Customer Reviews: Read 41 more reviews...
 Great bike rack May 3, 2007
MindCreations (South Carolina)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
I got this bike rack a couple of weeks ago and used it for the first time on a pretty long trip this past weekend and it worked great! The rack is easy to assemble out of the box and is also available in a 2 inch receiver if your hitch is slightly larger than the 1.25 inch receiver.
The reviewer below said that the way the rack bolts into the hitch is problematic- I had no problems at all. To secure the bolt all you need is a 9/16 wrench with a ringed end and a socket wrench. On the left side of the bolt hold it in place with the ringed in of the 9/16 and use the socket wrench to tighten the bolt through. Keep doing this until it won't go anymore and jerk on the rack a bit- it is extremely steady and will NOT sway back and forth. The bolt does not come loose either. I did not re-tighten it not once on a 3 hour road trip, though I did check to make sure it was still secure.
The straps are excellent on the hitch and really secure the bike to the frame. I wouldn't have had to to use any extra ropes or ties (though I did just to be safer than sorry in the first time using it). Male bikes load perfectly on the hitch whereas female bikes require a little extra work/positioning. Might want to tie the tires together with some twine just so they won't hit each other on bumps.
So this is the first bike hitch I've ever owned and I really like it. I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering purchasing one. You can't beat the price that Amazon has. These are at least $139-$150 in stores. Amazon gives you free shipping- free 2-3 day shipping if you are an Amazon Prime Member... which is pretty sweet.
 Bike Rack Review July 9, 2006
Carol J. Klar (Midway, UT)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
The rack overall is fine. The way it bolts into the hitch is problematic. Even if it is tightened very securely, it becomes loose after about 20 miles of driving and the rack wobbles seriously, side to side.
Beware! May 20, 2008
M. Appel (Texas)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I purchased this bike rack in January to carry bikes on the back of my travel trailer. I had been used 4 times successfully but the 5th time was not a charm. One of the bolts that the arms pivot up and down on broke as I was driving on the highway. I heard tire chirping and got out to see what the noise was, when I came around the back I saw my bicycle, which was on the outside, hanging down to the road and the back tire had been jumping up and down on the road as I was driving. The other two bikes were ok. One bolt had sheared in half and the other held.
If you have this rack or are thinking about buying it, you might think about removing these bolts and replacing them with hardened bolts (which these are not).
A bolt remover was unsuccessful. Retapping the threads doesn't look like an option. The option looks like buying a new rack.
Thanks for reading, I hop this helps someone.
Sturdy and Easy to use January 18, 2007
Son T. Tran (USA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Unlike some flimsy Bike racks which I bought and return from typical retailer, this rack not swaying too much when you're driving and it could fold straight up when not in used, rack position for 3 are firmly spaced and attached to the bar not moving around. You will like it for its intelligent design and sturdy construction.
Best deal that I have found for under $100 June 4, 2007
Daniel P. Kirk
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I have been looking for an inexpensive 1.25-inch hitch rack capable of carrying up to three bikes for my smaller vehicle. I originally bought one made by Graber, but it wobbled too much for my liking. I returned the Graber rack, did some more research and decided to give the Allen rack a try. From the minute I opened the box, I noticed that the packaging and instructions were of far better quality then my previous rack. It was very easy to install, as long as you have two 9/16-inch wrenches to make bolt tightening go smoothly.
The rack is very solid, it does not wobble at all when attached to my car, the attached straps allow the bikes to fit securely, and the rack folds down to save space when not in use. In addition, you can swing it back to allow open you car's rear hatch without removing the rack from the hitch.
The biggest downside with this rack is that it lacks a way to lock your rack to the hitch. However, purchasing a new bolt that allows a lock to be attached can probably solve this issue.
This is probably the best rack available for under $100.
|
395 reviews