Hitch Mount Bike Racks

We use ‘The Bike Rack Test‘ to compare and grade some of the best hitch mount bike racks available in the market and they are all listed at the bottom of this page!

Read why the following hitch mount bike racks are rated the best on the internet.

But first let’s examine what a hitch mount bike rack offers you.

The arm that supports the bike rack frame is attached to the rear of the vehicle by being inserted into a hitch receiver on your vehicle and that simple installation makes the hitch rack the easiest of all bike rack types to install.

Another benefit is that the rack doesn’t touch the vehicle’s bodywork therefore it can’t damage your vehicle’s paintwork which is good news.

Your vehicle obviously has to have a hitch receiver to attach to and there are several classes of hitch receivers from class I thru class IV. To understand more about hitch classes and the importance of the gross tongue weight follow the link.

Buying a hitch receiver adds to the cost of course and you can’t swap your hitch rack onto a vehicle that doesn’t have the correct class of hitch receiver which makes a hitch rack less flexible which is a disadvantage to some.

The arm that slides into the hitch receiver whether that is a 1.25-inch or 2-inch receiver will have a slight wobble or ‘clanking’ when the vehicle is driving, so it’s very important that the hitch rack has an effective and snug fitting hitch pin to stop any annoying rattling.

Hitch racks are a solid attachment at the back of the vehicle and that offers a few advantages.

First of all there is the widest scope of carrying capacity varying from 1 to 5 bikes, yes some hitch racks are capable of carrying up to 5 bikes of all shapes and sizes which can be a real benefit.

Second of all the style of carrying the bikes can vary, from 1 to 2 support arms where the bikes hang from their frames, to platform trays that the bikes stand upright in and are secured only by their wheels or by their wheels and frame.

The different styles of loading and securing bikes on the bike rack will suit different types of bikes better.

A carbon fiber rig is better not having the frame held if there is any possibility of it being scratched.

Loading bikes on a platform can improve line of sight out of the rear window and higher up loading on support arms can get the bikes away from a hot exhaust and a bumpy road surface.

There is better opportunity to get full access into the back of your vehicle with a hitch mount rack that can swing away from the back of the vehicle whilst it is still fully loaded with your bikes. This saves you the time and hassle of unloading to get at your luggage in the back when you make any stops on your travels.

Because of the robust and sturdy nature of a hitch rack it is normally heavier and more cumbersome which makes it more awkward to stow away and it’s a downside that needs considering if you have very little room anywhere for storage.

All of the pros and cons, ratings and user feedback are examined in detail for every hitch mount rack listed below and we continue to add more hitch racks on an ongoing basis.

The main aim of this site is to provide you with enough information for each bike rack in a way that helps you to compare objectively between bike racks (using ‘the Bike Rack Test’) so that you are confident about making the best choice for your needs for the right reasons.

Our hitch bike rack reviews are always unbiased and detailed and continue to grow, so keep this page bookmarked.

Hitch Mount Bike Rack Reviews