Bikes are great for spending time in the beautiful outdoors, moving around more flexibly, exercising, hanging out with our friends and the people we love. However, we cannot ride our bikes everywhere we go, and we might need to transport them on our SUVs. When you carry a bike on your car, you will need a bike rack for safe and efficient movement. A bike rack will save you the struggle to figure out how the bike will fit in the SUV and ensure maximum and intelligent space usage. There is a huge variety of bike carriers out in the market, and it might be challenging to find just the right one for your vehicle. Before we look at our top suggestions for just the suitable bike racks for you, let us look at the different types of bike racks in the market to know what to go for.
Type of Bike Racks
1. Roof Racks
Roof racks are attached to the roof of the car. Most SUVs come with rails from the factory, making it easier to install the carriers. Otherwise, if your car does not have rails, you can build one using the manufacturer specifications. Mounting bikes on top of your car is a stable choice, and there will not be any swinging when manoeuvring corners. The racks can hold bikes that do not have a quick-release lever on the wheels. On the downside, most racks only fit one bike on them. Roof racks, however, limit vehicle access into drive-throughs or underground parking spaces.
2. Hitch Racks
Hitch mount racks are attached to the car at the trailer hitch receiver on your vehicle’s rear side. Since the bikes are not resting on the car roof, the racks come with a different tray style to hold the bike wheels. A rack can have one tray or two, depending on the model. It is relatively easier to load the bike on the hitch racks as they are not high up on the car roof. The racks can simultaneously hold up to four bikes, making them the best bike racks for your SUV. However, these kinds of bike mounts can block the driver’s rearview. Most of these racks do not have efficient safety features making it easier for the bikes to be stolen.
3. Trunk Racks
A trunk rack installed on the car’s rear side by strapping the mount on to the vehicle. The racks are inexpensive and easy to install. Adjustable fittings make the rack easy to use on different cars. The mounts are easy to install and take off. A lot of care has to be taken when mounting to avoid swaying while driving.
Below are our top picks to help you get the best bike carrier that is easy to install and safe for your vehicle and bike.
Best Bike Rack for SUV
1. Allen Sports Deluxe Trunk Mount Rack
Allen sports deluxe bike carrier is a patented design that quickly and safely straps to your SUV. The two side strap tie-down system gives lateral stability by securing the bike to your vehicle. The bike rack has narrow carry arms, which will fit different bike designs. The Allen Sports Deluxe rack comes fully assembled and takes only seconds to mount. The product has a lifetime warranty while having high-quality components designed to ensure years of use.