Hitch Rack Suggestions? Single bike on a small hatchback.

[Lewis Moon]

What are your suggestions for a single bike hitch rack that will go on a Scion iM hatchback?
I'd like one with a small footprint and a good price/quality ratio.
I own a Küat NV and it's a beast. I'd like something in the same style but lighter and smaller if possible.

[echelon_john]

I don’t know that the footprint is that small and depends on how you define value, but I bit the bullet on a 1Up rack and the quality is off the charts. No plastic, all machined aluminum. I plan to have this for the rest of my life.

If it’s just for one bike their Quik Rack would be your choice. Expandable too.

https://1up-usa.com/

[AngryScientist]

The Transfer is a great little rack.

That car looks to be pretty low to the ground though, I could envision some ground clearance issues with approach and departure angles if the hitch itself sits pretty low. Something to look into for any hitch mounted rack for a small car like that.

I have used mine on our minivan and have scraped the bottom a couple times.

[Likes2ridefar]

1 up Equip d is what I have. In single mode, it all but disappears when not in use.

[kppolich]

single 1up, you won't even notice is back there when not in use.

My review here:
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...&highlight=1up

[Kyle h]

Another +1 for the 1up. Have had kind for 10-11yrs now and aside from some of the black coating on the frame chipping off it’s been pretty solid. I think I had to replace something a few years back but honestly I can’t even remember what it was now but I feel like 1up sent me the parts to do so for free.

Absolutely would not hesitate to buy another.

[hellvetica]

1up! Such a nicely made compact rack.

[nspace]

1up is super compact and will do the job for one bike like you describe.

I will say for all the hype these racks get, I think they are pretty overrated and clunky and I would not buy one again for my needs(1-3 bikes). I am going to sell mine and get something different for next season.

[old fat man]

What would you replace your 1up with?

I'm a huge fan. It's easy to install, store, pack up, and expand beyond single bike use.

[blakcloud]

If you want something a little less than the 1UP, then have a look at the Thule Helium Platform for single bikes. I don't recommend it for heavy mountain bikes but for a carbon wonder bike, it works just fine.

I've owned the double for three years and it has held up fine.

[nspace]

Originally Posted by old fat man

What would you replace your 1up with?

I'm a huge fan. It's easy to install, store, pack up, and expand beyond single bike use.

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.

[mtbmoose]

For reference, the above poster is not describing the 1Up Equip-d rack. Likely one of the larger, heavier duty models. The Equip-d tilt mechanism is much easier to use and none of my parts had any unfinished or sharp edges. Nor have I seen any wear on my ratchet teeth after a few years of use, including winter. I wouldn’t recommend the Equip-d for more than two bikes or if you need to transport 2 or more bikes on gravel or forest service roads. It’s not trail rated. But it’s ideal for carrying one bike. It’s light and easy to install or remove and folds up very nicely on my car.


I’ve owned multiple Thule and Yakima racks. There is simply no comparison in terms of quality. No plastic bits, the platforms won’t rust like my Thule did, from the inside out, and loading/unloading bikes or positioning multiple bikes is simple. And the stock width on my Equip-d can hold my fatbike with 26x4.8 Jumbo Jim’s with no problem. Haven’t needed to use the fatbike spacers, which were included at no charge.

I’ve seen the Kuats and they look “blingey”, but not as sturdy or functional as the 1Up racks.