Bike riders: Is this a good quality hitch-mount bike rack?

[3d]

Bike riders: Is this a good quality hitch-mount bike rack?
It's a platform style rack. Pros/Cons?
Any features missing that I will regret?

It's for a family of 4. Not Lance Armstrong space-age material racing bikes.

It's normally $430, but with the eBay coupon it drops down to $365 delivered.

https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Racks-H...B000QJC4AY

[cbelt3]

Looks well made, the welds look good. I love the fact that the bikes are mechanically restrained by the wheel holders and the top frame hold downs, rather than the usual nonsense collection of rubber straps and whatnot. My current bike rack is pretty much too difficult for my arthritic hands to use.. the rubber clamps are too hard to stretch.. I have to use tools.

[NewtonMP2100]

....it is o.k.....but have seen nicer racks in the Sears catalog.....during prepubescent phase.......

[RAMd®d]

I don't know about the quality of the rack, and am not typically given to worst case, highly improbably scenarios.

That said, I'd want a 'daytime tail light' and a brake light on the rack. I have visions of somebody not 'seeing' it, only the vehicle itself loaded or unloaded, and not stopping where they should.

And possibly, being extended that far, your state law might require a red flag on the 'load', much as though it were 10' 2x4s hanging out the back of a vehicle.

Yes, a worse case, highly improbably scenario. But one of the rare one I would probably consider doing something about.

Oh, and maybe a back up camera.

[cbelt3]

Ramd... good advice ! I expect you can get a magnetic clamp on set of LED trailer lights that will do the trick.

[NewtonMP2100]

....what size is the rack........DD.....??

[davester]

The problem with 4-bike platform racks is that they are really heavy and expensive. Also note that the one you have there is a "swing-down" rack. A "swing-away" (i.e. swing sideways) rack would be vastly better (though more money). There is no way you will be able to use the swing-down feature with more than two bikes on it (and even then it'll be a PITA) because it will come crashing down and will be impossible to lift back up (I've been there). This means that you won't be able to get into the back of your car.

IMHO the main reason for a platform rack is if you have either a fragile bike frame (i.e. carbon) or the type of bike frame (some full suspension MTBs) that won't hang from a regular hanging-type bike rack.

For a bunch of family bikes I'd suggest you go with a swing-away hanging bike rack from a major brand like Yakima or Thule instead of this rack.

[Bo]

I have this 5 bike Allen rack I got from Amazon for $100 (now $130): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001M4...ge?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has been super solid for 5 or 6 years now. I have had it fully loaded with 5 bikes for many road trips and camping trips. Mind you those are family trips with cruiser bikes, beaters and kids bikes.

If I'm doing a real bike trip with any of my carbon fiber bikes, then I skip this and the bikes go directly in the bed of the truck (and I'm usually solo anyway).

Definitely will save you some money. Just depends on what you are after and what bikes you'll be hauling.

[3d]

Excellent points raised by all. Thanks for the insight.
This bike rack is more for the wife than me since she's with the kids during the day.

We had a trunk style bike rack for a sedan that was an absolute chore to take on and off. Straps and knobs every which way. I used it a handful of times. The wife NEVER used it when alone with the kids. Then we sold the sedan for an SUV. It wasn't compatible

If it was just for me, I would totally get the no frills Allen Rack for $130. I don't mind paying more for quality and ease of use. Most importantly I want the wife to feel comfortable enough to use it when I'm not around.

Sometimes with the hanger racks it's a game of Tetris. With the platform style, I figured it was much easier for her to load up with each bike in it's own tray. I'll look into the options some more. Thanks again.

[M A V I C]

Make sure it doesn't hit the ground when you go up an incline. I thought about getting a hitch rack on my car, then asked someone with the same car how their hitch rack worked for them. It tended to hit the ground.