How can a bike rack make my vehicle more versatile?
Struggling to get a bike in or out of your trunk, cargo area or even back seat can be quite a drag. And, if you're thinking about bringing a second cycle along, you've just doubled the headache.
Stop the stress and enhance your fun the easy way. From the damp forest trails of Oregon to Moab's majesty, a bike rack can make your vehicle and your vacation more versatile with a whole host of features, including:
Forget mounting them to the roof of your vehicle, throwing them in the back or jamming them in your trunk. You and your bikes deserve a more convenient and safe way to take two-wheelers along for the ride.
Blaze your own trail with a vehicle rack that holds your bikes in a steady, easy-to-access spot. With your bikes resting comfortably on a bike rack, your interior storage is freed-up for more gear. You can truly take everything you want along on long vacations, weekend getaways or a quick after-work trip to the trail.
Bike racks are available in a number of mounting designs, making it easy to select the style that best fits your needs. Each accounts for how you want to carry your bike and where you want the rack to mount.
Ideal for any vehicle with a standard size (1¼" or 2") trailer hitch receiver, hitch mount bike racks securely mount in or around the hitch for convenient carrying of bikes on your back end. Or, a few bike racks fit right onto a standard trailer ball adapter. Models that mount around the receiver leave your hitch open for towing a trailer, boat, Jet Ski or other toys with you. Plus, most hitch mount bike racks fold down or swing away for full rear cargo area access. Surco, Swagman and Thule all make quality fold down bike racks.
Making great use of otherwise dead space on the back of your truck or SUV, spare tire bike racks bolt securely through your spare's wheel for holding a pair of bikes. Your hitch remains unobstructed for towing more fun. And, they mount securely to the wheel of your spare with a steel backing plate. Turn to Allen Bike Racks, Surco and Thule for these versatile bike racks.
Looking for a more portable bike rack? Trunk mount bike racks employ padded hooks that latch to your trunk or rear cargo door. Trunk mount bike racks offer classic bike carrying for serious trail riding or taking tardy kids to school with their two-wheel transportation home. They fit just about any car, van or SUV, thanks to their adjustable straps. For a top notch trunk mount bike rack, go with Allen Bike Racks or Swagman.
Many of AutoAnything's vehicle bike racks feature security measures that keep your cycles right where they're supposed to be. That's welcome news for bike owners, considering how easy it usually is to pinch a two-wheeler. And, after all, a bike thief's bounty turns into their eventual getaway ride!
Fear not—a lot of AutoAnything's bike racks sandwich your favorite cycle(s) in channels that are secured by lock and key. They grab hold of your bike's top tube, making the five-finger discount nearly impossible. For added security, the bike rack allows a standard lock to be looped through your tires and frame for tying-down all parts.
What's more, hitch mount bike racks are tough to swipe off the hitch of your vehicle. Just pop in a locking hitch pin, and you're secure from the source.
Once upon a time, in the early days of vehicle bike racks, a rear bike rack prevented you from getting to your trunk or rear cargo area. You'd be stuck with having to remove all bikes and the rack to gain access to whatever groceries and gear you had in the back.
That's not the case anymore. Most modern hitch mount bike racks either swing out and away from the rear cargo door or flip down—all while keeping your bikes securely in place. It's unparalleled versatility once not possible with a vehicle bike rack.
Hitch mount bike racks are a cinch to put-on and take-off, whether they mount in or around the receiver. All you have to do is loosen the dials or pull the hitch pin and remove the rack from your vehicle—remove the bikes first, of course. It's much easier than struggling with a fully-loaded rack.
Trunk mount bike racks are even easier than this. Take off the bikes, loosen the padded hooks and pull it off your vehicle. What's even better, many trunk mount bike racks fold flat in seconds for easy storage in the trunk or cargo area of your vehicle.
Spare tire bike racks are considerably trickier to remove quickly. They mount to a plate positioned behind the spare, which requires removal of the spare tire to install or take-off the bike rack.
Because bike racks live outside your vehicle for a good chunk of their lives, they need a durable finish that prevents premature corrosion. That's why most of AutoAnything's bike racks are powder coated. This process not only seals the steel material in a chip-resistant finish layer, it leaves a flawless black outer finish that stops rust from getting through. Companies like Thule, Surco, Swagman and Allen Bike Racks all treat their bike racks with a powerful powder coat finish.
A few accessories can help customize your bike rack to fit your fun times. And, bike rack accessories can make life a little easier on your next adventure.
- Hitch extender
- Need to get your hitch mount bike rack past a cumbersome spare tire? Use the receiver extender to get your rack clear. Handy for Jeeps and SUVs.
- Extra cradles
- Got a couple extra people joining your next jaunt to the trailhead? Some of AutoAnything's bike racks can be expanded to carry an extra two bikes with the addition of a simple extender piece.
- Conversion bar
- This temporary piece adds a level top tube to bikes with otherwise angled top tubes. This includes women's bikes and some lightweight mountain bikes. Adding a conversion bar lets you carry these bikes at the same height with your standard bikes.
- Ski racks
- When the temperatures drop down low in late fall, it's time to hit the mountains for reasons other than trail-riding. A ski rack adapter makes your bike rack into a sturdy carrier for your winter riding toys. Load-up 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards and run to the hills.
- Hitch stabilizer
- During high-speed and rough road travels, hitch-mounted toys can do a fair amount of rattling. This handy part fits over the coupling of your rack and receiver, stopping the incessant rattle and adding to your peace of mind.