Bike Mount Options on Your Truck

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

tooloud10

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2020
Posts
244
Reaction score
384
Location
Iowa
I went through the same thing, so here's my take and what I ultimately ended up with:

1) Tailgate pad: always just seemed like too cheap and too poor of a solution for anyone other than a very casual rider--the kind of person that rides so little that they would just put the bike in the bed when necessary. Also, this solution uses up a lot of bed space for the bikes. I guess I just can't see myself dangling $10k of bikes over the tailgate of the truck. Big pain to get bikes on/off, too.

2) Recon rack: awesome solution, but way overkill except for the most hardcore users. Super easy to get bikes on/off. It's expensive, tall, and top heavy but is probably what I would use if I needed to carry 5-6 bikes all the time.

3) Frame hitch rack: these things absolutely suck. They scuff up your bikes, most have no provision for security, many of them shake all around. Bikes are a pain to take on/off. I hated every minute that I used one of these.

4) Platform hitch rack: this was the sweet spot for me. I have 3-bike and 2-bike versions of the Kuat NV 2.0 and they're rock solid. Short of a Recon style rack, it's by far easier to get the bikes on/off than the others. "Security" is integrated into the rack, the only point of contact with the bike is on the wheels/tires, and the whole thing is just a pleasure to use. The only downside I've found is that a 3-4 bike rack like this starts to make the truck a little on the long side, but I can live with that.

I snapped this pic at a local brewery when I saw another Raptor (with a 3-bike 1up rack) park next to my Raptor with the 3-bike Kuat.

IMG_9175.jpeg
 

Mwadsworth

Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2022
Posts
30
Reaction score
10
Location
Marietta, GA
Nice Pic. I am leaning toward Kuat or 1Up for two bikes. I like both but 1up cost less and has no plastic that can break so may lean this way.
 

Pacific Wheel

Supporting Vendor
Supporting Vendor
Joined
May 19, 2016
Posts
2,972
Reaction score
2,409
Location
Reno, NV
Nice Pic. I am leaning toward Kuat or 1Up for two bikes. I like both but 1up cost less and has no plastic that can break so may lean this way.
I like that 1Up only touches the tire too. I have a crabon frame and wheels and dont like the wheel strap. My MTB wheels cost more than my truck wheels lol
 

VGKRaptor

Active Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2019
Posts
86
Reaction score
101
Location
Las Vegas
I went through the same thing, so here's my take and what I ultimately ended up with:

1) Tailgate pad: always just seemed like too cheap and too poor of a solution for anyone other than a very casual rider--the kind of person that rides so little that they would just put the bike in the bed when necessary. Also, this solution uses up a lot of bed space for the bikes. I guess I just can't see myself dangling $10k of bikes over the tailgate of the truck. Big pain to get bikes on/off, too.

2) Recon rack: awesome solution, but way overkill except for the most hardcore users. Super easy to get bikes on/off. It's expensive, tall, and top heavy but is probably what I would use if I needed to carry 5-6 bikes all the time.

3) Frame hitch rack: these things absolutely suck. They scuff up your bikes, most have no provision for security, many of them shake all around. Bikes are a pain to take on/off. I hated every minute that I used one of these.

4) Platform hitch rack: this was the sweet spot for me. I have 3-bike and 2-bike versions of the Kuat NV 2.0 and they're rock solid. Short of a Recon style rack, it's by far easier to get the bikes on/off than the others. "Security" is integrated into the rack, the only point of contact with the bike is on the wheels/tires, and the whole thing is just a pleasure to use. The only downside I've found is that a 3-4 bike rack like this starts to make the truck a little on the long side, but I can live with that.

I snapped this pic at a local brewery when I saw another Raptor (with a 3-bike 1up rack) park next to my Raptor with the 3-bike Kuat.

View attachment 339057
I second the Kuat NV. I’ve been through it all and this is my personal choice for many reasons.
 

jctboard

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2021
Posts
2
Reaction score
3
Location
california
Not a great picture and I have don't have the bike attachments on, but I have a Thule bars over the bed and can put my Thule and Yakima bike racks on the bars. It was a great way to keep all the Thule accessories I had from my previous car.
 

Attachments

  • Truck.jpg
    Truck.jpg
    121.3 KB · Views: 40
Top