I am glad you shared this info. (Not that I need to use it.) When you showed it in the last video I was fascinated with that huge bike rack. What a great way to get all your bikes to where they need to be.
Great review! We just took our family of 5 to Yellowstone from Texas with the 7 bike velicirax (hubby opted for the 7 bike version due to several of the concerns you mentioned regarding the rubbing, etc.. plus the price differential was pretty minimal once you go from the 5 bike to 7 bike rack). We were pretty happy with it overall for our 3000+ mile trip 😀😀
One of the very very very few TRUE reviews. Most of the other reviews for ANY rack are pre-staged for perfect fits, while purposely omitting the significant negatives.
Nice review biggest capacity hitch rack Ive seen. One other option is to get a small trailer in which to mount & carry bikes. I ordered a V nose 5' w × 6' H x 10' L cargo trailer w/ ramp rear & side door. It hangs 7 bikes on Left side wall + plenty of room for gear. Main advantage might be weather & dirt protection + security. Just a thought !
Great complete review! I've been looking for a solid rack for at least 4 bikes, that is ok for the back of our 5th wheel. Their site says RV/Travel trailer approved. SWEEET!!!
I just sold my Thule T2 classic with the 2 bike add on to purchase this very rack. The Thule was rock solid but also very heavy and actually more expensive by about $100. Thanks for the review. I think I mad a good decision and another plus for the Veolcirax is that it is RV rated.
I just did the same, but I found the T2 (with add on) could be mounted and removed with 1 person, but the Velocirax is definitely a 2 person operation. I ended up getting a T2 Pro (without add on) for daily use and use the Velocirax for longer trips or larger groups. Still a very nice rack, but something to keep in mind for those needing to mount a rack alone. Very nice review.
Maybe put old socks on the pedals so they don't scratch the frame. I'm sure Christine has a bin of what I call "lonely socks" from the dryer eating it's friend.
Thanks for the review! I own a shop and deliver, and have a mobile van, so I've been looking for a rack. I will be loading the rack myself, so this isn't going to work and looks as though it would be difficult to push the bikes up once the rack is loaded. Personally I ride my fatbike a lot, so not a good choice for that either. Thanks Again!
Could you use pool noodles for spacers/insulators between the bikes somehow? They are pretty economical at a buck a pop. Love the channel. Great camera presents. Your a natural. Good luck.
They do offer fatbike hoops if you want to buy them separate. There is also a 230 pound weight limit for the bikes, so for some, you may want to check the overall weight of each bike just to make sure.
They now sell fat bike loops and also have a 5x where the spacing between bikes is 15" instead of their regular 10" so a few things here have been addressed.
Frugal Fit Dad , my husband had heard that because there is more bounce on the back of RVs, you need a tougher built bike rack. We are planning on spending some time traveling in our RV and are in the market for a good bike rack. I appreciate you checking. 😁
@@alliswellwithkristywells8747 This rack IS rated for use on RVs. I have a 5th wheel travel trailer and spoke with the manufacturer directly and they said it is. I have one one the way. I ordered the 5X with wider pacing since I also have road bikes with drop bars so I wont have the spacing issues on my MTBs.
There are two brackets on the ends of the lower bar and a welded handle on the middle post. I can anchor a lock and cables or chains to any of those points.
Thank you very much for the great video. Question though: In "camping mode" why did you have to lift the rack off the ground while the bike was pushed in? Can you not just push the bike into the ring? If you're putting more than one bike in the way you showed, it seems like it would not work (first bike would tilt what you lift up for the second one, etc).
What wrench did you use to tighten the rack to the car? Looks like an all in one tool that would be easy to keep in the van for rack use vs tracking a socket and handle separately. Thx
using different wheel sizes would be helpful, smaller wheels to be specific. I know there's a workaround but haven't seen it in action for like 20 inch wheels
Sorry, but I think you're loading this backwards. I believe the website says start with the largest bikes on the left and move across, and put drop bars on the far right. I own the 7 rack carrier, have bikes with 29, 27.5 and 26" wheels, have driven across both 4x4 trails and thousands of road miles without any rubbing. The bikes weigh a lot when you lean it up, but I'm carrying 7 bikes without any rubbing. I'm pretty impressed. This rack is awesome!
Yep. I was. I’ve had the track since May now and also have a few thousand miles on the rack and haven’t had anymore rubbing. I don’t think there’s a better rack out there.
Lolo Racks were my next choice. Most biking forums were not in favor of carrying bikes by the handle bars. I chose Velocirax because it had the least contact with the frame or other components. I couldn’t be happier.
No. I think most 4 bike racks weigh in around 50-75 lbs or so. The Kuat NV 2.0 weighs 50lbs for the 2-bike rack. With the additional 2-bike extension it weighs 91lbs.
I have a CRV with a rear swing door. Does the Rav4 have the same? Does the rear door open much when it's not in "camping mode"? Have a feeling it'll be a tough sell to my wife to have to put the rack all the way down every time we need to access the trunk LOL
Hey, maybe I missed this big issue point, maybe not. Bike wheel height vs the dreaded garage door impact scenario... ie: do your bikes on the rack clear your garage door opening? I've heard over and over from friends and friends of friends about driving into their garage with bikes on top of their cars. During the video it seems that your SUV hitch height makes the bikes too tall to clear the garage door. Comments?
What made you choose this rack over the NSR? Anyone viewers have experience or comment on this vs NSR? For me it being a 2 person job to put on and off is bit of a bummer and maybe a deal breaker. Unless I could figure out a way to put into the hitch and remove myself, I may have to find another solution. I'm 6', ~ 195 lb and probably average strength for a man my size.
I can put it on and take it off by myself. I'm 5' 8'' 165 lbs. It's just easier with 2. After a year with this rack, I've gotten better at putting it on alone. Main reason I picked this over NSR is that I didn't like the way the NSR carried the front wheel. Most friends with NSR go down the road with the front wheel spinning. I didn't want to put that kind of stress on my hubs. With this rack, the only thing that touches the rack are the tires. The tires and secure and the bikes ride nicely.
Yep. That was my top pic until I found this rack. I particularly liked how easy Lolo racks was able to carry a mix of bikes. But after reading a few reviews online, I found a lot of problems with carrying the bikes by the bars. That being said, I've never actually used Lolo racks.
@@FrugalFitDad yeah, I was about to get the Lolo and stumbled on your video. I love the garage rack feature and love that they have a 5 bike option (my family size) and they make a new version with more spacing. Im getting one! Thanks again!
Just got my rack last week and used it for the first time today. I was trying to put it into camping mode but I can’t pull the damper up at all. I have the pins pulled. Dampers are fully compressed and I can get them to pull out far enough to move the damper bracket out of the way. Any tricks here, or am I missing something? Great video.
The one issue I don't like is how hard it is to "close" up to the car once all the bikes are loaded. My kids and even my wife can't do that. I almost wish the pistons were reversed to help pull it up, and there was a switch or disconnect to release the pull when you needed to lower it to load bikes.
I have to agree that the weight of the rack when it’s fully loaded with bikes makes it very difficult to put back into place. We have found that with two people pushing up on the handlebars is the easiest way to get it back into position.
Headline said frugal fit dad. There’s nothing frugal about this rack . I do appreciate the measurements. I will build a rack similar to this out of scrap because I am a true frugal fit dad 🤣.
I've watched about 6 or 7 reviews of this rack on YT. This is one of the best reviews. Many thanks!
Absolute loved how detailed you were in the review and showing us everything that it can do and that it does. So very informative!
Pretty sure this will come in handy in the future when my kids are old enough! Thanks!
I am glad you shared this info. (Not that I need to use it.) When you showed it in the last video I was fascinated with that huge bike rack. What a great way to get all your bikes to where they need to be.
Great detailed review. Gave my a visual answers to questions I couldn't find answered on the website.
Wow, insanely helpful review answering more questions than I had. Thanks!
Nice job on the review to everyone involved! Looks like a great rack for that many bikes!!
I'm looking at different 6 bike car racks- Lolo, NRS, Yakima, and this rack. This video is really helpful in the decision process. Thanks for sharing!
*Fits my car perfectly with my new **Latest.Bike** raker , very easy to set up and take down. Great quality and price, very happy with this purchase!*
Thanks for the detailed review! It helped me make my decision on which rack to purchase.
Great review! We just took our family of 5 to Yellowstone from Texas with the 7 bike velicirax (hubby opted for the 7 bike version due to several of the concerns you mentioned regarding the rubbing, etc.. plus the price differential was pretty minimal once you go from the 5 bike to 7 bike rack). We were pretty happy with it overall for our 3000+ mile trip 😀😀
Really nice review! Thanks guys
Great review...thorough
Very good review! Perfect rack for you guys!
One of the very very very few TRUE reviews. Most of the other reviews for ANY rack are pre-staged for perfect fits, while purposely omitting the significant negatives.
Once again, so informative! Freaking 100 lbs though. Glad I have a smaller bike carrier.
Nice review biggest capacity hitch rack Ive seen.
One other option is to get a small trailer in which to mount & carry bikes.
I ordered a V nose 5' w × 6' H x 10' L cargo trailer w/ ramp rear & side door.
It hangs 7 bikes on Left side wall + plenty of room for gear.
Main advantage might be weather & dirt protection + security.
Just a thought !
Thanks for the measurements!!
Great complete review! I've been looking for a solid rack for at least 4 bikes, that is ok for the back of our 5th wheel. Their site says RV/Travel trailer approved. SWEEET!!!
I've had this rack for almost 8 months now. I have no complaints. It has been very durable and protects the bikes perfectly.
I just sold my Thule T2 classic with the 2 bike add on to purchase this very rack. The Thule was rock solid but also very heavy and actually more expensive by about $100. Thanks for the review. I think I mad a good decision and another plus for the Veolcirax is that it is RV rated.
I just did the same, but I found the T2 (with add on) could be mounted and removed with 1 person, but the Velocirax is definitely a 2 person operation. I ended up getting a T2 Pro (without add on) for daily use and use the Velocirax for longer trips or larger groups. Still a very nice rack, but something to keep in mind for those needing to mount a rack alone. Very nice review.
Great review, very informative.
Video idea: types of bikes and/or how to pick the right bike
Just released that video this morning.
For bikes with drop bars (road and gravel bikes) they recommend either their 3X or 5X racks that have wider spacing (15") between the bikes.
Maybe put old socks on the pedals so they don't scratch the frame. I'm sure Christine has a bin of what I call "lonely socks" from the dryer eating it's friend.
Thanks for the review! I own a shop and deliver, and have a mobile van, so I've been looking for a rack. I will be loading the rack myself, so this isn't going to work and looks as though it would be difficult to push the bikes up once the rack is loaded. Personally I ride my fatbike a lot, so not a good choice for that either. Thanks Again!
Great video, thanks for sharing. Whats the smallest wheel size would work on this rack? 20 inch, 18inch kids bikes?
Could you use pool noodles for spacers/insulators between the bikes somehow? They are pretty economical at a buck a pop. Love the channel. Great camera presents. Your a natural. Good luck.
I'm sure you could rig up something with a pool noodle.
They do offer fatbike hoops if you want to buy them separate. There is also a 230 pound weight limit for the bikes, so for some, you may want to check the overall weight of each bike just to make sure.
Yes
Works with e mountain bikes…they are heavy and the ease of loading them by just tilting and rolling them on is why I purchased this rack.
They now sell fat bike loops and also have a 5x where the spacing between bikes is 15" instead of their regular 10" so a few things here have been addressed.
On a road bike will the wheels touch the rack tire loops? I’m concerned of the loop damagin my expensive Carbon 60mm wheels
Great information. Do you know if it's rated for RVs? Also, love how you include your kiddos. Well done.
I'm not entirely sure. I don't see why not, but I don't know for sure and couldn't find any info on their website.
Frugal Fit Dad , my husband had heard that because there is more bounce on the back of RVs, you need a tougher built bike rack. We are planning on spending some time traveling in our RV and are in the market for a good bike rack. I appreciate you checking. 😁
@@alliswellwithkristywells8747 This rack IS rated for use on RVs. I have a 5th wheel travel trailer and spoke with the manufacturer directly and they said it is. I have one one the way. I ordered the 5X with wider pacing since I also have road bikes with drop bars so I wont have the spacing issues on my MTBs.
if you put the road bike all the way to the right side, wouldn't that solve the spacing issue with the mountain bike?
This was super helpful! Have already shared. How are you locking them up?
There are two brackets on the ends of the lower bar and a welded handle on the middle post. I can anchor a lock and cables or chains to any of those points.
Thank you very much for the great video. Question though: In "camping mode" why did you have to lift the rack off the ground while the bike was pushed in? Can you not just push the bike into the ring? If you're putting more than one bike in the way you showed, it seems like it would not work (first bike would tilt what you lift up for the second one, etc).
The hoops are not tall enough to hold the bike upright. Especially 27.5+ or 29 inch tires I lift the rack to have the hoop bite a little more tire.
Cool!! What is that multi socket called?
Did you notice if the bikes sway left to right alot.. mine does.. what do you do about it?
What wrench did you use to tighten the rack to the car? Looks like an all in one tool that would be easy to keep in the van for rack use vs tracking a socket and handle separately. Thx
It’s a Kobalt universal wrench. amzn.to/3a9FlEv
using different wheel sizes would be helpful, smaller wheels to be specific. I know there's a workaround but haven't seen it in action for like 20 inch wheels
Sorry, but I think you're loading this backwards. I believe the website says start with the largest bikes on the left and move across, and put drop bars on the far right. I own the 7 rack carrier, have bikes with 29, 27.5 and 26" wheels, have driven across both 4x4 trails and thousands of road miles without any rubbing. The bikes weigh a lot when you lean it up, but I'm carrying 7 bikes without any rubbing. I'm pretty impressed. This rack is awesome!
Yep. I was. I’ve had the track since May now and also have a few thousand miles on the rack and haven’t had anymore rubbing. I don’t think there’s a better rack out there.
a query. Could you tell me what is the angle at which the front wheel is and the thickness of the steel of the basket?
I recall once setting something on the rear bumper then driving to the store. 🙁
Very good information! Well done! (Fun channel name:....."Dave's Garage"....will we see more?...). Thanks!!! :D
Have you looked at the LOLO rack and compared it to this one at all?
Lolo Racks were my next choice. Most biking forums were not in favor of carrying bikes by the handle bars. I chose Velocirax because it had the least contact with the frame or other components. I couldn’t be happier.
I was really considering it until the 100 pounds? Is that an average weight for four bike racks?
No. I think most 4 bike racks weigh in around 50-75 lbs or so. The Kuat NV 2.0 weighs 50lbs for the 2-bike rack. With the additional 2-bike extension it weighs 91lbs.
I have a CRV with a rear swing door. Does the Rav4 have the same? Does the rear door open much when it's not in "camping mode"? Have a feeling it'll be a tough sell to my wife to have to put the rack all the way down every time we need to access the trunk LOL
I would agree. The rear swing door is not very compatible.
Hey, maybe I missed this big issue point, maybe not. Bike wheel height vs the dreaded garage door impact scenario... ie: do your bikes on the rack clear your garage door opening? I've heard over and over from friends and friends of friends about driving into their garage with bikes on top of their cars. During the video it seems that your SUV hitch height makes the bikes too tall to clear the garage door. Comments?
Yep. They cannot fit in the garage with the bikes on the rack. We always take them off before we pull into the garage.
Do the bikes bounce much while driving over bumps or dips?
They do bounce around on big dips, but not generally on bumps. That being said, they do stay in their place and don't rub up against each other.
What made you choose this rack over the NSR? Anyone viewers have experience or comment on this vs NSR? For me it being a 2 person job to put on and off is bit of a bummer and maybe a deal breaker. Unless I could figure out a way to put into the hitch and remove myself, I may have to find another solution. I'm 6', ~ 195 lb and probably average strength for a man my size.
I can put it on and take it off by myself. I'm 5' 8'' 165 lbs. It's just easier with 2. After a year with this rack, I've gotten better at putting it on alone.
Main reason I picked this over NSR is that I didn't like the way the NSR carried the front wheel. Most friends with NSR go down the road with the front wheel spinning. I didn't want to put that kind of stress on my hubs. With this rack, the only thing that touches the rack are the tires. The tires and secure and the bikes ride nicely.
great review, thanks. Did you happen to look at Lolo racks?
Yep. That was my top pic until I found this rack. I particularly liked how easy Lolo racks was able to carry a mix of bikes. But after reading a few reviews online, I found a lot of problems with carrying the bikes by the bars. That being said, I've never actually used Lolo racks.
@@FrugalFitDad yeah, I was about to get the Lolo and stumbled on your video. I love the garage rack feature and love that they have a 5 bike option (my family size) and they make a new version with more spacing. Im getting one! Thanks again!
👍
Just got my rack last week and used it for the first time today. I was trying to put it into camping mode but I can’t pull the damper up at all. I have the pins pulled. Dampers are fully compressed and I can get them to pull out far enough to move the damper bracket out of the way. Any tricks here, or am I missing something? Great video.
This video should show you how to release the rack. ruclips.net/video/gBWOQYAT8UI/видео.html
@@FrugalFitDad Thanks. I watched that video months ago and totally forgot about it, even as I scrolled through all of their videos yesterday. 😂
@@AitchYXE I’d show you myself but mine is still in winter storage. 😂
@@FrugalFitDad We had a beautiful warm weekend, and it is now blizzarding 😃. Spring on the Canadian prairies.
The one issue I don't like is how hard it is to "close" up to the car once all the bikes are loaded. My kids and even my wife can't do that. I almost wish the pistons were reversed to help pull it up, and there was a switch or disconnect to release the pull when you needed to lower it to load bikes.
I have to agree that the weight of the rack when it’s fully loaded with bikes makes it very difficult to put back into place. We have found that with two people pushing up on the handlebars is the easiest way to get it back into position.
Do they make antitheft devices to keep someone from just stealing it if you went into a restaurant while you were out?
He showed that it locks at the hitch, and then you can lock the bikes to the rack as well, so I think it is pretty safe.
Will this work on the Sienna Van? Family of 7 here!
Yes. It should.
Maybe loading from left to right would keep the handlebars from catching?
I'll give that a try tomorrow.
Also - do you feel it fits 5 suspension MTB's well?
I regularly have my rack loaded with an assortment of 6 hardtail and full-suspension MTBs. No problems at all.
Headline said frugal fit dad. There’s nothing frugal about this rack . I do appreciate the measurements. I will build a rack similar to this out of scrap because I am a true frugal fit dad 🤣.
How can anyone see your brake lights and turn signals 🤔
How do you store it in the garage when you are not using it?
It comes with garage hooks or it stores upside down really well.
Maybe pool noodles for the rubbing issue?
What make you go with velocirax over alta rack? Thanks
Price, release dampner, fat bike hoops. Company reputation.
@@FrugalFitDad Thanks
Doubt that rav4 has a class 3 hitch 😉... If it did, you would want air bags for sure
Use nail polish on chips if you are worried about rust.
I’ve got to tell you that the company sent me some after they saw this video.
The only problem I see is you can’t see your licence plate or rear lights. So would be illegal in my country.
$850 yikes i have a family of six as well and just use my 4x8 trailer to haul all the bikes around and it was less then 500
We did the same for a few years. But our trailer kept scratching the bikes. The flopped around too much. I was probably doing something wrong.
@@FrugalFitDad same here sir i ended up building a pretty lightweight removable bike rack out of aluminum to fix that issue
Fenders are a big problem I have found.
Too bad it's made in China and lacks much adjustability.