I know, sometimes we feel the sudden urge to grab the bike in our garage and head on to adventures.
But the problem is we get uninspired for not having the best hitch bike rack for SUV that would carry the bike safely to our desired spot. A little setback like this is what throws us off from having quality time with nature.
If you’re not familiar with a hitch bike rack, let me put it in simple words. Hitch mount bike racks, basically, are a kind of tool that you can attach to the hitch of your vehicle to carry bikes (duh!). You might have seen your neighbors using these from time to time.
If your SUV doesn’t have any crossbars or a suitable trunk, this SUV hitch bike rack is going to be a good choice. They easily lock into the hitch of your car just using a pole and a bolt and trail behind the vehicle holding your bikes while traveling.
Best Hitch Bike Racks for SUV – Comparison
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | KEY FEATURES | price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick | AllenSports 4-Bike Rack |
| |
 | IKURAM Bike Rack |
| |
budget  | Allen Sports 2-Bike Rack |
| |
versatile | MAXXHAUL 50027 Bike Rack |
| |
 | MAXXHAUL 50025 Bike Rack |
|
Why Purchase a SUV Hitch Bike Rack in the First Place?
I just want to draw your attention to some queries first: why do you need hitch mount bike rack for your SUV? Do you ‘Actually’ need this and What it has to offer?
This is a very sensible question to ask since these SUV hitch racks cost more than SUV trunk-mounted racks. If you are not a frequent user, you should steer away from this and stick with truck-mounted racks. But… if you’re a frequent user you can’t afford to have one.
Hitch mount bike rack are suited to carry multiple bikes. To be precise hitch racks are engineered to haul three to five bikes. Why go alone, take your entire family with you on your next adventure! Family tours create values, bring out the best in everyone and strengthen family-bond.
They are by far better than the roof or any trunk racks. This is particularly important for people who don’t possess crossbars or a suitable trunk hatch to hold a bike rack. On the contrary, hitch bike racks are easy to install and provide stability for your precious bike(s).
Also, these racks pose less threat of damaging your vehicle. The reason is they don’t come in that close to the vehicle to which they are attached. As a matter of fact, they are designed to be very aerodynamic, carry heavy loads than roof or trunk racks, have diverse styles, and fit perfectly with almost every vehicle.
Top-Rated 5 Hitch Bike Racks for SUV – Reviews
In the beginning, I briefly mentioned that it can get quite difficult and time-consuming to find a sturdy SUV hitch bike rack. So, in this article, I will try my best to make it much easier for you. For your convenience, I have listed five cool hitch bike racks for your SUV that could do the trick.
1. Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks for SUV
- Color: Silver/Black
- Material: Steel
- Dimensions: 3.54″ x 24.17″ x 14.02″
- Item Weight: 23 lbs
- Bike Capacity: 4
- Load Capacity: 140 lbs
- Brand: Allen Sports
Allen Sports is a well-reputed brand that produces high-quality bike racks since its founding. Anyway, the product is easy to use, has a good build, and safely transports your bikes.
This thing has decent 22 inches long carry arms. These arms individually secure bicycles with Allen’s patented tie-down system.
You can install it in under 5 minutes with only three bolts and weighs just about 0.26 pounds. Being lightweight doesn’t mean it’s weak. The structure is made of steel, so yes…it’s made to withstand heavy usage. The dimension (26.38 x 12.2 x 13.98 inches) is also perfect and won’t affect your driving experience.
With this SUV hitch rack, you can carry up to four bicycles. However, this product fits vehicles with a 2-inch trailer hitch only. Your transport should have a professionally installed Class III or IV 2- inches hitch to use this rack.
All you have to do is just connect it to your hitch. After that, use the tie-down cradle system to secure and protect each of your bicycles. The 22-inches long carry arm comes with a variety of frame sizes and designs. So, no matter what type of bikes you have…you can carry them without any hassle, safely.
These carry arms can be folded too! You can easily fold them down out of the way if you’re not using them. It adds up the flexibility that this Allen Sports 4-bike Hitch Rack has to offer. You can use your vehicle with this rack installed and it won’t feel like a nuance at all.
Speaking of which, you might think that you may need to detach the bikes from the rack to access the back of your vehicle. Well, don’t worry about that. They have fun yet effective tilt system that folds the mainmast out of the way completely.
There is more to like about this rack. The individual tie-down system is one of them. When the terrain gets tougher, they come into play. They protect your bikes while you’re on the move. Other than protecting, they are fixed in a position on the carry arm that can rotate.
This feature gives us the little freedom we need to mount our bikes on the rack. I just rotate the arm to easily attach my mountain and road bikes according to their size and variety.
Last but not least, Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks make sure that they won’t wobble when you’re driving your SUV. Honestly, they don’t leave it to chance. The guys included a No-Wobble Bolt. It keeps the whole rack in one place.
Allen Deluxe Hitch Racks have all the necessary features that you need. The products are strong, sturdy, and have a maximum amount of flexibility that is a must-have for any hitch rack.
Also, this sleek-looking rack I’m advocating for is colored with a black powder-coated finish.
Not only it works like a charm but also it helps you stay classy all the time you’re on the road! All in all, a good buy no matter how you look at things.
2. IKURAM Hitch Mount 4 Bike Rack For SUV Hitch
- Color: Black
- Material: Alloy Steel
- Hitch Receiver: 2″
- Swing-down feature
- Bike Capacity: 4
- Load Capacity: 140 lbs
- Brand: IKURAM R
IKURAM is famous for its well-designed, easy-to-use products that are integrated with innovative solutions and new technology. Their Hitch-Mount 4 Bike Rack is no exception. It’s durable, has an optimized dual-arm bike carrier rack, a nice tilt down access, and many more.
Now, I put this on my list of SUV hitch bike rack for a reason. Scratch that! For multiple reasons. One of those is the fact that you’ll be able to carry bikes that are heavy.
Why, you ask? Well, it has solid steel construction. There’s another “Good News.”With this, you can transport up to 4 bikes. Not only that, you can drive without worrying about your bikes as it features padded bike cradles with hook and loop straps. These work just fine and protect the bike finish.
This rugged bike rack also fits perfectly with any standard Class III and IV 2-inch receiver hitches just as Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks does. Installing it is child’s play. Well, it was for me.
With only three bolts you can assemble your KRB-H040B Hitch Rack. Get out of your driveway with this attached to your SUV in no time.
When you’re on the asphalt, you want your bikes to be secured, right?
IKURAM thought about that and came up with an excellent idea. They have added durable, UV-resistant rubber cradle straps. They do a wonderful job altogether and keep your bike safe and secure.
The tie-downs don’t put any restraints on your bike also. They have a soft cradle bed to fully protect your bicycles while you’re driving. So, yes…all your precious bikes will be safe and intact.
As for flexibility, IKURAM comes with an ingenious design. It’s called Swing-Down Backward. What this does is that it allows you to easily access your rear vehicle. Once you’re done you can simply pop it back up to its primary position with a simple hitch locking pins mechanism.
Yes, the arms have an easy fold-down Arm design. This particular design allows a 24.8” rotation. It’s very useful when you have to maneuver it. The long folding carrying arms can be rotated out of the way you’re not using the rack for transport.
Worrying about that annoying wiggle that a trailer normally makes? Rest assured, IKURAMI has a solid no-wiggle design just like the first product on this list. There’s also a free additional anti-rattle hitch tightener that comes with the product.
As a result, the whole structure won’t wobble, rock, bang, clank, or jerk that are caused by ill-fitting receivers. We all think that towing is not supposed to be quiet. But as you can see this SUV hitch bike rack from IKURAMI, solemnly promises a smooth and quiet towing experience for you.
This SUV Hitch Mount 4 Bike Rack from IKURAMI does nothing but inspires you to get out there and be one with nature. It eliminates all the littles annoying issues that users usually face while mounting their bikes on the rack or towing. On top of that, it looks cool and offers safety and security for your bicycles.
3. Allen Sports 2-Bikes Rack for SUV Trailer Hitch
- Color: Silver/Black
- Material: Steel
- Dimensions: 3.54″ x 24.17″ x 14.02″
- Item Weight: 21 lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2
- Load Capacity: 70 lbs
- Brand: Allen Sports
Don’t fret but this one is also from Allen. But unlike the first one, this bike rack can transport 2 bicycles as you can understand from the name. this one, in particular, is perfect for road trips and camping excursions.
It has all the features of the Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Rack and IKURAMI Hitch Mount 4 Bike Rack with some minor exceptions. Since it’s designed to carry only two bikes, it naturally weighs less and the maximum capacity is less than those other two.
So, no heavy lifting. But if you come to think of it, it makes the whole thing perfect for you to just hit the asphalt with your vehicle and bike. Have a partner? Sweet…two bikes and terrain, nothing else. If not, take on the wilderness by yourself.
The hitch insert by the way fits 1-1/4- and 2-inch receiver hitches. It’s simple and easy to maneuver that secures your bikes as well. Assembling this is as same as Allen Sports 4-bike Hitch Racks. It has only three bolts that are needed to assemble this 2-sports Bike Rack from Allen.
Does it have folding arms? Yes, of course. The carry arms on the rack are designed to fold down easily. Whenever you need to move them, just simply fold them down and you can access your rear part of the vehicle with no difficulties.
It also comes with an individual tie-down system. This design secures and protects your bikes from all possible bumps on the road. That’s not all…in fact, the tie-downs are fixed in position on the carry arm. You can rotate them as you like to fit whatever types of bikes you may have.
The main mast has the same tilt-away feature. If you need to use the back of your car you can tilt this main mast on the rack in a flash. You don’t need to detach it at all. It’s quick and easy.
Normally, people don’t like the idea of towing. It affects the driving experience mostly because of the wobbling of the trailer. But you’d happy to know that, Allen Deluxe Hitch Racks has found a way around that.
They include the hardware in such a way that you can securely install the rack into your SUV’s receiver hitch. When you take the No-Wobble Bolt into your calculation, you’ll realize that your rack won’t jitter or shake when you’re on the road. It’ll allow you to keep the rack in one place and smoothen the driving experience.
Honestly speaking, there’s not much difference between the Allen Sports 4-Bike SUV Hitch Racks and the Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Racks. Seriously, there isn’t any apart from the fact that one can hold 4 bikes and the other 2.
It actually depends on your need. Do you wish to carry more than two bikes at a time? Or, is two enough for you? In the end, the decision is yours to make. But whatever option you wish to choose, you won’t be disappointed…I guarantee you that.
They have an almost identical build, the same features, and the same spirit of a proud Allen Sports product. So, worry not!
4. MAXXHAUL 50027 Hitch Mount Platform 2-Bike Rack for SUV
- Hitch Receiver: 2 inch
- Material: Steel
- Dimensions: 31.5″ x 11.5″ x 8″
- Item Weight: 32.9 lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2
- Load Capacity: 80 lbs
- Brand: MAXXHAUL
The last two products on this list are from MAXXHAUL. The first one is MaXXHAUL 50027. This platform model can haul 2 bikes as the name suggests. It’s made of solid steel. So, yes…it’s sturdy and will perform under pressure.
They also have not one but two foam-padded hooks. These hooks are added to secure and stabilize the bikes. To add flexibility, they made the vertical post movable. For extra stability, you’ll find some good old rubber straps to keep your bikes stable and intact.
MAXXHAUL 50027 is ideal for any vehicle from SUV, truck to a sedan that has a 2-inches receiver. It has what everybody calls the universal fitment. It is equipped with a 2″ x 2″ hitch bar that goes with standard 2” Class III and Class IV hitch receivers.
As usual, their unique hook design makes sure you don’t have to waste any time accommodating your bicycles. You can quickly mount your bikes on this rack easily with the quick hitch pins.
Before jumping into using this rack or any racks from other manufacturers, make sure that your bikes don’t fall prey to excessive movements while you’re on the asphalt. They might affect the integrity of your bicycles. So, always use straps to reduce any movements.
It would be a bummer when you reach your designated campsite and find that your bikes have been compromised due to the jittering and wobbling. It happens. But to save you from that kind of disappointment, they have added adjustable rubber straps on the bike cradle.
These rubber straps provide the much-needed stability that your bikes need when you’re transporting them from one place to another. Not only that these rubber straps offer another layer of safety for your bicycles.
These SUV platform hitch racks are made in the first place to make our lives easier and more convenient. You don’t want to end up with a hitch rack that eats up a lot of your valuable time. This MAXXHAUL 50027 is certainly not the type that needs a long time to attach to your vehicles.
You can detach it even more quickly than installing it. It shouldn’t be a stressful chore, right? So, they made the vertical post in such a way that you can easily remove it using their quick hitch pins. Using these hitch pins, you can assemble and disassemble for compact storage.
Overall, this 50027 model from MAXXHAUL has a sturdy design that will keep your bikes safe and secure. Also, it looks cool when you attach it to your vehicle.
5. MAXXHAUL 50025 Hitch Mounted 2-Bike Rack for SUV
- Hitch Receiver: 1-1/4″ or 2″
- Material: Alloy Steel
- Dimensions: 35″ x 8.8″ x 5.2″
- Item Weight: 14.5 lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2
- Load Capacity: 100 lbs
- Brand: MAXXHAUL
So, the last one on my list of the SUV Hitch Bike Racks is the 50025 Hitch Mounted 2-Bike Rack from MAXXHAUL. This is also a rack that goes well with any SUV that have a receiver hitch. It’s durable, has a sleek design, and can be installed in a flash.
MAXXHAUL 50025 has support arms that are integrated with bike cradles and straps. These cradles and straps can securely transport up to two bikes. More on this later.
What I like about this particular model from MAXXHAUL is that there’s an improved durable all-steel hitch adapter and a built-in locking knob. This knob helps to keep the main mast still and sturdy so that there’s less wobble during transport.
The 50025 is a versatile model from MAXXHAUL. It genuinely fits 1-1/4″ to 2″ or Class I, II, III, and IV hitch receivers. On the other hand, Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks, IKURAM Hitch-Mount 4 Bikes, or even the 50027 model from MAXXHAUL fits only Class III and IV hitch receivers.
This hitch bike rack takes true care of your bicycles. The entire column of this bike rack is padded. So as you can see, while you’re on the road your bikes will be safe and secure. It often the case that carrying bicycles on a bike rack can make unwanted scratches.
This padded column will ensure that your bikes stay scratch-free while you’re driving towards your destination.
No bike rack is considered good enough if it doesn’t offer you versatility and flexibility. You already know that this model is a versatile one. But what about its flexibility? As a matter of fact, the MAXXHAUL 50025 offers as much flexibility as its competitors.
Just like Allen and IKURAM, it has a nice swing-down feature. If you need to stop for an emergency and need to access the rear part of the vehicle, you can do it easily and more importantly, quickly. This SUV hitch bike rack can be gently tilted downwards and you can access the back without detaching the whole rack.
When you mount your bikes on the rack, you want them to stay in one place, right? Otherwise, if it moves too much in its place, then ultimately… it’ll move even more when you start driving. It might damage your bike. You don’t want that to happen.
That’s exactly why MAXXHAUL has added bike cradles and sturdy straps to the arms. They keep the bike in one place tightly. But too much rigidity can result in some unwanted outcomes. To solve this problem, the manufacturer made the bike cradles in such a way that it gently swivels a bit.
The end result is that your bikes stay in one place safely and securely. You can transport them without worrying too much and enjoy your drive towards your desired destination.
So this brings us to the end of the list. Here I tried to include some of the best hitch bike racks for SUV that could be just what you’re looking for. These racks are from well-reputed companies and have been reliable companions of many happy users.
SUV Hitch Bike Racks Buying Guide: Things to Consider
I believe you already know enough about these SUV hitch bike racks and let’s assume you’re ready to purchase the best hitch bike rack for SUV. But before you hit the market I just want to discuss some things in detail. These will certainly give you a better picture and a good understanding of these products.
Choose Carefully What Type of Rack You Want
In this article, I have included two types of SUV hitch bike racks altogether. Among the five SUV bike racks that I have listed one of them is a platform SUV hitch rack (MAXXHAUL 50027) and the other four are hanging hitch racks for SUV. Now, before you choose you to have to know a little bit more about these two types of racks.
Although they’re pretty self-explanatory there’re still some areas that you need to focus your concentration on.
Let’s begin with platform style hitch racks. Well, this type of rack is a very good option for several reasons. They’re naturally compatible with more bike styles. They have a low center of gravity…so more stability. Also, platform racks offer more stability than hang hitch racks.
Not to mention, they are easier to install and detach. Also, you can quickly mount or unmount your bikes with platform-type bike racks. They offer less amount off wobble while driving and keep your bikes safe.
But the thing is, see, because of their platform design this type of bike racks are bound to be large and very heavy. So, you want to pay attention to the loads that you’re going to carry with this rack.
As for the hanging hitch bike racks, they’re the most popular for being compact, lightweight, and inexpensive as well. They can carry as many bikes as platform-style bike racks. They are so easy to operate and don’t eat up much time installing.
Storing them is also not an issue. Since they’re compact you can easily stash them in a corner of your garage. While some would argue that this type of rack doesn’t have the versatility like the platform-styled racks.
In some cases, that can be true. But the racks in this list are more than capable enough to fit whatever types of bikes you may have. The only thing that might be a problem is that in this type of rack the bikes are prone to swaying and coming into contact with one another while driving.
Actually, both these types are quite okay. But if you have any personal preferences then you can cross-check your opinion with the points that I have mentioned so far. It never hurts to know more, right?
| Product | Rack Type |
| Allen Sports 4-Bike Rack | Hanging hitch rack |
| IKURAM Hitch Rack | Hanging hitch rack |
| Allen Sports 2-Bike Rack | Hanging hitch rack |
| MAXXHAUL 50027 | Platform hitch rack |
| MAXXHAUL 50025 | Hanging hitch rack |
How Many Bikes Would You Be Transporting?
This should be an easy decision. If you’re a family guy and intend to bring the whole family with you then you should go for racks that can accommodate 4 bikes at least. But if not then you should be fine with your bike rack that can at least transport 2 bikes.
| Product | Bike Capacity |
| Allen Sports 4-Bike Rack | 4 bikes |
| IKURAM Hitch Rack | 4 bikes |
| Allen Sports 2-Bike Rack | 2 bikes |
| MAXXHAUL 50027 | 2 bikes |
| MAXXHAUL 50025 | 2 bikes |
Consider the Weight of Your Bikes
Before buying a SUV hitch bike rack, you have to carefully consider the weight of your bikes. Why? Well… each bike rack has a maximum carrying capability per bike. So, if you’re planning on hauling heavier downhill mountain bikes, e-bikes, fat bikes, or cruiser models…do check the capacity of your chosen rack.
Both Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks and IKURAM Hitch Mount 4 Bike Rack has a maximum capacity of 140 pounds. So, these two are excellent choices if you want to carry much heavier loads. Also, if you intend to carry more than two bikes, these are your best options.
On the other hand, if your bikes don’t weigh that much you can rely on the other 3 bike racks that I have mentioned in this list. For instance, Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Racks can haul up to 70 pounds. But if you want a little bit more weight capacity then you can consider 50027 and 50025 models from MAXXHAUL.
These two models both have a decent 80 pounds. distributed capacity or 40 pounds. per bike. As you know an average mountain bike or road bike weighs around 35 pounds. But e-bikes have a tendency to weigh more. They can easily exceed 50 pounds.
So, kindly consider your bikes’ weight before you purchase a bike rack. Check your bike’s weight and your desired racks’ weight capacity. It often happens that we forget to check this thing.
Because if the bikes’ weight comes to a level with the maximum capacity of your rack you can end up breaking your rack and end up damaging your bicycles in the process. In that case, it’s a better option to opt for an upgrade or get one that has more weight capacity.
| Product | Load Capacity |
| Allen Sports 4-Bike Rack | 140 lbs |
| IKURAM Hitch Rack | 140 lbs |
| Allen Sports 2-Bike Rack | 70 lbs |
| MAXXHAUL 50027 | 80 lbs |
| MAXXHAUL 50025 | 100 lbs |
Make Sure It Has Tilting Feature
This feature is a must-have for your bike racks. If you normally keep your rack on your vehicles for a longer period or want to gain access to your rear part of the vehicle…you can’t do without the tilting feature.
Imagine, it’s an emergency and you have to access your rear cargo area. If your bike rack doesn’t have the tilting feature, you would have to unmount all the bikes that are on the rack and then detach the whole thing to get access. It sounds so horrid already.
But a tilting feature allows you to do just that and you don’t have to detach anything at all. It offers you flexibility and saves you a lot of time. You can tilt the racks by pulling a lever that moves the rack far enough down so that you can open the rear hatch of your vehicles. Hitch mount swing away bike racks are another option to access cargo without remove rack.
All the hitch bike racks in this list are bestowed with the titling feature, so no worry there.
Does It Have Versatility
What I mainly mean by having versatility is that your rack’s bike frame compatibility. It is solely about the style of your bike’s frame that can be or cannot be mounted on the rack. Now, this won’t become a headache for you if you’re going to buy a platform-style bike rack. For example, MAXX HAUL 50027.
That is only because a platform-style SUV hitch rack only comes in contact with your bikes’ tires or wheels. On the other hand, if you’re considering a hanging rack, inspect the shape of the top tube of your bike’s frame. In most cases, traditional road bikes or hardtail mountain bikes don’t pose any threat.
Because of their triangular frame with a standard level top tube they can easily fit on a hanging hitch rack. But if you own cruiser bikes or full-suspension mountain bikes then you can have a hard time fitting them on hanging racks. Not to mention, the unique design of the kids’ bike can also become an issue.
But you don’t need to worry about that right away. All the racks included here are compatible with a wide range of bikes. Told you I will try my best to find you a rack that will do the trick for you, right?
Don’t Forget About the Vehicle Clearance
This is one of the many things that we forget to overlook while buying a hitch bike rack for SUV. The clearance between the rack, your bicycles, and the vehicle is very important. Because if you don’t verify this, unfortunately, you’ll face a lot of problems.
Let me give you a couple of examples…first of all, you won’t be able to open your vehicle’s rear doors…not more than a couple of inches. The reason is that the racks sit too close. Also, there’s a very good chance that your bike’s handlebars would come into contact with the back of your vehicles.
Lastly, Check the Build Quality
Normally, the SUV hitch bike racks are made strong. They are made in a way that they can withstand a lot of abuse. I mean, they have to. They need to carry a good amount of weight and have to keep the bikes safe while you’re driving.
The main body of the hitch bike racks is made of steel. There’s nothing more to see about this fact. Bit what you have to pay attention to is what is the build quality of the straps. Because ultimately they are the ones that keep the bikes in one place.
Don’t worry if the straps are made of plastic. Just make sure they don’t feel cheap and can hold the bikes securely in a fixed place. The racks in this list have top-notch build quality. They have a clever design and make sure that the integrity of your precious bikes stays intact.
Final Thoughts
It’s without a doubt that to transport bikes, hitch-mounted racks are the best options for your SUV. They securely attach to the receiver hitch of your SUV and offer versatility. They make the whole towing thing comfortable and as I said before they make the whole thing a lot easier by letting you worry a little.
They almost inspire you to get out of your house and drive to the wilderness. They are easy to use, take little storage room, and don’t take much of your time to install them at all. Buy the best bike rack for SUV hitch, Install it, mount your bikes on it and drive on.
