I've had a version of this rack for 9 years and it is on my truck now. Great product. On the wheel hoops not sliding easy, you simply need to pull the clamps off every year or two, disassemble, clean, lube the threads, and reassemble. Easy Peasy. Great video!
Love this rack Owned over 12 years travelled from Illinois to west coast on one trip and East Coast on another long trip. Have always felt very secure. The exhaust has not been a problem for me on my Toyota Highlander as have a factory hitch….easy to put on and off the car
I have an after-market 2" hitch on an older model crv (2002). Mine looks to be even with the exhaust pipe. I'm toting older inexpensive Huffy bikes (not mountain bikes, not racing bikes). Do you know if they are of a material that the exhaust would not melt? We only tote our bikes a few times a year, but they are 3-4 hour drives.
One issue that doesn't get addressed IMHO with rear racks is the blocking of the rear tail lights by the multiple bikes. I added a 3rd break light at the rear of the rack to my Thule. Living in Florida, the drivers are bad enough the way it is. Great video as always.
Can't believe the exhaust melted your wheel! Thanks for mentioning it though, I have been leaning towards this rack, but now I will look somewhere else.
Great review! Walmart is selling a very close version of this rack with a couple minor differences for $65 (Hyper Tough). I would bet it is made by the same manufacture. Just installed one and for the money how are you going to beat the price? Now would I haul a two or three thousand dollar bike on it? Not sure about that but for us I think it will be just fine.
I recently upgraded from the Swagman G10 to the Swagman Semi 2.0 because the bracket that clamps down on the frame (very similar to your rack) was scratching up our frames. Our dirt driveway makes it impossible to keep the foam brackets clean, so they turn into sandpaper on the frame if we forget to use a cloth. The Semi 2.0 rack clamps down on the front tire and seems far more secure to me.
FYI Changing the angle of the exhaust to point 45degrees down would have been much cheaper option. Spot welding piece or even cut, heat, bend pipe. Thanks for vid
Clint, or another cheaper solution is to have a tip down muffler tip welded on your vehicle so that the exhaust fumes are aimed down instead.. Good luck anyway
If tail pipe is at the same level, maybe you can install a shield on the rack where the bike wheels sit or get a tail pipe adapter to direct the exhaust down or to the right.
Does the rack, particularly when loaded, wiggle and sway noticeably on your vehicles? I have mine in a 2" hitch and, while very securely attached via the bolts, the entire rack and the bikes really dance when going over bumps, in an out of driveways, etc. It looks very scary with thousands of dollars worth of bikes attached?
Clint I have a Toyota Highlander and have the factory hitch so I think it MAY ride higher than yours and my exhaust is not close so no danger. A lower after market hitch could cause a problem but the position of the exhaust could also be a problem.
I've had a version of this rack for 9 years and it is on my truck now. Great product. On the wheel hoops not sliding easy, you simply need to pull the clamps off every year or two, disassemble, clean, lube the threads, and reassemble. Easy Peasy. Great video!
great review, I never even thought to pull the pin out so I can get into the hatchback
Love this rack Owned over 12 years travelled from Illinois to west coast on one trip and East Coast on another long trip. Have always felt very secure. The exhaust has not been a problem for me on my Toyota Highlander as have a factory hitch….easy to put on and off the car
I have the same rack and it has served me well for the price
I have an after-market 2" hitch on an older model crv (2002). Mine looks to be even with the exhaust pipe. I'm toting older inexpensive Huffy bikes (not mountain bikes, not racing bikes). Do you know if they are of a material that the exhaust would not melt? We only tote our bikes a few times a year, but they are 3-4 hour drives.
One issue that doesn't get addressed IMHO with rear racks is the blocking of the rear tail lights by the multiple bikes. I added a 3rd break light at the rear of the rack to my Thule. Living in Florida, the drivers are bad enough the way it is. Great video as always.
Have you checked out the Thule T2 Pro, by far the best rack imo, super easy to load and secure bikes. Literally in seconds.
Can't believe the exhaust melted your wheel! Thanks for mentioning it though, I have been leaning towards this rack, but now I will look somewhere else.
umm...there are no exhaust pipe tips that can be added on to deflect sideways or down ?
Great review! Walmart is selling a very close version of this rack with a couple minor differences for $65 (Hyper Tough). I would bet it is made by the same manufacture. Just installed one and for the money how are you going to beat the price? Now would I haul a two or three thousand dollar bike on it? Not sure about that but for us I think it will be just fine.
I recently upgraded from the Swagman G10 to the Swagman Semi 2.0 because the bracket that clamps down on the frame (very similar to your rack) was scratching up our frames. Our dirt driveway makes it impossible to keep the foam brackets clean, so they turn into sandpaper on the frame if we forget to use a cloth. The Semi 2.0 rack clamps down on the front tire and seems far more secure to me.
FYI Changing the angle of the exhaust to point 45degrees down would have been much cheaper option. Spot welding piece or even cut, heat, bend pipe. Thanks for vid
Could you have shifted the rack trays away from the exhaust enough to avoid the wheel heating?
Clint, or another cheaper solution is to have a tip down muffler tip welded on your vehicle so that the exhaust fumes are aimed down instead.. Good luck anyway
Clint, Is the Transit 4 Bike rack able to be used as a separate 1 1/4" - 2 Bike hitch rack?
I think it might be related to your hitch receiver. I have a 2007 crv with a Curt Class 3 hitch and mine does not look as low as your hitch
Thanks for sharing your experience. Have you consider the Kuat NV2 version. I've the NV and in my opinion is a better build than Yakima.
If tail pipe is at the same level, maybe you can install a shield on the rack where the bike wheels sit or get a tail pipe adapter to direct the exhaust down or to the right.
Does the rack, particularly when loaded, wiggle and sway noticeably on your vehicles? I have mine in a 2" hitch and, while very securely attached via the bolts, the entire rack and the bikes really dance when going over bumps, in an out of driveways, etc. It looks very scary with thousands of dollars worth of bikes attached?
Clint I have a Toyota Highlander and have the factory hitch so I think it MAY ride higher than yours and my exhaust is not close so no danger. A lower after market hitch could cause a problem but the position of the exhaust could also be a problem.