Good bike rack to purchase?

What's up twin? Looking good across the board! How is the mtn biking in TN? I am planning a road trip this Fall from MD to UT. I hope to hit some trails in eastern and western, TN enroute to AR and onward to UT. Is that a Ripley or Ripmo? I was strongly considering a Ripley before pulling trigger on a Yeti SB130 in 2020.

 

Thanks man! It's an older Mojo HD 26'r. Just all updated w new eagle drivetrain a few years ago. It just won't die.. I've been working so much I haven't got to explore much of the states offerings but middle and eastern TN is where it's at. I would bypass Western TN and go direct to NW AR!! If I were to buy a new ride it would be between a SB130/150 or Ripmo. Utah biking is epic. AZ too.

 

Good to know about TN riding! I am hoping to squeeze in a ride everyday on this voyage. NW AR looks amazing, northern NM & AZ and into UT (Moab & St George) the options look endless! I have been really pleased with the SB130. I have a 2013 Santa Cruz Tallboy with a 130/100 set up which has been a great XC bike, but lacking on the technical trails. If I only had one bike it probably would have been the Ripley when I bought the Yeti, but having the Tallboy pushed me to go with the bigger 150/130 set up - no regrets!

The 4R has been great too! 10 months and 14,800 miles - no problems. I am going to try sleep in this thing as often as possible on this trip. Not a lot of room in the 4R when I put the bike in the back (for security) with the front tire off.

 

Hey! Sweet Ibis!

Is it an HD5?

 

Man some great BLM land to camp on around St George and camping spots around Moad (Slick Rock) were cheap from what I remember. Check out Sedona too if you can. I've only put 1900 miles on my rig LOL!! But we drive my wifes identical rig all the time and have 8K on hers. Thinking about installing the Eibach spring that just came out for the 21's +.

 

Thanks man! It's a Mojo HD, old school but still rips

 

I have some buddies flying out while I am in UT. Looks like flying into Las Vegas and hitting the St George area might be the most prudent thing to do while they are in UT. St George is closer to a airport than Moab. I will definitely hit Moab before or after my buddies roll in. Four years ago I did a short ride in Sedona with my wife (pretty tame) one day and did one day of riding in Prescott, AZ with some locals - this was not an unencumbered mtn bike trip.

Your wife has an identical Lunar Rock Pro? I have thought about the Eibach or Westcott lifts as well, but am becoming more inclined to just leave it alone and try to retain the best MPG's I can. I am definitely removing the Predator Steps soon and want to remove the Pro roof rack as well.

When buzzing thru TN (east to west), which bike trails would you recommend? I would love to hit a trail or two! I enjoy tech and XC. Thanks again for your insight!

 

First day home and I promptly had the 1up bike rack on within five minutes!

 

1up all day! I've had mine for 5 years now. I have mine on a Rigd Ultraswing and use the receiver to mount a jerry rigged bike repair stand. So far so good...

 

Serious rig and bike!

 

So freakin clean! You know what would be perfect for your rig? A Yeti 160E! haha!

 

Thanks! Well that was the day I brought the newborn home from the hospital! It has not been that clean since! I think I have only cleaned it five times in 10 months.

I still like to pedal! I turn 60 in two months, so I am trying to hold off on a E-bike til 70. One of my riding buddies has a E-bike. He claims he is missing part of his hamstring! He can carry a conversation riding up hill like Mary Poppins while I am trying to breathe! All good! Great activity!

 

It sure has increased a lot in less than a year.
Looks like a great set up and was looking into it, but now it is $108 more for the the 4 bikes rack set up alone (without other accessories)

 

I got this Yakima for $50 on Craigslist and had a key made for another $12(seller had lost the key) and it works great for our 2 bikes, the key works to lock the bikes and to lock the rack to the receiver.
I couldn’t be happier.

 

Rare photo of a clean bike! Yeti SB130 and the 1up rack!

 

the 1up racks are so sick but I’m assuming your bike can’t have any fenders huh?

 

My goal is no moped or Ebike as some call it until 70. I will be 50 in no time and still ride my single speed most of the time. I do have a ripley that I purchased about a year ago because of back and neck issues that flair up from time to time. The hardtail single speed just beats me up sometimes riding in the rock garden that is AZ. I generally ride about 2-3 times a week for about 20-30 miles gaining around 2000-3000ft of climbing. The single speed is the best workout ever and keeps me young, nobody thinks I’m as old as I am. Riding my geared, full squish bike feels like I’m cheating myself, never mind a motor pushing my along.

 

I will hold off on the E-bike for another ten years (when I am 70 as well). But, I'm not giving up my full suspension bike. Riding rocky, rooty challenging terrain on a hardtail does not sound like fun!

 

I can see that maybe being an issue for a 26" or smaller due to the position of the arms holding the front and rear tire but you should be good to go on a 27.5/29'er

 

1UP all the way. It is not cheap but you definitely get what you pay for. With the cost of good MTB's I would never cheap out on a carrier.

 

You can adjust the bar on the holders up and down to accommodate different tire sizes and I would assume to not interfere with a fender.

Steve

 

Here is our set up. It is by QuikrStuff

 

I use this one quite a bit, highly recommend

 

As many have already said, there is only one answer here - 1Up USA. Hands down the best. Awesome customer service as well.

And when not in use on the truck 1Up makes a mount that is a great place to store your bikes up off the floor.

 

I'm just getting my 4Runner set up to accommodate my lifestyle. I traded a Tacoma for it last month and I will now need to begin using a bike rack. I'm near the end of my bike riding days, and will more often be pulling a trailer load of dual sport motorcycles. But, I'll want to take the bike along on occasion. I have an old (from 90's) hitch mount hanging rack that will accommodate 2 bikes. So, I ask this question not to start a debate, but to get a better sense of what will make a more secure, and and faster rack. Will a hanging hitch mount suit me for probably 6 carries/year, or should I find a hitch rack with tire trays? Obviously, money will be a part of the equation, I have plenty to spend on, but neither do I want to cheat myself. Thanks for any experience from folks who might have switched from hanging to tray or tray to hanging.

 

For only six times a year I would continue to use the rack you have. My rack is on the vehicle probably 340 days a year. Most current mountain bikes need to be on a tray rack because they cannot fit on the older hanging racks due to the frame configurations and suspension systems. Additionally the current quality mountain bikes are very expensive and need to be properly secured on quality bike racks for travel. Quality mountain bikes these days run from $2,500 to $10,000 or more! Most of the the better bike racks are over $700. These prices are absurd! But, hey - I don't golf or own a fishing boat!

 

I'm looking for a bike rack to carry my 2022 Trek Farley 7. I was originally going to get a 1UP Super Duty but I was reading reports of the weld failing at the hitch plate so I tried out a Kuat NV Base 2.0. I love all the features of the rack but when I ratchet in the arm for the front tire, the bottom of the hook without the soft rubber is contacting the fork and I have to put something in-between them. I also have to play around with the arm when placing the bike in the rack because the arm can't clear it at full extension once the bike is placed.

I've looked at Kuat's new Piston Pro X but that is just too expensive for me right now. I am considering returning the NV Base 2.0 and getting the 1UP again but I have concerns about where they cut costs as well as the durability of that aluminum bar that holds the rack in place and allows you to move it up and down.

 

I'm using a swag-man tray style rack. Think it was $550.

Pros
- heavy gauge construction and fasteners will last FOREVER
- price
- convenient built-in locking system

Cons
- HEAVY if you are doing 4 bike version and take on an off as needed
- can be cumbersome loading all four bikes
- fit and finish as somewhat lacking

Been using it for about a year. Totally trustworthy. We load all four nice mountain bikes onto it and go camping and offroading without any signs of failure.

Jason