Some enthusiast travellers prefer transporting their bikes from a place to a place on a car rack. In short, you can use the bike to hold mountain bikes while travelling. You will find such a feature mostly on the rear parts of your car. Without wasting much time, this article is all about selecting the best mountain bike rack for a car.

The racks which are installed at the rear bottom of the car through a hitch are called hitch rack and which racks are installed by mounting it over the back trunk of the vehicle is called a trunk-mounted rack. All these bike racks come as convenient and straightforward to install.

Reviews of the Best Mountain Bike Rack for Car

There is no dearth of mountain bike racks in the market, but not all of them are of outstanding quality. A standard mountain bike rack must have some common qualities as well as essential features. Every part of the rack needs to be made of excellent material to have a good carrying capacity.

As most of the time, people carry bikes during their family outing, so a mountain bike rack also ensures the stability, that the bikes or the vehicles do not get damaged anymore. These features make them convenient to use. We did extensive research and compiled a list of the best mountain bike rack for the car considering all the basic and extra features that a bike rack needs to possess. This review must be useful while purchasing the best bike rack.

Swagman XC Hitch – Best Sturdy Mount Rack

 

Swagman XC rack is well constructed, sturdy, and straightforward to install a bike rack, which takes only five minutes to assemble and load. it boasts impressive features like;

Features and benefits

• Robust construction: The powder coat finish creates rust as well as corrosion resistance.
• Foldable center arm: This arm comes as foldable and enables access to the rear of the vehicle along with the bikes loaded.
• Adaptable wheel cradles: They are adaptable and maintain original wheel sizes. Adjustable Ratchet arms come along with the ability to also hold bikes of every size.
• Stable design: Stability, as well as a solid grip, is very necessary for bikes, particularly when you can’t keep it on a check once the vehicle moves. The holding devices are sufficiently incorporated along with foam so that the bike doesn’t scratch on it.
• Built-in anti-wobble hitch: Such a feature excellent in preventing the rack and the bikes from swinging or jiggling.

Pros

• Carries up to two bikes
• Inexpensive
• Easy to assemble
• Made of excellent quality steel
• Comes with a built-in anti-wobble hitch device
• We can fold the center mast down

Cons

• Nothing found

This bike rack also has the ability to give that necessary stability along with an anti-rattle bolt which can keep most of the wobble within the hitch as well as the rack.

Allen Sports Hitch – Best Mounted Bike Rack

 

The best point about Allen Sports Mounted Bike Rack is the range of bearing capacity from 2 bikes to a maximum of 5 bikes. That is amazing to me.

Features and benefits

• Impressive hitch sizes: It comes along with the ability to provide you not only a different number of bikes carrying capability but also gives original sizes of hitches.
• Sturdy construction: The rack comes as sturdy enough, we can feel the look.It also comes along with the feature of a rapid tilt-away mast that you can tilt it along with just one hand and get satisfied with the work if the rear trunk of the vehicle requires to be removed.
• High-quality materials: The manufacturers make cradle straps of durable, high-quality UV resistant rubber, assisting to protect the bike even when it is completely tied.
• Wobble-less: It hardly wobbles as well as sways on the road along with five bikes on it. It ensures speed bumps because of no wobble bolts.

Pros

• Fantastic technicalities construction
• The rotatable mounts
• Very Easy Hitch lock mechanism
• Quick Secure Straps
• Dual Compound Cradles

Cons

• Little expensive

When these features are combined with the lifetime of the warranty, you get the best bike rack ever.

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Swagman XTC2 Hitch – Best Lightweight Bike Rack

 

Swagman XTC 2 Hitch Bike Rack comes as a lightweight mount carrier which is constructed of steel. The construction is really exciting and well-thought.

Features and benefits

• High-quality materials: It has a powder-coated premium finish. The side arms on the mast must have the ability to move up and down swiftly.
• Impressive innovations: Locking hitch pin, security cable, as well as fat bike tire trays you have to purchase separately.
• Highly-versatile: This versatile rack can conveniently adjust to the original sizes of bikes. It is also easy to carry.
• Minimalist design: This compact rack can fold up correctly for storage on the back of the car. You need just two minutes to slide the rack out from your car.
• Convenient: Once your bikes are placed in the rack, they are protected in all situations. The rear trunk of the car can be opened fully even while we mount the rack.

Pros

• Carries up to two bikes
• Soft-coated ratcheting bike hooks
• Adjustable wheel hoops
• The rubber straps

Cons

• For first few times operating the rack may be difficult
• It might wobble a little in rough tracks

This rack comes along with the ability to provide you a very good value for money and includes Swagman’s limited lifetime warranty.

Tyger Auto 4-Bike – Best Carrier Rack

Tyger Auto Bike Rack is another unique looking mountain bike rack. It comes along with an exclusive design as well as very well-constructed design. It has the capability to carry up to 4 bikes easily.

Features and benefits

•  Robust construction: The bike rack, manufactured from solid steel, conveniently gathers within a few minutes and requires less time to install the bikes. Once the bikes are placed in this rack, we can depend on it even when the car is on the roughest of the roads.
• Flexible and stable cradles: The cradles come as movable and you can lock it at the spot according to your choice. The holding mechanism of the cradles guarantees your maximum security. It also comes along with quality to provide the bike’s stability and does not sway or bounce.
• Tilting technology: Though it assumes you load the bikes, meaning that you can’t use the rear trunk without unloading the bikes, the tilting mechanism of the rack makes sure the convenient entrance to the rear trunk properly.

Pros

• Accommodates up to four bikes
• Original Equipment
• Provides hitch pin lock to secure the rack
• Soft cradles and bar cushion

Cons

• Straps loosen if not fastened carefully
• Not suitable for Toyota Tacoma

This bike rack includes a TYGER No-Hassle Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Allen Sports Hitch – Top Quality Mounted Bike Rack

 

As good as all other Allen bike racks, the manufacturers make Allen Sports Hitch Mounted Bike Rack with durable materials.

Features and benefits

• Sturdy deluxe bike rack: The manufacturer uses solid steel and is also straightforward to install and assemble.
• Foldable carrying arms: It provides folding carry arms suitable for parking the car occupying very less space. Because of these foldable arms, it needs not to be unloaded from the vehicle as well as can be kept hitched enduringly.
• Wobble-free: The no-wobble bolt enables the rack to be fully tightened and supports the rack to hold the bikes securely with no swinging or bouncing on bumpy roads as well as pavements.
• Cushioned straps: The straps, as well as tie-downs, are cushioned and constructed of suitable quality material to evade scratches on the bikes.

Pros

• Significant Support
• Sturdy, and High-quality material
• Enough space
• Have a no-wobble bolt to provide maximum stability

Cons

• Need to buy an adapter separately

The above features should be enough for you to decide. The product also incorporates Allen’s lifetime guarantee.

Swagman Chinook Hitch – Best Quality Bike Rack

 

Here is another Swagman bike rack that can be a suitable substitute to the above options.  Chinook Hitch Bike Rack is well-deserved to hold a place in our best mountain bike rack for the car list.

Features and benefits

• High-quality materials: It comes as sturdy and constructed of solid materials.
• Highly stable: The mechanism applied to make its unfamiliar parts to guarantee maximum stability. The bikes are held in place even if the road is rough and also when taking sharp turns.
• Tilt bar: The rack comes along with a particular bar to tilt the rack along with the bike to enter the rear cargo area. If it does not burden the rack along with bikes, fold the mast down as well as then access the rear truck.
• Foldable: You can easily fold up the rack against the rear door when it is not being used. The wheel cradles look somewhat distinct from other bikes’ wheel cradles.

Pros

• Carries two bikes
• Sturdy construction
• Corrosion-resistant
• Adjustable ratcheting locking hooks
• Can be tilted down with the bike

Cons

• Expensive

The cradles have ratcheting straps as well as protective cushions protecting the bike wheels from damage.

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Hollywood Racks – Best Multi-Position Mount Rack

 

This Hollywood Racks Mount Rack comes as a trunk mount rack that you can install in such a way that the rear trunk can be accessed conveniently.

Features and benefits

• Multi-position hinges: Being the prime reason for being such a versatile rack as well as fitting to every type of vehicle.
• No bike collision: It comes along with the ability to provide you 14.5-inch spacing between each bike and stops bike to a bike collision.
• Easy installation: It takes just a moment to load on the trunk as well as another one minute to dismantle it. It also comes with an integrated tie-down strap for additional security.
• High-quality straps: The straps come as long and constructed of nylon, making it corrosion resistant. It is pre-assembled as well as also available for storage.

Pros

• Affordable
• It can carry up to three bikes
• Pre-assembled
• Foldable
• Multi-position hinges
• Has an integrated tie-down strap for securing the bikes

Cons

• Carrying woman bikes can be difficult
• Though it takes just a minute to install

This is a strong bike rack at a very affordable price. Besides, the rack includes a limited lifetime warranty. 

Allen Sports Ultra Mounted – Best Capable Bike Rack

 

The Allen Sports Ultra Mounted Bike Rack is best for carrying one bike, but you can still use it to carry up to 2 bikes yet is great as a one bike carrier.

Features and benefits

• Minimalist design: The bike rack comes as compact plus ends up too small that it can comfortably fit in a medium-size bag.
• Highly portable: The carrying bag also incorporates the bike rack itself as well as so it is straightforward to carry and handy to store. Its classic design includes 3 security straps.
• Flexible trunk: Among the three, the one which you can use at the bottom of the trunk is flexible and supports it to adjust the bike in such a way that it can provide you security from bouncing.

Pros

• Carries up to two bikes
• Pre-assembled
• Compact
• Fits in a medium-size bag comfortably
• The connectors are very secure
• Leg rests are padded to prevent the damage
• Has 3 security straps ensuring ultra-protection

Cons

• Folding the rack is a bit tricky unless you have excellent practice in folding it

You can opt for this rack because it’s the most affordable one from our list without compromising the condition of the rack. As good as all other Allen bike racks, this one also has Allen’s lifetime warranty.

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Saris Bones 801 – Best Heavy Duty Mount Rack

If you are unsatisfied with the above options, here might be your choice. The manufacturers make saris Bones Mount Rack of 100 percent recyclable heavy-duty plastic, being one of the strongest trunk mount bike racks.

Features and benefits

• Sturdy design: The injection-molded arms, as well as legs, make sure the solid built and secure the rack corrosion resistance.
• Various colors: This rack comes along with the different color options, and you will have found some colors that have a charitable purpose separate from other mount bike racks. You will be able to pick the rack by matching it along with your car color or act up to your preference.
• Several straps: You will have a total of six straps to mount the rack on the trunk. Two straps included along with the rack are for the top, 2 for the bottom, as well as the rest 2 for the side towards the bumper.
• Easy installation:  It comes as a pre-assembled bike rack. The width of the support arms, as well as the legs, can be adjusted too.
• Rubberized leg: Such a feature is great in protecting the vehicle from damage.

Pros

• A good range of colors
• The design is unique and sleek,
• The sturdy body ensures maximum stability
• The arc-based design is bikes on different levels
• Ratcheting anti-sway coated straps

Cons

• Might wiggle a little on SUVs

This mount rack comes with a lifetime warranty, which I am sure will serve you better.

BV Bike Bicycle Hitch – Excellent Mount Rack Carrier

 

The last option on our list is the BV Bike Bicycle Hitch Mount Rack. It is excellent for SUV trunks.

Features and benefits

• Tilting mechanism: You can easily tilt the rack even when the bikes are mounted on it to locate the rear trunk.
• Easy installation: This rack is very simple to assemble and installing it on the trunk is also extremely simple.
• Three-point connection system: The manufacturer also equips this rack with such a feature to assist secure the bikes.
• Wobble-free: It comes along with a 2-way anti-wobble system that serves to reduce the wobbling between the rack as well as a hitch.
• Rear safety reflector: Here is a unique feature of the rack that aids in dispensing the rack and bikes when night driving.
• Minimalist design: You can fold it upwardly even when the rack is hitched along with the bikes.

Pros

• Two carrying capacity
• Safety reflector
• The 2-way anti-wobbling design
• Tilts back very easily
• Tray-style loops

Cons

• Nothing found

Thanks to the three-point connection system, owing to having such a feature means it has two tray-style arms on the bottom and one vertical arm on top to hold the bike sturdily and stops it from swinging.

Buying guide

Like the way you can determine the best mountain bike, the process to determine the best bike rack is similar. You are lucky because we have explained a few factors that you should consider before choosing the best mountain bike rack for your vehicle.

Installation

What is the installation type? Will the rack be compatible with my car? These are only but a few questions you should stick in your mind. You should opt for those racks that are compatible with the design of your vehicle. Yes, and therefore this becomes the first and foremost parameter.

For instance if you own a hatchback that doesn’t feature a hitch, tailgate pads and hitch mount racks should not be your priority. Therefore, you will have to concentrate on trunk or roof racks.

Stability and durability

This is another reliable factor that should also guide you towards the best bike rack. Owning a trunk with robust construction is the best idea for excellent performance. The rack should be good enough to hold your bike firmly in place.

How about driving when the rack is swaying, yet you are on a highway? It’s hectic because if not careful, you can cause an accident. On the other hand, you consider sturdiness since it plays a vital role in enhancing the lifespan of a certain rack.

Padded Security Points

For you to maintain the quality and nature of your bikes, padded security points should be considered. Such a feature is essential in ensuring that your bike remains scratch-free after the journey. Failure to consider the parameter may land you a low-class bike rack that will cost you.

Bike Slots

Most manufacturers produce racks that can accommodate either one, two, three, and even four bikes at the same time. So, if you plan to ferry your whole family for cycling, then opting for a rack that holds several bikes is the best idea. For this reason, Tailgate pads remain the roomiest and since they can accommodate up to seven bikes.

Ease of Use

You don’t have to spend much of your time installing or operating the bike racks. Instead, you should concentrate on other useful activities. You require a bike rack that is stress-free giving you no headache whenever you try mounting it on the car. Don’t forget the rule of simplicity.

Remember, foldable models can also prove the ease of use in a certain bike rack.

Convenience

Manufacturers make their bike racks more convenient to install and use to meet market demands. However, you should highly avoid a car’s trunk that has a trunk-mounted rack; it is inconvenient. For this reason, a hitch rack isn’t problematic as it allows you to adjust the bikes down, creating more space on your trunk.

Now, you should consider how often you intend to use your bike or bikes so that you buy an easy to use bike rack.

Locking Cables

The last factor but not least is the locking cables. Some manufacturers may decide to incorporate their bike racks with built-in or separate locking straps. On top of that, the cables may be made of fabric, metal, or plastic. It doesn’t matter, what you need is to invest in the sturdiest locking cables to prevent theft cases. This implies that low-quality ones can leave you bike-less.

 OutdoorSavvy Overview:

After you are through with all the above sections, allow us to end our reviews about the best mountain bike rack for a car. You all understand that owning a mountain bike is the best idea for not only exercise purposes, but also enjoyment. A rack can help you move around with your bike whenever going out for cycling.

You should do this report to get a reliable mountain bike rack for a car. Don’t forget to buy a product that meets your certain demands.