Lol crazy that this video just popped up. I literally just debated between these exact two. Ended up with the kuat, the nicer lock and stability sold me just a little more. And also one thing you forgot to mention, the kuat has the ability to add on a + 2 to make it a 4 bike rack. That was the other selling point for me.
Nice choice. I think you will enjoy the Kuat for sure. You are correct that I forgot to mention the ability to add 2 more bikes. This can actually be done with both of these racks, as long as you buy the 2" version. I'm pretty sure the 1 1/4" versions don't allow +2 in either rack because they aren't strong enough to handle that load.
Thule only has 2 bike addon. Kuat also has 1 bike addon (in addition to 2). 2 bike addon is considerably heavier, so if you only need 3 bikes to carry, this is a win for Kuat
Dude, you know your OCD fellow bikers way too well. Super thorough video. Very helpful. It’s a really hard decision.I love it when you apologize for your rack being dirty and then you mutter I usually keep my things clean. That’s awesome. Me too.
@@odouroushouseant I appreciate your reply. Believe it or not it is stuck with me over the last couple of months. I definitely don’t take OCD lightly and May have used it a little bit lightly here. Also a car guy, I was watching a video on some guys 4 best garages which led me to a TH-cam channel called obsessed garage. This guy does really good car content but but I think also has OCD and is a type C personality or maybe Myers Briggs would call that I NTJ. I am Intj. Really good content that really spoke to me. Thanks again for your reply. By the way I did get the Thule rack and really like it. It’s very rugged.
Thanks for your comment odouroushouseant. I can't recall if I use the term OCD in my video, but making light of anyone's struggles was not my intention if I did. Regardless, I appreciate you bringing it up as it's not something I had considered before.
I don't buy chewing gum without watching reviews about it, so I've seen lots of them. This is the best I've seen. No agenda, down to Earth, authoritative, and insightful. Thanks!
Nice, thanks Craig! I’m glad it was helpful. I recently did a comparison between the NV and Piston Pro-X in case your interested: Kuat PISTON® PRO X vs NV 2.0 Bike Racks th-cam.com/video/3lJjzE8Mh1o/w-d-xo.html
Kevin a great review.I also was in the process of purchasing the Thule Pro but I am going to buy the Kuat thanks to your showing everyone the difference between the two.Great job,Kevin
Good review. I just bought the Thule Pro, but as a 69 year old woman, I can't lift my ebike into it. I also can't roll it up a ramp and down the rail without the front tire slipping off the rail. SO......I cut a piece of PVC in half lengthwise, painted it black and bolted it to the rail. Now the bike goes up the ramp I bought, and down the cup of the PVC. Then I just have to lift the front tire into the holder.
@@mjutley4169 it was a dirt bike ramp that I got on Amazon that is no longer available, but others are. It was 6' long. My friend cut it in half and hinged it for me.
I was choosing between these two racks just a few months ago and this video answered all of the questions I had that nobody else covered. I went with the Kuat and have been super happy with it! I also drive an Outback and I really liked how much more compact the Kuat is when it's folded up.
Thanks Jonathan. I think you made a good choice, and you are definitely correct about how much more compact the Kuat is. I didn't fully appreciate the difference myself until I got them side by side. Happy biking!
@@rddhuria Subarus usually have a 1 7/8" receiver if it comes on the car from the factory. Should be able to look on it and see though, or just measure it.
This is an excellent review!!! I’ve watched it twice now and you’re making my decision on what to consider in bike racks much easier! Thank you so much!
Excellent review. I like the clean lines and compactness of the Kuat. It looks lighter but appearances can be deceiving. I am also considering the Kuat Sherpa
Excellent review! Very comprehensive coverage of pretty much everything I wanted to understand before making the investment into one or the other of these two racks. I think I am going to go for the Kuat although I am a little bit concerned with the approximately 6-inch longer projection on it versus the Thule. I drive a 2018 Volvo XC60 which has pretty good ground clearance but I still find times where driveways or intersecting streets seem to have been designed by someone who drives a Hummer. Thanks again for your highly informative coverage!
Thanks for watching and sharing your comments. Much appreciated! Good luck with your decision. Might consider the Kuat Hi-Lo accessory if you end up having issues w clearance. www.kuat.com/product/hi-lo/
The Kuat is hands down the best bike rack I've ever used. I also love the fact that you can mount it to the wall in your garage, remove the repair rod and attach it to their own tripod system for use indoors, and just the overall aesthetic. The only issue I had with the Kuat was that one of the locks stopped staying in the rack, Kuat immediately replaced it for me, and now everything is fine again. You get what you pay for folks! Kuat all the way!
Thanks for sharing John! Nice to hear Kaut fixed your lock issue. I wasn’t aware of the Tri Doc and the way it uses the Trail Doc arm. Very cool! www.kuatracks.com/product/tri-doc/
Great review of the two bike racks. Both are great! Myself, I went with the Thule. I didn't care for the way the Kuat adjustability works. It appears that the front wheel would hang lower than the rack itself once you've made adjustments for the bar/seat clearances. Especially if you're mounting the rack on a lower vehicle. I'd hate to come out of a steep driveway and drag that wheel mount.
How about a safe way to lock bikes on hitch mout bike rack? Recently had $10,000 worth of bikes stolen off a thule T2 pro hitch mount bike rack using their tiny cable lock that was part of the bike rack. It happened when traveling on the back of our car when stopped to do a thirty min hike where no bikes were allowed. Been thinking some way to rig up two beefy chain locks like Hiplok, kryptonite ect. I know no system is perfect. Just want to be able to leave them on the car for a few hours say at national park parking lot or the like. Bikes won't fit in the car with all our camping gear. Any ideas would be super helpful! Thank you in advance!
Oh man, I’m sorry to hear about your loss! Whenever we are leaving our bikes unattended, we use a heavy OnGard chain to lock them together and to the bike rack. Kryptonite and a number of other brands makes similar locks. The key is to get a heavy chain so that it would take someone a while to get through it. I only use the cable locks that are provided for things like popping in to use the restroom or when you can keep an eye on your bikes.
Great review. I'm going with the Thule for the off-road clearance! Kuat sticking out 18" is too far in Utah! I also like the skid plate on the Thule. Also, I have a 7 way trailer elec. socket on one side of my hitch and another custom Anderson plug on the other side. It makes locking hitch pins a little tricky to install/uninstall. The Thule will be way be easier for this reason.
I have to go with the Thule because of the clearance. I carry two bikes (one is an E) on the back of a Toyota minivan, so the clearance is already limited. It's not just offroad, it's also the slope of a driveway approach. If Kuat could weld a skid plate extending just past the knob, I might chose them.
I'm disappointed with my Kuat. The weight rating is bogus. I have 2 Specialized ebikes and the trays are now bending downwards. I think its the bolts holding them together that are bending. I believe Kuat rates the trays at 60lbs each and our bikes are 54lbs each. Not too happy with a rack that cost close to a grand.
Excellently done brother, thanks a million. I’m looking for a rack that can handle the weight of my Gigantic ebike. I heard you mention that both racks holds up to 60 lbs. That's about the total weight of my bike.
Excellent in-depth tutorial! I'm glad I stumbled upon it. We're looking for a bike rack and there are just so many models to choose from. We're first time buyers, so we have no idea what features to look for in a rack. Thanks to your excellent review, I think we'll go with the Kuat. It seems to be easy to use and appears to have all the necessary features. Thanks for taking the time to do this comparison.
Same theme. I was looking at both and went with the Kuat. Your through review has reassured me that I made the right choice. I appreciate this video. Special note: I have a Jeep Wrangler w/oversized tires, including my spare. Only the Kuat....barely fits without a hitch extender. Doesn’t look like the Thule would have done that.
I just bought the Kuat rack and from what I'm being told it is not great with a bike with fenders. Kuat recommended that the securing arm be placed as close to the front fork as possible and that some type of foam or rubber be placed between the fender and the tire so when securing it doesn't crush the fender. Actually in the Kuat manual they say it is not to be used on a bike with fenders. I see that you are securing it way forward on the tire. Any issues with having the arm this far forward?
These racks are definitely not designed to be used with fenders, but can work, depending on your bike setup. Short front fenders don't seem to cause an issue, but you wouldn't want the arm too far forward on the tire. I've never heard of the suggestion to use foam or rubber between the fender and tire, but I guess that could work if done properly.
I have the Kuat and found it easier to use to load my mountain bike on. It will even carry my friends ebike. No problems. Be aware of possibly having the bike holder/“umbrella holder” be stolen. I had mine take. Ugh!
Wound up purchasing the Thule T2 Pro XTR b4 I sw this video. I have friends who have both and both are worthy racks. The added cost for the Kuat seems justified but in the end, with the majority of my racks, boxes being Thule and the 2" receiver for the rack I bought it turned out great for me. Nice reviews.
I would like to bring to your attention that receiver hitch on the car sets further underneath the back of the car were as on the truck the receiver hitch sets flush with the bumper so that makes a differences on how far the bike racks sticks out from the vehicle so that part of the comparison is wrong to get a accurate comparison you would need to switch the bike racks between the two vehicles.
Thanks Kevin. I was on the fence leaning towards the Thule. My bike dealer recommended the Kuat. Did some research and your video sealed the deal. Went with the Kuat NV2.0 in the 2". Mounted it on my wife's Honda CR-V and it is super stable. Thanks for making a great video. Super helpful!
Great review Kevin. I was looking at these exact two racks, and was leaning toward the Thule since it wouldn't require an adapter for the kids bikes, but seeing the side-by-side comparison, I think it might be worth dealing with the small wheel adapters until the kids grow out of them. Could you also let me know how they compare in distance from the hitch pin to the first bike? I am considering installing a box on the back of my van, and it would be helpful to know how much room there would be in either case. Thanks!
Great review. Obviously the bike cable lock is minimal security. Do both racks easily accommodate a high security U-Lock which would offer better theft protection?
Thanks Matthew! It may be tough to get a U-Lock through the bike and around a solid part of the rack. We carry a heavy bike chain when we are leaving them somewhere we can't keep an eye on them.
Great review. I do have a couple of comments as I have both of these units as well. I first bought the Thule ;and then added the 2 bike addition to it. However, about a year after I bought it, the hook on the Thule that goes into the hitch pin hole, would no longer stay either in the open position for removing or installing. Instead, it remained in the closed position. Why is this a big deal? Because if you are installing or removing this. yourself, unless that hook stays in the open position, it becomes a nightmare to install or remove. When installing, wth the hook in the closed position, it catches on everything as you try to guide it in the hitch. When removing it, you can't hold the hook open with one hand, while you try to pull it out. When I brought to the dealer, they contacted Thule who sent a replacement unit that the dealer swapped out. Then. the hook on the replacement failed again in the same way. This time when the dealer contacted Thule, the representative told.them that was how they were now designed!!! What??? I got on the phone and spoke with the rep and asked her, " so you are trying to tell me that hook which came from the factory with.the ability to stay open or closed, but now would only stay in the closed position, spontaneously transitioned from the older design to the new and improved design?" She insisted that is how they are being designed now and refused to replace the unit. I had to use a bungee cord to tie to the hook and then to another part of the rack to hold it open while I either installed or removed the unit. Completely dissatisfied with the response, I called Thule back myself and this time spoke with someone in the tech department as opposed to the first person who was in sales. The tech person told me he also worked in the warranty department and told me the information the first person gave was incorrect. He arranged for a new unit to be shopped to me although it took 2 months to get. The second point I wanted to make not covered in this video was the difference in adding the 2 extra bike addition. I did that to both the Thule and the Kuat. The dealer installed the one for the Thule and it took two mechanics about 40 minutes to do. The Kuat took me 6 minutes to do myself. That is a huge difference. With the Thule taking such a long time to switch from 2-4 bikes or the other way around, mostly due to the release grip mechanism in the Thule), I was very reluctant to swap them out to save weight and space when I didn't need the ability to care 4 bikes. With the Kuat, it would be nothing to swap the 2-4 or vice versa. That way I only use the 4 bike option when I need to and save gas by reducing the weight on the Kuat. Those two issues, the ability to install or remove the two bike option plus the apparent design flaw of the hook staying in the open position, made the decision for me-Kuat all the way!! One last observaton. When I was spoke with the customer service rep from Thule the first time, she gave me a hard time and insisted there was no problem with the hook staying in the closed position. Oh yeah? I am 66 years old. The Thule 4 bike rack weighs close to 90 pounds. Try holding that, and hold the hook open, and guide the rack into the hitch hole which of course you can't see because it is so far away. Plus I had to call several Thule dealer who all confirmed, the hook is designed to stay in either the open or closed position, and then call and present my case to the second rep at Thule to get satisfaction and get my new unit. It took two months to get. The fact this happened not once but twice tells me there is a design or manufacturer flaw what is going to happen again and again. On the other hand, I had to call Kuat customer service to request a change in the key lock so all the keys, from both the first rack and the extra two-bike rack, were the same. The person at Kuat couldn't have been nicer and sent out a rekey kit so I could have all the locks the same and didn't charge me a cent. Thanks Kuat!!!
Wow! That is some really good information. I appreciate you sharing. I have never added the two bike extension to either of these racks, but it makes sense that the Thule would be more complicate due to the handle. I'm sorry to hear about the poor customer service you received from Thule. Sounds like Kuat killed it though!
@@kevinhill.8 I have one more tidbit to share. When the second new replacement unit arrived last week.... guess what? The Pin on the new unit ALSO stays in the open position. So either Thule, completely retooled their production line to make a unit for me that keeps the pin in the open position, or, it is still designed that way...
Hi, great review! Any suggestions on which is better for 3 mountain bikes? It seems like I'd have to buy an expensive 2 bike add on to either. Or go with the Kuat transfer (which seems kinda flimsy). Thanks!
Thanks! Glad you liked it. For 3 bikes you could go with the Kuat Transfer like you mentioned, or you might want to check out the Yakima Dr. Tray and the EZ+1 add-on, which makes it into a 3-bike rig. I don't have much experience with either of those though, so you might need to check them out closely or do some additional research. Good luck!
This was an awesome review man. The two racks sitting on the ground was eye-opening for me. I'm torn between these two racks and the footprint and weight are considerations. The Kuat is much more compact and easy to sit in the corner on a wooden platform of some sort. Both are great but I'm leaning towards the NV base. Thank you so much for this well thought out comparison.
Very good balanced informative assessment of both products. I watch video after buying my Thule T2 XTR Pro 9034XTR. I just assembled it and will install it on my Taco tomorrow. I do like the Tule Design where they’ve added the wheels for transporting the Rack Tray on a substrate (flat surface) in lieu of carrying it. Will see how it does on the road. We have two Rad4 Step-Throughs with racks and fenders and fat tires. A little concern about security where they can be yanked with another truck and chain. End of day we are about as secure as our minds tell us. Hopefully the universe is providing positive vibes. Excellent Video. Thule’s instruction manual is quite sad and their site provides no other instructional media. An install Video would be reasonable given the over the top price point. Expected a bit more for the spend from them Respect and blessings my brother and for guys like you who drop these great videos. Thanks again for filling the great void. Best Just Phab
Thank you so much Kevin for this excellent review!!! I am looking at racks now for mounting on my 3/4 ton 4x4 Dodge Ram. I will mount on the back hitch, or sometimes on the front hitch for short trips. I would like to know if either of these will allow the tailgate to drop down. Anybody out there have any experience with a full sized pickup?
You are welcome. I'm glad it was helpful. I wish I could say for sure about the tailgate clearance on a full size pickup, but I would guess that it will clear the rack since it is SUPER close to clearing on my Tacoma, and I would think a full size likely has a larger distance between hitch and tailgate. Maybe try to test one out at a local shop. Good luck!
I bought the Thule XT 2 because nothing else is currently available. The XT 2 is a good rack. I’m happy with it. However as noted it does not have a ramp to role the bike onto the rack. Accordingly I’m doing a lot of lifting. Not too bad when I first take off the battery.
Sounds like you are making it happen. Nice work! And yes, lots of trouble finding a lot of recreational items right now. Hopefully that starts changing soon.
Great video! Very thorough and the fact that you used both for a year inspires a lot of confidence that you’ve uncovered the nuances of both racks. I was hoping to see a wobble test with the racks loaded. I’ve been leaning towards the Kuat already as another review said it is rock solid. They referred to it as like a steel plate. Thanks for taking the time to do this comparison!
Glad it helped. Great suggestion for the wiggle test! The Kuat does seem to wobble less, and I never need to adjust the arm on the tire, which was not always the case when using the Thule.
I got the Kuat today. I’m really happy with it. Waiting on the ramp, which apparently is back-ordered. For my Radrover, 5 I will need to trim the front splash guard back so that the clamp can sit properly against (or closest to) the fork. I do really like how stable the Kuat is once it is tightened into the hitch. It feels like it becomes an extension of the vehicle frame.
The Thule EasyFold XT 2 rack folds and has wheels to move it to and from the vehicle. The Thule has a ramp for wheeling the bike. The hitch lock for the Kuat would take seconds to cut off with a cordless grinder and cut-off wheel and not a good design. The rack bike locks give a false sense of security as the wire rope cables take less than 5 seconds to cut through. The 1up rack is superior to both of these racks as is the Swagman E-spec and the Hollywood RV rack. The lighter the bikes the cheaper the bike rack one can use and the less need their will be for a ramp. The ramp from Yakima is too short for use with a heavy e-bike and this is not a problem with the ramp one can get from 1Up (which is made in the USA).
Thanks for the info Bruce. The locks on all of these racks, especially the cable locks locking the bikes to the rack, are easily overcome if someone wants it. They are to keep honest people honest, and should only be used for short trips away from the vehicle. For any overnight or extended use I would either remove the bike for secure storage, or use a chain lock. As for the locking hitch pin on the Kuat, I would still take it over the Thule that only has the locking internal wedge. Much easier to throw a rope or chain around it and yank it out than to crawl under the vehicle and grind the pin off IMO.
Awesome review!! Thank you for covering exactly the things we need to know and a lot of the bonus considerations like how they both lock, spacing, and the balancing when off-mount.
Hi Kevin, I agree that this is best review on these racks that I've seen. I really like both racks, but it may come down to this: with the rack in the fully lowered position with a bike in the tray closest to the vehicle, which rack has the most space between the bike and the rear hatch? I drive an Odyssey and the hitch sits a few inches in from the end of the bumper (as opposed to being flush with the bumper), meaning the bike will be closer to the hatch when opening. So I'd get the hitch that provides the most clearance in this aspect.
Thanks! This is a great question, and I apologize for not thinking to cover this in the video. Unfortunately, I no longer have the T2 Pro XT, so I can't go compare the two myself. However, I will say that I could tell that the Kuat tilts further back/down when I first got it, so I think it probably has more gate clearance. Sorry I can't say for sure.
Very helpful. Thank you. I have a Tacoma with a shell, where we put our 3 dogs when we travel. The Kuat seems like the best option, but can you clarify whether the tailgate can go all the way down when the rack is folded down with no bike on it, so I can get the dogs out of the bed? Thank you.
thule doesnt seem secure... especially where im at in CO, people have the ability to wrap something around the rack and pull it with the many off road cars here.. this review def changed my mind about thule.. i wont be buying it now.. going with the kuat
Glad it helped. It’s definitely a concern, though if we are being honest, it’s not that difficult to break the lock portion off the pin style hitch locks either. Still, I think I prefer them, and the new Kuat ones are pretty beefy. 💪🏼🔐
Hi Kevin, excellent review. Did you review the part of the Thule where you can adjust the bikes so they do not hit? We can see how you adjust it but did not see an actual demo. Only on the Kuat did we see the actual demo of bikes. Thank you again for great review.
Thanks for your compliment and your question. I cover the Thule in more depth in my T2 Pro vs. T2 Pro XT video: th-cam.com/video/C6m16bToyo8/w-d-xo.html
Great review Kevin. Did have a question for you. My wife has a 2017 CRV which is made to accept a Honda 1-1/4" hitch. My Jeep Cherokee can only accept a 2" Jeep hitch. Do you know if Thule and Kuat offer adapters that would allow an 1-1/4" rack to be used on a 2" hitch? Also, do you think I would be sacrificing some rigidity by going with the -1/4"?. Really don't like the idea of having to purchase to racks. Thanks in advance!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful. Most (all?) of the high-end tray racks are dedicated 1.25" or 2" and there aren't adapters, as far as I know. However, there are some decent options that fit 1.25" and 2," like the Thule DoubleTrack and the Yakima TwoTimer. And yes, there is no question you would be sacrificing some rigidity with 1.25." It's just a matter of physics. Whether it's problematic, or how noticeable it will be, I can't say for sure. Good luck!!
Thule makes two different models of the T2 Pro - one for 1.25" reciever and one for 2" receiver. The rest of the rack is identical. However, I don't think you can expand the 1.25" model to carry 4 bikes. I don't know about the Kuat.
I ended up going with the Thule XTR, particularly because I have a long wheelbase bike,plus I would need an adapter to fit my son’s 24 inch bike on the kuat, - also to bring the rack down to access the tailgate, reaching in between the bikes is a pain in the butt on the kuat, so much easier on the Thule.
Kevin, thank you for the great review!!! We were looking at less expensive rakes but have decided to go with the Kuat and feel it is worth the money. Thanks. Real bicycles don't have batteries, Tom
Thanks for the compliment, and I think you are wise to spend the extra money. Not only will the rack last much longer than lower priced options, but it will function (and look) better the entire time too! :)
Thank you for this detailed video. Can you open the tailgate on the Tacoma with the Kuat NV2.0 in the fully open (tilted back) position, or does the tailgate hit the rack?
@@kevinhill.8 - Thank you for the follow up. I ended up buying the Equip D from 1Up. It’s an amazing bike tray. It definitely clears the Tacoma tailgate.
Thank you for this excellent review. I own the KUAT Sherpa 2.0 and love it. I leave it on my car 24/7/365 (in Delaware) and have had no problems with it at all. I just bought an ebike that exceeds its 40 pound limit, so I need to upgrade to (most likely) one of these racks. The Sherpa has shown zero rust after over two years. How does the Thule T2 Pro XT hold up in the weather? I'd appreciate your comments. Thank you.
Thule seemed to hold up well, but I’m in PNW where it’s mostly rain and very little salt on roads, it at all. It does have more plastic than some other racks, so that may help.
One more piece of information...If you're looking for a 60 lb. capacity for an ebike, note that the Trail Doc feature on the Kuat NV 2.0 is rated to only 40 lbs. (per my inquiry to Kuat customer service). The NV 2.0 Base is the exact same rack less the Trail Doc for about $100.00 less.
Good info, thx for sharing. I rarely use the trail doc anyway, so I think this is a good call and a nice way to save a little money. I believe the Base is only available in matte black. Looks great imo, but something to be aware of.
Best review just what I was looking for between the two. Seems the Kuat is the way to go, will it fit on Mazda CX-5 2020 as for clearance? If anyone else has Kuat on Mazda CX-5 please share your experiences. Thank you!
Why is it pronounced tool-e? That's dumb. They should change the name. The tool-y also looks chintzy af. They are both way too expensive for their build quality. Great comparison, thanks. I would skip the silly tool-y just because of the crappy way it attaches to the hitch.
Thx for watching and sharing your thoughts. I’m not a big fan of the Thule hitch attachment setup either. The name certainly does mess with a lot of people. They are a Swedish company. Name deets (via Wiki) below👇🏼 Thule (/ˈθjuːliː/[1] Greek: Θούλη, translit. Thoúlē; Latin: Thūlē) is the most northerly location mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman literature and cartography. In classical and medieval literature, ultima Thule (Latin "farthest Thule") acquired a metaphorical meaning of any distant place located beyond the "borders of the known world".
Instead of these racks that hold (barely) the front wheels, why not have a rack that requires the removal of the front wheels and attach them to the rack using a fork mount. That would make the rack much lighter, hold the bikes better, and the big thing make the width of the bikes on the rack about 15" shorter. You would then be able to see the stop lights on the vehicle. Maybe you could even see them with a cover on the bikes. You could bungee the front wheels between the bikes or even keep the wheels in the vehicle. I may actually try this with my modify Thule T2 Pro XTR and see if it works. Anyone tried this? The new 29" mountain bikes are huge and stick out past the sides on may vehicles. This would help that for sure. Maybe Thule or Kuat could make this item.
Interesting idea. They make plenty of front wheel off options for the roof, and the bed of the truck, but I’ve never seen it for the hitch. Personally I like not having to take a wheel on/off, and I’ve never had any issue w these racks letting a bike move around too much, even on rough roads.
Awesome review! Thanks! I’m currently trying to decide between these two racks. I have been going back and forth trying to figure it out. I have to ask, do you have any experience or thoughts on the two bike add-ones for both? We will be getting one and any opinions on the extensions might help us make the decision. Thanks!
The two bike extensions for both are quite nice. The Thule allows you to still use the handle, but other than that I don't think they are very different.
Hi Kevin! Nice review. We have a 2020 Subaru Outback. Which rack do you think was better on your Subaru? I was leaning to the Kuat, until I saw the clearance issue. Does the extra length a concern on an Outback, in your opinion?
I’d prob go w the Kuat. Not enough of a difference to make you switch plans, imo. I asked my wife too, since she drove the Outback a lot w both racks, and she doesn’t recall having any real issues.
Are you able to open the tailgate of your pickup truck with any of the two racks? Im having very hard time finding a bike rack that allows to fully open the tailgate on the ford maverick. Only the cheap bike racks that don't swivel work with pickup truck tailgates. Every high quality bike racks that possess a swivel tilting hitch arm will come in contact with the pickup tailgate if you try to open it.. my only solution is to find an extender hitch but that is overkill and unsafe. And also too much extension will defeat the purpose of having the folding feature on these expensive rack.
Yeah, I think both racks touch the tailgate. You could also consider a pivot so you can swing the rack away, but not as simple as if they would just clear when tilted down.
Can you fit a ramp to the KUAT? Also, I really appreciate your description about fenders as my new e-bike has them and I haven't known which rack will accommodate them.
Thank you for the review. I've been researching both of these bike racks, and your review was very informative and covered the areas in both racks I had some questions about.
Only thing I would say is that although you may like the finish of the Kuat better, I have a feeling the Thule finish is a powder coating (not paint), which would protect better.
Good point! It’s kind of hard to say, but after seeing both in use for a number of years I’m confident in stating that both seem pretty durable. To your point, it is possible that the paint of the Kuat could be more prone to showing scratches, though I never had that issue. Thx for watching and sharing those thoughts. Much appreciated! 👍🏼
They are probably pretty similar, with the T2 maybe a little harder because of the larger wheel cup. That said, you may want to consider the Thule EasyFold since it sits low and has an included folding ramp that makes things really easy if you don’t want to lift the bikes at all.
Are you referring to the little arm in the side that sits into the hole? It doesn't lock, but it does sit into the hole to prevent it from falling out if the wedge were to come loose inside the receiver. If you are referring to the wedge itself, it definitely does not lock into the hole. It simply presses into the corner of the receiver itself.
Thanks mate for the video. How are you going to travel without keys if all your lockers have the same keys? In this case you will travel even without bikes or with unlocked bikes which is very risky.
Not sure I get your question and point. I think what I was saying is that if a lock can be locked up without needing the keys you could lock up your bike, then leave on a trip and not realize you don’t have them until you go to unlock your bike. This happened to customers where I used to work. They came into the store hundreds of miles from home after realizing they had locked up their bikes and didn’t have the keys. Of course anyone could lock up a bike and then forget the keys. My point is just that it’s even easier to forget them if you don’t even need to have them in hand when locking the bikes up.
Great review, just curious on these style racks with the hold down arm that rest on the tire. I would think obviously that if your bike tire lost pressure everything would become very loose. Has anyone ever have this happen?
Thx for watching, and for your comment and question. Although things would probably become a bit loose, I don’t think it would be much of a problem, assuming you are using the arm correctly. It should be back near the fork, which means even if things loosened, it would not be able to come off the wheel. Hope that helps. Maybe others will share with direct experience about this. 👍🏼
Thanks for your work on this. I wanted to know how both of these racks compare when the tailgate of a truck is down. Does it clear on either rack? It doesnt look like it does. I know this is old but maybe you or someone else can answer this question. There’s a sale going on right now and I was curious.
Thank you. I think it might depend on the truck, but you are correct that with my Tacoma both racks do touch the tailgate. I made another comparison video between two Kuat racks (Piston and NV 2.0), and I’m pretty sure I lower the tailgate in that one, so you could at least see it for the Kuat rack. It’s here if you’re interested: th-cam.com/video/3lJjzE8Mh1o/w-d-xo.htmlsi=8av3KqaOskevJrbU
Kevin, I've really enjoyed your videos and reviews. Awesome job. Quick question, I was looking to combine the Thule T2 Pro XT with a swing-out option (Thule Access? Rocky Mount? Etc.), but am concerned, as you point out in your videos, about ground clearance/scraping the unit. Do you have an opinion on combining the two or event a sense of distance for how far from the vehicle (deployed and stowed) the combination of the two might be? Totally. Appreciated. - Nate
Good question Nate. I think the swing out options tend to add around a foot of distance, and this will definitely make it easier to scrape as you go up inclines, especially if your vehicle has low ground clearance to begin with. I would probably only use the swing outs with a truck, van, or larger SUV, but maybe you can find a shop where you can test it on the vehicle and see how it looks.
Which rack works best with a tesla Y ? Have you heard of any thule racks coming out of hitch when driving due to no locking pin through the plate? If driving tesla is thule better since clearance higher?
Not sure ab the Tesla Y specifically, but if clearance is an issue the Thule might be a better option. Or maybe look at the Kuat Piston Pro-X, which is an amazing rack (with a price tag to match 💰). It has really good ground clearance w tiered trays. I’ve already recorded a video comparison btw the Piston Pro-X and NV 2.0, so keep an eye out (turn on 🔔) if your interested. I’m hoping to get it edited and published soon.
tbh, both of these bike racks are better than 1UP. I like how easy it is to adjust the rack position. with 1UP you gotta pay extra $99 for that feature.
Haha, yeah they are really expensive. And they've gone up recently too. Currently the Thule XTR (a new version that has wheels) is $700, and the Kuat NV 2.0 is now $850.
Kuat updated the rated wheelbase capacity on these a while ago, they now rate even the old racks for 50", not 48". I just bought a used original NV, not the 2.0, and my XL frame bike is over 50.5", 1285mm and with the front wheel cradle in the lower position my rear hub is still over the bar and straps securely. With cradle in the middle position the rear tire hangs over quite a bit. Almost didn't buy it for this reason but because of that adjustment it worked out. Edit: believe I was mistaken, my rack is old but is a 2.0 after all. The 1.0 may not have adjustability for bikes over 48"
Nice! I recall talking to Kuat and they told me you can def go over 50” even though that was the stated max wheelbase. They said the rear tire would just hang over a little. Seems like exactly what you found to be the case. Nice that they updated the other racks from 48” to 50” too. Thx for sharing that info. 👍🏼
How does the road bike fit on the Thule with the front rack on it? I see it seems to fit on the kuat rack but I am also considering the Thule and I have a similar mounting situation. Thanks!
Do you know which ones sit the bikes higher, let say if mounted on the same hitch/same vehicle? The tray height from the ground? The reason I asked is to know which one sits the bike higher so that less dirt and grim gets to the cassette
I think the Thule may have sat a little higher, but I doubt there’s enough of a difference to matter re cassette cleanliness. Seems like the trails are likely where you’ll get the most dirt on your cassette anyway, but I suppose it depends on what kind of conditions you’re driving in, and for how long. 🤷🏼♂️
Hey Kevin! Phenomenal review and helped me make my decision. Has anyone ever said you sound like Owen WIlson? 😊 QUESTION for ya: Do you know of any issues associated with using the KUAT on the back of a pickup truck? I have a 2021 RAM 1500 Laramie. Thanks and great job!
Never heard of any issues using it w a truck. I use it w our Tacoma all the time. And I can’t say anyone has ever mentioned me sounding like Owen Wilson, but I got a good chuckle out of your comment, haha. 😁 Glad the review was helpful.
I don’t think you could since the rack doesn’t really come close to the frame of the bike. Maybe the front tire or fork, but that’s not ideal from a security standpoint. If at all possible I would remove the bike if you are leading unattended somewhere sketchy. 🔐
Damn good review! Thank you for going into great detail and explanation on the diff and similarities. Leaning towards the Kuat. The only concern is the length of the base stem and scraping onto the ground. I drive an Accord so I'll just have to be more cautious on driveways.
It can hold bikes down to 20” diameter tire size, but you need an adapter for 20-24” tires. www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Kuat/016-025-00-00.html
Both these setups are illegal in most states because they block visibility of the license plates. It's ridiculous that they don't seem to sell legal bike racks in the US like they do in Europe...
True I’m sure, but not something I worry about. I’ve never been stopped, nor do I know anyone who has; but not doubting it could happen, especially if the cops want an excuse to pull you over. 🚓🚨
@@kevinhill.8 it seems to happen more and more here in Florida (we also have toll roads that need to photograph your plate) so I want to be legal with my new car/hitch. Thule seems to sell an illuminated auxiliary plate holder now, but I'm sure Florida is not giving me an auxiliary plate. Anyway, thanks for the great review!
Both of those racks are so bulky and so over done. Maybe if you are carrying light MOTOCYCLES they are ok. I have a 12 year old THULE rack that is WELL BUILT, TILTs, STRONG, w/anti-rattle lock, and does not need alot of space to store when not in use. Carries up to 4 bikes. I just sanded it down, primered it, Repainted it Black, put THULE Stickers on and looks Brand new. Love it.
What’s kind of funny is that they actually aren’t capable of holding a lot of people’s e-bikes nowadays. The Thule EasyFold has gotten really popular because of that. Sounds like you got yours back into great shape. Do you know the model you have?
This is the most honest and concise comparison / review I have ever seen. You should make a living off of that. Thank you so much.
Wow, thanks elgagnon! I'm really glad you found it useful.
Totally Agree...the best review ever!
Lol crazy that this video just popped up. I literally just debated between these exact two. Ended up with the kuat, the nicer lock and stability sold me just a little more. And also one thing you forgot to mention, the kuat has the ability to add on a + 2 to make it a 4 bike rack. That was the other selling point for me.
Nice choice. I think you will enjoy the Kuat for sure. You are correct that I forgot to mention the ability to add 2 more bikes. This can actually be done with both of these racks, as long as you buy the 2" version. I'm pretty sure the 1 1/4" versions don't allow +2 in either rack because they aren't strong enough to handle that load.
Thule has add on 2 bikes function as well.
Thule only has 2 bike addon. Kuat also has 1 bike addon (in addition to 2). 2 bike addon is considerably heavier, so if you only need 3 bikes to carry, this is a win for Kuat
I was looking at these two and couldn't decide. I'll be going with the KUAT. Thanks for the video 👍
Glad it helped!
Dude, you know your OCD fellow bikers way too well. Super thorough video. Very helpful. It’s a really hard decision.I love it when you apologize for your rack being dirty and then you mutter I usually keep my things clean. That’s awesome. Me too.
@@odouroushouseant I appreciate your reply. Believe it or not it is stuck with me over the last couple of months. I definitely don’t take OCD lightly and May have used it a little bit lightly here. Also a car guy, I was watching a video on some guys 4 best garages which led me to a TH-cam channel called obsessed garage. This guy does really good car content but but I think also has OCD and is a type C personality or maybe Myers Briggs would call that I NTJ. I am Intj. Really good content that really spoke to me. Thanks again for your reply. By the way I did get the Thule rack and really like it. It’s very rugged.
Thanks Andy. I'm glad the video helped. Good luck keeping your stuff tidy! :)
Thanks for your comment odouroushouseant. I can't recall if I use the term OCD in my video, but making light of anyone's struggles was not my intention if I did. Regardless, I appreciate you bringing it up as it's not something I had considered before.
I don't buy chewing gum without watching reviews about it, so I've seen lots of them. This is the best I've seen. No agenda, down to Earth, authoritative, and insightful. Thanks!
Haha, I love this comment! Glad it was helpful, and I appreciate you taking the time to let me know. Good luck w the chewing gum decision. 😋
EXCELLENT REVIEW AND COMPARISON. When I am ready to buy, I will get the Kuat NV.
Nice, thanks Craig! I’m glad it was helpful. I recently did a comparison between the NV and Piston Pro-X in case your interested: Kuat PISTON® PRO X vs NV 2.0 Bike Racks
th-cam.com/video/3lJjzE8Mh1o/w-d-xo.html
Kevin a great review.I also was in the process of purchasing the Thule Pro but I am going to buy the Kuat thanks to your showing everyone the difference between the two.Great job,Kevin
So glad it helped you make your decision. Enjoy your new rack!
Ditto!
Good review. I just bought the Thule Pro, but as a 69 year old woman, I can't lift my ebike into it. I also can't roll it up a ramp and down the rail without the front tire slipping off the rail. SO......I cut a piece of PVC in half lengthwise, painted it black and bolted it to the rail. Now the bike goes up the ramp I bought, and down the cup of the PVC. Then I just have to lift the front tire into the holder.
Wow, what a great solution. You may not have the strength to muscle the heavy e-bike around, but you clearly have the smarts to solve the problem!
@@kevinhill.8 thank you. A friend helped me with it all.
what type of ramp did you get?
@@mjutley4169 it was a dirt bike ramp that I got on Amazon that is no longer available, but others are. It was 6' long. My friend cut it in half and hinged it for me.
@@junezydek1532 thank you!
I was choosing between these two racks just a few months ago and this video answered all of the questions I had that nobody else covered. I went with the Kuat and have been super happy with it! I also drive an Outback and I really liked how much more compact the Kuat is when it's folded up.
Thanks Jonathan. I think you made a good choice, and you are definitely correct about how much more compact the Kuat is. I didn't fully appreciate the difference myself until I got them side by side. Happy biking!
What size hitch do you have on your Outback? I got one at the dealer and unsure.
@@rddhuria Subarus usually have a 1 7/8" receiver if it comes on the car from the factory. Should be able to look on it and see though, or just measure it.
Is there a version of the just that fits a towball?
This is an excellent review!!! I’ve watched it twice now and you’re making my decision on what to consider in bike racks much easier! Thank you so much!
Awesome, thanks for taking the time to let me know! Good luck in your decision. I'm sure it will go well if you are doing such good research.
This is the best comparison I've seen! Going to buy the Kuat NV 2.0. Thank you :)
Thanks for watching and commenting! I’m glad to hear it was useful, and I think you’ll love the NV 2.0 👍🏼
Excellent review. I like the clean lines and compactness of the Kuat. It looks lighter but appearances can be deceiving. I am also considering the Kuat Sherpa
Thanks! The Kuat is def more compact and so it does feel easier to move around imo. The Sherpa is a really nice choice too!
I just placed the order on the Sherpa
@yebogogo64 nice!! I know a lot of people who swear by that rack as the best lightweight quality bang-for-your-buck tray rack. Enjoy!
Excellent review! Very comprehensive coverage of pretty much everything I wanted to understand before making the investment into one or the other of these two racks. I think I am going to go for the Kuat although I am a little bit concerned with the approximately 6-inch longer projection on it versus the Thule. I drive a 2018 Volvo XC60 which has pretty good ground clearance but I still find times where driveways or intersecting streets seem to have been designed by someone who drives a Hummer. Thanks again for your highly informative coverage!
Thanks for watching and sharing your comments. Much appreciated! Good luck with your decision. Might consider the Kuat Hi-Lo accessory if you end up having issues w clearance. www.kuat.com/product/hi-lo/
The Kuat is hands down the best bike rack I've ever used. I also love the fact that you can mount it to the wall in your garage, remove the repair rod and attach it to their own tripod system for use indoors, and just the overall aesthetic. The only issue I had with the Kuat was that one of the locks stopped staying in the rack, Kuat immediately replaced it for me, and now everything is fine again. You get what you pay for folks! Kuat all the way!
Thanks for sharing John! Nice to hear Kaut fixed your lock issue. I wasn’t aware of the Tri Doc and the way it uses the Trail Doc arm. Very cool! www.kuatracks.com/product/tri-doc/
Great review of the two bike racks. Both are great! Myself, I went with the Thule. I didn't care for the way the Kuat adjustability works. It appears that the front wheel would hang lower than the rack itself once you've made adjustments for the bar/seat clearances. Especially if you're mounting the rack on a lower vehicle. I'd hate to come out of a steep driveway and drag that wheel mount.
Good point. Hope the Thule is working well for you. Thx for taking the time to comment. 👍🏼
Sir, your review was amazing. I decided to go with the kuat after watching your review :)
Nice! Glad it helped you out. Thanks for letting me know, and enjoy your new rack!
How about a safe way to lock bikes on hitch mout bike rack? Recently had $10,000 worth of bikes stolen off a thule T2 pro hitch mount bike rack using their tiny cable lock that was part of the bike rack. It happened when traveling on the back of our car when stopped to do a thirty min hike where no bikes were allowed. Been thinking some way to rig up two beefy chain locks like Hiplok, kryptonite ect. I know no system is perfect. Just want to be able to leave them on the car for a few hours say at national park parking lot or the like. Bikes won't fit in the car with all our camping gear. Any ideas would be super helpful! Thank you in advance!
Oh man, I’m sorry to hear about your loss! Whenever we are leaving our bikes unattended, we use a heavy OnGard chain to lock them together and to the bike rack. Kryptonite and a number of other brands makes similar locks. The key is to get a heavy chain so that it would take someone a while to get through it. I only use the cable locks that are provided for things like popping in to use the restroom or when you can keep an eye on your bikes.
@@kevinhill.8 Good point! someone also suggested alarms on the locks. Cheers!
Perfect video. Just what I needed. Thanks for putting this out there.
Sweet. Glad it helped! 👍🏼
Great review. I'm going with the Thule for the off-road clearance! Kuat sticking out 18" is too far in Utah! I also like the skid plate on the Thule. Also, I have a 7 way trailer elec. socket on one side of my hitch and another custom Anderson plug on the other side. It makes locking hitch pins a little tricky to install/uninstall. The Thule will be way be easier for this reason.
Good points all around! I think the Thule will work really well for you! Or maybe IS working really well for you; sorry for the delayed response :)
I have to go with the Thule because of the clearance. I carry two bikes (one is an E) on the back of a Toyota minivan, so the clearance is already limited. It's not just offroad, it's also the slope of a driveway approach. If Kuat could weld a skid plate extending just past the knob, I might chose them.
@@waltlikker3988 Kuat sells a high lo hitch extension that will raise it a couple inches.
I'm disappointed with my Kuat. The weight rating is bogus. I have 2 Specialized ebikes and the trays are now bending downwards. I think its the bolts holding them together that are bending. I believe Kuat rates the trays at 60lbs each and our bikes are 54lbs each. Not too happy with a rack that cost close to a grand.
Wow, thanks for sharing that Paul. I've never heard of anything like that before. Have you contacted Kuat, and if so, what did they say and/or do?
Excellently done brother, thanks a million. I’m looking for a rack that can handle the weight of my Gigantic ebike. I heard you mention that both racks holds up to 60 lbs. That's about the total weight of my bike.
Thanks. Might want to check out the Thule EasyFold for heavy e-bikes. It has a max capacity of 65lbs per bike.
Excellent in-depth tutorial! I'm glad I stumbled upon it. We're looking for a bike rack and there are just so many models to choose from. We're first time buyers, so we have no idea what features to look for in a rack. Thanks to your excellent review, I think we'll go with the Kuat. It seems to be easy to use and appears to have all the necessary features. Thanks for taking the time to do this comparison.
Glad it was helpful, and thx for letting me know. Good luck w your decision. 👍🏼
I have the Thule for my fatty, it works great. Very premium rack.
Nice! Definitely a quality product.
Thanks for the detailed review, and hopefully the person who put the racks away dirty has apologized. Clearly that hit a nerve LOL.
Haha, yes all is well. And yeah, I'm not a fan of keeping stuff dirty.
Excellent! Thanks for the comparison!
You bet. Glad it was helpful! 👍🏼
Gold Standard Review!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful.
Same theme. I was looking at both and went with the Kuat. Your through review has reassured me that I made the right choice. I appreciate this video.
Special note: I have a Jeep Wrangler w/oversized tires, including my spare. Only the Kuat....barely fits without a hitch extender. Doesn’t look like the Thule would have done that.
That’s great! Thanks for the compliment, and glad to hear the video helped, even after the fact. Nice choice!
Mark, you didn't even need a hitch extender for the Kuat? That's good to know. But, do you get access to the rear of the Wrangler?
Any regrets?
I just bought the Kuat rack and from what I'm being told it is not great with a bike with fenders. Kuat recommended that the securing arm be placed as close to the front fork as possible and that some type of foam or rubber be placed between the fender and the tire so when securing it doesn't crush the fender. Actually in the Kuat manual they say it is not to be used on a bike with fenders. I see that you are securing it way forward on the tire. Any issues with having the arm this far forward?
These racks are definitely not designed to be used with fenders, but can work, depending on your bike setup. Short front fenders don't seem to cause an issue, but you wouldn't want the arm too far forward on the tire. I've never heard of the suggestion to use foam or rubber between the fender and tire, but I guess that could work if done properly.
I have the Kuat and found it easier to use to load my mountain bike on. It will even carry my friends ebike. No problems. Be aware of possibly having the bike holder/“umbrella holder” be stolen. I had mine take. Ugh!
Glad to hear it's working well for you. Good point about the theft risk with the Trail Doc. Some people just suck! :(
You sir deserve an award for this comparison! 🏆
Thanks Ethan!
Indeed
Thank you so much for your review! Especially helpful for a bike novice like me!
You bet. Glad it helped you out!
Wound up purchasing the Thule T2 Pro XTR b4 I sw this video. I have friends who have both and both are worthy racks. The added cost for the Kuat seems justified but in the end, with the majority of my racks, boxes being Thule and the 2" receiver for the rack I bought it turned out great for me. Nice reviews.
Good stuff. Thx for watching and commenting. 🙏 I agree w you; both are solid racks, and I don’t think you can really go wrong with either one. 👍🏼
I would like to bring to your attention that receiver hitch on the car sets further underneath the back of the car were as on the truck the receiver hitch sets flush with the bumper so that makes a differences on how far the bike racks sticks out from the vehicle so that part of the comparison is wrong to get a accurate comparison you would need to switch the bike racks between the two vehicles.
Good point, thanks!
Thanks Kevin. I was on the fence leaning towards the Thule. My bike dealer recommended the Kuat. Did some research and your video sealed the deal. Went with the Kuat NV2.0 in the 2". Mounted it on my wife's Honda CR-V and it is super stable. Thanks for making a great video. Super helpful!
Hey Chris, I have a Honda CRV too but the hitch they put on is only about 1 1/2 inches wide. What kind of adapter did you use to mount your bike rack?
@@Msniinc I was able to have a hitch installed with a 2" receiver. So, no adapter needed.
Glad I could help. Sounds like your setup is dialed!!
Amazing review sir.... with this comparison in a heart beat I would go with KuaT 🤙
Good choice!
My shop sells Kuat Sherpa and NV more than all other racks combined.
Great review Kevin. I was looking at these exact two racks, and was leaning toward the Thule since it wouldn't require an adapter for the kids bikes, but seeing the side-by-side comparison, I think it might be worth dealing with the small wheel adapters until the kids grow out of them. Could you also let me know how they compare in distance from the hitch pin to the first bike? I am considering installing a box on the back of my van, and it would be helpful to know how much room there would be in either case. Thanks!
Wish I could help, but I no longer have the Thule. Let me know if you still want the measurement for the Kuat and I can get that for you.
Great Comparison of racks. Kuat is what I'm buying.
Glad it helped. Enjoy!
Great review! Learned so much. Thx.
Glad you found it helpful Roger!
I would love to see more with other rack makers. You did a very good job of showing the racks.
Thanks for the compliment and the good idea. I'll keep that in mind for future videos.
Excellent job! Just the kind of review I was looking for before making my purchase. Thank you!
Great review. Obviously the bike cable lock is minimal security. Do both racks easily accommodate a high security U-Lock which would offer better theft protection?
Thanks Matthew! It may be tough to get a U-Lock through the bike and around a solid part of the rack. We carry a heavy bike chain when we are leaving them somewhere we can't keep an eye on them.
Great review. I do have a couple of comments as I have both of these units as well. I first bought the Thule ;and then added the 2 bike addition to it. However, about a year after I bought it, the hook on the Thule that goes into the hitch pin hole, would no longer stay either in the open position for removing or installing. Instead, it remained in the closed position. Why is this a big deal? Because if you are installing or removing this. yourself, unless that hook stays in the open position, it becomes a nightmare to install or remove. When installing, wth the hook in the closed position, it catches on everything as you try to guide it in the hitch. When removing it, you can't hold the hook open with one hand, while you try to pull it out. When I brought to the dealer, they contacted Thule who sent a replacement unit that the dealer swapped out. Then. the hook on the replacement failed again in the same way. This time when the dealer contacted Thule, the representative told.them that was how they were now designed!!! What??? I got on the phone and spoke with the rep and asked her, " so you are trying to tell me that hook which came from the factory with.the ability to stay open or closed, but now would only stay in the closed position, spontaneously transitioned from the older design to the new and improved design?" She insisted that is how they are being designed now and refused to replace the unit. I had to use a bungee cord to tie to the hook and then to another part of the rack to hold it open while I either installed or removed the unit. Completely dissatisfied with the response, I called Thule back myself and this time spoke with someone in the tech department as opposed to the first person who was in sales. The tech person told me he also worked in the warranty department and told me the information the first person gave was incorrect. He arranged for a new unit to be shopped to me although it took 2 months to get.
The second point I wanted to make not covered in this video was the difference in adding the 2 extra bike addition. I did that to both the Thule and the Kuat. The dealer installed the one for the Thule and it took two mechanics about 40 minutes to do. The Kuat took me 6 minutes to do myself. That is a huge difference. With the Thule taking such a long time to switch from 2-4 bikes or the other way around, mostly due to the release grip mechanism in the Thule), I was very reluctant to swap them out to save weight and space when I didn't need the ability to care 4 bikes. With the Kuat, it would be nothing to swap the 2-4 or vice versa. That way I only use the 4 bike option when I need to and save gas by reducing the weight on the Kuat. Those two issues, the ability to install or remove the two bike option plus the apparent design flaw of the hook staying in the open position, made the decision for me-Kuat all the way!! One last observaton. When I was spoke with the customer service rep from Thule the first time, she gave me a hard time and insisted there was no problem with the hook staying in the closed position. Oh yeah? I am 66 years old. The Thule 4 bike rack weighs close to 90 pounds. Try holding that, and hold the hook open, and guide the rack into the hitch hole which of course you can't see because it is so far away. Plus I had to call several Thule dealer who all confirmed, the hook is designed to stay in either the open or closed position, and then call and present my case to the second rep at Thule to get satisfaction and get my new unit. It took two months to get. The fact this happened not once but twice tells me there is a design or manufacturer flaw what is going to happen again and again. On the other hand, I had to call Kuat customer service to request a change in the key lock so all the keys, from both the first rack and the extra two-bike rack, were the same. The person at Kuat couldn't have been nicer and sent out a rekey kit so I could have all the locks the same and didn't charge me a cent. Thanks Kuat!!!
Wow! That is some really good information. I appreciate you sharing. I have never added the two bike extension to either of these racks, but it makes sense that the Thule would be more complicate due to the handle. I'm sorry to hear about the poor customer service you received from Thule. Sounds like Kuat killed it though!
@@kevinhill.8 I have one more tidbit to share. When the second new replacement unit arrived last week.... guess what? The Pin on the new unit ALSO stays in the open position. So either Thule, completely retooled their production line to make a unit for me that keeps the pin in the open position, or, it is still designed that way...
Hi, great review! Any suggestions on which is better for 3 mountain bikes? It seems like I'd have to buy an expensive 2 bike add on to either. Or go with the Kuat transfer (which seems kinda flimsy). Thanks!
Thanks! Glad you liked it. For 3 bikes you could go with the Kuat Transfer like you mentioned, or you might want to check out the Yakima Dr. Tray and the EZ+1 add-on, which makes it into a 3-bike rig. I don't have much experience with either of those though, so you might need to check them out closely or do some additional research. Good luck!
@@kevinhill.8 Thank you, Kevin!
This was an awesome review man. The two racks sitting on the ground was eye-opening for me. I'm torn between these two racks and the footprint and weight are considerations. The Kuat is much more compact and easy to sit in the corner on a wooden platform of some sort. Both are great but I'm leaning towards the NV base. Thank you so much for this well thought out comparison.
Glad it helped, and good luck in your decision!
@@kevinhill.8 I ended up going with the 1Up but if I couldn't get 1Up, I would have gone with the NV. Chose 1up because it's modular and it folds up.
@@shwndh Glad to hear you got something that will work for you. Good stuff from 1Up for sure.
Very good balanced informative assessment of both products. I watch video after buying my Thule T2 XTR Pro 9034XTR. I just assembled it and will install it on my Taco tomorrow.
I do like the Tule Design where they’ve added the wheels for transporting the Rack Tray on a substrate (flat surface) in lieu of carrying it. Will see how it does on the road. We have two Rad4 Step-Throughs with racks and fenders and fat tires.
A little concern about security where they can be yanked with another truck and chain. End of day we are about as secure as our minds tell us.
Hopefully the universe is providing positive vibes. Excellent Video. Thule’s instruction manual is quite sad and their site provides no other instructional media. An install Video would be reasonable given the over the top price point. Expected a bit more for the spend from them
Respect and blessings my brother and for guys like you who drop these great videos.
Thanks again for filling the great void.
Best
Just Phab
Thanks! Enjoy the new rack!
Thank you so much Kevin for this excellent review!!!
I am looking at racks now for mounting on my 3/4 ton 4x4 Dodge Ram. I will mount on the back hitch, or sometimes on the front hitch for short trips. I would like to know if either of these will allow the tailgate to drop down. Anybody out there have any experience with a full sized pickup?
You are welcome. I'm glad it was helpful. I wish I could say for sure about the tailgate clearance on a full size pickup, but I would guess that it will clear the rack since it is SUPER close to clearing on my Tacoma, and I would think a full size likely has a larger distance between hitch and tailgate. Maybe try to test one out at a local shop. Good luck!
I bought the Thule XT 2 because nothing else is currently available. The XT 2 is a good rack. I’m happy with it. However as noted it does not have a ramp to role the bike onto the rack. Accordingly I’m doing a lot of lifting. Not too bad when I first take off the battery.
Sounds like you are making it happen. Nice work! And yes, lots of trouble finding a lot of recreational items right now. Hopefully that starts changing soon.
Great video! Very thorough and the fact that you used both for a year inspires a lot of confidence that you’ve uncovered the nuances of both racks. I was hoping to see a wobble test with the racks loaded. I’ve been leaning towards the Kuat already as another review said it is rock solid. They referred to it as like a steel plate. Thanks for taking the time to do this comparison!
Glad it helped. Great suggestion for the wiggle test! The Kuat does seem to wobble less, and I never need to adjust the arm on the tire, which was not always the case when using the Thule.
I got the Kuat today. I’m really happy with it. Waiting on the ramp, which apparently is back-ordered. For my Radrover, 5 I will need to trim the front splash guard back so that the clamp can sit properly against (or closest to) the fork. I do really like how stable the Kuat is once it is tightened into the hitch. It feels like it becomes an extension of the vehicle frame.
Thule - Topgun
Reviewer- Topgun
Probably the best product review in human history.
🥇
Wow, thx! That’s high praise indeed. I appreciate you watching and I’m glad you enjoyed it. 😊
keep key asap together with your car keys
Good call!
The Thule EasyFold XT 2 rack folds and has wheels to move it to and from the vehicle. The Thule has a ramp for wheeling the bike. The hitch lock for the Kuat would take seconds to cut off with a cordless grinder and cut-off wheel and not a good design. The rack bike locks give a false sense of security as the wire rope cables take less than 5 seconds to cut through.
The 1up rack is superior to both of these racks as is the Swagman E-spec and the Hollywood RV rack. The lighter the bikes the cheaper the bike rack one can use and the less need their will be for a ramp. The ramp from Yakima is too short for use with a heavy e-bike and this is not a problem with the ramp one can get from 1Up (which is made in the USA).
Thanks for the info Bruce. The locks on all of these racks, especially the cable locks locking the bikes to the rack, are easily overcome if someone wants it. They are to keep honest people honest, and should only be used for short trips away from the vehicle. For any overnight or extended use I would either remove the bike for secure storage, or use a chain lock. As for the locking hitch pin on the Kuat, I would still take it over the Thule that only has the locking internal wedge. Much easier to throw a rope or chain around it and yank it out than to crawl under the vehicle and grind the pin off IMO.
Awesome review!! Thank you for covering exactly the things we need to know and a lot of the bonus considerations like how they both lock, spacing, and the balancing when off-mount.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
This is super helpful....thank-you.
Thanks! Glad it was useful.
Hi Kevin, I agree that this is best review on these racks that I've seen. I really like both racks, but it may come down to this: with the rack in the fully lowered position with a bike in the tray closest to the vehicle, which rack has the most space between the bike and the rear hatch? I drive an Odyssey and the hitch sits a few inches in from the end of the bumper (as opposed to being flush with the bumper), meaning the bike will be closer to the hatch when opening. So I'd get the hitch that provides the most clearance in this aspect.
Thanks! This is a great question, and I apologize for not thinking to cover this in the video. Unfortunately, I no longer have the T2 Pro XT, so I can't go compare the two myself. However, I will say that I could tell that the Kuat tilts further back/down when I first got it, so I think it probably has more gate clearance. Sorry I can't say for sure.
Fantastic...you help me make up my mind👍
Nice! Glad it helped.
Very helpful. Thank you. I have a Tacoma with a shell, where we put our 3 dogs when we travel. The Kuat seems like the best option, but can you clarify whether the tailgate can go all the way down when the rack is folded down with no bike on it, so I can get the dogs out of the bed? Thank you.
Great question. Sorry I missed covering this in the review. Unfortunately, the tailgate just hits the bike rack.
thule doesnt seem secure... especially where im at in CO, people have the ability to wrap something around the rack and pull it with the many off road cars here.. this review def changed my mind about thule.. i wont be buying it now.. going with the kuat
Glad it helped. It’s definitely a concern, though if we are being honest, it’s not that difficult to break the lock portion off the pin style hitch locks either. Still, I think I prefer them, and the new Kuat ones are pretty beefy. 💪🏼🔐
Hi Kevin, excellent review. Did you review the part of the Thule where you can adjust the bikes so they do not hit? We can see how you adjust it but did not see an actual demo. Only on the Kuat did we see the actual demo of bikes. Thank you again for great review.
Thanks for your compliment and your question. I cover the Thule in more depth in my T2 Pro vs. T2 Pro XT video: th-cam.com/video/C6m16bToyo8/w-d-xo.html
Excellent video. Thank you very much
You are welcome! Glad it was useful.
Great review Kevin. Did have a question for you. My wife has a 2017 CRV which is made to accept a Honda 1-1/4" hitch. My Jeep Cherokee can only accept a 2" Jeep hitch. Do you know if Thule and Kuat offer adapters that would allow an 1-1/4" rack to be used on a 2" hitch? Also, do you think I would be sacrificing some rigidity by going with the -1/4"?. Really don't like the idea of having to purchase to racks.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful. Most (all?) of the high-end tray racks are dedicated 1.25" or 2" and there aren't adapters, as far as I know. However, there are some decent options that fit 1.25" and 2," like the Thule DoubleTrack and the Yakima TwoTimer. And yes, there is no question you would be sacrificing some rigidity with 1.25." It's just a matter of physics. Whether it's problematic, or how noticeable it will be, I can't say for sure. Good luck!!
Thule makes two different models of the T2 Pro - one for 1.25" reciever and one for 2" receiver. The rest of the rack is identical. However, I don't think you can expand the 1.25" model to carry 4 bikes. I don't know about the Kuat.
I ended up going with the Thule XTR, particularly because I have a long wheelbase bike,plus I would need an adapter to fit my son’s 24 inch bike on the kuat, - also to bring the rack down to access the tailgate, reaching in between the bikes is a pain in the butt on the kuat, so much easier on the Thule.
Nice choice. Sounds like all the right reasons to go with the Thule. Enjoy and thanks for sharing!
Kevin, thank you for the great review!!! We were looking at less expensive rakes but have decided to go with the Kuat and feel it is worth the money. Thanks.
Real bicycles don't have batteries,
Tom
Thanks for the compliment, and I think you are wise to spend the extra money. Not only will the rack last much longer than lower priced options, but it will function (and look) better the entire time too! :)
Thank you for this detailed video. Can you open the tailgate on the Tacoma with the Kuat NV2.0 in the fully open (tilted back) position, or does the tailgate hit the rack?
It does hit. Just barely, but it hits just the same. :(
@@kevinhill.8 - Thank you for the follow up. I ended up buying the Equip D from 1Up. It’s an amazing bike tray. It definitely clears the Tacoma tailgate.
Thank you for this excellent review. I own the KUAT Sherpa 2.0 and love it. I leave it on my car 24/7/365 (in Delaware) and have had no problems with it at all. I just bought an ebike that exceeds its 40 pound limit, so I need to upgrade to (most likely) one of these racks. The Sherpa has shown zero rust after over two years. How does the Thule T2 Pro XT hold up in the weather? I'd appreciate your comments. Thank you.
Thule seemed to hold up well, but I’m in PNW where it’s mostly rain and very little salt on roads, it at all. It does have more plastic than some other racks, so that may help.
One more piece of information...If you're looking for a 60 lb. capacity for an ebike, note that the Trail Doc feature on the Kuat NV 2.0 is rated to only 40 lbs. (per my inquiry to Kuat customer service). The NV 2.0 Base is the exact same rack less the Trail Doc for about $100.00 less.
Good info, thx for sharing. I rarely use the trail doc anyway, so I think this is a good call and a nice way to save a little money. I believe the Base is only available in matte black. Looks great imo, but something to be aware of.
Best review just what I was looking for between the two. Seems the Kuat is the way to go, will it fit on Mazda CX-5 2020 as for clearance? If anyone else has Kuat on Mazda CX-5 please share your experiences. Thank you!
Thanks! Hope you got it figured out for you Mazda.
To me...kuat nv 2 all day tho my old yakima dr tray still strong lol
Kuat makes a nice rack, for sure. Good to hear your Dr Tray is still rocking! 💪🏼
Super helpful, definitely going with the Kuat. the bonus bike stand is a steal.
Nice! It's definitely a cool feature.
Why is it pronounced tool-e? That's dumb. They should change the name. The tool-y also looks chintzy af. They are both way too expensive for their build quality. Great comparison, thanks. I would skip the silly tool-y just because of the crappy way it attaches to the hitch.
Thx for watching and sharing your thoughts. I’m not a big fan of the Thule hitch attachment setup either. The name certainly does mess with a lot of people. They are a Swedish company. Name deets (via Wiki) below👇🏼
Thule (/ˈθjuːliː/[1] Greek: Θούλη, translit. Thoúlē; Latin: Thūlē) is the most northerly location mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman literature and cartography. In classical and medieval literature, ultima Thule (Latin "farthest Thule") acquired a metaphorical meaning of any distant place located beyond the "borders of the known world".
Instead of these racks that hold (barely) the front wheels, why not have a rack that requires the removal of the front wheels and attach them to the rack using a fork mount. That would make the rack much lighter, hold the bikes better, and the big thing make the width of the bikes on the rack about 15" shorter. You would then be able to see the stop lights on the vehicle. Maybe you could even see them with a cover on the bikes. You could bungee the front wheels between the bikes or even keep the wheels in the vehicle. I may actually try this with my modify Thule T2 Pro XTR and see if it works. Anyone tried this? The new 29" mountain bikes are huge and stick out past the sides on may vehicles. This would help that for sure. Maybe Thule or Kuat could make this item.
Interesting idea. They make plenty of front wheel off options for the roof, and the bed of the truck, but I’ve never seen it for the hitch. Personally I like not having to take a wheel on/off, and I’ve never had any issue w these racks letting a bike move around too much, even on rough roads.
Thank you for this really in depth review. Definitely helped me make my decision on which rack to get.
Glad it helped!!
Awesome review! Thanks! I’m currently trying to decide between these two racks. I have been going back and forth trying to figure it out. I have to ask, do you have any experience or thoughts on the two bike add-ones for both? We will be getting one and any opinions on the extensions might help us make the decision. Thanks!
The two bike extensions for both are quite nice. The Thule allows you to still use the handle, but other than that I don't think they are very different.
Hi Kevin! Nice review. We have a 2020 Subaru Outback. Which rack do you think was better on your Subaru? I was leaning to the Kuat, until I saw the clearance issue. Does the extra length a concern on an Outback, in your opinion?
I’d prob go w the Kuat. Not enough of a difference to make you switch plans, imo. I asked my wife too, since she drove the Outback a lot w both racks, and she doesn’t recall having any real issues.
Are you able to open the tailgate of your pickup truck with any of the two racks? Im having very hard time finding a bike rack that allows to fully open the tailgate on the ford maverick. Only the cheap bike racks that don't swivel work with pickup truck tailgates. Every high quality bike racks that possess a swivel tilting hitch arm will come in contact with the pickup tailgate if you try to open it.. my only solution is to find an extender hitch but that is overkill and unsafe. And also too much extension will defeat the purpose of having the folding feature on these expensive rack.
Yeah, I think both racks touch the tailgate. You could also consider a pivot so you can swing the rack away, but not as simple as if they would just clear when tilted down.
Can you fit a ramp to the KUAT?
Also, I really appreciate your description about fenders as my new e-bike has them and I haven't known which rack will accommodate them.
Glad it was helpful, and yes, you can get a ramp for the NV. Here’s a link to the product: www.kuat.com/product/nv-2-0-bike-ramp/
Thank you for the review. I've been researching both of these bike racks, and your review was very informative and covered the areas in both racks I had some questions about.
Happy to hear it helped you out!
Only thing I would say is that although you may like the finish of the Kuat better, I have a feeling the Thule finish is a powder coating (not paint), which would protect better.
Good point! It’s kind of hard to say, but after seeing both in use for a number of years I’m confident in stating that both seem pretty durable.
To your point, it is possible that the paint of the Kuat could be more prone to showing scratches, though I never had that issue.
Thx for watching and sharing those thoughts. Much appreciated! 👍🏼
I have a 2012 Toyota Sienna
Which of these 2 racks would have me lifting the bikes as little as possible ?
They are probably pretty similar, with the T2 maybe a little harder because of the larger wheel cup. That said, you may want to consider the Thule EasyFold since it sits low and has an included folding ramp that makes things really easy if you don’t want to lift the bikes at all.
I think if the Thule is installed correctly that stinger locks into the hole on the receiver.
Are you referring to the little arm in the side that sits into the hole? It doesn't lock, but it does sit into the hole to prevent it from falling out if the wedge were to come loose inside the receiver. If you are referring to the wedge itself, it definitely does not lock into the hole. It simply presses into the corner of the receiver itself.
Thanks mate for the video. How are you going to travel without keys if all your lockers have the same keys? In this case you will travel even without bikes or with unlocked bikes which is very risky.
Not sure I get your question and point. I think what I was saying is that if a lock can be locked up without needing the keys you could lock up your bike, then leave on a trip and not realize you don’t have them until you go to unlock your bike. This happened to customers where I used to work. They came into the store hundreds of miles from home after realizing they had locked up their bikes and didn’t have the keys.
Of course anyone could lock up a bike and then forget the keys. My point is just that it’s even easier to forget them if you don’t even need to have them in hand when locking the bikes up.
How can a bicycle rack for bicycles cost $600? And the weight limit is 60 pounds each bike. My Ebikes weight about 70-80 pounds each... Fail....
They are definitely not cheap! Those are some very heavy bikes. Have you found a rack that can support that kind of weight?
Great review, just curious on these style racks with the hold down arm that rest on the tire. I would think obviously that if your bike tire lost pressure everything would become very loose. Has anyone ever have this happen?
Thx for watching, and for your comment and question. Although things would probably become a bit loose, I don’t think it would be much of a problem, assuming you are using the arm correctly. It should be back near the fork, which means even if things loosened, it would not be able to come off the wheel. Hope that helps. Maybe others will share with direct experience about this. 👍🏼
Thanks for your work on this. I wanted to know how both of these racks compare when the tailgate of a truck is down. Does it clear on either rack? It doesnt look like it does. I know this is old but maybe you or someone else can answer this question. There’s a sale going on right now and I was curious.
Thank you. I think it might depend on the truck, but you are correct that with my Tacoma both racks do touch the tailgate.
I made another comparison video between two Kuat racks (Piston and NV 2.0), and I’m pretty sure I lower the tailgate in that one, so you could at least see it for the Kuat rack. It’s here if you’re interested: th-cam.com/video/3lJjzE8Mh1o/w-d-xo.htmlsi=8av3KqaOskevJrbU
Kevin, I've really enjoyed your videos and reviews. Awesome job. Quick question, I was looking to combine the Thule T2 Pro XT with a swing-out option (Thule Access? Rocky Mount? Etc.), but am concerned, as you point out in your videos, about ground clearance/scraping the unit. Do you have an opinion on combining the two or event a sense of distance for how far from the vehicle (deployed and stowed) the combination of the two might be? Totally. Appreciated. - Nate
Good question Nate. I think the swing out options tend to add around a foot of distance, and this will definitely make it easier to scrape as you go up inclines, especially if your vehicle has low ground clearance to begin with. I would probably only use the swing outs with a truck, van, or larger SUV, but maybe you can find a shop where you can test it on the vehicle and see how it looks.
Which rack works best with a tesla Y ? Have you heard of any thule racks coming out of hitch when driving due to no locking pin through the plate? If driving tesla is thule better since clearance higher?
Not sure ab the Tesla Y specifically, but if clearance is an issue the Thule might be a better option. Or maybe look at the Kuat Piston Pro-X, which is an amazing rack (with a price tag to match 💰). It has really good ground clearance w tiered trays. I’ve already recorded a video comparison btw the Piston Pro-X and NV 2.0, so keep an eye out (turn on 🔔) if your interested. I’m hoping to get it edited and published soon.
Great review amigo. It's just fantastic to see a review that deep and simple at the same time. Thanks for your time! Cheers!
Thanks Javier. I'm glad it helped, and I appreciate your comment!
tbh, both of these bike racks are better than 1UP. I like how easy it is to adjust the rack position. with 1UP you gotta pay extra $99 for that feature.
Interesting! I didn’t know that. Thx for watching and sharing that info. 👍🏼
Thanks!
Thanks so much! Glad the video was helpful. I really appreciate the support 👍🏼
Great review. HOLY SHIT the prices blew me away. I will not be purchasing either of these new.. Jesus Christ.
Haha, yeah they are really expensive. And they've gone up recently too. Currently the Thule XTR (a new version that has wheels) is $700, and the Kuat NV 2.0 is now $850.
Thanks! Are you in Salem? I live here and noticed the Capitol license plate. I just bought the Kuat NV 2.0
Nice choice! I’m in Silverton. 😊
Kuat updated the rated wheelbase capacity on these a while ago, they now rate even the old racks for 50", not 48". I just bought a used original NV, not the 2.0, and my XL frame bike is over 50.5", 1285mm and with the front wheel cradle in the lower position my rear hub is still over the bar and straps securely. With cradle in the middle position the rear tire hangs over quite a bit. Almost didn't buy it for this reason but because of that adjustment it worked out. Edit: believe I was mistaken, my rack is old but is a 2.0 after all. The 1.0 may not have adjustability for bikes over 48"
Nice! I recall talking to Kuat and they told me you can def go over 50” even though that was the stated max wheelbase. They said the rear tire would just hang over a little. Seems like exactly what you found to be the case. Nice that they updated the other racks from 48” to 50” too. Thx for sharing that info. 👍🏼
How does the road bike fit on the Thule with the front rack on it? I see it seems to fit on the kuat rack but I am also considering the Thule and I have a similar mounting situation. Thanks!
I never had a problem with it, but my road bike front fender is short.
Do you know which ones sit the bikes higher, let say if mounted on the same hitch/same vehicle? The tray height from the ground? The reason I asked is to know which one sits the bike higher so that less dirt and grim gets to the cassette
I think the Thule may have sat a little higher, but I doubt there’s enough of a difference to matter re cassette cleanliness. Seems like the trails are likely where you’ll get the most dirt on your cassette anyway, but I suppose it depends on what kind of conditions you’re driving in, and for how long. 🤷🏼♂️
Appreciate your time putting this together.Thank you
Glad it helped, and thx for your comment. Much appreciated! 🙏
Hey Kevin! Phenomenal review and helped me make my decision. Has anyone ever said you sound like Owen WIlson? 😊 QUESTION for ya: Do you know of any issues associated with using the KUAT on the back of a pickup truck? I have a 2021 RAM 1500 Laramie. Thanks and great job!
Never heard of any issues using it w a truck. I use it w our Tacoma all the time. And I can’t say anyone has ever mentioned me sounding like Owen Wilson, but I got a good chuckle out of your comment, haha. 😁 Glad the review was helpful.
1) Is there some way to get a U lock around it and a bike. I just live in a s#!tty area? 2) do either of these have the ability to add bikes?
I don’t think you could since the rack doesn’t really come close to the frame of the bike. Maybe the front tire or fork, but that’s not ideal from a security standpoint. If at all possible I would remove the bike if you are leading unattended somewhere sketchy. 🔐
Damn good review! Thank you for going into great detail and explanation on the diff and similarities. Leaning towards the Kuat. The only concern is the length of the base stem and scraping onto the ground. I drive an Accord so I'll just have to be more cautious on driveways.
Thanks for the compliment! I think you will love the rack, and like you said, you can just be aware of driveways/inclines, and you will be fine.
@@kevinhill.8 Kuat makes an adapter to raise the whole rack.
on the kuat does it just hold adult bikes or can it also hold a 5-8 year old kids bike
It can hold bikes down to 20” diameter tire size, but you need an adapter for 20-24” tires. www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Kuat/016-025-00-00.html
@@kevinhill.8 My Kuat needs an adapter (included with rack) for the 20" but the 24" fits without an adapter.
best comparison review I've seen, thank you.
Thanks Tiw! I'm glad it helped you out, and I appreciate the compliment.
Both these setups are illegal in most states because they block visibility of the license plates. It's ridiculous that they don't seem to sell legal bike racks in the US like they do in Europe...
True I’m sure, but not something I worry about. I’ve never been stopped, nor do I know anyone who has; but not doubting it could happen, especially if the cops want an excuse to pull you over. 🚓🚨
@@kevinhill.8 it seems to happen more and more here in Florida (we also have toll roads that need to photograph your plate) so I want to be legal with my new car/hitch. Thule seems to sell an illuminated auxiliary plate holder now, but I'm sure Florida is not giving me an auxiliary plate. Anyway, thanks for the great review!
Both of those racks are so bulky and so over done. Maybe if you are carrying light MOTOCYCLES they are ok. I have a 12 year old THULE rack that is WELL BUILT, TILTs, STRONG, w/anti-rattle lock, and does not need alot of space to store when not in use. Carries up to 4 bikes. I just sanded it down, primered it, Repainted it Black, put THULE Stickers on and looks Brand new. Love it.
What’s kind of funny is that they actually aren’t capable of holding a lot of people’s e-bikes nowadays. The Thule EasyFold has gotten really popular because of that. Sounds like you got yours back into great shape. Do you know the model you have?