How to and how many - bikes on hitch

I have an OEM hitch or receiver (whatever you call the female part) on my truck under the rear OEM bumper

1) what bike rack can I install on it ?

2) is it an easy install ?

3) can I open tail gate if I have bike rack on?

4) what bike rack would allow me to carry the most bikes and how many would that be ?

5) what I should expect to spend ?

Your recommendation and help appreciated

 

Use google, any rack for a 2" reciever will work. Tail gate will not open fully with a rack on the back, and they make racks for up to 6 bikes (biggest ive seen on any car ive driven past)

 

I sell racks at my bike shop but the nicest 4 bike rack I've seen and now own is from 1up, they are all aluminum and made here in the US, and they make a badass 4 bike rack.

 

Thank you kindly

I will look up "1up"

I was reading on Thule about "class" of hitch.

How can I tell what class my hitch is ?

I prefer a 4 bike rack

Thank you for the help

 

On some of the bike racks it seems they "fold down"

In the fold down position will tail gate open ?

 

ive heard about these.

what can you tell me about Yakima and Thule bike carriers?

 

you won't have to worry about class of hitch. but it's class 3 or 4. easily able to hold w/e bikes you carry (class 3 is rated 350lb+)

https://www.thule.com/en-us/us/bike-rack/hitch-bike-racks?q=AFMT9yBdv

https://www.rei.com/c/trailer-hitch-bike-racks?r=c&ir=category:trailer-hitch-bike-racks&page=1

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...011&field-keywords=hitch+mounted+bike+carrier

https://www.yakima.com/mount-location/hitch

 

Swagman makes all sorts of racks, start at roughly $125. Can find them on Amazon

 

Thank you for the links

What you think of this from your link?


https://www.rei.com/product/854831/softride-dura-assist-4-bike-hitch-rack

 

Most rack companies don't make a 4 bike rack for 1" and a quarter receivers. and most tacomas have a 2" reciever, or class 3.

The Thule T2 with the T2 add on is a great rack. That's what I ran for 8 years before going to the 1up.

The 1ups are a lot of money, and for the price of a 1up 2 bike rack you could have a 4 bike Thule T2 rack.

If you want an easy to use rAck that doesn't take forever to put the bike on, then the Thule T2 style is the ticket. Just chunk the bike on the rack, swing the front tire holder in place and sinch it down, then run the strap over the rear wheel and split.

Yakima makes a similar rack, I've forgotten the model name. It's aluminum instead of steel like the Thule so it's a bit lighter.

Like I said, the 1up is the nicest I've had, but I use my rack a ton, and i don't carry 4 bikes. Not sure I could afford the 1up 4 bike setup. My old Thule I gave to a buddy and it's still kicking, and it's got to be 10 years old or more now. Can't go wrong with the Thule T2, I sell more of that than anything. Comes with locks for the hitch and also for the bikes.

 

Thank you kindly. I will look at the Thule T2 in person and the Yakima given its lighter. I love Thule stuff as I have couple of their roof boxes, quality prouduct.

What did you mean by the "Thule T2 with the T2 add on?

This one right?


http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-...tml?feed=npn&gclid=CPG_mabI69ECFdgegQodjT0C0A

 

Oops sorry, I meant the T2 with the 2 bike add on, to make it 4 bike rack.

 

It comes as a base 2 bike rack setup and you get the "2bike add on" that bolts on the back to expand it to 4.

Makes it easy to convert it down to just 2 when you don't want the extra weight hanging off the back.

 

Yeah, that's it.

 

Years ago I had a Thule 4 bike rack that tilted back away so that you could lower a tailgate without removing the rack. Are these still around?

 

It looks like 4Runner can lift tail gate. Not sure if Tacoma tail gate can go down.

 

I use this rack currently, love the ease of loading bikes and it tilts down too. Has built in locks too. Also, they make them in Wisconsin!

https://www.saris.com/product/superclamp-4

 

I had it on the 100 series cruiser. Oh you know what? I think added an extension to male end of the rack that goes into the receiver. Yeah, pretty sure of it now. That allowed me to clear the tailgate of the Cruiser.

 

I had it on the 100 series cruiser. Oh you know what? I think added an extension to male end of the rack that goes into the receiver. Yeah, pretty sure of it now. That allowed me to clear the tailgate of the Cruiser.

 

https://www.rei.com/product/831927/thule-apex-4-bike-hitch-rack
I have this one. It's fairly heavy by itself. I had two adult bikes on it when I first got it and bombed down a logging road hitting every chuck hole there was to test it out. It held up great. It tilts down so you can open your tailgate. It's very easy to put on and take off. And it locks on.