Who still does this?
Carrying your bike inside the car is a long-gone thing.
It’s an unpleasant mode of transportation and will leave your vehicle all messy or some parts torn.
What is new nowadays? Everyone is looking for bike racks.
It’s a modern and the safest way of carrying your bike to wherever life leads you.
In our review today, we will be looking at the six best bike racks for SUVs.
Some of the questions we will try to answer are what these; What are the new technologies?
What are the best brands to consider? And what is the best price range?
Before we go into the real thing, it’s important to note that there are three types of bike racks.
The differences are on the design and make, which tries to meet the varying tastes of consumers.
I. Roof Holder Bike Racks
Roof Holders are not common types of bike racks for SUV.
Though their penetration in the market is something you should consider
They comprise a frame and two crossbars that are attached to the roof of the vehicle.
Roof holders bike racks use clips and mounting feet to connect to the SUV.
After our analysis in the market, we found two types of roof holder bike racks.
The first type requires all wheels to remain on the vehicle while the second doesn’t.
The latter is the best for huge SUVs because they are lighter and easy to load.
Bike racks that will keep both wheels on the vehicle are huge, less sturdy, and more expensive.
II. Hitch-Mount Racks
Hitch mounts bike racks use the space at the rear to carry the bike.
This means that you have to do away with the spare tire if it’s there.
Since most SUVs come with a hitch mount, what you need is a compatible bike rack.
The racks have different shapes, sizes, styles and can carry between 2- 5 bikes.
When compared to the roof racks, they are less multipurpose.
Still, you will appreciate that they don’t add resistance to speed and also reduce gas consumption.
The bikes are held by Velcro straps, vertical staff, or trays.
Because of the ergonomic design, they are the easiest racks to install.
And in most cases, the manufacturers provide instructions to help you when stuck.
III. Strap-on Trunk Bike Racks
So what do you do when you don’t want to carry your bike on the roof of your SUV doesn’t have a hitch receiver?
For me, I’d prefer using strap-on Trunk bike racks which is the simplest solution.
They are versatile bike racks that can fit on any vehicle.
Plus, they are compatible with a wide array of bike frames.
Strap-on bike racks are incomparably very light and easy to install.
As a result, you don’t need tools when installing up to two bikes.
We will put all these in one basket and look for the best racks across all the categories.
You can have a look at this review if you want a more detailed guide.
So are you ready to get your ideal bike rack? Then let’s read on.
1) Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks for 2 in Hitch
Allen Hitch bike racks boast 2 popular models on the market.
First on the list is a 4-Bike carrier with extra features for an easy and convenient carriage of your bike.
The item is 22 inches long with an additional tie-down system for individual bike support.
It ensures that your bike is tightly held and can withstand the shaking when riding on rocky roads.
It ensures that your heart doesn’t skip a beat when your ride over a boulder.
You can drop the arms when not carrying a bike which creates convenience.
As a result, you make room for storage in the boot.
The Allen Deluxe Sports 4-Bike Hitch Rack is made entirely out of steel.
This mentions that it’s not the lightest product out there.
Nevertheless, you will love the stability and strength it offers.
The manufacturers added a unique black powder finish to increase durability.
It has no huge difference from the S545 model if you put price and utility into perspective.
You will still get features like dual compound cradles, foldable carry arms, and secure straps.
But when you want a product with a compact design, padded legs and rapid tilt mass-away, S545 might be an ideal choice.
2) Swaggman Upright Roof Mount
Roof holder bike racks are not famous when it comes to the safety of bikes.
But with Swagman Upright Roof mount, you can throw the negative words to the wind.
It’s the most popular rooftop bike holder and not for nothing.
According to Stats & Reports, Swagman will be one of the highly purchased bike rooftop bike mount between now and 2025.
Here are the reasons why. First, it’s an easy to fit rack which works well with huge bike tires with an extra tray.
The rack can fit into two SUVs with receivers measuring 2 and 1¼ inches.
Once you have set it up, you tie it with ½ inch locking pin to prevent it from dislodging.
It can comfortably carry one bike measuring 35 lbs and you won’t have to worry about stability or balance.
Thanks to the robust security features which is an anti-wobble device that keeps the bike in place.
Swagman rooftop bike is made with hardened steel weighing 32 pounds.
If you are not carrying your bike, you can fold it vertically to save space in the storage room and the car’s boot.
Lastly, the rack doesn’t mind the frame of your bike as its universal.
All it wants to do is to ensure you reach your destination safely.
3) Tyger Auto TG-RK1B204B Deluxe Black 1-Bike Trunk
This one of the best strap-on bike rack you will find on the market today.
It can carry only one bike, which is not that bad.
Besides, it gives you the freedom you need for solo-riding in the upcountry.
Plus, the feature mentions that the Tyger TG Auto bike rack is affordable.
At the same time, the item is not the right choice if your family craves to go with you.
Since Tyger TG Auto rack is a strap on-on rack, it only fits vehicles without spoilers like a spare tire.
You have to remove it to create space. It is exceptionally sturdy for heavy bikes.
The individual soft cradles will protect the bike frame to avoid wobbling on rough roads.
It’s also important to note that the product has black E-coating for rust resistance.
While it may appear as an intricate item, installing is easy.
If you are stuck, you can always reach the instructional guide.
The downside of the rack is that you can’t open the boot before you remove the rack.
The process is not difficult either but it will inconvenience you in some circumstances.
4) Allen Sports DELUXE TRUNK MOUNTED BIKE RACK
If you are familiar with products from Allen sports, you will notice that they like upgrading previous products using innovation.
Their main upgrading point is the design, which they try to make more patent an ergonomic.
This is what inspired them to make the Deluxe trunk-mounted rack.
The design resembles a spider web. It fits not only SUVs but also hatchbacks, Sedans, and minivans.
Before your purchase, talk to the manufacturer first to get the specific product for your car.
Allen Sports deluxe weighs around 70 pounds, which is a bit lighter.
It comes when fully packaged, ready for installation.
It can accommodate any bike of 15” width and inches long arms.
The individual tie-downs and side straps guarantee the safety of your bicycles when traveling.
We have loved this product because it ensures maximum protection to your SUV.
This would be the padded lower frame that avoids any mechanical damage to the car by the bikes.
Thule T2 Pro XT 2-bike Tray-Style Bike Rack
Thule is an industry leader in the outdoors.
They have not disappointed either when it comes to making a bike rack that rhymes with its reputation.
Thule T2 Pro XT is a better version of the first model, Thule T2 classic that was in the market a few years ago.
The new version has more features that have leveraged on stability, security, and ease of use.
The product holds perfectly any bike with wheels between 20 -29” and a thickness of 5”.
The wheels should not have any adapters.
It is still effortless to remove and install the bikes, thanks to the tool-free Auto-attach system.
It can carry up to two heavy mountain bikes.
You won’t have to stop the car to check the stability when travelling.
The complete locking system enables you to lock the bike to the rack and bike to the receiver with a cable lock and integrated cable.
What if you want to take your whole family for a cycling venture to the hills?
You have no choice but to carry the extra bikes inside the car for a standard bike rack.
With Thule T2 Pro XT, you only need to increase the load capacity by two bikes using the Thule T2 Pro XT bike add that you will buy separately.
6) Yakima HoldUp 2-bike Platform Rack
Yakima is one of the most robust bike racks that can carry up to 4 bikes at a go without increasing load capacity like Thule T2 PRO XT.
Although it’s not user friendly when compared to Thule T2.
You will still love the fantastic ergonomics the stability.
The base that attaches to the vehicle is huge and robust with an anti-wobbling feature.
The good thing about the product is that it’s very cheap.
The fact that it can carry 4 bikes with different styles is impressive because such racks cost the top-dollar.
One of the bike rack’s fantastic feature is the ability to adjust without a tool using the speed knob.
This makes it fit well with just a single bolt.
When it comes to security, the rack has played well to ensure no thief runs away with your heart and soul.
Also, it’s recommended that you purchase a Yakima handcuff lock.
It is an additional security feature that ensures you get your bike no matter how long you leave your SUV.
Bottom-Line
These are a few of the excellent bike racks you will find in the market today.
We noted that buying a bike rack that is resistant to rust is the best decision you can ever make.
This is because it will determine its longevity.
Before you settle on any, ensure that it’s treated with E-coating or by using OE standard.
This ensures that it’s not susceptible to general wear.
So if you want to transport your bike with less worry, less hassle and the fear of accident expense, pick a product from our list above.