All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

What park is that?

 

Trying out a tailgate pad for the first time on the new taco. Not super thrilled with it as the latch flap is way small, and cuts off the bottom third of the backup camera.

I find it hard to believe manufactures haven't figured out how to provide a tailgate pad with a fully unobstructed view for backup cameras. I mean they've been around since the 90's, popular since early 2010 and will be mandatory on all 2018 and newer vehicles.. it shouldn't be this hard to find something as popular as a tailgate pad that doesn't immediately negate them

 

Did something evil

 

They have had the Dakine DLX out for awhile which has a opening for a cameras

 

Best hitch bike carrier? Maybe purchasing a camper top and will need one

 

^^ 1UpUSA. Great bike rack and works well on 3rd Gen, allows tailgate to open fully with no bikes loaded and rack is horizontal, folds up and clears closed tailgate when empty, AND tilts down easily with two bikes loaded to clear the fully open tailgate.

 

Can u lock the bike to the rack? I normally haul my bike daily to work then to lunch and always grab food after rides , ect ect. So making sure my bike cant be stolen is priority. I now use a tailgate pad and a simple cable lock around the down tube how does the 1up secure the bike?

 

i love it. had a trek slash9 before this but i think i like the yt just a little more.

 

You could use a cable and lock in the same way or 1up sells these integrated bolt lock things that lock each wheel to the ratcheting arms. I think they're $20 each.

I personally think the Kuat NV is the better rack (I've used both), but like @dman100 said, the 1up will allow you to lower your tailgate whereas the wheel trays on the NV will hit. Sold the NV for that reason and now use 1up exclusively.

 

Locks only keep people honest!

 

Oo yes definitely understand a lock is only going to do so much. But it gives me a bit more peace of mind haha.

 

Found the locks. Reasons why u think the kuat is better? I was looking at that rack.

I do notice that the kuat has a seat post clamp. Would be cool for washing the bike up after a ride

 

Thanks!

 

Twins! Congrats! This is hands down most epic bike i have ever ridden. And you stepped up to the turque build. Didi that fork come with that build? I only got the XT build.

 

NV uses tool-less, hand tightening anti-rattle system.

NV's pivoting/lever system much, much easier to use than 1up 'notch' system.

The NV's ratcheting arm releases with the press of the thumb and folds over without ratcheting. Moving the 1up arms back and forth is not nearly as easy as it should be.

The NV arm also extends vertically, allowing you to cinch down on the wheel right next to the fork. This feature holds the bike much more secure than 1up. The design of the 1up rack allows a little play between the front wheel/headset/bars and the rest of the bike.

NV uses a hitch pin, which leaves a 0% chance of the rack coming off the truck if the anti-rattle system were to fail. 1up gives you a little velcro strap.

I also really miss the trail doc work stand.

All in all, the 1up is the lower profile, less invasive design. The NV is far and away the better rack functionally.

 

I haven't owned a Kuat but I agree they're a very refined, professional design, nicely tooled and finished like a quality mass produced product. And the repair stand seems like a cool feature. The 1Up is made up of 100% machined and/or extruded parts (made in USA) ... no stamping/molding/casting. That style appeals to many people, though as a mechanical engineer I'll say it isn't inherently better. The flip side is that it is less refined. I found that occasional cleaning and silicon spray lube on the ratchet slides and all pivots makes it work much better. And I have found it holds the bikes very securely even with many offroad miles, both mountain bike tires at 20psi and skinny road bike tires at 100psi. No problems with the rack loosening in the receiver, ever. To me the tie breaker was the tailgate clearance, though I think there may be one low-profile version which clears the tailgate but doesn't flip down to allow tailgate clearance with bikes loaded, like Kuat. We have a shell, and access to the bed with bikes loaded is essential. I live in an area that's somewhat of a mountain bike Mecca, and at many trailhead parking lots 1Up seems the most popular rack, which surprises me considering cost and not being sold through LBs or REI, but there are also lots of Kuats.

 

I own an NV 2.0 and really like it. Bikes are sturdy in there. Transporting cantilever brake bikes (road bikes) can cause your front brake to misalign (the rub with the NV mount), but minor inconvenience to me and not an issue with disc brake bikes. It's really easy to use and get on/off. They have a hitch lock pin as well that I use and have had no issues so far. You can hand tighten on there, but I use a ratchet wrench to tighten (there is a hex bolt you can use - think it's an 8mm?) and it's rock solid on there.

Like has been said, you can't open the tailgate when it's on (even folded down). However, I think at Sea Otter it was announced or leaked that they have an outswing bar that they offer which would eliminate that issue (but more $$$ probably).

If I had one knock on it it's that the built-in cable lock is stupid-short and barely works when you have 2 bikes loaded on there. I use a separate cable and Kryptonite U-lock if I am locking my bikes on there.

Edit: the swing arm costs ~$300 and should be available this year
https://www.bikerumor.com/2017/04/28/soc17-kuat-pivot-turns-any-2-rack-into-a-swing-away-platform/

 

Oh I agree completely. Despite my list above, I'm using the 1up because not being able to lower the tailgate was a deal breaker.

I also haven't heard of the rack ever coming loose but the possibility remains without a physically barrier.

 

Yeah they have a swingarm coming out soon, basically identical to rakattach, called the pivot. I think it's $300 ... which is pretty good relative to the competition.

This may have been discussed already in this thread, but Rocky Mounts actually has a rack out now with an integrated swing arm. Never have seen one in person or heard any feedback on them.

 

Gotta love camping and bikes!