use or tilting it down a breeze. An included hitch pin lock and cable lock add some peace of mind and security for the rack and bikes it carries. 

Swinging the rack out involves loosening a large blue handle and releasing a pin before pushing it off to the side, and it can be done with or without bikes on the rack. Closing it is just as easy and it feels very secure and wobble-free. Our experience has also shown this rack to be quite durable, as one of our testers has been using the Backstage heavily for the past 5 years and it is only now showing some signs of rust and corrosion, though it still works perfectly. 

We found little not to like about the Rocky Mounts BackStage, but it should be noted that it does sit quite close to the vehicle. Those with Sprinter vans or cabover campers (this isn’t generally an issue for vehicles with sloping rear doors) may find that wide handlebars conflict with the rear of the vehicle and may need to purchase a hitch extension or turn the handlebar of the inner bike when in transit. At 59 pounds it’s still fairly heavy and bulky, and it isn’t the easiest to move around or store when not in use. Beyond those concerns, we feel the Backstage is a fantastic option for just about anyone, but especially those seeking easy access to the rear of their vehicle. 

We got our hands on Thule’s latest bike rack, the Epos, for some testing shortly after it was launched. Essentially an updated and improved version of the EasyFold XT, the Epos aims to carry just about any bike you could own with a high weight limit and unique attachment system while still being exceptionally lightweight and storable thanks to its folding design. The 2-bike version is sold with ($1,250) and without lights ($1,000), and it also comes in a 3-bike version without lights ($1,100).

One of the highlights of the Epos is its impressively lightweight and compact folded dimensions. At a mere 38 pounds (39.4 with lights, license plate holder, and ABUS lock installed) with a folding design, moving it around is quite easy with a carry handle at the top and integrated wheels to roll it. You can carry it like a suitcase and it takes up very little storage space. An optional rack cover is also available for the tidiest storage experience.

Installing and removing the Epos is quick and easy with Thule’s stinger pin and locking anti-wobble knob design. The adjustable hitch switches between 2 and 1.25-inch sizes should you need to use it with different size receivers. On the vehicle, the trays fold down and are ready to carry bikes. An optional loading ramp can be purchased for rolling heavyweight e-bikes up into position. It also has a tilt feature for easy access to the rear of the vehicle.

The Epos has a unique telescoping arm design that can clamp your bike on the frame or the rear wheel for no frame contact. The swiveling heads can be aligned perfectly to the clamping surface with long, steel-reinforced, locking, ratcheting ladder straps. Ladder straps on the trays secure the front and rear wheels for three attachment points and a secure hold in transport. An optional High-Grade cable lock made in cooperation with ABUS integrates into the rack for a second layer of bike protection.

Versatility is another highlight with a high weight limit and huge range of bike fit. 75 pounds per bike (140 lbs total) means it should handle even the heaviest of e-bikes, and the telescoping arms and long straps can fit just about any frame or bike style (including bikes with fenders). It works with tires up to 3 inches wide (up to 4.7 inches with XXL Fat Bike straps), wheel sizes between 16 and 29 inches, and the 53-inch (1,350mm) max wheelbase length is more than enough for all but some seriously long outliers. 

Our main complaint about the Thule Epos is that the loading and bike attachment process is a little more involved than other models with three ratcheting straps and a telescoping arm. The rack is also made with a lot of plastic parts, which may present some durability issues if handled or treated carelessly. It’s also quite expensive, and optional features like lights, the license plate holder, and the high-grade lock only add to the cost. That said, if storability, a versatile bike fit, and the ability to carry heavy e-bikes are on your list of priorities, it may well be worth the asking price. 

When 1Up USA acquired Recon Racks it was only a matter of time before the brand started producing their own vertical carry model, known simply as the 1Up Recon. This well-designed rack comes in both 5 and 6-bike versions, is made in the USA with an all-metal construction, and is backed by a lifetime warranty.  

Loading this rack is as easy as lifting your bike, placing your front wheel in the basket, and then looping the webbing cam strap through the rear wheel and over the pedal to secure it in place. The webbing strap holds the rear wheel against the lower crossbar while simultaneously keeping downward tension on the bike to prevent it from bouncing out of the rack on rough roads and keeping the pedals/cranks from turning and potentially doing damage to neighboring bikes. The Recon carries your bikes with no frame or fork contact.

The standard baskets can fit tires up to 3 inches wide and wheel sizes between 24 and 29 inches, so you can load mountain, gravel, or road bikes with no compatibility concerns. You also have the option to select Fat Bike (tires up to 5.1 inches wide) or Kids (wheel sizes 20 to 24 inches) baskets when purchasing, or you can buy them after the fact for $149 each. The 45 lbs per bike weight limit easily handles non-electric bikes and lightweight eMTBs, but many full-power electric bikes may be too heavy. 

The entire Recon rack is made from steel and it has a durable, black powder coat finish, and it is burly and exceptionally well-made. Beefy locking hardware holds everything together, and the massive pivot is overbuilt for stability, longevity, and smooth tilt operation, plus it comes with an anti-wobble hitch bar insert and a locking hitch pin. With bikes off the rack, the whole thing can be tilted down for easy access to the rear of your vehicle. It’s rated for off-road use and the vertical support is height adjustable so you can dial it in to your specific clearance needs.

Like other vertical racks, the Recon is heavy (92 lbs) and it is big. Moving it around and storing it when not in use is challenging without something like the 1Up Rack Stand ($309) which holds it upright and can be used to roll it as well. It also doesn’t come with any locks for the bikes, but 1Up sells a beefy, 9-foot, Recon-specific cable lock ($52), and a welded lock loop can be used with any aftermarket lock you choose.

At $1,200, the Recon 5 is very expensive but it still costs less than many tray racks with add-ons needed to carry four bikes. But, with legendary 1Up durability and a lifetime warranty, we feel the 1Up Recon Rack is an investment that’s sure to pay itself off over time. You can learn more in our full review of the 1Up Recon Rack.

VelociRAX brings the most bikes with 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7-bike versions of their vertical hitch bike rack. What sets this brand apart is their easy “roll in” design. Simply tilt the rack down and the tire trays get low enough that you can simply roll most full-size mountain bikes into place. Then just lift the rack and strap down the wheels and you’re ready to roll. When it’s time to remove the bikes, a “hinge assist damper” helps lower the weight of your loaded rack under control. Then just roll the bikes out as easily as you rolled them in. 

The wheel cradles support the bikes by the front wheel with no frame or fork contact, making it compatible with your road, gravel, and mountain bikes. Out of the box, it’ll fit anything from 700c road tires up to 29″ x 3.0″ mountain bike tires. They sell wider fat bike tire cradles separately to fit up to 5.0″ tires. Both the front and rear wheels get strapped down for security in transit. The standard racks have 10-inch spacing between bikes, while the X versions (available in 3 and 5 bike sizes) have 15-inch spacing that is more easily compatible with drop bar bikes.

The 55 lbs per bike weight limit (230 lbs max) means it can handle most full-power e-MTBs. They come with a 2-year warranty, and wear parts like wheel straps are available as well as accessories like lights and locks. VelociRAX also happen to be some of the most affordable vertical hanging racks on the market, and the price includes a garage mount, so you can safely stow it upright when not needed on the car

and use it to store your bikes in a compact space!  

Top tube hanging racks like the Yakima FullSwing aren’t our first choice for transporting our bikes, but they do make sense for many users. Sure, they have inherent limitations due to their design, but they are a relatively cost-effective way to transport 4 bikes for those that don’t obsess over the paint on their frames. These types of racks are geared towards families loading up for weekend trips, not for racers loading up carbon bikes.

The FullSwing can carry up to 4 bikes and it holds them by the top tube of the frame on its support arms with padded cradles. Curved ladder straps called Zip Strips secure the bikes over the top tube, and each bike position also has an anti-sway attachment for the seat tube. This attachment style is user-friendly, and we found it to be quite secure. One very nice feature of the FullSwing is that the entire rack can pivot out and away from the back of the vehicle for easy access, even with bikes loaded. The support arms can be folded down when not in use, and it takes up less space than tray or vertical hang racks.

It has a 40 lbs per bike weight limit and a max weight capacity of 150 lbs. It won’t carry your heavy e-bikes, but it should be able to handle most standard non-electric bikes that have traditional frame shapes. Bikes with curved top tubes or full suspension bikes with complex designs can also fit but may require the use of the Yakima TopTube adapter ($49). The rack can be installed and removed without tools and the locking SpeedKnob secures the rack to the vehicle, while a thin cable lock extends out of the mast to lock the bikes.

Due to the fact that this rack secures the bike by the frame, it could possibly damage your frame’s paint. It is very difficult to avoid bike-on-bike contact with multiple bikes loaded, and it can also be fairly puzzling, but totally doable, to load 4 bikes onto the rack. The top tube hang design is inherently less stable, and the bikes tend to bounce and sway more than other styles of hitch racks.

Limitations of top tube hanging racks aside, the Yakima FullSwing is a solid option for families, less frequent rack users, and those less concerned with the finish of their bikes. The swing-away feature adds a high level of convenience and easy vehicle access. Don’t need the swing-away feature? The Yakima FullTilt 5 ($499) is essentially the same rack with a tilt feature and 5-bike capacity, and it’ll save you a couple hundred bucks.

Coming at half the price, or less than half, of our top-rated models, the Kuat Transfer V2 2-Bike is a more affordable way to transport your bikes. Using a simpler design and overall construction, this rack saves you money while still handling virtually any type of bike you could own. It may not be quite as elegant or refined as more expensive options, but it performs similarly and holds bikes securely with no frame contact. The front wheel clamp only makes contact with the front tire and accommodates wheel sizes between 18 and 29 inches and tires up to 5 inches wide (with the optional Phat Bike Kit), while the rear wheel is secured with a simple ladder strap. It can handle wheelbases up to 50 inches, or 1,270mm, so it’ll fit most bikes except super long mountain bikes.

Weighing in at a diminutive 37 pounds, the Transfer is lighter than most other tray-style racks, making it easier to install, remove, and move around when not in use. Still, it has an impressive 60 lbs per bike weight limit. The 2-inch receiver size can also be chassis mounted to an RV, although the weight rating drops to 40 pounds per bike (2-bike version only, no add-ons). It also comes with a cable lock to secure your bikes to the rack, as well as an anti-wobble cam that requires a security allen key to adjust. These security features may not be infallible, but they certainly do a lot to deter theft of both the rack and the bicycles you carry.

Our complaints about the Kuat Transfer are surprisingly few. Given its lighter weight, less robust build, and some plastic parts, it doesn’t strike as the most durable rack around, yet we have seen them last for several years of regular use. The location of the tilt release foot lever can also be a little awkward to operate, especially with bikes loaded. You can’t adjust the bikes laterally, so some bike-on-bike interference may be an issue, especially with drop-bar bikes. It also has a bit more involved assembly process than many other models we tested, but thankfully you only have to do it once (or not at all if you buy it pre-assembled from a shop). 

We tested the Transfer V2 2-bike, but it is also available in one-bike ($389) and three-bike ($589) versions. Add the Transfer 1-bike extension ($189) to any of them and you can get up to four bikes on this model for about the same price as many 2-bike models listed here. Just make sure you buy the 2″ hitch version if you plan on adding the extension.

The Yakima StageTwo is one of the brand’s newest hitch rack models and it is the best that we’ve ever tested from the brand. This burly rack is not only easy to use and highly versatile, but it has an impressive 70 lbs per-bike weight limit. This rack can handle just about any bike you own, including most heavy e-bikes, and the optional RampUp loading ramp ($99) makes it easy to load them onto the rack. It’s also RV-rated up to 60 lbs per-bike and off-road rated to 42 lbs per tray.

While it is relatively heavy at 66 pounds, installing and removing the rack is otherwise very easy thanks to the tool-free SpeedKnob design that tightens the receiver arm in the receiver to eliminate wobbles and lock the rack to the vehicle. The tilt release handle at the end of the main support arm makes folding the rack up and down a snap and it can be tilted down and away for access to the back of the vehicle, even with bikes loaded. 

The large StrongArm hooks clamp down securely over the front wheel and accommodate wheel sizes between 20 and 29 inches and tires up to 3.25 inches wide, and the Fat Bike Kit makes it possible to carry bikes with tires up to 5 inches in width. The trays are designed to work with wheelbases up to 52 inches, or 1,320mm, with sliding rear tire cradles and ladder straps. For added visibility, Yakima also sells the SafetyMate ($219), a light and license plate kit to add to the StageTwo. We tested it, and it’s fairly easy to install and works quite well.

Not only does the SpeedKnob lock the rack to your vehicle, but the StageTwo also comes with cable locks that extend out of the clamp arms to loop through the frame or fork. Yakima also added a clever welded steel loop to the main support arm so you can attach an additional lock for added security. The trays are tiered slightly for ground and bike clearance, and the trays can be shifted laterally to try to avoid bike-on-bike interference, although this does require tools and a little time. Need to transport more than 2 bikes? The StageTwo 2-bike add-on ($599) can increase your carrying capacity to 4 bikes (2-inch receiver version only).

The StageTwo’s robust design and high weight capacity result in a rack that is undeniably big and bulky. This rack is not only relatively heavy, but it is also quite wide and will not disappear in your storage space. It’s also fairly expensive and extras like the RampUp loading ramp and Fat Bike Kit add to the price. That said, if you’re looking for a rack to transport your heavy e-bikes, or you simply want a tough and durable rack for everyday use, the StageTwo is the best Yakima rack we’ve tested.

The GuideRail is a newer model from Rocky Mounts and a departure from the tray racks the brand has been making for years. Similar to the 1Up or Kuat Piston Pro X, this rack secures the bike between two opposing wheel clamps and only makes contact with the tires. It won’t rub on the paint of your frame or fork, or even affect the finish of your rims. It also looks great with a nice black finish and anodized blue touch points, and the almost completely metal construction feels tough and durable. It can carry bikes up to 60 lbs each and a reasonably priced GuideRail 1-bike add-on ($280) can make it a 3-bike rack (2” receiver only), although the per-bike weight limit drops to 45 lbs each.

This well-designed rack is super easy to use with some slick design elements and security features that set it apart from similar models. The remote tilt release handle is easy to access to fold the rack up, down, or tilt it away from the vehicle. The wheel clamps are easy to operate with large release levers that allow for one-handed adjustment of the arms for easy loading. The clamp arms can fit everything between 19mm road tires up to 3” and wheels between 20” and 29” diameters. The tiered trays have space for bikes with wheelbases up to 55”, 1,397mm, which means they can fit just about any bike and there’s plenty of room to offset them laterally to avoid bike on bike contact. 

Not only is the GuideRail easy to use, but it comes with robust security features to keep your rack and bikes safe. It comes with a locking hitch pin as well as a burly 10mm square link chain that can be looped around your bike frames and locked into the main support arm of the rack. This chain lock is much more substantial than most included locks and feels like more than just a theft deterrent. 

We have a couple of nit-picky complaints about the GuideRail. While the clamp arms are adjustable for different wheel sizes, it does require tools (included) to do so. It also sits quite close to the rear of the vehicle and may require a hitch extension to keep handlebars from making contact with the back of certain vehicles like camper vans. It’s competitively priced among similar racks, though at $849.95, it still isn’t exactly inexpensive. Still, the Rocky Mounts GuideRail is a great option that holds bikes securely while making contact with the tires only, and we’d happily recommend it to anyone. Interested in this rack and want a swing-away feature? Check out the Rocky Mounts AfterParty.

Check out our full review of the Rocky Mounts GuideRail.

The Kuat NV 2.0 set a high bar for both its appearance and performance when it hit the market several years back. The slick design and gloss metallic powder coat finish really helped it stand out from the crowd with looks that turned heads. It’s been a mainstay in the Kuat lineup ever since, but it has recently been bumped from the top-of-the-line position by the Piston Pro X and Piston Pro. 

Like most quality tray racks, the NV 2.0 is highly versatile and can handle just about any bike you have up to 60 lbs each. The NV 2.0 carries 2 bikes, and 1-bike and 2-bike add-ons are available to expand capacity up to 3 or 4 (2” receiver size only), although this decreases the per-bike weight limit. The front wheel cradles and hook-shaped front wheel clamps can accommodate any tire size up to 5 inches and wheel sizes between 20 and 29 inches in diameter. The rear wheel strap slides along the tray to fit wheelbases up to 50 inches, or 1,270mm, and they will fit most tires (fat tires require the Phat Bike Kit). If you’ve got heavyweight e-bikes, an optional Access Bike Ramp ($98) is available to roll bikes up into position on the trays.

The rack is fairly heavy at 56 lbs, but it’s easy to install and remove with a knob to add tension to the anti-wobble hitch cam. A locking hitch pin keeps the rack itself secure, while integrated cable locks extend out of the trays and help deter theft of your bikes. The tilt release lever can be operated with your hands or feet and makes folding the empty rack up or down pretty user-friendly. The NV 2.0 (not the Base version) also comes with the Trail Doc, a mini repair stand that extends out of the rack. This makes maintenance and repairs on a road trip or at the trailhead quick and easy without having to bring along a separate work stand.  

Like similar racks, the NV 2.0 is fairly heavy and bulky, making it somewhat inconvenient to store when not in use. The trays are also fixed in position and don’t allow for any lateral adjustment to avoid bike-on-bike interference. The front wheel cradles do adjust slightly to compensate, but some bike combinations may conflict. The NV 2.0’s price is in line with many other high-end racks, but it’s certainly not inexpensive. If you want to save a hundred bucks, the NV Base 2.0 is essentially the same rack with a matte finish minus the Trail Doc.

For a deeper dive, check out our full review of the Kuat NV 2.0.

Heavyweight e-bikes are more and more common these days and the market has demanded that racks make them easier to transport. Yakima’s solution is the OnRamp, a hitch rack designed and marketed specifically for use with electric bikes. This model can carry two bikes, has a 66 lbs per bike weight limit (40 lbs RV and off-road), comes with a loading ramp, and has an attachment system that should work with most frame designs and bikes with fenders.

Lifting heavy e-bikes onto the tray of a rack can be a challenge for many, so the OnRamp comes with a loading ramp that’s conveniently stored on the rack itself (you don’t need to stash it in your vehicle). This ramp fits into a slot on either end of the trays, so you can easily roll your bike on or off the rack. A center mast between the two trays has two swiveling clamps that hold the bikes by the top tube or seat tube of the frame. These clamps are height and angle adjustable and should work with most, but possibly not all, frame shapes. Long ratcheting ladder straps secure the front and rear wheels to the trays.

The high weight capacity and roll-on convenience of the OnRamp are certainly highlights, but it’s also fairly lightweight at just 43 lbs. Since it holds bikes by the frame, it works with bikes with fenders and a range of wheel and tire sizes up to 3.25 inches. A FatStrap Kit ($20) can also be added to fit tires up to 27.5 x 4.5 inches. 

While the OnRamp is a solid option for transporting e-bikes, it has a few downsides. The loading process is a bit clunky and awkward compared to many other models we’ve tested. Keeping bikes stable while securing them on the rack can be a challenge until you get used to the process, and having the help of a second person isn’t a bad idea. Likewise, the tilt release mechanism is tough to reach and definitely requires two people to tilt the rack with bikes loaded. Since it holds bikes by the frame, there’s absolutely no avoiding frame contact, and the frame clamps might not fit tight enough on thin tubed frames or around super bulbous frames.

Still, once you get the hang of using it, the Yakima OnRamp is a solid solution for transporting heavy bikes, and it costs less than other e-bike-specific racks. 

North Shore Racks is one of the originators of the vertical hanging category and has been trusted by a lot of mountain bikers for many years. Their burly racks have been around for a while now and are a common sight on shuttle vehicles. The rack currently comes in 2, 4, and 6-bike versions and is the only one with a folding design to save space when not in use. It’s also height, angle, and setback adjustable, so you can fine-tune the position to work with your vehicle and the bikes you’re carrying.

The North Shore Rack uses a fork cradle rather than a wheel tray, meaning they are designed to work with mountain bikes that have suspension forks. The crown of the fork slots down into the padded cradles while the rear wheel gets attached to a horizontal bar with a short length of rope. More recently, they have developed a road bike adapter ($75 each) that allows you to hang both road and gravel bikes from the cradles with the front wheel removed. 

The North Shore’s weight limit of 60 lbs per bike gives it the highest weight rating of all the vertical hanging racks we’ve tried and makes it capable of carrying heavy full-power electric mountain bikes. Once you get the loading process figured out, always load from left to right, it’s quick and easy to get bikes on the rack for another shuttle lap. Replacements are also available for the wear parts, so it’s easy to keep your rack fresh for its lifespan. 

While the North Shore Rack is a great option for transporting lots of bikes, it’s not without its faults. Over time, the fork cradles have been known to wear the paint off of fork crowns and leave unsightly abrasion marks. The front wheels need to be secured with a bungee or rope or they will spin freely while you drive down the highway. It also lacks any security features like a hitch pin lock or cable lock, so you’ll need to add that yourself to keep your bikes and rack secure. 

Kuat has made a name for themselves with slick-looking racks that seem more appropriate on luxury automobiles than most other brands. The Sherpa 2.0 is one such model that boasts a beautiful and durable powder coat finish and comes in three color options to match your ride. Additionally, its compact design makes it less obtrusive than other tray-style models with stealthy, fold-out front tire trays and a smaller overall size.  

At just 32 pounds, the Sherpa 2.0 is one of the lightest tray racks on the market, so installing and removing it is a breeze compared to heavier models. Still, it can support two bikes up to 40 pounds each and is compatible with wheel sizes between 20 and 29 inches (20-24 inch wheels require using the included adapter) and tires up to 3 inches wide. Loading bikes is quick and easy with intuitive front wheel clamps and a ladder strap for the rear wheel. Included security features like a locking hitch pin and a long cable lock help to deter theft of both the rack and your precious rides. 

The Sherpa 2.0 does have some limitations, most notably the 40 lbs per bike weight limit that won’t support heavier electric bikes. Kuat also claims it is limited to bikes with wheelbases 47 inches, or 1,194mm, meaning that many of today’s modern mountain bikes will be too long. The trays are not adjustable laterally, so some bike-on-bike interference may be hard to avoid, especially with drop-bar bikes. Additionally, the rack’s tilt release lever position requires you to reach under the bikes to tilt it down when bikes are loaded. 

Regardless, we feel the Sherpa 2.0 is an especially attractive option for those who install and remove their rack frequently given its impressively low weight. If you transport lighter weight and smaller bikes primarily and don’t need to carry more than 2 at a time, the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is a user-friendly and reliable rack that not only works well but looks good doing it.

Yakima was the first of the big-name rack manufacturers to offer a vertical carry rack with the Hangover. This model comes in both 4-bike and 6-bike versions, and, similar to the North Shore Rack, is designed for mountain bikes with suspension forks. It holds the bikes by the suspension fork’s crown, secures them with rubber straps, and captures the rear wheels with ratcheting straps to keep everything tight.

The Hangover has a tilt feature with a foot pedal to provide access to the rear of the vehicle as well as two mast angles to avoid tire-vehicle contact when in transit. The mast height can also be adjusted slightly for ground clearance. It comes with a locking hitch pin as well as a welded metal loop to run your own cable lock through the bikes. 

Unlike most other vertical hanging models, the Yakima Hangover is more widely available and carried by many bike shops and major online retailers, so it is easier to find. The downsides are that it holds the bikes by the fork crown and can do damage to the paint over time. It also won’t carry your road or gravel bikes, or your eMTBs…max bike weight is just 37.5 lbs.