Hitch Bike Racks | Everything you need to know

Hitch bike racks make transporting bikes easy, but there are important considerations depending on your vehicle and what type of bikes you need to haul. Read on for all of the details as well a look at top models from 1UP USA, Kuat, Thule, VelociRAX, Yakima and more.

Hitch bike racks have become the most popular style of bike rack because of their ease of use and ability to carry bikes of all shapes and sizes. As the popularity of hitch racks has grown, new brands have popped up to challenge the historical dominance of Yakima and Thule. With them have come numerous innovations such as bike mounting with no frame contact (think 1UP USA racks) and vertical bike racks from relative newcomers like VelociRAX. We take a deep dive into everything you need to know about using a hitch bike rack with your vehicle, and we provide our top picks for the best hitch bike racks across all categories.

It's worth noting that using a hitch rack also frees up your vehicle's roof for other uses. Check out our comparison of the Thule Motion vs. Force XT cargo boxes.

Be sure to check out our full spec table in this article for technical details on each rack.

Our picks for best hitch bike racks

Best overall hitch bike rack: Kuat NV Base 2.0

Kuat launched its first bike rack in 2008 and has always been known for its quality. I have a 2012 Kuat hitch rack in my garage that is still going strong; the broken lock core on the rack's integrated cable lock is the only damage. The Kuat NV Base 2.0 is our pick as the best all-around hitch rack because of its solid design, ease of use, great looks, and ability to carry almost any bike you have. 

Kids bikes with a wheelbase less than 20” will still need to be carried inside your vehicle, and if you have eBikes over 60 pounds then you need to look at more specifically designed racks. For the rest of us, the Kuat NV 2.0 is going to carry your ride in style. The 11.5” spacing between bikes means you’ll have very few issues with handlebars hitting saddles. If you need to haul more than two bikes, Kuat has you covered with add-ons for both three and four bikes. For $100 more you can get the Kuat NV 2.0 with integrated repair stand, which I’ve used many times at triathlon, mountain bike and gravel races, as well as weekend trips to Fruita with the crew. 

Best premium hitch bike rack: Thule Epos 2 & 3

Bike hitch racks at the higher price points offer some unique features. The Thule Epos tops our list if you are looking for an easy-to-use, full-featured rack. The Thule Epos is offered in both 2-bike and 3-bike configurations, though sadly there is not an add-on to haul four bikes. The 2-bike variation weighs just 38 pounds, making it the lightest on our list. It also folds up smaller than other hitch racks, so it is easy to store. 

Thule has also integrated wheels into this rack for easy transport to and from the garage. Don't be fooled by its light weight, however. The Thule Epos is designed to carry any type of bike and can handle 75 pounds per tray (though total bike capacity on the Epos 2 is rated at 140 pounds).  I reached out to Thule support and confirmed that as long as you are under the weight rating of the rack and your hitch, the Epos series is compatible with Class I hitches. The telescoping arms with pivoting heads make attaching bikes of any shape a breeze. There's also an accessory ramp available to help with loading heavy bikes (ahem, eBikes). The Epos features no-tool installation and can tilt out of the way for rear hatch access when bikes are loaded on most vehicles. It also comes with locks to keep bikes somewhat secure (never trust a rack's locks to keep your bikes from determined thieves).

For a whopping $1,249.95 there is even a version of the Thule Epos 2 with integrated tail lights.

Best hitch bike rack for one bike: 1UP USA Quik Rack

1UP USA released its bare bones Quik Rack in 2009 and it's popularity has since exploded. The Quik Rack is made in the brand's Wisconsin factory and features a simple design that holds bikes by contacting only their tires. For anyone needing to transport a single bike up to 50 pounds, this rack is a lightweight and low-profile winner. If your bike is over 50 pounds, then the 1UP USA Heavy Duty will haul up to 65 pounds in the single tray.

The single-tray rack allows for easy trunk/rear hatch access via tilt adjustment whether or not a bike is mounted. For more convenience, the 1UP USA Equip'D adds an EZ Handle so you don't have to fidget under the rack looking for the tilt release. We've had a 1UP USA Equip'D at Outdoor Crunch for three seasons and it has proven to be durable and easy to use. 

We choose the Quik Rack as our top pick for it's no-frills operation and retail price of $390 in silver (If you want black the price goes up to $420.) This rack is expandable up to three bikes using the Quik Rack Add-On ($270 silver, $300 black). Don't let the sub-$400 price of the single tray fool you; this rack is premium priced. Three trays will set you back $930. The quality of construction, contactless bike attachment and low-profile design justify the price. Especially if you want the versatility of a single tray. 

eBike Racks

The primary considerations for racking your eBike are weight, tire size, and frame shape. Hitch racks are ideal for eBikes because they are low to the ground, many brands offer loading ramps, and there are plenty of options to fit any frame shape. Make sure you know exactly how much your bikes weigh and pay attention to the weight ratings of each rack.

Best eBike hitch rack: Yakima OnRamp LX

Yakima is one of the most experienced brands in bike racks, so we’re not surprised that they were the first to offer an eBike hitch rack with an integrated loading ramp. The OnRamp LX is made to accommodate heavy bikes of any shape, even if they sport fenders. While many brands offer a $99 accessory ramp, the Yakima OnRamp LX has one built in. A benefit of this is that it doesn’t take up space in your vehicle. The telescoping trays accommodate bikes up to a massive 80 pounds each (specific to the 2-inch hitch version) and wheelbases from 34 to 54 inches. That means it can fit kids bikes as well as long wheelbase eBikes like the 75-pound Rad Power RadWagon 5.

The OnRamp LX features Yakima’s StadiumSeating™ tiered bike trays, which offset the bikes to reduce contact. We also like that the rack only weighs 53.5 pounds, which is less than most competing racks that offer a similar load rating. The biggest drawback is that the Yakima OnRamp only comes in a 2-bike version, but this is a limitation of eBike racks and the required high weight rating.

If you want the versatility to carry more bikes, the Kuat Piston Pro 2 (2” hitch version) is a great option because Kuat offers add-ons for up to four bikes. The weight rating becomes significantly lower, however, so don’t expect to haul four eBikes. The Kuat Piston Pro works if you want versatility and a max weight of 67 pounds per tray for two bikes, 50 pounds per tray for three bikes, or 40 pounds per tray for four bikes.

Vertical bike racks

Vertical bike racks are the newest entrant to the bike rack space. Their biggest selling point is that some models can haul as many as 8 bikes. They hold bikes vertically and make contact only with the bike's tires, or sometimes handlebars. This allows vertical bike racks to carry bike of all shapes and styles. It is important to note that almost all vertical racks require a Class III hitch receiver.

Vertical bike racks are generally larger and heavier than tray-style hitch racks. They also sit higher than the roofline of most vehicles. If you regularly haul only a couple of bikes, then we suggest you stick with a tray style, but if you are a family hauler or lugging around big-hit bikes, then a vertical rack could be a great solution. With weights topping 80 pounds, these racks typically require two people to move around, so you don’t want to be pulling them on and off your vehicle any more than you need to.

Best hitch vertical bike rack: VelociRAX 6 

A pioneer in this space, VelociRAX has been focused on vertical racks since day 1. We chose the VelociRAX 6 as our top pick, but its features are very similar to that of the VelociRAX 412 (4-bike capacity) and VelociRAX 5x (5-bike capacity). VelociRAX addresses some of our gripes about vertical racks, namely that they are bulky to store in your garage and that it can be hard for some people to hoist their bikes into the wheel baskets. To solve the latter issue, VelociRAX added self-lowering dampers that allow you to easily tilt the rack while its attached to your vehicle. Most bikes can be rolled into the wheel baskets for loading, without having to lift them off the ground. The other innovation we find very useful is the ability to mount this rack in your garage to continue using it when it’s not on your car. This brilliant feature enables this rack to provide value all year long. Mounting hardware for garage mounting is included.

TABLE: Tech Specs for all hitch bike racks

Hitch Racks 101 

Understanding the hitch receiver on your vehicle

The hitch receiver on your vehicle has a diameter of either 1.25" or 2" (2.5" for really big rigs) and a class rating (I, II, III or IV). Both of these specs will influence what racks you can safely use. If your vehicle doesn't have a hitch you can almost certainly add one. As seen in the lead image in this article, I had my VW dealer add a chassis-mounted class II, 2" hitch receiver to my GTI.

Class I and Class II hitch receivers have limitations when it comes to using a hitch bike rack, so it it important to understand what you have. With some Internet sleuthing you should be able to confirm what is standard on your vehicle. Curt Mfg’s vehicle lookup tool is also a great resource.

The force as it relates to the tongue weight of a bike rack is higher than the raw weight of the rack + bikes, because the weight of the bikes is typically 18 inches or farther behind the receiver. For more detail on this, Rocky Mounts has a great blog article. Their estimate is that each inch of distance from the hitch adds as much as 23 pounds of tongue weight (depending on the vehicle, suspension, tires, terrain, speed, etc.). They warn against using bike racks with a Class I hitch. Bottom line: know what is on your vehicle and understand the limitations.

Here is a summary of the different hitch sizes and ratings:

1.25” hitch receivers: These have the most limitations. Many 1.25” racks are not compatible with Class I receivers. You will see that 1.25” racks have a total weight rating lower than their 2” hitch variation siblings and are not compatible with add-ons for additional bikes.

2” hitch receivers: Some racks have limitations for Class II receivers even if they are 2”. Specifically, many vertical racks require a Class III hitch. So even if your hitch is 2”, be sure to find out what class it is. Both Velocirax and Alta Racks require a Class III hitch.

Tongue Weight Rating: This refers to the downward force on the hitch receiver and is very important when it comes to bike racks.

Weight Carrying Capacity: This a rating for the maximum weight you can tow, which assumes the object has tires and is sitting on the ground. This is not applicable to bike racks. 

Class I: Class I hitches have a 1.25” opening and are rated for a tongue weight of 200 lbs. These can be found on small passenger cars like a VW Golf. You need to make sure the rack you get is compatible with a Class I hitch. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer directly. Your 1.25” receiver could be Class II, so the first step is to determine exactly what class your hitch is rated to. 

Class II: A Class II hitch receiver has a tongue weight of 300 lbs and can be either 1.25” or 2”. If you have a 1.25” Class II you will still see some limitations on options for hitch bike racks.. Racks will have a lower weight rating for 1.25” receivers. You should never use a 1.25” to 2” adapter for any use that adds weight. For example, add-ons to make a 2-bike rack into a 4-bike rack are approved only for 2” receivers. You should not use an adapter to make your 1.25” receiver a 2” for the purpose of using an add-on because the safety rating of a 1.25” receiver isn’t sufficient. Remember that the force of the bikes is more than the raw weight of the rack + bikes.

Class III and above: These use 2” hitch receivers and do not have any limitations when it comes to bike racks.

Using a hitch bike rack with your RV

If your RV has a hitch receiver then you can find a bike rack to go with it, but related to our discussions above around hitch ratings, it is important to understand exactly what type of receiver you have on your rig.

Many RVs (camp trailers especially) have aftermarket hitch receivers installed on the rear bumper as opposed to welded to the vehicle frame. Thule, for example, says this in the instructions of the Epos hitch rack: “WARNING! This carrier is not compatible with travel trailers/caravans, 5th wheels or any bumper mounted hitch receiver. “ They also have weight limitations for RVs depending on the distance from the rear wheels to the rear bumper. “Motorized RV* travel at 60% load capacity (i.e., 40% total load reduction) when mounted on van conversions or motorized RV vehicles with an overhang exceeding 230 cm (7.5 ft), measured from the center of the rear wheel to the most distant rear point of the vehicle."

Kuat likewise gives this information about RV compatibility on the Piston Pro X and their other hitch racks:

"The dedicated 2” Piston Pro X (2-Bike) is RV Compatible if:

1. The receiver hitch is directly attached to the RV chassis, not just to the bumper; and
2. The bicycle rack is in a 2-bike (or fewer) configuration with no add-on unit attached; and
3. The weight capacity does not exceed more than 42 lbs per tray.

All other Piston Pro X configurations (including the 1.25" with and without hitch adapters) are ONLY compatible with some Class B chassis, such as camper vans."

There are plenty of people out there using hitch racks with bumper-mounted receivers. If you are going to do it, then understand the limitations and proceed with caution. If you are shopping for a rack to use with your RV, read the specifications on the manufacturer's website and ask their support team for any needed clarification to be double sure it will work for your application.