Buying a new bike rack is like buying a new pair of jeans. First and foremost, you need one that fits. But, there are so many car bike rack styles to choose from. How do you know which bike rack to choose? Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. While we may not know much about which jeans make you look and feel the best, we know a whole lot about bike racks. That’s why we’ve created just what you need—a guide to buying bike racks.
Roof Mount Bike Racks
Less confusing than a jeans fit guide, where you have to take measurements of inseams, waists, leg openings and more, we have a bike rack fit guide that allows you to choose a style that’s best for you vehicle. Depending on your vehicle, you may have several styles to choose from or just a couple of different styles.
For car owners, you can choose between roof mount bike racks and trunk mount bike racks. Roof mount bike racks attach to your crossbars and can transport one or two bicycles. Plus, this day and age, there are even styles that don’t require you to remove your bike’s front wheel. A trunk mount bike rack, on the other hand, allows you to transport up to four bicycles.
Hitch Mount Bike Racks
SUV owners, or owners of any vehicle with a hitch, have even more options. You can choose a roof mount bike rack, a hitch bike rack or a spare tire bike rack. A hitch mount bike rack is one of the easiest bike racks to use—simply plug it into your hitch receiver, load up your bikes and you’re ready to go.
And, finally, pickup truck owners will want to opt for a truck bed bike rack. Available in several different styles, some truck bed bike racks attach to your rig’s tailgate, while others hole your bike upright in your truck bed.
Trunk Mount Bike Racks
One of the less expensive options, trunk mount bike racks are fairly versatile and can usually be fit on most vehicles with out having to get additional parts or components.
Trunk mount options have come a long way. They are now easier to setup and do a better job protecting your paint. Also when not in use, many models have incorporated a clever folding design allowing compact, easy storage.
Choosing the Best Bike Rack
In order to make sure you get a bike rack that’s easy to use and safe to transport your bikes, make sure you choose a trusted brand name. For example, Allen bike racks, Yakima bike racks and Thule bike racks are among the most well-known names in the bike rack industry, for a good reason.
When you go jeans shopping, it’s nice to have the opinion of your spouse or a store employee before you make your final decision. We offer that luxury as well, by hosting hundreds of bike rack reviews for you to read through. Find out which Thule bike rack or Swagman bike rack is the easiest to use. We make it easy for you to get the best fit possible.