For the price it should have lights on it and plate holder. Lights are an absolute must if you want to use bike covers, because the vehicle's taillights are completely hidden in that case. Almost every vid I've seen on this rack no one mentions that the rear tire straps can be taken out and put back into a different slot, essentially extending their length, in order to accommodate fatter tires.
This rack is fine if you can lift your bike into the wheel wells. I had to modify it so I could use it with my heavier bike. I bought some 3" PVC pipe and cut it lengthwise, sprayed it black and bolted it to the rails. I also bought a 6' dirt bike rack, cut it in half and hinged it. Drilled through the end of each rail and through the dirt bike ramp. I put a 4" carriage bolt through it....wheel the bike up the ramp, across the rear well and the pvc pipe and then just lift the front wheel into the well. It works.
If you still have rack, would be interested to read a 3yr update (June 2024). I bought one thinking it would adapt to 1 1/4" and 2" receivers, but only fits one size-ending up returning but would like to buy again. Thanks for review.
Awesome review mate! I'd love this but can't justify the price. I find it strange that a lot of tow ball bike carriers have lights built in, but a lot of the hitch styles don't. I'm probably going to get the Yakima Holdup Evo and the LightMate add-on. Very much over taking both wheels off the bike and transporting in the car ;)
Thank you dude, tried to cover all the important bit where I could. If it wasn't this rack it would have been the one you are looking at. For just over half the price you get a really solid bit of kit (with the option for lights/plates)! Luke has the same model on his and he absolutely rates it. Yes, much easier than taking two wheels off every time.
Good vid, informative and a nice add on for the average mtn biker. I’ve got a Yakima Dr. Tray. Two bikes. Very strong with options of moving the bikes closer together side on, or away from each other front to back. Two options that are good to have. Same handle system for up or down, including to ground so I can open the back hatch. Tip: best to have a block of wood or something similar to keep the handle off the ground enabling easy access to handle. I hit my back and head regularly on the bikes handlebars in this position. Same type of keyed anti- theft system. I added a chain from the bike rack to the hitch in case the locking system gave out. Worth it I think. The chain stops the rack from sliding out of the hitch. A cost factor is $1000 to get the tow hitch installed. Love my rack. We now have ebikes and it accommodates them fine. I reckon there’ll always be a bit of bouncing at the back. Can you imagine 4 bikes? Anyway, the Dr Tray is not in production anymore but you might be able to pick up a store display somewhere for a reduced price hundreds below the Thule.
That rack looks absolutely brilliant! I'm surprised they took it out of production as it seems to tick all the boxes that the Thule does. Some really good insight here as well, glad to know that I'm not the only one bouncing around on the rough stuff. Don't think the poor Jimny could handle the sag/bounce from 4 bikes! But if you are in a family SUV or big 4x4 you would have no issues.
Very informative video Aiden, I’ve been looking at the Yakima bike racks for my RAV, and like Thule the light and number plate holder is an added extra, can’t be that hard to design an all,in one carrier.
Thule does actually have an all in one system, with built in lights/plate holder. The only downside with that particular model was the inability to collapse the carrier against the vehicle when not being used. As well as it requiring a frame clamping design. From talking to other riders they really like their Yakima hitch racks, especially for the price. Certainly an option worth considering as well!
Great review Aiden. Really appreciate it. What was also of interest is the fabrication you had done for the light plate. Like you I find it frustrating that Thule didn’t make a lightplate available. What you had done Looks like a great design but it would be even better if you could do a video on the design and workings of your lightplate. Please give some thought to a lightplate video. In the meantime thanks again for your current video.
No worries man, glad to hear that there is some useful insight in here for you! I might make a short video going through the operation, features, etc. of the light/plate bar in the coming weeks. As for a breakdown on the design well, that is all inside the mind of my local auto electrician. I'll try to break it down as best as I can though. :)
I agree with the lights. I have this rack and you can even cover the bike when transporting long distance because that completely blocks all lights and plates. Good idea welding that on. I am going to do that.
Good review. Was looking for info on how to add a light bar. Puzzling that in this style many manufacturers do not offer a good light bar option. The Thule looks to be excellent quality but I can't really justify spending that much so may look at Yakima or Rockymounts.
The light and plate options typically aren't on racks designed for the US market because they're not required. Anything with a 2" receiver mount is typically designed for the US market. If instead it has a 50 mm ball mount, it's designed for the Euro market where lights and plates are required and typically has the option or just comes standard with them.
I have that exact rack. It has been on the car since Spring and now I cannot remove it since the turn knob wedge is essentially seized. I am now using a monkey wrench on it to move it in tiny increments and will take ages at this pace to remove it. I've used WD-40 and Rust Chek to no avail - it is still almost seized at the wedge inside the hitch tube. This needs improvement to prevent dirt, corrosion or whatever is making this thing so hard to remove. I would have bought the 1Up if I knew then what I know now.
Hi! Great review! I am seriously considering buying this thing. Is there any speed limit to be taken into account, when driving with this bike rack attached? I am driving a small van (Mercedes V-Class), usually at high way speeds of 140 km/h, would that be too much? Thank you!
Hey Tomi, I'm running a Suzuki Jimny (or the Samurai in North America). We only go up to 110 km/h here in Queensland but haven't had any stability issue or otherwise at those spoeeds. I don't think you will have any dramas going 140 km/h on a nice big burly V-Class Merc.
100% - There does seem to be a shift towards vertical racks in the past few months (at least in Aus) but I feel a hitch rack such as this is still the go for 1-2 bikes. The rack hasn't missed a beat so far and I'm glad I spent the cash on it!
There was a time when it was on the car full time, which worked pretty well with the custom light/plate bar I have installed. I've now got a bit of extra secure space so I remove it when not in use. It did get a bit annoying with access to the boot, although it might not be as bad for a traditional upwards opening boot door.
No rust that I can see and everything still operates as expected. The plastic is good as well, not that there is much plastic to begin with. Only really the wheel wells, they are dirty but otherwise no dramas.
For the price it should have lights on it and plate holder. Lights are an absolute must if you want to use bike covers, because the vehicle's taillights are completely hidden in that case.
Almost every vid I've seen on this rack no one mentions that the rear tire straps can be taken out and put back into a different slot, essentially extending their length, in order to accommodate fatter tires.
This rack is fine if you can lift your bike into the wheel wells. I had to modify it so I could use it with my heavier bike. I bought some 3" PVC pipe and cut it lengthwise, sprayed it black and bolted it to the rails. I also bought a 6' dirt bike rack, cut it in half and hinged it. Drilled through the end of each rail and through the dirt bike ramp. I put a 4" carriage bolt through it....wheel the bike up the ramp, across the rear well and the pvc pipe and then just lift the front wheel into the well. It works.
I hav been thinking of doing somthing similar, can you show some pictures your modification?
Good idea for the signal lights for some vehicles. Glad you demonstrated the vertical play.
Just got one recently for my ebike and really like it. The sturdiness and rolling wheel were key points.
That play is coming from the hitch converter
lol. glad I read, cuz was going to say the same. More inertia cuz its further out from the car.'
If you still have rack, would be interested to read a 3yr update (June 2024). I bought one thinking it would adapt to 1 1/4" and 2" receivers, but only fits one size-ending up returning but would like to buy again. Thanks for review.
Awesome review mate! I'd love this but can't justify the price. I find it strange that a lot of tow ball bike carriers have lights built in, but a lot of the hitch styles don't. I'm probably going to get the Yakima Holdup Evo and the LightMate add-on. Very much over taking both wheels off the bike and transporting in the car ;)
Thank you dude, tried to cover all the important bit where I could. If it wasn't this rack it would have been the one you are looking at. For just over half the price you get a really solid bit of kit (with the option for lights/plates)!
Luke has the same model on his and he absolutely rates it. Yes, much easier than taking two wheels off every time.
Cool presentation of the bike carrier. Have fun with it buddy. Ride on
Thanks CK! Gets the job done on the little Jimny so I'm happy with it. :)
Good vid, informative and a nice add on for the average mtn biker.
I’ve got a Yakima Dr. Tray. Two bikes. Very strong with options of moving the bikes closer together side on, or away from each other front to back. Two options that are good to have.
Same handle system for up or down, including to ground so I can open the back hatch. Tip: best to have a block of wood or something similar to keep the handle off the ground enabling easy access to handle. I hit my back and head regularly on the bikes handlebars in this position. Same type of keyed anti- theft system. I added a chain from the bike rack to the hitch in case the locking system gave out. Worth it I think. The chain stops the rack from sliding out of the hitch.
A cost factor is $1000 to get the tow hitch installed. Love my rack. We now have ebikes and it accommodates them fine. I reckon there’ll always be a bit of bouncing at the back. Can you imagine 4 bikes?
Anyway, the Dr Tray is not in production anymore but you might be able to pick up a store display somewhere for a reduced price hundreds below the Thule.
That rack looks absolutely brilliant! I'm surprised they took it out of production as it seems to tick all the boxes that the Thule does.
Some really good insight here as well, glad to know that I'm not the only one bouncing around on the rough stuff. Don't think the poor Jimny could handle the sag/bounce from 4 bikes! But if you are in a family SUV or big 4x4 you would have no issues.
Very informative video Aiden, I’ve been looking at the Yakima bike racks for my RAV, and like Thule the light and number plate holder is an added extra, can’t be that hard to design an all,in one carrier.
Thule does actually have an all in one system, with built in lights/plate holder. The only downside with that particular model was the inability to collapse the carrier against the vehicle when not being used. As well as it requiring a frame clamping design.
From talking to other riders they really like their Yakima hitch racks, especially for the price. Certainly an option worth considering as well!
Tough install for heavy e-bikes.
Great review Aiden. Really appreciate it. What was also of interest is the fabrication you had done for the light plate. Like you I find it frustrating that Thule didn’t make a lightplate available. What you had done Looks like a great design but it would be even better if you could do a video on the design and workings of your lightplate. Please give some thought to a lightplate video. In the meantime thanks again for your current video.
No worries man, glad to hear that there is some useful insight in here for you! I might make a short video going through the operation, features, etc. of the light/plate bar in the coming weeks. As for a breakdown on the design well, that is all inside the mind of my local auto electrician. I'll try to break it down as best as I can though. :)
I agree with the lights. I have this rack and you can even cover the bike when transporting long distance because that completely blocks all lights and plates. Good idea welding that on. I am going to do that.
So exited to watch
Good review. Was looking for info on how to add a light bar. Puzzling that in this style many manufacturers do not offer a good light bar option. The Thule looks to be excellent quality but I can't really justify spending that much so may look at Yakima or Rockymounts.
Thank you Greg! I've heard nothing but good things from my mates that all run different versions of the Yakima mounts so certainly work a look.
Hi I have this rack and have the same issue with the number plate and lights, could I get some details on what you had made Thanks
The light and plate options typically aren't on racks designed for the US market because they're not required. Anything with a 2" receiver mount is typically designed for the US market. If instead it has a 50 mm ball mount, it's designed for the Euro market where lights and plates are required and typically has the option or just comes standard with them.
I own this rack . I have no issues with it !
With the 1 1/4 to 2” adapter it reduces the tongue weight capacity by 50% fyi
Great video! Are there any issues with dirt and grime getting into the wheels and mechanisms on the underside of the rack?
I have that exact rack. It has been on the car since Spring and now I cannot remove it since the turn knob wedge is essentially seized. I am now using a monkey wrench on it to move it in tiny increments and will take ages at this pace to remove it. I've used WD-40 and Rust Chek to no avail - it is still almost seized at the wedge inside the hitch tube. This needs improvement to prevent dirt, corrosion or whatever is making this thing so hard to remove. I would have bought the 1Up if I knew then what I know now.
Preventative maintenance same as everything
Hi! Great review! I am seriously considering buying this thing. Is there any speed limit to be taken into account, when driving with this bike rack attached? I am driving a small van (Mercedes V-Class), usually at high way speeds of 140 km/h, would that be too much? Thank you!
Hey Tomi, I'm running a Suzuki Jimny (or the Samurai in North America). We only go up to 110 km/h here in Queensland but haven't had any stability issue or otherwise at those spoeeds. I don't think you will have any dramas going 140 km/h on a nice big burly V-Class Merc.
130km/hr I just bought this today and read the manual
Hi mate, do you think your Auto elec would be able to whip another one of these up? Would love his contact details as I’m after this exact thing.
Hey Shaun, I reckon he would be. Just give Dean Kimber a buzz and he should sort you out. Tell him Aidan sent you. ;)
@@BicycleCurious thanks mate
do you still recommend this after these few years?
100% - There does seem to be a shift towards vertical racks in the past few months (at least in Aus) but I feel a hitch rack such as this is still the go for 1-2 bikes. The rack hasn't missed a beat so far and I'm glad I spent the cash on it!
@@BicycleCurious awesome I just got mine today and I already love it and the ease of use. Do you leave your on all the time or take off etc?
There was a time when it was on the car full time, which worked pretty well with the custom light/plate bar I have installed. I've now got a bit of extra secure space so I remove it when not in use. It did get a bit annoying with access to the boot, although it might not be as bad for a traditional upwards opening boot door.
@@BicycleCurious no rust or anything - hows the plastic holding up?
No rust that I can see and everything still operates as expected. The plastic is good as well, not that there is much plastic to begin with. Only really the wheel wells, they are dirty but otherwise no dramas.
Illegal !
or not Legal..
Your stability test has turned me away from buying one, I own an e-bike and the wobble makes me nervous.
Bro this isn't rated for an ebike lol
gotta love the aud to btc, just in case you want to buy a rack with bitcoin
I'm sure that conversion will mature like a fine bottle of milk.
U have a hitch extender on there genius…. No wonder they wobble
Not worth considering in the UK its Ilegal...
Might be a little expensive ..but when you compare it to what a person spends on cigarettes and alcohol a month…I’d rather have fun on my bike !