Order the RockyMounts MonoRail Bike Rack here with FREE delivery: https://www.rackattack.com/hitch-bike-racks/rockymounts-monorail-2-inch/The MonoRail is . Most notably is price: At $650, the NSR above is one of the cheapest options out there (Recon Racks premium designs start at $1,200, while the Yakima HangTight 4 is $899). Out of the box the MonoRail family has the widest carrying capacity of our line up, due to their ability to fit up to a 5" fat bike tire. In addition, these racks are the most gentle on bikes because they typically only come in contact with the tire or wheel (and not the painted frame). This handle is located on the bottom of the main arm of the rack and is incredibly easy to access with the rack in either the up or down position. When the RockyMounts BackStage was released, the rack created quite a stir in the industry. Free shipping for many products! It was one of the first platform racks to incorporate a side-swinging mechanism into the design (think of an arm that swings away from your vehicle to allow for total access to the rear of your car). But despite a growing number of competitors in this categoryincluding Yakimas HangTight, Lolo Racks, and North Shore Racks' NSRthe 1UP's combination of build quality, ease of use, and compatibility with a wide range of bike styles makes it our favorite vertical hanging rack.See the 1UP Recon Rack 6. 1 color. Similar to the Kuat Transfer above, the rack is reasonably light, loads quickly and easily with ratcheting arms that secure over the front tire, and includes a tilt function to allow access your vehicles rear hatch. Platform racks dominate this round-up, and in our opinion, are the best way to transport your bikes. Yakima. Along with sturdy materials and a very intuitive instruction manual (a rarity on the market), theres a lot to like with the mid-range WestSlope. With a load capacity of 130 pounds (between two bikes), the EasyFold checks all the boxes for a heavy hauler. At the very top of Yakima's expansive hitch rack line-up is the Dr.Tray. Others, like the RockyMounts WestSlope 3, are almost unreachable when bikes are loaded, because the handle is tucked away too close to the receiver hitch. Thule recently updated their popular T2 Pro, but the latest model retains its title as our favorite hitch-mounted rack thanks to its complete feature set and premium build. There are notable outliers, however, including the innovative 1UP Recon Rack 6, which can accommodate six bikes in a vertical hanging position. In the end, dedicated cyclists will be better off with the higher-end Thule, but if youre willing to make a few compromises, the Kuat offers a whole lot of bang for your buck.See the Kuat Transfer v2 2. That may work for city, hybrid and road bikes but for lots of newer mtbs that have curved top tubes it will not hold well, this is why you see most dedicated mtb holders clamp at the wheel! It's quite user-friendly and loading bikes is simple and easy thanks to its low loading height and intuitive design. We carried all types of bikes and logged thousands of miles on everything from smooth highways, winding mountain roads, and washboard doubletracks. Starting with bike locks, these flexible cables allow you to secure the bikes frame or wheel to the rack. The Yakima HoldUp EVO is exceptionally easy to load and will hold just about any 24+ bike you have in your arsenal. The second accessory lock is for the receiver hitch, which typically is found on the hitch pin or integrated into the bottom of the rack. Thules latest addition to their platform hitch collection is the high-end Helium. An adapter is necessary to carry full-suspension mountain bikes, step-through bikes, or smaller kids models, which adds a significant amount to the overall investment (top tube adapters are about $50 each). All standard wheel sizes are no problem. As stated above, these wheel size and tire width issues wont be a problem for a lot of ridersits often easier to store a small kids bike inside the vehicle, for examplebut its a good thing to have in mind as youre narrowing your rack search. Most have two attachment points: a ratcheting arm that secures the front wheel, and a strap that holds the rear wheel in place. Type: PlatformWeight: 52 lbs.Number of bikes: 2 (4 with add-on)Weight capacity per bike: 60 lbs.What we like: Loaded with features, well-built, and easy to use.What we dont: Expensive and a bit heavy. . 0 bids. And compared with traditional hanging models, you dont have to worry about issues with a bikes top tube. In general, platform-style racks can carry anywhere from one to four bikes (if you invest in an extension), while hanging-style racks range from two to five total bikes. Youll mostly find swing-away racks in the hanging category, including Yakimas FullSwing 4 above, but the aforementioned RockyMounts BackStage platform rack is one notable exception. Type: PlatformWeight: 46 lbs.Number of bikes: 2 (4 with add-on)Weight capacity per bike: 50 lbs.What we like: Premium all-metal build; ratcheting arms only make contact with your bikes tires.What we dont: Hard-to-reach tilt lever and no bike locks included. How can we improve GearLab? Code: RKY10004-10005 230 reviews Our Price: $739.90 Quantity: Product Specs: Hitch Bike Racks Platform Rack Tilt-Away Rack Fold-Up Rack Carbon Fiber Bikes As with the Dr.Tray above, Kuats Sherpa 2.0 is a lightweight alternative in the heavy platform rack world. No sponsored content. What are the compromises with the EasyFold's design? RockyMounts. Wheel size and tire width arent major considerations when choosing a hanging rack, but those that opt for the platform style will want to verify their bikes will fit in the included trays. It tips the scales at 44lbs 2oz, putting it right around average for the hitch mount platform racks we tested. Furthermore, the BackStage comes with many features youd expect from a premium hitch rack: a cable lock (although not integrated), the ability to carry various types of bikes and wheel sizes, sturdy ratcheting arms, and quality materials and construction overall. And as with the RidgeBack above, a top tube adapter is necessary if youll be hauling bikes with irregularly shaped top tubes (which unfortunately is most full-suspension bikes nowadays). Comparing common bike-carrying alternatives, there isnt a style that offers as much convenience, capacity, or compatibility with such a wide range of vehicles (provided you have a receiver hitch). For the price, the Rocky Mounts Monorail seems to be the best price, next closest is going to be between the Thule X2/Yakima Hold-up 2 and the 1Up QuikRack. It loses a little ground in this metric due to its standard threaded hitch pin which must be tightened with a wrench. Dont expect the same easy loading or wobble-free experience as a platform-style rack, but the FullSwing 4 is a well-built design that should keep most people happy. Either way, the MonoRail is still a fairly awkward shape to deal with when it comes to storage. Our favorite lever style on a platform rack is found on Thules T2 Pro XTR, which has a large handle conveniently located at the end of the rack. Furthermore, it undercuts the similarly designed 1UP Recon Rack by a significant margin. Testing the Monorail hitch mount platform rack. Below we break down our top picks for 2023, from high-end, exquisitely manufactured designs like 1Ups Heavy Duty Double to Kuats budget-oriented and weight-conscious Beta. Vertical Hanging Racks Type: HangingWeight: 35 lbs.Number of bikes: 4 (available in 2- and 5-bike versions)Weight capacity per bike: 40 lbs.What we like: Proven, affordable way to haul 4 bikes.What we dont: Bikes are very close together when loaded; needs an adapter to carry step-through bikes. All told, we think its worth the extra investment to get the more versatile and durable 1UP Recon Rack above.See the North Shore Racks NSR 4-Bike. Even with the few issues that popped up, at the end of the day the $439 HoldUp 2 is still a great rack. The only boat-rocking standouts are the single-bike version and the aftermarket one-bike add-on. $499.95 (5) Kuat. The ladder straps that secure the rear wheels are also easy to use by simply pulling tension on them, they don't have a ratcheting feature like some racks. $379.95. First, you need to purchase separate adapters to carry fat bikes, and cable locks are not included with the rack (a hitch bar lock does comes with it). Kuat is a leader in the platform rack market, and their signature product is the NV 2.0. Others, like the Kuat NV 2.0, require two separate adapters to fit bikes with wheels between 20 to 24 inches and tires larger than 2.75 inches. Like most hitch mount platform racks, the MonoRail takes up a fair amount of space. Another easy way is to physically check the wheelbase of your bike by measuring the distance from the center of the front and rear axles. And with the exception of some truly cheap options, nearly all hitch-mounted bike racks have this functionality. That's because RockyMounts isn't trying to reinvent the wheel with its Monorail lineup. As with any hanging-style hitch rack, theres no avoiding the fact that the FullSwing 4 makes direct contact with your bikes frame. Platform Rack Add-Ons At 32 pounds, its a whopping 20 pounds less than the Kuat NV 2.0 above, which makes it a whole lot easier to install and remove from your vehicle. Change begins by doing something different. Rooftop racks have a lower maximum capacity (usually two bikes), are more of a pain to load and unload, and can impact gas mileage or create a whistling sound on the highway. Platform-style hitch racks also are among the most expensive options on the market, with prices of leading designs like the Thule T2 Pro XTR and 1Up Heavy Duty Double clearing $600. Thule. If you plan on removing your hitch rack with any regularity, youll want to pay attention to weight, and many leading options tip the scales at 50 pounds or more. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. If you want to transport your bikes efficiently and securely on a hitch mount platform rack, then we suggest checking out the Monorail. Solid! The rack comes with ladder strap extensions to secure fat bike tires in the rear wheel trays. The rear wheel cradles are also on pivots and they self-adjust depending on the wheelbase of your bike. The mounting brackets for the trays are on the top of the main arm of the rack. If, however, youre looking for the ultimate in rear cargo access, the BackStage should be at the top of your list.See the RockyMounts BackStage. A RockyMounts MonoRail rack bike carrier is as simple to use as most modern bike racks, with a ratcheting arm that holds the front wheel stable and a ratchet strap to secure the rear wheel. I got it from Backcountry when they had a 20% off one full priced item sale. $55.00. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Several other racks we tested use this same style of locking hitch pin for security and we feel it adds a good level of security to your rack and will definitely deter the majority of would-be rack thieves. If you don't want to spend a small fortune on a well-designed, user-friendly, versatile, and secure bike rack, we think this an excellent option to consider. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Only problem with the 2-timer is that it holds via the frame instead of wheels. Overall, we prefer the platform style for its ease of loading and superior all-around stability, but high-capacity hanging models are the clear leaders in terms of value. The design includes two independent folding arms that contact only the tires, leaving the rest of the bike completely untoucheda task that other racks struggle to accomplish. To start, platform racks like the Kuat NV 2.0, Thule T2, Yakima Dr.Tray, and 1Up are not impacted by this because they only come in contact with the bikes tires or wheels. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. Mountain bikes have been trending towards longer designs, which has impacted the length of their wheelbases. And we found the design to be well made overall with sturdy components, user friendly with a functional foot-operated tilt lever, and secure with its reliable cradles and ratcheting system. In the past, vertical hanging racks were mostly found on the back of guide service vehicles and/or shuttle rigs, but their high-capacity setups have found a larger audience of late. Type: PlatformWeight: 52 lbs.Number of bikes: 2 (4 with add-on)Weight capacity per bike: 60 lbs.What we like: Sleek design and sturdy ratcheting arms.What we dont: Pricier than the Thule T2 above without enough to show for it. In short, if you plan to use your rack a lot or keep it on your vehicle even in the rainy seasons, its well worth paying for a premium design. If you can score a coupon, it makes these more reasonable. A final scenario is where a specific rack simply cant fit a certain wheel or tire size. Moreover, theres no option to add an extension to the XT 2, which means that two bikes are your hard ceiling and youll need to buy another rack if you want to carry more. RockyMounts MonoRail Rack 1-Bike Extension $ 199.95. The locks are a joke but I haven't seen any that were much better. As an example, heres a link to a technical drawing for Kuat's NV 2.0 hitch rack. The well-sorted design is compatible with both 1.25- and 2-inch receivers (a big plus for swapping between vehicles), very secure with arms that quickly lock over the tires, and light enough to move in and out of a garage without too much effort. . Taking the place of the top-selling XT, the XTR adds a set of wheels at the base for easier shuttling to and from a garage, but the rest of the design remains exactly the same (which is a good thing). One of our favorite things about the MonoRail is the tilt release handle. Anyone looking to truly secure their bikes to this rack would be wise to look into a more robust aftermarket lock. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, its yet another reason we prefer the platform rack style. One is on the hitch pin and the other is locking the cable to the rack. Quick View. The reason is simple: theyre unable to accommodate irregularly-shaped bike framesincluding many full-suspension mountain bikes, kids bikes, and step-through bikeswithout purchasing a top tube adapter. Kuat. There are two main receiver hitch sizes1.25-inch and 2-inchand it goes without saying that you should verify which one you have on your vehicle prior to purchasing a rack. There are obvious downsides to the vertical hanging style, however. That said, for serious riders, the added weight and cost are well worth the security and ease of use of this style. As expected, 2-inch receivers can handle more weight, which is a consideration if youre planning on hauling a heavy platform rack with some 50+ pound e-bikes aboard. One listing to hone in on is the distance from center of the hitch pin to the first tray, as this shows how close the rack will be to the rear of the vehicle. The good news is that Kuat provided a replacement with their excellent warranty, but this experience leads us to think its worth upgrading to the burlier NV 2.0 if youll be leaving the rack on the back of your car most of the year.See the Kuat Sherpa 2.0. 1 color. We think the WestSlope and Transfer hit a nice sweet spot in performance and value, but the RockyMounts build is undeniably basic. This gives you uninterrupted access to the rear cargo areaall without having to unload your bikes. There arent major differences between styles in terms of functionality, although weve found the integrated type is a little easier to use. 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