Thule 990 Doubletrack 2 Bike Hitch Carrier Review

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(More customer reviews)My vehicle is a 1999 Nissan Maxima sedan, equipped with a Kurt 1-1/4" hitch receiver. Due to the toung weight limit of the hitch receiver, the choice of bike racks is also limited. Thanks God, the THULE 990 is a great solution for me.
Originally, I doubt the capability of an 1-1/4" hitch to bear heavy loads (rack + bikes). After I installed THULE 990 and loaded two bikes, I was so glad that I chose a correct rack. The play was very very small, no matter my car was stopped, on local roads or on the freeway. The rack provides three points to contact to each bike. It is an excellent way to carry bikes. No need to worry about that the bikes would scratch my car or scratch each other.
For the rack itself, the height is pretty easy for me to load bikes. I do not have to lift my bikes too much. Also the rack provides sufficient clearance to access rear trunk and let trunk lid open without any interferences.
For entering/exiting my drive way, THULE 990 provides sufficient vertical clearance so that I could drive in/out drive way without further awareness.
For local road driving, all I need to be aware are the speed bumps. Just drive nice and slowly. Otherwise, the bikes/rack are rock-solid.
For freeway driving, I drove my vehicle at 70mph and the bikes/rack were pretty stable. I could not feel any play or vibration. But the aerodynamic drag is a little bit noticeable. By the way the test drive on freeway was about 20 miles one-way, 40 miles total.
The integrated lock heads are also a great advantage. No need to use additional ugly and bulky locking cables. The two locks on the locking handles are easy to use and efficient. The STL2 hitch lock is also easy to use and very tight fitted.
With THULE 990, I could virtually extend my bicycle rides to anywhere my vehicle could reach. The THULE 990 is really a great bike rack.

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The next evolution in RQL technology at an affordable price, the Thule 990 Doubletrack can transport two bikes regardless of frame design, suspension, or wheel size. The Ratcheting Quick Load (RQL) features hooks for quick bike loading/unloading cradle top tube of bike frame. The independent adjustable wheel hoops accommodate bikes with wheel bases up to 48 inches and eliminates handlebar to seat contact. The Stinger Swinger universal hitch connection makes it easy to attach to your vehicle, quickly converting from 2-inch to 1-1/4-inch right out of the box. The Hitch Switch quick release lever provides rapid storage when not in use. It carries up to two bikes weighing a maximum of 70 pounds.
Manufacturer's Warranty It's backed by Thule's limited lifetime warranty. The warranty is terminated if the purchaser transfers the product to another person. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, cosmetic rust, scratches, or accidents.
About Thule To say that Thule's beginnings in the U.S. were humble would be an understatement. Founding member Ake Skeppner sold products at windsurf competitions on the New England shoreline, exhibited the product line at a number of different trade shows, and even canvassed local retailers in the greater New York area, all from his "office"--a now-famous station wagon. Initial success was found in the small but growing sport of windsurfing where a strong, reliable roof rack was an indispensable piece of equipment. This was quickly followed by success in the ski business where Thule's Swedish heritage certainly helped the product gain rapid acceptance.
By the mid-1980s, the company sold products directly to ski and windsurfing shops but sold through distributors to address the large and growing bike business. A risky decision was made to terminate these distributor relationships and sell direct to retailers through a network of independent sales representatives. Much of the company's market success today can be traced to that decision. Shortly after, Ake hired an engineer and set up a small assembly plant in Elmsford, New York in order to design and manufacture bike carriers that would offer the features demanded by the U.S. consumer and compete effectively with other racks on the market.
The company has since grown rapidly through product innovation, a commitment to quality, and the continuance of a strong entrepreneurial spirit as well as continuing to evolve their products to meet the needs of users.

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4-Bike 2,000 lb. Rated Towing Hitch Bicycle Rack Review

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(More customer reviews)This product is without question "awesome". I can load my bikes and pull my kayak trailer at the same time. My only problem was the lock for the bikes. I cannot get mine to lock. This is a minor issue but none the less a issue.If you have a SUV and need to get in the back, no problem the bikes can be lowered down so you can open the hatch. You only have to be strong enough to lower the bikes.

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Saris Cycle-On 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack Review

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(More customer reviews)The bike rack is fine, although surprisingly heavy compared with others of its ilk (Thule and Yakima). The value of this rack lies in the rock solid mounts for any sized bike along a fixed run tray. The front wheel adjusters are excellent and solid. My only complaint was discovering that the box was missing dozens of parts that had to be ordered from Saris directly at a cost of $58. Amazon offered no help even though it was their fault that the parts were missing. Ultimately Amazon credited me for the cost of the parts, but it was nearly 4 weeks before I had both a functioning rack and at the price I paid for it.

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Hollywood Racks HR1200 Sport Rider SE 3-Bike Platform Style Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am very pleased with this rack. It was easy to assemble and since it works mainly by pulling pins (for adjustments), pretty much anyone can use it. Figure about five minutes for on/off. The stabilizer hitch pin prevents any swaying and the entire rack (and bikes) simply stay put. Nobody likes to see wobbling in their rear view mirror! The construction seems very solid and my only minor gripe is that the cables holding the pins could be a thicker. Also, it is a bit tedious moving all the pins around for each bike bracket when setting up/tearing down. I think they could have combined certain pins in a more efficant manner. The piece is somewhat bulky, so expect to have help if you are not comfortable lifting heavy objects. You are most likely going to leave this rack in place as I have found unplugging/plugging from hitch, moving the pins and straps around gets tiring after a few on/offs.

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Designed to fold flat against the back of a vehicle when not in use, this heavy-duty platform-style rack mounts on a 2-inch hitch and holds three bicycles. The rack uses padded universal top clamps and adjustable wheel holders. Bikes need simply to be dropped into the wheel holders and clamps slid down onto the frames. Velcro wheel straps add security. To prevent rack sway, the hitch system is "no-wobble/no-tools" and includes a locking pin and 9-foot security cable. The rack carries a limited warranty against defects.
About Hollywood Racks Hollywood Racks started in 1973 when they began making trunk racks in the back of our bike shop in Hollywood, CA. As a retailer, the company knew exactly what people needed: good quality products that were easy to use. They earned a great reputation fast and began selling racks to other dealers, and later to the bike companies. Today, Hollywood Racks builds racks the only way they know how: simple, strong, and secure.
Hollywood Racks are built with top-quality materials including high-strength steel, aircraft-quality fasteners, and thick powder coats to withstand the elements. Generous amounts of padding protect bikes and cars, and all of their products are fully covered with a limited warranty. The company's products continue to receive accolades from all the major outdoor sports magazines, and are in demand by everyone from recreational cycling families to weekend warriors to race teams on the road and off.

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Allen Premium 5-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver) Review

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(More customer reviews)Perspective: I am a mother of three young boys ages 8, 6 and 3. So when we go out as a family we have an adult men's bike, an adult women's bike and, at the moment, 2 youth boys bikes. We are not avid bicyclists, so we don't have any of the fancy, lightweight, more thin-framed bikes. Just your run of the mill Wal-Mart brand, bulky kids and adult bikes. This is our second 5-bike bicycle rack in as many years and I LOVE this one so much more than our last for multiple reasons. We attach it to our Honda Odyssey with a 2" hitch.
1) This rack not only has a ball joint (for lack of a better word) to hold the pivoting arm in place, but it also has a locking pin. DOUBLE the protection. I feel much safer with this mechanism should I ever repeat my previous mistake with our first bike rack, although not likely. :)
-------------------------Bought our first bike rack off eBay for about $60. Although it certainly held our bikes, albeit with little room to spare, it wobbled and shimmied like CRAZY when we drove, making the longer trips for vacations a little more anxiety ridden. I was constantly looking in the mirror to make sure it wasn't about to come crashing down or wobble so hard that it would break. It never did, mind you, but I once forgot to replace the locking pin for the part of the rack that pivots out of the way so you can access the tailgate without having to remove the rack entirely. Made it the entire trip (2 hours) without it falling...amazingly...but one mile from our destination we hit a pothole and the rack was jostled just enough to cause it to pivot out of sight and come crashing down behind us with all the bikes on it. Stayed intact and the bikes were unscathed, but the steel upright of the rack was forever bent which caused the bikes to ride too low to the ground to make it safe anymore.
2) The cradles that the bikes rest on swivel 360 degrees making it VERY easy to connect the bikes just about any way you need to.
------------------------Our old bike rack had cushioned (rubber) cradles, but they did not move, so to get the kids' bikes attached they were sitting in the rack at all sorts of crazy angles! Rear wheel way in the air with the front end of the bike facing the ground, etc. The youth bikes now-a-days have some very THICK frames. They LOOK cool, but aren't the most efficient when trying to mount them to a bike rack. The Allen bike rack allowed us to attach the bikes not just along a horizontal plane, but we could attach the left cradle to the vertical column at the handle bars by turning the cradle to the left and the right cradle to the horizontal bar going across the bike...or any other way necessary! love, Love, LOVE it! It's especially easy with the smaller bikes that don't have enough space between the front and back vertical pieces to allow BOTH arms of the rack to pass between them. (hope this makes sense)
3) Arms very quickly and easily swing down and out of the way for storage when bikes aren't loaded.
4) Thought it would be a little weird having one bike mounted BETWEEN the car and the rack the other four on the other side of the rack. Wasn't sure how it would all fit and whether or not there would be enough room to get the bike in there easily.
------------------No problem. The rack sits about a foot from the car. Does not look odd. Bike easy to maneuver in there.
5) Women's bikes do NOT require the cross bar attachment so often recommended to mount to the rack. Why? See reason #2. I actually bought one when I purchased the rack and it sits unused. Didn't use it even once and we've already taken our bikes on 4 outings. So, save your money.
6) Hitch pin really DOES cause the rack not to wobble one bit! LOVE LOVE LOVE it! That rack is in there tightly and securely. Of course, their special anti-wobble pin doesn't have a method to lock it into place, so you lose that option. Not so much a concern for us, but if you are in an area where these types of racks get stolen, you may need to invest in another anti-wobble option that has a locking aspect to it. I was truly amazed, however, at how the pin they provided really did keep the rack from moving in the hitch. It didn't look that different from any other pin, but works great!
Con: Can't lock the bikes into the cradles, but just buy a long enough bike lock that it can wind between all the bikes and you're good to go.
Hope this helps! Kids bikes are able to be attached without much trouble at all! After figuring out how they best fit the first time around, thereafter it's a cinch.

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Carry your bicycles securely and avoid the hassles of piled bikes or high threshold rooftop mounts, with the Allen Premium 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack. Fitting vehicles with a 2-inch trailer hitch only, the Allen Premium Hitch Mount Rack boasts the new Quick Carry Arm Release, making it both easy to operate and super secure for your bikes. Constructed out of steel with a durable black powder finish, the rack is built to last and is backed up by a lifetime warranty by Allen.
The Allen rack boasts a patented tie-down system and individually cradles up to five bikes in the 28-inch carry arms. A separate tie down strap is included with the rack and eliminates lower bike movement completely. As easy to install as it is to use, the rack sets up in less than 5 minutes with a no-wobble bolt that holds it still within the hitch. When the rack is not in use, the carry arms quickly drop out of the way and fold down flat with a patented single pin mechanism and the rack tilts up to allow easy access to the lift gate.
Specifications:
Fits vehicles with a 2-inch trailer hitch
Holds up to five bikes
28-inch carry arms
Individual bike cradles
Steel construction
Black powder coat finish
Patented single key release system
Tie down strap
Minor assembly required

About Allen Bike Racks: In 1967, after a few years of working on the aerospace technology for the Apollo missions, Dick Allen was out of a job. Government cutbacks led Allen, a Harvard-trained physicist, to transform his garage hobby into a new industry. A cycling enthusiast, inventor, and family man, Allen had a personal need for a bike-carrying device. On weekends, he would take his sons and wife to Cape Cod or the White Mountains of New Hampshire. What proved difficult time and again was the transport of his family's bicycles. Rather than fight through inconvenience with twine and a dinged car, Allen sought an answer for himself as well as a market in which he foresaw major growth possibilities.
Always a pathfinder, Allen took to work in his Lincoln, Massachusetts garage in search of a more efficient way to transport bikes. Drafting designs during the day and constructing them throughout the night, he put together a model made of electrical conduit, metal strapping, and fire hose casings (for padding). At first, the Allens tested the prototype on weekend excursions. Finding the first trunk-mounted rack to be a success, Dick started Allen Bike Racks. Dealer acceptance came quickly, and by 1971 Allen Bike Racks were sold nationally through a number of major bicycle distributors. Today, the company owns over three-dozen patents and offers a versatile product line of bike racks while Dick's son Alex now owns and operates the business. What started out as a small garage run operation now operates three warehouses nationally, two factories abroad, and has products sold in more than a dozen countries around the world.
Manufacturer's Warranty Lifetime warranty

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