Velocirax vs Alta Racks Bike Rack Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ส.ค. 2021
- **NOTE: This video reviewed was filmed in 2021 and is missing info on the following notable updates:
- VelociRAX and Alta now offers baskets for 20″ bikes which we found to work great on all 20" kids bikes. The 20" basket for both brands can also transport 16" bikes with the help of a pool noodle (for shorter distances only)
- Alta Racks now offers a “Superior” model rack that can hold up to 7 bikes. The new rack has no e-bike limit within its 350 lb. weight capacity
If you use the link below to purchase, please mention Two Wheeling Tots! You'll be supporting our TH-cam channel and website.
www.velocirax.com/shop?ref=TW... (affiliate link)
www.altaracks.com/shop/
Vertical hitch bike racks are the BEST way to transport more than 4 bikes. There are quite a few great options on the market, but Velocirax and Alta Racks are two of the most popular, and for good reason - they are both exceptional racks!
They are also quite similar, which can make deciding between the two a bit tricky. In this video, we’re going to answer the question… Velocirax or Alta Racks… We tested them both (side by side!) to figure out how they’re different, and when or if those differences actually matter.
0:04 Intro to Alta Racks and Velocirax
0:30 Similarities between Alta Racks and Velocirax
0:32 Both are vertical storage racks
0:57 Racks tilt forward providing rear hatch access
1:15 Really slim profile when bikes aren’t loaded
1:46 Reasons to buy the Velocirax
1:49 Price
2:00 Bike capacity
2:14 Lots of ebikes
2:32 Reasons to buy the Alta Racks
2:45 20” kids bikes
3:28 Ground clearance
5:34 Made in the USA
5:48 Other smaller differences
6:08 Velocirax hydraulic dampening system
7:33 Bike spacing
7:51 Wheel straps for tying bikes to the rack
8:30 Weight capacity
9:18 Questions to ask to decide which rack is right for you
VELOCIRAX REVIEW
High Capacity: The Velocirax comes in 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 bike capacity for maximum customization to your specific needs.
Dampening System: The dampening system at the rack hinge point provides resistance so that the bikes lower slowly, and will never come crashing down.
Roll-in Loading: When the Velocirax is tilted down, 29er bikes can be rolled into the wheel baskets - no true lifting required. For smaller bikes with shorter wheelbases, you will have to lift the bikes into the baskets.
Fits 24″ Bikes: The front tire hoops on the Velocirax easily work with 24″ kids bikes. (Alta Racks requires a small adapter to use with 24″ and 26″ bikes.) While some 20″ bikes may fit, we wouldn’t transport our 20″ bikes this way.
Wide Spacing: While all Velocirax racks offer at least 10″ to 12″ between bikes, Velocirax 3 and 5 capacity racks are available with 15″ of spacing!
On-wall Garage Bike Storage: Every Velocirax comes standard with a wall mounting bar to convert your car rack into a wall-mount garage rack during the off-season.
Who is the Velocirax best for?
Anyone who needs to haul more than 4 bikes, which is where traditional platform (tray) racks max out.
Families with 5 kids! The Velocirax is the only 7 capacity bike rack on the market.
Those who want an exceptional quality rack, but don’t want to pay over $1,000.
ALTA RACKS REVIEW
Wide Range of Adjustability
Alta rack does a great job at accommodating just about any bike wheel and tire size.
Adjustable spacing between bikes - All baskets can slide left or right to allow for minor or major spacing adjustments.
Changing bike capacity - 4, 5 and 6 racks can all hold 4, 5, or 6 bikes (as long as you have enough wheel baskets)
Tool-free, swappable wheel trays - you can choose any combination of 4 different wheel size baskets for your rack. These trays can easily be swapped out within minutes without tools.
Highest weight capacity - 300 lb. (50 lb. per bike) on all size racks (limit 2 e-bikes)
Ease of Use
We love Alta because it’s not only easy to use when fully loaded, it also a breeze to use when not carrying bikes. Considering our bike racks are on our cars for over six months of the year and only a very small percentage of that time it is actually fully loaded with bikes, ease of use when not loaded is almost just as important.
Angled hitch arm - a life-saver for additional clearance around town when not fully loaded
Quickly tilts down for rear access - Alta quickly and easily tilts down when unloaded as well as loaded.
Height adjustable top bar - Raising or lowering the top bar allows you to raise or lower the wheel baskets. This is a huge benefit for taller cars or trucks/SUVs with lifts!
Side stability straps - Minimizes swaying or bouncing when traveling off-road, also great for long road trips
Voile tire straps - Easy to use, easy to replace, and can even be used to strap a tube or water bottle to your bike in a pinch
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I went with the VelociRAX and I love it! One of the biggest factors missed in this review is the garage storage that comes with VelociRAX, its wonderful! Also, the safety of lowering the racks with bikes loaded is a big deal and I love having access to the back of my vehicle without having to unload all the bikes. The self-lowering really makes it easy to unload and load on my vehicle and in my garage. Oh and I love that my kids can push the rack back up by themselves because it is that simple. We seriously love our VelociRAX!!
Glad you love your Velocirax! In this review, you are right in that there were several features we didn't point out. Our goal in this video was to point out the major differences between the two that stood out to us the most. For the storage feature, both racks have the ability to be used as storage in the garage, but you are right in that Velocirax comes with the wall mount, while Alta's floor mount (with wheels) is an upgrade. Plus, we honestly couldn't see the need for a garage storage option. Since we leave our racks on our cars for a good part of the year, we can't rely on the racks to store our bikes and need a permanent storage solution in our garages. In regards to lowering the racks while loaded, both racks allow you to easily do so. The Velocirax's dampener does make it much easier to slowly lower the bikes while the Alta can come down fast if not supported. For pushing back up though, the same kids with the same bikes with the racks mounted to the same cars found the Alta much easier to push up than the Velocirax. With lower hitch vehicles, the differences weren't as noticeable, but the higher the hitch on the car, the significantly harder the Velocirax came to push up as compared to the Alta.
Thank you! It's great seeing a video that honestly looks at the issues families and shorter people have with rack systems. Great organization and explanations. Very cool that you have the kids participate so we can see difficulties prior to purchase!
Well thanks for the shout out, Peg!
That was an excellent review. Very thorough and great information.
Incredible review. Thank you for pointing out the differences, this really helped!
We're glad it helped you. Thanks for the shoutout!
Great presentation and super helpful. Thank you!
That was an excellent and well put together review. Gives me a lot to think about. Thank you
How good is this review! Very clearly presented and covered all the relevant points. They even showed how it works with different type of cars! Well Done!
Well thanks for the kudos!!
OMG. This video was the exact video that I was searching for. Thank you for the review.
You are so welcome!
Amazingly helpful video, thank you so much! Just subbed!
Thanks for the support, Ryan!
Thanks for the review ladies. We just sold our Kuat (4 bike), who knew 5 kids and bikes would grow so quickly!!!
Hahahaha, tell us about it!
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes picked up an Alta in SLC from the owner, great guy. His Sanchez6 is getting ready to release 😉👍
Thank you so much for braking down all the hidden tips .
Smooth and Clear .
You are so welcome!
This is a great video and it’s really appreciated. I went with Velocirax because of# 7 which did not mention.The Velocirax doubles as a garage storage unit for the same number of bikes that it hauls. This also saves you several hundred dollars because you don’t have to come up with a separate at home bike storage system.
Glad you love your rack! In this review, you are right in that there were several features we didn't point out. Our goal in this video was to point out the major differences between the two that stood out to us the most. For the storage feature, both racks have the ability to be used as storage in the garage, but you are right in that Velocirax comes with the wall mount, while Alta's floor mount (with wheels) is an upgrade. Plus, we honestly couldn't see the need for a garage storage option. Since we leave our racks on our cars for a good part of the year, we can't rely on the racks to store our bikes and need a permanent storage solution in our garages. So in the end, we can't see a cost-benefit of the garage storage.
Thank you for the review. I was about to pull the trigger on the Velocirax when I saw a brief comment about Alta Racks online. Your article and now this video helped us choose the Alta 4 pack. With two young kids your key considerations synced with us. In particular, our need to hang a 20" with a front fork. I also appreciated your observation in the article that vertical racks don't obstruct the tail lights as much as a platform with multiple bikes.
So glad we could help! Please let them know we referred you so we can earn a commission and continue to make great content like this!
Thanks for the review. I just assembled the new Alta Rack with diagonal supports. It holds 6 bikes easily and I ordered it with an extra basket for a 7th just in case. They make a lot of accessories including a “hovo” (horizontal to vertical) adapter to use rack for off-vehicle bike storage.
I needed 6 bike capacity and also sturdy enough to use on an RV - the Velocirack warns not to use on RV or trailer. “Made in USA” is also important. For a tight budget and smaller bikes (not large frame w/29” wheels), Totem bike racks are super solid and hold 5-6 bikes for less than half the cost. Just be careful bikes don’t rub!
Perfect. I had never heard of Alta Racks before, but it fits my needs perfectly so I bought one. They have really good videos on their site for assembly, setting up your rack, and tips.
So happy to hear! We love ours. It lives on our car. :-)
Great video!
Excellent review!!!
I own three racks, Thule XT Pro, 1up USA, and a Velocirax. My biggest worry with hitch racks is the HITCH capacity. My favorite is the Velocirax. Price, 4 bikes for $860, and it's built like a tank, reliability is super important, especially carrying $20K in bikes. If you went with a Thule and or 1 Up with the 4 bikes horizontal setup you are looking at close to $1500. Price the big V whens. I prefer my bikes closer to the car, the Alta rack is further, which REDUCES the hitch capacity (A big negative in my book). While the rack can handle 300 lbs if the hitch is rated at 500lbs the extra 12" away from the car will reduce the hitch capacity up to 1/2. The idea behind a vertical rack is all the bikes are close to the car, allowing greater hitch capacity. I own a 1999 Ford Expedition, and my wife has no issues pushing up 4 bikes. The Velocirax is a killer rack.
You are right in that hitch capacity shouldn't absolutely be considered before buying a vertical rack. As you pointed out, there are a lot more to these racks than meets the eye as there is a lot of physics involved. The distance from the hitch is absolutely a factor. The Alta does extend farther out than the Velocirax, but this can't be taken in isolation. Here are 4 other factors to consider. (1) The Alta rack weighs less than the Velocirax. As a result, you technically have more room in your "hitch capacity" for bikes on the Alta. (2) When fully loaded, the main mast of the Velocirax leans back away from the car. As a comparison, the Alta leans slightly in. As a result, the Alta puts more of a downward force on the hitch as compared to a angled force with the Velocirax. (3) The Alta's ability to lower the top bar allows you to lower the overall mass of the bikes and bring the center of gravity of the rack closer to the hitch. With a decreased distance between the center of gravity of the rack and the hitch, the less strain on the hitch. We found this to be especially noticeable on trucks with higher hitches. (4) The Alta offers ratcheting side straps which allow you to create two additional points of attachment to the car, especially when off-roading or traveling a full rack long distances. This additional strapping is not due to the Alta's inability to keep bikes stable (when fully loaded, we found the Velocirax and Alta to be equally stable in normal conditions), but rather to further minimize any potential for sway during higher speeds or uneven terrain. Both racks tended to slightly sway in those conditions, but the Alta side straps greatly minimized the sway. - Lastly, what is the hitch height of your Expedition? We tested both 6-capacity racks on an Expedition with a 20.5" hitch height and the Velocirax was absolutely more challenging to push up than the Alta when loaded with the same bikes. I was able to push up both on my own, but it was much harder on the Velocirax. As shown in the video, this was not the case on the Land Cruiser and I was easily able to push up the Alta on my own, but not the Velocirax.
This review is so helpful! Thank you!
So glad it was helpful! We couldn't live without our vertical racks!
Great video, very helpful. Thanks do much
Glad it was helpful to you!
Crushed it! That’s a great video and review!
Thanks for the kudos and glad we could help!
Great video. Straight to the points w/no wasted BS. Thanks
Glad we could be helpful!
Great review! I wish I could get you to review everything I want to purchase.
Hahahaha, that might be the best compliment ever!
Thank you ladies for the comparison. You guys didn’t mention the weight of each rack and the difficulty of loading/unloading the bikes.
A lot more details about these racks can be found in our written reviews which are linked to at the end of our description. While we don't have the exact weights of the rack, we do know that the Alta is lighter. For loading, there are a lot of variables to consider. If you are loading all the same styles and similar sizes of bikes (for example - mountain bikes with wider handlebars), we found the Velocirax to be easier. If loading bikes with various wheel sizes or styles (some wide wide bars, some without), the sliding trays of the Alta made it easier.
Thanks for sharing the review. One thing to note is that the Velocirax damper only dampens in one direction; down. The review states it ‘works against you’ when pushing the rack up out of the loading position. Perhaps they’ve made a change to the dampers that we’re being used at the time the review was done, but they currently use a one-way damper.
This review was done with the most recent Velocirax, so the damper is the same. Perhaps it's semantics, but to clarify, yes, you are right in that the damper only helps in one direction, down. On the way up though, the damper/strut absolutely works against you by adding to the force needed to push the rack up to the vertical position. Velocirax confirmed this with us when we were writing our review. The damper works against you due to the fact that the piston/damper is fully expanded in the lowered position. The only way to compress the piston is to do so manually by pushing the rack up. The force needed to compress the piston adds to the additional force needed to push the bikes up. I apologize if the terminology used in our review was misleading.
Good review. I am thinking of DIY'ng a similar bike rack from (hopefully) free to me scrap steel..:)
Send us the pictures when you're done!
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes Sure.. I thought I would be starting very soon.. But fate intervened and I got an offer I can't refuse, so instead of continuing my retirement.. I am going back to work in the New year.. So might be a while. In the meantime here is a guy who's rack I will be copying.. I think he did pretty well. th-cam.com/video/xo9mdpjVmpo/w-d-xo.html
Great comparison!
Glad you think so!
I never comment, ever. This was a great video and was very informative. Thanks!
Well that’s quite the compliment! Glad we could help you!
Thanks! Super helpful.
Thanks for the shoutout!
Nicely done
Thanks for the shoutout!
Great review.
Thanks for the kudos. We’re glad we could be helpful!
Very good, thank you.
You’re welcome!
Thanks for your video. In your video, is the Alta in the lowest top bar postion? and do you happen to know which system lowers the most when in the loading postion? Thanks in advance!
The Alta is shown mainly in its lowest position in the video. The Alta is in the lowest position when the black bolt is the lowest most hole along the red bar. In this clip (th-cam.com/users/clipUgkxRU79-x9Z50cLtnstwxBTqafCrsxa0z8z which starts at 3:51) the Alta is first shown in a still with the top bar set in the middle position and then it is shown in its lowest position. The Alta is never shown in its highest position in this video. Between the Alta and the Velocirax, the Velocirax is stationary and cannot be lowered. At the Velocirax set height is similar to Alta's mid-range setting, so the Alta can lower down more than the Velocirax. These differences can be hard to see though as Alta's baskets are taller than Velocirax, but Velocirax are at a steeper angle, so you really can't tell the difference in rack height by simply looking at the top of the bike's tires while on the rack.
I have the Alta Rack and love it. If you do any off-roading, you can also add retractable straps to the ends of the top bar to provide two more anchor points to your vehicle.
Very true! If you look closely in the video you will see that our Alta has the straps and found that they work great!
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes this is why i will go with Alta TBH, the straps are necessary for attaching it to our can am side by side. I saw Ken bloc use one and took forever to figure out what rack it was
@@bash6519 but doesn't Velocirax fit more tightly into the hitch receiver? This is one thing I haven't seen mentioned - mounting the rack. I believe the Velocirax has a bolt which tightly secures the hitch coupling. (similar to some popular horizontal bike racks out there). So perhaps the basic mounting assembly more secure with the Velocirax?
What are your thoughts on the Lolo rack (and new Yakima rack) that carry by the handlebars? They seem to be wheel size agnostic and could be a good solution for carrying a mix of wheel sizes (12” and up). Although loading the bikes seems to be a bit more cumbersome. Great review, thanks!
We have been trying to get on hands on one for a while to test, but haven't been able to yet. They are amazing in that you don't need to worry about wheel size, so if you can little kids, it can be a lifesaver. Fully admitting that I not having tried the LOLO, however, I have three main concerns. (1) As you mentioned, it appears that loading requires more lifting and all in all be more difficult. We have heard from other parents, though, that loading the bikes isn't as cumbersome as it looks. (2) Tilting the rack down for easier loading or access to the rear hatch also seems more challenging. When lowering the racks shown above, you are able to support the rack via the bike's handlebars. On the LOLO or any other similar rack, it appears you would have to support the rack via the tires (which is less than ideal) or reach through the bikes and push on the rack itself (also not ideal). (3) Having had three kids already transition through the smaller wheel sizes, I would also hesitate to purchase a rack solely for the ability to carry wheels smaller than 20". Since these racks are expensive and all are of great quality that will last for years, I would rather have a rack that will work best for our family in the long run (easier to load, easier to tilt, etc.), rather than work best for a temporary time period. We always found room in the car to fit 12", 14" and 16" bikes, but for those who need to carry small bikes on a rack, the LOLO or Yakima would be a great choice.
Own the Yakima rack and am replacing with something else, not happy with it. Have broken all the bottom straps twice as they are hard plastic and fatigue easily the rack doesn’t feel sturdy has damaged the fork crowns of all our bikes (rub marks through the paint)
Why didn’t you drop the Alta Rack down when it’s loaded? That is a huge safety concern. Seems like you left out a lot of key pros about velocirax. Like the anti sway mechanism by simply turning a wrench, which is absolutely awesome! The thick straps that are hard to get on and off are better than thin ones that come off easy. Idk this review seemed a little biased to me.
You are right, we should have shown the Alta being lowered fully loaded. We had every intention of doing so, but had some issues with that clip. That being said, you are absolutely right in that the Velocirax is easier and in many ways safer to lower than the Alta. I can certainly see how one could get hurt by lowering the Alta, but after extended use, we've never even had a close call.
For the anti-sway, the dial-in Velocriax is very nice, no question there. But the anti-sway does play an issue in the clearance of the rack. We didn't have any issues with any sway on the Alta, but we did have issues bottoming out with the Velocirax, which is why we focused on that.
For the straps, we've found that people either love or hate both the Alta or the Velocriax straps, so we called it neutral.
Lastly, since making this review, Velocirax now makes a 20" basket and Alta offers a rack that holds up to 5 ebikes or 7 regular bikes, so this review clearly needs an update!
I had the same feeling about bias, especially after reading the comments.
Thank you for the review. Would either of these work for 4 beach cruisers?
If it doesn’t have fenders, it should work on an adult cruiser bike. That said, the shape of the handlebars could potentially interfere if you have a bike right next to it.
Great review. What about differences in storage? Is there an equivalent to the velociRACK wall mount for the Alta?
Alta's storage is a rolling base that can easily to pushed against a wall. Unlike the Velocirax, it doesn't come with the rack, but it a pricey (but useful) upgrade. The base actually works with all vertical racks.
Thanks for the great review. I went with the Velocirax mostly due to their anti-sway hitch wedge mechanism. Super solid rack!!
Glad you love it! Our veritcal bike racks have been life changing!
yes. I wonder about this. how does the Alta rack attach to the hitch - does it just rattle around in there?
New rack on the market: Bike E-Rack. Pros: powered up and down, also tilts all the way down like velocirax for camp mode and for loading bikes without having to use any muscle. On top of that has an even easier tie down method than both AND the benefit of adjusting the rack height.....though the price is half that of a mid equipped carbon MTB....
非常好的评测，谢谢啊
I have a small garage, so just wondering if one rack sticks out further than the other when there aren't any bikes loaded on so I can still use my garage with the rack attached? (I have a Honda Odyseey) Also, have you checked out Lolo racks for a comparison?
I regularly park my Honda Pilot with the Alta Rack in my garage. I only have a couple of inches between the wheel hoops and the garage door, but it works. Based on measurements I made a few years ago, the Velocirax that I was using at the time extended about 2 inches less.
We have not tested the Lolo personally, but have tested a similar system (Yakima HangTight) and we don’t prefer that method for hanging bikes. However, the lack of wheel baskets would probably allow you significantly more room to park in the garage. That said, on the Yakima HangTight, it was actually significantly taller than the Velocirax or Alta, so we were unable to park it in our garage from a height perspective, rather than a deepness perspective.
No new video for a year? This review is exceptional. Have you left TH-cam?
Glad you found it helpful! We are still around, but are focusing more on written reviews on our website, and they allow for quicker and easier updates. We hope to jump back into the video review world soon though!
How does the Alta Rack work with mtbs with flat pedals?
I've had a Velocirax for approx two years and I've seen three bikes badly damaged when the pedals from a bike dig into the bike frames on either side. The Velocirax does not seem designed to carry modern bikes with flat pedals (not enough clearance between bikes).
They both depends on spacing. If you load up 6 bikes on either, the pedals can cause damage to frames. Your best bet is to get some pedals covers, amzn.to/3B093tn. That being said, which Velocirax do you have? The 5x is going to provide the most room between the bikes.
Hi I have a security question here- do both hitches allow one to lock the hitch to the car while it sits and we are away riding bikes?
Great question. The Velocirax does have an internal lock that locks the rack to the hitch, while the Alta does not. The Alta does have a loop through the frame in which you could run a cable through the rack and then around the hitch. In the end, like bike locks, if someone is determined to get your rack (or bike), there isn't much you can do to stop them. In most cases, these locks really keep honest men honest as well as prevent quick grab and goes.
How does anti-rattle/sway compare between racks? VelociRAX has a very good anti-rattle, but I don't see it on Alta.
Velocirax has an interior anti-wobble, which works great. The hitch pin on the Velcirax, however, is just a pin, so it doesn't help stabilize the rack. The "hitch pin" on the Alta is actually a bolt that tightens down to stabilize the rack at the hitch. Alta also has a secondary exterior stabilization kit that can provide additional stabilization if needed. Between the two, they both work great and I wouldn't necessarily give preference of one over the other.
North Shore racks are also VERY good, and hundreds of dollars cheaper than both of these options. They also support the bike by a much stronger location (the stem and fork crown). When not in use they fold in half, drastically reducing the rack "footprint".
I love the North Shore racks too. Wish they could transport more than just mountain bikes.
Very true! For those who are only transporting from suspension mountain bikes they are a great choice. Considering we regularly transport a variety of bike styles and sizes, it wasn't an option for us.
Velocirax all the way. The Alta Rack's adjustable collar that she slides across the top cross bar in the video @7:38 to adjust the distance between the wheel baskets is a design flaw. I did the White Rim Trail in Moab with my Velocirax and my buddy brought his Alta Rack. His Alta Rack catastrophically failed when the collar lost its shape and rotated around the cross bar, leaving the wheel basket hanging down. Alta replaced the collar after the trip, but my buddy and I both thought it reflected on the Alta Rack's design and build quality. In contrast, my Velocirax had no issues. Similarly, I've never had an issue with ground scraping the Velocirax in either a GMC Terrain (a low hitch) or Ford Expedition (a high hitch). The non-adjustable spacing on the Velocirax also seems better at preventing contact between the bikes. My buddy uses a bunch of rags and pads between the bikes because there is often contact. The garage wall storage (not mentioned in the video), plus the 7 spot bike at the less expensive price makes the Velocirax a no-brainer. My biggest complaint on the Velocirax is that it doesn't fit the hitch receiver on a Toyota 4Runner while my Thule tray rack does fit. No idea if the Alta Rack fits.
I ran a velocirax 5x on a 2021 4runner for over a year and worked awesome on that vehicle. How did it not fit the hitch for you?
Recent move ins to Utah or not skiers? Curious why you pronounced Alta like all-ta rather than Al-ta. Like altitude or Alta ski resort. But actually a few times you say Alta like it should be. So now I'm thinking maybe you've lived here a while.but are just influenced by the recent move ins saying All-ta instead of Al-ta. Very important for me to.figure this out
Ha! Seriously the best comment ever. Makes me feel right at home here in Utah! To ease your stress, you are correct in that neither of us was born or raised in Utah, but Natalie (the one in the pink who hardly says a word) lives in Utah now while Carrie (the one talking in the green shirt), lives in Texas. So hence the mismatch of pronunciation, but hey at least we got it right a part of the time!
How heavy can one ebike be? Also how do these racks work with bikes that have fenders?
Alta Rack's basket can hold up to 50 pounds, while Velocirax can carry 55 pounds in their basket. Fenders are difficult as the fender will come into contact with the tire basket. We've transported a bike this way by putting a shop towel under the front wheel fender so there was no direct contact between the fender and the basket. This was really just to prevent scratching and we were driving a very short distance. Over longer distances and bumps and jolts in the road, there would certainly be the potential to damage the fender with the weight of the bike against it.
What did you do about the left to right sway. My bike goes all over the place, almost looks like it's going to break. It's a full suspension bike.
There shouldn't be any sway. Are you tying down the rear wheel?
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes yes
Do you recall if the LandCruiser’s tailgate cleared the Alta Rack? Thank you!
The tailgate of the Land Cruiser did clear the Alta without any issues, but the upper hatch of the clamshell does not clear the baskets of the rack when it is upright. When the Alta is tilted, the upper hatch does clear the baskets.
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes thank you!
Has anyone put an Lectric XP 2.0 or the new Xpremium on these racks?
Neither of these racks work with bikes that have fenders. The Lectric also has a pretty short wheelbase, which may work for the Alta if you lowered the top bar, but may be long enough to reach the bottom bar of the Velocirax.
Get your hands on a 1up recon to compare to these two?
We would LOVE to! Do you have a connection to get us one??
Needs an update cause Velocirax has 20" specific loops, not sure if they're new but they're available.
We are trying to get one so we can test them out!
What rack would you suggest if you are carrying road bikes and mountain bikes at the same time?
How many are you trying to carry?
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes I would have 1 road bike and 3 mountain bikes.. I like the velocirax but I want this to be my last bike rack so I want to right one. I was looking at the velocirax 5X
@@roberttarbush1737 If you are only carrying 4 bikes, you could just space the road bike 1 basket over if it was hitting the next mountain bike. On the Alta rack (which I have), you can also slide the baskets around to adjust for when you have a bunch of different size and types of bikes on there.
I think you need a disclaimer for the review being compliant in your area. Neither of these rack will comply with rules and regulations of Australia.
In Australia, the rack and bikes must not overhang the rear of the vehicle by more than 60% of the wheel base measured from the rear axle (approx 400mm-800mm from rear bumper)
The rack/bikes must not obscure the number plate or vehicle’s lights. If it does, it needs to have auxiliary light and plate provisions.
I’m sure that these rules will be similar around other parts of the world and although the review ia comprehensive, it can also be misleading
A metric conversion would have been nice too.
Do you know if 20 inch BMX race bikes fit on either rack?
We did not personally try this as we don't have any 20" BMX bikes. However, Velocirax promotes that 20" BMX bikes work with their rack. For the Alta Rack, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work if you got the 20" wheel basket.
We regularly carry my sons 20” BMX bike with our mountain bikes on a Velocirax 6. No issues even with grind pegs.
How do 20” bikes fit
Both work great with a 20" wheel basket (Alta and VelociRAX both have their own).
I was very nervous putting my brand new beach cruiser on this rack. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxG6JIgwJhur8_Rg8UeQ3EmePzi_wSncL8 But after reading many reviews I decided to get this one and take a chance. When arrived it was very simple to adjust and put together. I also added spike tape over the metal hooks before securing and tightening the straps, and no scratches. I also purchased the top bar made by the same company so that my cruiser sits straight on the rack without having to turn upside down. Extra bungee cords are used to secure the front wheel from flapping and even piece of mind knowing your bike is secure. Definitely recommend...
Veloci rax sells the brackets for 20” wheels
Yes! As of May 2022 that is correct. We haven’t tested them yet, so we can’t speak to them. Have you tried them?
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes I was in their Lehi, UT store, and they had one set up with a 20” inch bike on it, fits very nice. I purchased the rack yesterday
Just so you know there is an accessory for the velocirax made for 20in-16in bikes.
Yes! We just got one and will be testing it ASAP!
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes Nice, I’m excited to see how they hold up!
Nice 3 bike rack
Did you watch the video?
Good review, but kind of painful to hear "Alta" pronounced incorrectly so many times.
Ha! Neither of us were born or raised in Utah, so we are guilty, but are working on it!
Can't. Handle got basket
Did you have a question?
Thank you for the video. It helped me decide to buy the Alta. I am not a grammar-(national socialist) but please stop saying dampen and dampening. The VelociRAX has a damper that damps the motion. Dampen is to make something wet. Fox Suspension has a wonderful video explaining the difference. th-cam.com/video/d2Q7VfNUBEg/w-d-xo.html
Unfortunately we can’t go back and change TH-cam videos. It definitely puts a damper on the situation. 😘
It doesn't have any sense, how rack will know how many ebikes you have installed. It's only about weight capacity. And the left one with 300lb wins.
Yes, the Alta does have the higher weight capacity. Upon talking to Alta's designer and engineer, his concern with ebikes on the rack is not with the total weight of the bikes, but rather with the weight distribution. ebikes carry their weight on racks lower than traditional bikes, which can affect the performance of the rack. Alta's suggest two ebikes (one on each side of the main mast), so as to insure proper weight distribution on the rack and the hitch.
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes got it. Thank you for detailed explanation. Really appreciate it!
@@Twowheelingtotsbikes I like that answer. But in slight contradiction if I carry 4 ebikes, 2 on each side of the vertical mast and still under 300 lbs it should be no problem right? This is probably for the Company to answer, but my thoughts on having a clause saying only 2 ebikes seems like a loop hole legally for them is all. Still an excellent review, thank you from a fellow Yewtardian.
@@TracySwenson True! It would make sense that the rack would be able to carry the weight. Since this review and video, however, Alta has released their Superior rack that has two arms that come up on a diagonal to support upper tray at the ends. These additional arms greatly increase the weight capacity of the rack to allow for more ebikes. These "superior" arms are also can also be added onto existing racks to increase the overall capacity. All in all, based on my experience with Alta, the racks are over-engineered and they always err on the side of caution, so I am not surprised that they chose to add additional support to carry ebikes.
Velocirax: MADE IN CHINA Alta: MADE IN USA
Fantastic review!
Thank you kindly!