It can be frustrating to try and carry bikes to the trails when you don’t have a large vehicle. Luckily, there are racks designed for smaller cars that are quite ingenious in their design.
You can find these racks easy to install in many cases and can carry one, two, or three, and possibly four bikes on odd occasions. A roof rack, on the other hand, can be a struggle.
With this, you are safe knowing your mounted bicycle is safe and secure as you travel to the head of the trail. (Find the Best Mountain Bikes Beginners)
By the end of these bike rack reviews, you will be able to make sure you find the best car bike rack for hatchback to suit your vehicle and how to mount your bikes securely.
Contents
Why You Need Good a Bike Rack
You can find several reasons why you need a good bike rack. First, they are easier to load than a roof-mounted bike rack. If you are by yourself, trying to hitch a bike up to a roof rack to that height can be challenging.
Second, is small cars may not have the carrying capacity of a truck bed or even the space on the roof to mount full-sized bike racks.
One final reason is you can transport your bikes without removing wheels or anything that you may need to do with roof-mounted racks.
You can find these racks easy to install, easy to use and make it quicker to get into the action and pack up after a day on the trails.
Top Bike Racks Reviews
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1. Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack, Model 102DN-R
Allen Deluxe 2-Bike is an excellent trunk-mount rack. Its design is simple, but it suits many cars and SUVs and can accommodate two bikes and weight up to 70 lbs.
It comes fully assembled, requiring only one quick action to prepare it to fit on your rear door.
With five straps, it is simple to mount with thick rubber-coated hooks linking to the top, sides, and base of the trunk.
A rubber frame cradle protects your bike frames, and you strap them with sturdy nylon straps and rigid plastic buckles.
It fits best with conventional frame-shaped bikes. The light rack weights just 7 lbs and 9 oz and can fold compact when not in use.
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Pros
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- Inexpensive
- Lightweight and quick to install
- Folds up for storage when not in use
- Allens lifetime warranty[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- No security features
- Lack of adjustability[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a guide price of just under $40, the Allen Sports Deluxe, trunk or hatch mount rack is a highly affordable way to carry two bikes in style, which are easy to access.
It may lack advanced security and adjustability, yet if you need the best bike rack for hatchback car for up to two bikes, then the Allen Sports is the right choice.
2. Allen Sports Ultra Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack
The Allen Ultra Compact is a tiny and shallow profile bicycle rack with a patented easy installation design.
It fits sedans, hatchbacks, minivans, and SUV’s and can hold a surprising amount of weight, although just one bike.
You can easily sling it in a backpack for on the spot carrying, and it is fully assembled for ease of installation.
It has side straps to prevent sway at speed and fits a large number of bike types.
While it is designed for one bike, it is more than enough to care for this while biking alone or commuting.
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Pros
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- Patented padded spine design
- Secure holding and even pressure on vehicle
- Fully assembled and quick to install
- Lifetime warranty[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- Only carries one bike
- Expensive[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a guide price of just under $60, the Allen Sports Ultra Compact is a great way to secure one bike onto the back of many vehicle types. It does, however, come in a two bike design, which makes it more appealing.
3. Saris Bones Trunk Bike Rack Carrier
The Saris Bones takes a unique look at design rather than tubular construction. The bike rack takes up little space and has a unique way to fit an extensive range of vehicles.
It has an arc injection molded design; and weighs 11lbs, which is a little heavier than some. The capacity is two bikes and can hold up to 70 lbs.
Sitting on the vehicle are articulated rubber feet to stop excess pressure.
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Pros
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- Rust free design
- Made from heavy-duty recyclable materials
- Articulated feet to protect vehicle paint
- Designed to fit over vehicle spoilers[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- Not easy to install
- Straps are not durable[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a guide price of a little under $160, it is a more expensive option. one thing you are paying for is the rust-free element. However, even with a great design, it would be nice to see more security features.
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4. Kuat Racks Sherpa 2.0-2 Bike Rack
A heavy-duty hitch-mounted bike rack to hold up to 2 bikes is the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 trailer hitch bike rack. It is all aluminum, so there won’t be any rust, and it is among the lightest hitch rack options.
The Sherpa 2.0 secures bikes with a system including a front tire ratchet arm and rear tire strap. It is quick and efficient in use and allows you to lock your bikes in position without the carrier touching your bike frame. (Read Pop Up Camper Weight)
The hitch bike rack has tire cradles that fold out of the way when not in use.
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Pros
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- Carries bikes up to 40 pounds each
- Foot activated pivot system
- Adjustable for different bike sizes
- Semi-integrated bike lock[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- Expensive
- Not suitable for fat bikes[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a guide price of just under $500, the Sherpa 2.0 is right at the top end of the hitch racks scale. However, if you need to carry a mountain bike in the securest way possible, then this can be the hitch receiver design best suited for this purpose.
5. Saris Superclamp Bike Hitch Car or Truck Rack, Mount Bicycles, Plus Cargo and Hd/Rv Compatible Option, Hatch Access, Easy Fold, Integrated Locks and Reflectors
If you need to carry a number of bikes, then the Saris SuperClamp hitch racks can fit the bill. The hitch rack easily accommodates two bikes that weigh up to 60 pounds each, with another two up to 35 pounds each. Doing so makes it an excellent choice for biking families.
It can be folded when not in use, yet it still takes up a considerable amount of space. To access the rear of your vehicle, you use a lever on the hitch-mounted rack to swing it out of the way.
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Pros
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- Trailer hitch design allows for larger carrying capacity
- Carries 4 bikes
- Tilts out of the way to access the vehicle
- No frame contact[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- Very expensive
- Not suitable for bikes with fenders[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a guide price of a little under $499, the Saris SuperClamp is at the very top end of the hitch racks price scale.
However, if you have the right sort of bikes, it can be the most convenient way to carry 4 at once. You will also find it isn’t suitable for all hitch receivers and only fits 2-inch.
Bike Racks Buying guide
When you come to purchase a rack for mountain bikes, there are a few things to consider.
Here’s a quick look at things to think about.
How many bikes?
You need to know how many bikes you’ll want to carry. Many racks have limits from a single bike rack up to three bikes or more.
How much do your bikes weigh?
Most bicycle racks for hatchback will come with weight restrictions. Mountain bikes and bikes with fat tires can be heavy. Make sure trunk racks can handle that weight.
Storage and installation
Often an oversight, and you need to decide where you will keep the rack when not in use. Some bikers leave larger ones on the trailer hitch, likewise as with roof racks. Trunk racks are removable and take up little space. (Find the Best Mountain Bike Grips)
Besides this, some racks, such as a roof rack, require you to remove the front wheel. Does your vehicle allow space for this?
Types of Car Racks
- Hitch Racks: Hitch-mount bike racks slide in the receiver of a trailer hitch.
- Roof Racks: Very versatile as you can have custom accessories to transport kayaks, surfboards, and cargo boxes.
- Trunk Racks: A trunk rack or bike hatchback rack fastens a trunk-mounted bicycle using straps and hooks. A trunk rack can often be easy to load and carry multiple bikes, resting on support arms.
Final Verdict
When putting these racks through their paces, there were many things to consider. One of the first things for trunk-mounted racks is not so much the bike types, but the number.
After this, is a rack easy to load? Some racks are much easier to load than others, yet in testing, we quickly saw the Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack, Model 102DN-R supported one back by the top tube with no effort.
Also, there was no excess pressure on the rear hatch, and it was the rack best suited as a high-performance hatchback bike rack.
Lastly, you can remove the rack and pack it away in the smallest possible size for ease of storage. Finally, when you consider the price to performance, you may not have the swing-away design to access a larger type of rack.
Yet you do know it will fit the rear of your car without affecting the style or performance.
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