Why hitch bike rack over Roof-rack?

If you're in the market for a hitch-mounted bike rack, there are a few things to consider. The first thing is what type of vehicle you have: do you drive an SUV or truck? Do you have a hatchback or sedan? If your answer is "yes" to either of these questions, then roof-mounted bike racks might be the best option for you. However, if your car has no open space on the roof, and if it's an SUV or truck that does not allow bikes on top of the vehicle due to their weight limit (or because they need more ground clearance), then choosing a hitch mount may be a better choice.

The next question is whether you want something with straps that go over your bike frame or arms that hold the bike by its wheels. Roof-mounted racks typically come with frame straps, while hitch mount racks usually have wheel holder arms. Roof-mounted rack tends to be cheaper than the hitch-mount rack so if you are on a budget, roof-mounted is probably the way to go.

Roof-rack vs. hitch mounted bike rack

The best bike rack for you depends on the type of vehicle you have. If your car has a receiver, then a hitch-mounted bike rack is for you. If not, then roof-mounted racks are pretty much your only option.

Hitch mounted bike racks mount on the back of a vehicle and use either ratchet straps or threaded screws to secure bikes to it. The advantage of a hitch-mounted model is that they provide better protection from theft because there’s no need to worry about thieves unscrewing bolts or stealing loose parts like with roof-mounted models or even being able to climb up onto the wall and take bikes out if they don’t have bolt cutters or doweling shears or whatever. Roof racks can also damage the finish on your car as well as expose it to extreme weather conditions.

Hitch mounted bike rack on the other hand provides easier access and egress, especially when you don't want to carry the bikes inside of your vehicle but still have them secured. Roof-rack is more difficult to install and uninstall than a hitch bike rack.

Does the bike rack damage your car?

Absolutely not. With Hitch Bike Racks, the bicycles actually rest on the ground in a stable position.

There's no harm done to your vehicle and with hitch bike racks, there's no chance of making contact with gas cans or other metal objects in your back seat either because you're placing them up towards the ceiling of a car rather than down on the floor. So whether you're taking advantage of one in your trunk or finding one at someone else's home - bring along bikes in every color!

The bikes fully rotate so that each can be stored flat against an interior wall and they can be locked together to keep them from moving around too much once they get inside for transport. This "looks cool" because it leaves the bikes standing straight up and down. You can bring along more than just one or two bikes because they're not all being carried at the same time - only when necessary.

Additionally, this is a great way to get extra use out of a rack you've already bought for another vehicle. Roof racks are on high vehicles like SUVs, trucks

How do I install my new hitch bike rack correctly?

One of the easiest ways to install a hitch bike rack is by following the User Manuel. It has an excellent installation guide on youtube that I found very helpful when installing my new hitch bike rack for the first time.

The most important thing to remember while installing a hitch bike rack is ensuring it is properly secured with all your ladders, provided in the packaging of whichever bike carrier you choose - Typically, you tighten bolts around both ladder arms where they attach into the mounting brackets with a high torque wrench.

After checking that your bolts are tightly locked with one or two threads protruding from the bolt head, you should then torque it to specifications.

How do I take off the hitch bike rack?

You probably want to consult the operating manual for your bike rack. It should have included instructions that you can refer to at any time.

Usually, there is a pin that slides most of the way out and then allows you to remove one side of the bike rack. Then you can push the other side off. Within minutes, he completed his project. He would enjoy his new ride with none of the problems which bothered him before.

However, if you're unable to find a copy of the manual, try following these steps: pull off the strap on either side, remove screws in back corners and just slide rack down! Easy-peasy! Make sure there is nothing obstructing its path before sliding it all the way down and be careful not to scratch anything in front of or below your vehicle by doing so. Do you know how pickup truck beds are on those weird angles? Watch out for that if you don't want any scratches inside from your ride being tossed too hard against them when you take it off.

Conclusion

If you drive an SUV or truck, have a hatchback or sedan, and don’t want to mess with roof racks (or can't - no open space), try this simple hitch bike rack. It has arms that hold the wheel by its spokes for quick loading onto your vehicle's rear hitch receiver. Best of all? This bike carrier is rated 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon!

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