The Current features locking hooks to keep your bike safe. Give the gift of adventure with a gift card from rack warehouse. Are you with us? Thule aims to make every bike adventure as smooth as possible. Are the straps long enough? It always depends on the bike design and the distance between the rails of the rack. However, a lot of rack brands have longer straps that can be purchased separately. Once youve sorted all the legal requirements, you can start mounting the rack on the tow hitch. Like everyone else says ,wish I found this place years ago. I decided on one of his recommended picks based on what we wanted, ordered it, and it showed up two business days later in Virginia. Platform bicycle racks like the Thule EasyFold, hold bikes by both the tires and the frame. Robust design fits e-bikes and a wide variety of bikes, Fully foldable with folded dimensions 31 x 12 x 26 in. Add accessories or security to your Swagman rack, All of our racks are backed with a Limited Lifetime Warranty, Be the first to discover our latest products and receive exclusive offers, Carries up to two bikes with a maximum weight capacity of 60lbs per bike, Fits Class 2 , 1- and Class 3, 2 hitch receivers, Ratchet hooks are padded to protect your frames finish, Rack tilts back to allow access to rear of vehicle even when bikes are loaded, Locking threaded hitch pin and locking ratchet hooks. If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. Atera sent us the Strada E-Bike ML, which is the only hitch rack on test that cant be folded up, with the U-bar being its only part that can actually be folded down. Great experience - I've already recommended them to a colleague. Thule Apex XT Swing 4 hitch bike rack has all these perks and more! The tow hitch should be free of dirt and grease so that the rack doesnt slip. All the hitch racks on test can be tipped to get access to the trunk, or boot if youre in the UK. Unfortunately, there isnt one rack that can do it all. For example, when travelling to Italy, Spain and Portugal, youll have to carry a warning sign. Note: check that you have the right plug to connect the rack to the car, whether its got 7 or 13 pins! Copyright1994-2022 TheRackCompany. Free ground shipping on rooftop tents and orders over $99. This is especially true for clamp arms. After installing the racks on the hitch, we took two eMTBs and mounted them on the racks. The same applies to removable on-board computers, says Tamara Winograd, Head of Marketing and Communication at Bosch eBike Systems. Would you like to take your eMTB along on holiday or ride new trails that you can only get to by car? Will be my go to for future purchases related to kayak, sup etc. The space-saving foldable design allows you to fold it up when not in use. function setImg(i, s) {
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If youre transporting an ebike on a bike rack, the battery must be removed beforehand and safely stowed in the car. You should drop the saddles to get them out of handlebars way. Your order number and email address are optional and for internal use only. When loading the second bike, make sure that it faces the other direction to avoid crossing the handlebars. The registration plate on the rack must fulfil the same requirements as the registration plates on your car. We also excluded boot racks since they arent compatible with every car, requiring a certain hatchback design and the corresponding slot for the carrier in the body. If youre transporting lots of heavy bikes or ebikes on your next family vacation, look no further than a hitch bike rack. First, specify the size and class of your cars hitch receiver and then the number of bikes you want to carry. The extent to which they can be tipped varies between 50 and 90 degrees. To transport your bike with your car, you'll need a bike hitch rack. (JPG or GIF only, max size 3 meg). The combination of frame geometry, tube diameter and hitch rack doesnt always play well together. Most hitch racks come equipped with a mount that allows you to replace the registration plate quickly and easily. Notice:Fit on 2-inch receivers. If that isnt the case, the taillights, brake lights and indicators on the rack wont work. First of all, its important to inform yourself about the legal aspects and to consider things like the maximum vertical load, load capacity and license plate requirements. The included locking hitch pin is keyed the same as the locking hooks for convenient and easy security. Heavy-duty bike racks for your ebike adventure. Tip: Once youve found the right hitch rack, it makes sense to ask about the optional accessories that are available or to look for alternative aftermarket clamps and arms. The E-MOUNTAINBIKE Print Edition 2022 is our fifth annual edition and the ultimate guide in your search for the perfect eMTB. document.write('');
In addition to the fine, you also risk getting a traffic penalty point if your gross vehicle weight is overloaded by more than 20 percent. Thanks!! It looks like you're coming from United States. document.write(''); You can upload an optional image:
Tip: If youve got 2.8 inch wide tires that barely fit onto the rail, simply deflating them slightly can often do the trick, allowing you to transport these bikes just as safely. "Awesome customer service, best prices. Warranty, Address: 3553 Placentia Ct, Chino, California 91710. He answered all of my questions, explained the differences, what type of hitch worked best for what we wanted, and he didn't seem to mind explaining things. var onstar = false;
Will definitely be using you guys in the future. var fixed = 4;
You get reversible boards that can be used for both countries. With racks that can be tipped by 90 degrees, you should note that very wide mountain bike handlebars are likely to hit the ground. Before buying, its important to check whether the rails on which the bike will be placed are wide enough for eMTBs. Thule Apex XT is a hanging hitch bike rack that can carry up to 5 bikes. "I was trying to determine which style of bike carrier would best suit our needs and getting more and more confused as I read more and more articles and reviews. $('#review_rating').val( fixed + 1);
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The maximum vertical load of the tow hitch determines how heavy the rear rack, including the bikes, can be. if (r && fixed != -1) setTimeout('resetstars()', 500);
Do you need a rack that can be tipped by 90 to access the boot or is less enough? Almost all the hitch racks we tested were foldable, which made it easy for them to be fitted by one person. + i + '" onmouseover="star(this, true)" onclick="starclick(this)"> ');
It also comes ready to fit your fat tire bikes up to 5 wide. Before going abroad, you should study the specific regulations applicable to the countries youre driving through. Robust and lightweight, these bike racks take seconds to install on your hitch receiver and carry up to 5 bikes. If things are tight, you can remove the pedals to prevent them from clipping one another. fixed = getI(t);
It should also be noted that the maximum weight per ebike is 30 kg for all racks. According to German law, the bikes arent allowed to protrude more than 40 centimetres beyond the edge of the rack tail lights. Youll find further information about the individual racks and their peculiarities in the individual reviews, helping you choose the right rack for your needs. Click here to learn more. if (onstar) { setTimeout('resetstars()', 500);
A hitch bike rack from Thule is a great choice if you and your friends or family want to head out on new adventures with your bikes. We never sell email addresses. However, Westfalia have recognised this problem and their latest models will come with wider 2.75 rails. Spoiler alert: not every hitch rack was compatible with every combination of bikes. The locking ratchet hooks and locking threaded hitch pin keep your bikes and rack secured to your vehicle. There is nothing better than exploring trails, routes and landscapes aboard an ebike. Due to their weight, no more than 2 eMTBs can be loaded onto the hitch rack. We tell you what to consider when planning to transport your eMTB by car. Weighing in at only 36lbs, single-speed belt drive provides a smooth ride. function resetstars() {
Become an E-MOUNTAINBIKE supporter and lets shape the bike scene together and make E-MOUNTAINBIKE(n) even better! No more traffic delays, No more boring commuter. The back of certain vehicles might get in the way of the handlebar, in which case youll have to loosen the stem and turn the handlebar sideways and tighten the stem again. AllRightsReserved. document.write("");
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p = (fixed != -1 && i < fixed) ? The rack manufacturers are aware of this and offer additional accessories. e = document.getElementById("star-" + i);
Finding the hitch bike rack thats perfect for you and your car couldnt be simpler. Then you can choose a platform for easier loading and unloading or a tiltable carrier that swings away to give you access to the trunk of the car. For example, in Germany you only get fined if the maximum permissible weight is exceeded by more than 5 percent. Get the latest news & offers! As such, its possible that a hitch rack that worked well with our bikes wont be as good with the bikes you have. There isnt one rack that can do it all. Spread over 270 pages of high-quality print, we offer you a comprehensive buyers guide, reviews and details of 27 bikes. console.log("review rating:" + $('#review_rating').val());
All the hitch racks on test have a maximum load capacity of up to 60 kg. To prevent this from happening, you must loosen the stem and tilt the handlebar sideways, which comes with additional effort when loading the bikes. Copyright 2022 E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine. However, theyve usually been developed for use on mobile homes and the manufacturers advise against using them on the hitch rack of your car. Outstanding 400lb cargo capability, 840Wh battery capacity, and a 750W motor allow for a 60-mile journey on a single charge. If you dont like puzzles, youll need nerves of steel. Sometimes you need to take your bikes on a trip before they can do the same. The good thing is that once the system has been set up for your bikes and you know how everything fits, loading them is quick. Its important that the heavier bike gets loaded first, putting it closer to the vehicle so that it has less of a lever effect on the rack. Ordered sup rack today and they had it picked up and FedEx enroute same day. First ride review of the 2023 Bosch eBike ABS The safety revolution for trekking, touring and even trails. According to the manufacturers of certain models, you can drive up to 130 km/h. You shouldnt cover the bike with a tarpaulin either, as this would create excessive wind resistance and thereby unnecessarily increase your fuel consumption. Depending on the degree of the violation, fines can range from 10 euros to 235 euros. There are a few points to observe, which are always explained in the hitch rack user manual. You should remove all the accessories from your bikes before transporting them so that they dont fly off the bike while driving. Please check your spam box if you didn't hear from us. The hitch must be able to cope with the total weight, otherwise you risk some serious damage to your vehicle and bikes, not to mention other vehicles or pedestrians. So its best to remove the frame bag and pump, and put them inside the vehicle. } else { star(document.getElementById('star-' + fixed), false); }
In our example that would be 55 to 63 kg, depending on the rack. Each country usually sets its own tolerance limit. However, if the total weight of the rack is 18 kg and the maximum vertical load of the hitch is 70 kg, youre left with a maximum of just 52 kilograms for the two bikes. In Germany, for example, it must comply with the DIN standard and have a corresponding test mark with the associated registration number. And it becomes even more complicated when you want to carry 2 bikes. Where can I find the maximum vertical load? How heavy are the bikes that you want to transport? We also provide a lot of specialist knowledge, behind the scenes information and a report on the hottest trends all of this is wrapped in a high quality print format. Because not everyone can lift a 25 kg ebike onto the roof of their car. Even when loaded with bikes, the Current tilts away from the rear of your vehicle making for easy access. Alternatively, Thule offers a Carbon Frame Protector for their EasyFold XT2 carrier. The only answer we can give is: it depends. If they do, it must be indicated on both sides with a white light facing forwards and a red light facing to the rear. I called The Rack Warehouse and the person I spoke with was great! If you want to go on a holiday with your eMTBs, youll have to consider the legal aspects such as the maximum vertical load and license plate requirements before purchasing a hitch rack. If you get stopped by the police in Germany and dont have a registration plate on the rack, youre liable to pay a 60 euro fine. Join our email list for new product releases, sales, promotions, newly added brands, and more. Words: Susanne Feddersen, Manne Schmitt Photos: Manne Schmitt, Robin Schmitt. Size: 53" x 29.5" x 42" (135 x 75 x107cm). If you want to be on the safe side, make sure that the mounting mechanism is lockable. Fits most bikes regardless of the frame design. Plus, the EasyFold has an optional EasyFold Bike Ramp available to roll your heavy bikes on and off the rack. All the racks were packed in boxes when we received them. function getI(t) {
The clamp arms are often too short, too long or the clamps themselves cant grab the oversized tubes. Sustainability megatrend: Snake oil, eyewash or clear innovation? We tested 5 hitch racks for eMTBs and tell you what to look for to avoid disappointment and get to your destination in one piece. document.write('