Best value hitch platform bike rack?

[frorider]

As a 1up owner for 2 decades I’m trying to figure out some of the comments above. I put various XL enduro and DH sleds in my rack with 1300 mm wheelbases, seems to work fine? I have a bikepacking hardtail with up to 2.8” tires, various bikes with 2.5”, road bike with skinny tires, all seem to work fine.

[VTskibum]

I’ve been using my Thule T2 for 12+ yrs and have no desire to replace it. Works just fine

I had one that lived almost the entire year on my truck, as I rode 12 months of the year. It finally died in about 2019, replaced many of the parts, but finally gave up and trashed it. I have a tailgate pad for my normal usage, but now and then I borrow a 1up which is a better product and see all the hype. My only complaint is the location of the release handle and it doesn't quickly handle different tire sizes (29 -> 20/24" kids bikes) as easily as the T2. I can't say my old t2 wouldn't have the problem, but I did have to turn my daughters 24" bike bars sideways as it was contacting my bike frame and couldn't find an arrangement to avoid my top tube height, since the bikes on 1up are so close together. That's a fringe case, but for families I can see that being an issue.

All that said, if/when I get around to buying a rack myself, 1up is the way to go. Their customer service is also fantastic per few friends who have them. Only other one that hits the value is the Rocky Mountain racks posted above for good bit lower cost.

[El Chupacabra]

This is why the 1UP is actually the best value. Buy one and you're done buying bike racks for life.

As I say with tools: buy the best and only cry once.

I switched to North Shore Rack around 2011, have no desire for a 1up. I don't particularly like them - I think there are some significant design issues with them, but if they work for you, that's all that matters.

[grabtindy]

I have a single tray and double tray HD 1Up, very pleased with both. If I had 1 criticism is that the trays are too tightly spaced on the double and I've gotten some pedal rash on my downtube as a result.

[chicken feathers]

Pick a rack and be a dick about it.

[AK47bp]

[Dromond]

Well a used T2 might be the best used $200 rack, but I had one and found the ratchet mechanism to be made of plastic, weak, and also possible to load incorrectly. My friend’s T2 also rusted out completely in the PNW where there is not a lot of road salt. I see new Thule classic T2 2 bike racks at $550 and the 1up 2 bike rack at $650 so at least at the new price I’m not seeing the value even at $100 less. But used at $200 I could being worth it since the used prices of 1ups seems pretty high.

I care about this because several times people have asked me for rack recommendations in part so I want to know what’s working for people

[HankScorpio]

Just got a 1up single hitch rack and it’s solid and will no doubt last years but it sits crooked in the hitch.

Not sure if the rack is crooked or if my truck frame is.

Kinda bugs me so I may get a shim for it.




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[nickwm21]

1up has awesome customer service. Shoot them an email.


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[Roxtar]

Based on the 1Up hitch design, I'd bet on the truck hitch having the issue.
To be sure:
Take the rack off, set it on the floor, make sure the trays are sitting level, and put a short (9") level on the receiver.
If the rack receiver is level, it must be the truck hitch.

[chicken feathers]

I’d bet on it being the hitch too. The tilt looks opposite the direction of the corner expander.
Is there play when the expander is loose?

[El Chupacabra]

I'd bet on it being the rack. I had a Kuat NV with an expanding wedge anti rattle thing built in, and it sat at an angle like that too.

[alfajores]

As a 1up owner for 2 decades I’m trying to figure out some of the comments above. I put various XL enduro and DH sleds in my rack with 1300 mm wheelbases, seems to work fine? I have a bikepacking hardtail with up to 2.8” tires, various bikes with 2.5”, road bike with skinny tires, all seem to work fine.

Kuat NV2.0 and Sherpa wheelbase is not that long.
NV 2.0=1,270mm
Sherpa 2.0= 1194
1Up SuperDuty=1371.6mm

QuickrStuff Mach 2= 1473mm!!!!!

RadPower Cargo Bike = 1365.7 mm

[climberevan]

I’d bet on it being the hitch too. The tilt looks opposite the direction of the corner expander.
Is there play when the expander is loose?

I'd put money on the hitch being off. The ball expander pushes the shaft into the corner of the receiver tube, so it's basically impossible for it to be twisted within it.

[singlesline]

It seems pretty common for hitch receivers to be slightly out of square, especially the cheaper Curt/Drawtite ones. I'm sure factory hitches suffer the same problem.

[Roxtar]

1UP is good value if you find the rack that works for your bikes.

Kuat NV2.0 and Sherpa wheelbase is not that long.
NV 2.0=1,270mm
Sherpa 2.0= 1194
1Up SuperDuty=1371.6mm

QuickrStuff Mach 2= 1473mm!!!!!

RadPower Cargo Bike = 1365.7 mm

See, this is where you lose a little credibility IMO.
You make it sound like, "If you're lucky enough to have a bike that fits on a 1UP" when the truth is, anything under a full blown cargo bike will be just fine.

[BigHerm]

I bought a 1up single rack 8 years ago. Lived on the back of my car all summer in CO, now lives there year round (Northern AZ). Been run into in Mammoth, fixed with a socket wrench. Bought an add-on for traveling/random usage. Don't like leaving the add-on installed since it interferes with backup camera and those are gold. Have gotten pedal rash on downtube, could prolly ziptie a rag to the pedal or just remove.

I like shit that lasts. No rubber or plastic to degrade. Rigged up some u-lock/chain action for security. No regerts.

[Name Redacted]

Put a couple 1ups on my wife's roof rack and she says they rattle which is annoying. Point of buying them was to put them on a hitch rack eventually though, when she gets a hitch on her RAV so that won't be a problem. That's the nice thing about the 1up if anyone is interested. The trays can go on a roof rack or on a hitch carrier.

[jm2e]

I’ve never understood 1up on the roof.


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[evdog]

I’ve never understood putting bikes on the roof.

FIFY

It's not if but when you'll drive into something low hanging.

[zion zig zag]

My Kuat NV has started to develop a lot of play in the bushing that allows it to fold up. I seem to have a vague memory of someone posting a fix here a while back? Rack is 10 years old and has thousands of miles and I still trust it, but I hate looking in the rear view at the amount of movement going over rough sections at freeway speeds.


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[El Chupacabra]

My Kuat NV has started to develop a lot of play in the bushing that allows it to fold up. I seem to have a vague memory of someone posting a fix here a while back? Rack is 10 years old and has thousands of miles and I still trust it, but I hate looking in the rear view at the amount of movement going over rough sections at freeway speeds.


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Contact Kuat. They sent me free replacement parts under warranty for a rack that had to be near 10 years old.

[Danno]

I have confirmation bias as I have only owned one hitch rack. But it's a 1UP that I have had for 12 years and it works as well as the day I bought it. I had one issue years ago, something bent (can't recall what), I contacted 1Up and they asked me to send a picture showing the issue, I did and within days a new part arrived in my mailbox.

If I could change things about it, I would make the drop down work better. It's hard to access and use, and if there are bikes on the rack (ie when you would use it), it's even harder to use. I would also make it lighter, it's a tank (but I guess they all are, something that can hold many pounds of bike kinda has to be). And it's ever so slightly annoying dealing with my kid's 24" bike, I have to leave a wrench in the car (but it takes 60 seconds to change the arms to fit her wheels so a very small complaint).

Overall, A+++, would buy again.

[sb]

I’ve never understood putting bikes on the roof.


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[singlesline]

I bought a 1up single rack 8 years ago. Lived on the back of my car all summer in CO, now lives there year round (Northern AZ). Been run into in Mammoth, fixed with a socket wrench. Bought an add-on for traveling/random usage. Don't like leaving the add-on installed since it interferes with backup camera and those are gold. Have gotten pedal rash on downtube, could prolly ziptie a rag to the pedal or just remove.

I like shit that lasts. No rubber or plastic to degrade. Rigged up some u-lock/chain action for security. No regerts.

I originally thought the Quikr add on system was over-complicated, but I am warming up to it. Your described use case fits it perfectly.

Keep a single rack on the car at all times since it doesn’t block the hatch or backup camera. Probably 9/10 of my rack usage is single-bike.

But then be able to throw an add-on on the rack in 45 seconds without tools whenever my wife does want to ride. Big price premium over a 1up double, but I can see how that would be nice.