Hitch mounted Bicycle racks

I've just started using a rockymounts monorail hitch carrier. Works pretty well and clears the tailgate when tilted down.

 

@TacodileSupreme Which generation Tacoma do you have? My new Monorail (not the solo, the 2 bike version) doesn't clear the tailgate whether it's horizontal or lowered.

 

If money is not a consideration there is no question a one-up rack is the best rack available at the moment. Of course that's relative, doesn't make sense to put a $1k bike on an expensive $400 rack.

 

If you have 3rd gen get a Yakima Dr. Tray. It won't interfere with the tailgate at all and it is a nice light secure rack that looks good. Just my 2 cents.

 

I have a second gen. It won't clear at horizontal but it will when the rack is tilted downward. I'll double check to be sure though.

 

That's what I had spec'd out at first, but then found the Monorail with similar features for almost $200 less. I didn't even consider there could be a tailgate clearance issue. I'll either upgrade to the Dr. Tray or I may modify mine. All it would take is a cutoff wheel, a very short length of square tubing, a welder, and a rattle can to fix it...

 

Alta Racks!!!

 

How do you secure your bikes to prevent theft? I just saw a few YouTube videos about the 1up racks, but they never address security.

@Gunshot-6A I like your rig and I have never seen bikes transported like that! That’s cool, but I’m trying to keep my bikes in the draft of my truck.

 

1Up sells a few locking devices and we use both. One is a locking hitch pin (NOT for retention of the rack) which blocks access to the allen screw which secures the rack to the receiver. The other is a similar but longer locking pin that goes through a wheel to lock that end of the bike to the rack. If you buy both at the same time they can be keyed alike. Obviously with quick release wheels, you should really have two wheel pins per bike, but we only use one each. If we are leaving the bikes for any period of time or in a sketchy area we use chains or cables to lock wheels and frame to the rack, and to the truck's hitch safety chain loops. No bikes missing yet after a couple years of use

 

I went to Lowes, and bought about a 15 foot length of decent thickness coated chain. I then cut open an old inner tube I had, and ran the chain through it to prevent paint damage to the truck or bikes. I run the chain through all the bike frames, then padlock both ends to the bed d-rings, TC stiffeners, bed rack gussets, whatever fits my needs.

If I don't have my bike rack mounted, I use the same chain to secure my RTIC and Camp kitchen tote in my bed when loaded for camping with a few long 45mm shank padlocks..

You can cut those security cables you get at Walmart or whatever with a pair of garden pruners. Go through them like butter. A chain makes it just a little harder, so the potential thieves may move to an easier mark. Kinda shitty on my part, but if I have to park with my bikes on the rack in SLC/Moab/etc, I usually pull up next to someone securing their whips with cable locks. Figure they'll take the easy bait first.

 

Rocky Mounts make really good racks for a good price but Kuat NV, Thule T2 (pro and non-pro), Yakima Holdup, OneUp and if your're on a budget Saris are all great racks. Avid cyclist and work in the industry. Always go with a platform style rack and if you're worried about the tailgate hitting it, get one with a swing out feature (Rockymounts being one of the only that takes more than 2 bikes with an extender). If you decide to go with the Alta and Northshore style racks they work great especially that you have less tail swing to worry about.

 

I have this same question. I need a hitch mount that will clear my CBI swing out with a 285 spare and dual jerry can holder.

 

If you do go for the upright "shuttle rack" style, stay away from the North Shore racks. Given enough use, they wear the paint off your fork crown. Plus if you go over a speed bump too hard, it has the potential to jar your bikes off the mounting skewers, and dump them on the pavement. I've seen it done. The Alta ones use Voile Straps to secure both wheels (front in the baskets, rear against a mounting plate) which if you are a skier, you know how bomber your straps are. The Recon and North Shore racks use a bungee cord system, of which I feel the Recon Racks design is far superior.

For full transparency, I'm a little biased since I know Ali, the creator of Alta Racks. Plus, my friend with the blue Marin pictured above is also his manufacturing adviser through the UofU's manufacturing advising center. We did a lot of the early marketing pics for his site in exchange for borrowing the prototype rack a bunch. I paid full price for the one I own now though.

 

I didn't get a chance to mount it to find out for sure, but I did get to measure the CBI rear bumper configured as you described on the Heretic Studio's truck (the OG Prinsu light bar company) at the UTOR Expo, and the Alta Rack SHOULD allow you to fully drop the tailgate while mounted in the CBI hitch. I did the measuring because I wanted to know if I could use my rack if I got a new bumper.

 

Yeah I have seen it happen myself as well and not really biased on anything but I do believe Alta racks to be superior of the upright "shuttle" style racks for sure.

 

Recon Racks are stout units as well. The thing that made my decision for me is there is no proprietary hardware. All of it is replaceable at Lowes if you had to for whatever reason. The Recon has that big center pivot bearing thing tht when it goes, you need a new rack.

Also, Alta racks is 4 miles from my apartment instead of Bellingham, so yeah...

 

1-up.

/end thread.

 

For tray style, no question.

 

The shop I bought the rack from kept an electronic copy of my receipt and although I no longer have the box and it's been over a month since I bought it, they were willing to give me up to 90% of the purchase price back in store credit. Not only did they do that, but they were able to apply that credit toward a new Dr. Tray rack AND their supplier has them on sale for $100 off original retail price! Great customer support experience at the Bicycle Escape in Frederick, MD!

 

I will have to check that place out since they are somewhat local. Hopefully you get to hit the shed up there since it sounds like you live close.