Hitch Rack Suggestions? Single bike on a small hatchback.

[Likes2ridefar]

Originally Posted by nspace

I will probably look into one of the upper end Kuat's like the piston pro, but I'm still going to look at other options—just haven't had the time to go to deep. I do think this rack is probably much stronger as a single bike rack than it has been for my needs.

I just wasn't really impressed with many aspects of the 1up, its just not a very refined product, it feels like a prototype that someone made in their garage with a surplus of flat bar aluminum.

• lack of hitch pin is annoying, the velcro stap as secondary security feels really cheap and an afterthought
• the tilt mechanism is annoying as hell to use. You need two hands to properly compress the lever on both sides. It's awkward with one bike, let along multiple. So then you need to buy more handle accessories—which are also annoying to setup if you are configuring the rack into different configurations
• the fat bike spacer kit is a PITA to install—all of these spacers came from the factory with sharp metal swarf hanging off it
• the teeth on the glide plates wear a lot after not even a full season
• little details, like a mixture of metric and imperial fasters feels kinda parts bin?
• the method of installing additional trays, while simple, the keyhole design is just another one of those not very refined parts—you really need to unweight the rack with one hand while trying to loosen the bolts (with not a lot of room to turn the hex wrench)—the ergonomic aspects of removing them is just annoying
• uncomfortable amount of bouncing with 3 bikes (all of which are less than half the weight limit of the trays)

I have heard mixed things about post-sale support. When I responded to another customer on an Instagram post, who said they weren't thrilled with theirs saying my experience was also lukewarm—they deleted the posts instead of responding and learning from it—which definitely eroded some trust with me.

Must not be an equip d because I don’t experience any of this though I’ve not used the fat bike kit. It takes a hitch pin in both 2 and 1.25, I have both, and never had a tooth break after heavy usage over four years now. I frequently change from 1 to 2 bikes. Super simple tilt with the handle. One multi tool that does it all aside from wheel adjust which is just a simple ratchet.

[old fat man]

The 2 inch version is significantly more stable and addresses the lack of locking pin issue. I switched mine from 1.25 to 2 when I got new car and it's waaaay more stable.

I'd call it a more industrial style. Being serviceable, easy to fold for storage, and expandable as needed makes the 1up a perfect choice for me.

[DfCas]

Originally Posted by old fat man

The 2 inch version is significantly more stable and addresses the lack of locking pin issue. I switched mine from 1.25 to 2 when I got new car and it's waaaay more stable.

I'd call it a more industrial style. Being serviceable, easy to fold for storage, and expandable as needed makes the 1up a perfect choice for me.

Is the native 2 inch more stable than the quik rack with the 2 inch adapter? Im about to pull the trigger and like the idea that if my next vehicle is 1 1/4 the rack would still fit. My currect vehicle is 2 inch.

[benb]

I haven't tried the 1.25" hitch I explicitly went and got a 2" hitch for the car just for the bike rack.

When I look at potential cars for replacement I am basically almost treating a good 2" hitch as a requirement.

With the 2" Equip-D with 3 mountain bikes on it totaling over 100lbs of bike I can see a little bit of movement over big bumps, speed bumps, etc.. but it's kind of hard to say if I'm seeing the rack sway or if I'm seeing the whole car move.

With 1 or 2 heavy MTBs on it the rack is basically not moving at all. 3 Sub-20lb road bikes it's not moving at all.

And again.. hard to say if it's just the whole car rocking. I have an Outback, there's a lot of suspension travel and it's not super stiffly sprung. I can fold down the rack and push on it and move the whole car a lot. That said I have never scraped the rack or hitch.

1 bike on there you are talking such a small amount of weight so far below the max tongue weight of any vehicle that can take a hitch I doubt you're seeing any issue with a 1UP. They are built very strong.

I do have/use the hitch pins. At least for the Equip-D I have one locking pin that locks the rack to the hitch, then I have a second one that locks the "1 bike add-on" to the hitch.

[old fat man]

Originally Posted by DfCas

Is the native 2 inch more stable than the quik rack with the 2 inch adapter? Im about to pull the trigger and like the idea that if my next vehicle is 1 1/4 the rack would still fit. My currect vehicle is 2 inch.

Yes, definitely. I started with a 1.25 and occasionally shimmed it to use on my wife's SUV. It was wobbly on the 1.25 and on the 1.25+shim. When I replaced the 1.25 car with a 2 inch, I bought the entire base to switch the rack to 2 inch. Noticeably more stable on the same SUV and every other cat I've used it on since. I briefly owned a kuat 1.25 before the 1up and they were similarly wobbly in 1.25 configuration.

I'd go as far as to say the 1up in 1.25 configuration probably isn't worth it. With the 2 inch unshimmed base though I'm much happier.

Buy the 2 inch. If you want a 1.25 base, I'll sell you mine for cheap. I don't foresee myself going back to 1.25 ever again.

[mtbmoose]

The Equip-d in 1.25” is definitely not solid with 2-3 mountain bikes on it, especially on a bumpy gravel or dirt road. But my use case is 99% just one bike and for that it’s outstanding. It carries 2 OK, but 3 mountain bikes and it definitely bounces too much for my peace of mind. If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten the 2”.