Reviews for Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks for 2 in. Hitch
People say Allen Sports is really similar to Thule.
5.0
Super sturdy, solid rack at a great price...
I bought this initially for two mountain bikes, but then I bought a foldable tandem bike for me and my wife and it works great for it as well. It is easy to assemble. Most importantly, it is a super sturdy, solid rack at a great price. Especially when you compare it to Thule and Yakima. And about the complaint of it rattling and making noise, yes, it does have a little play, which I guess is an important part of the design. The people who have complained must have super, super sensitive ears and drive on the smoothest roads as I do not hear anything . Even so, because I did read about that complaint before I purchased mine, I used rubber tourniquets I got from when I worked in a hospital and wrapped them around the area of concern just to quiet down any rattle I might get. I haven't heard a squeak. Don't let that complaint turn you away from this rack. I'm glad I didn't.
5.0
Great family bike rack!
This rack fit the bill for all of our requirements perfectly! We were able to fit 4 bikes on easily with a man's bike, a woman's bike and two different children's bikes (note: no adaptor needed which was a bonus). After comparing this rack to the Thule and Yakima versions and scouring through both Amazon and Craigslist options, we ultimately came back to this rack. The positive reviews were great. Since we got it, we have been quite pleased with it. In fact, while on vacation, our extended family members were looking at ours and comparing it to their Thule/Bell racks. Even my in-law was surprised how sturdy ours was, well built, and remarked that it seemed quite comparable to his new Thule rack. The rack carried all of our bikes with no problems (going from NY to RI, then to MA especially through the mountains and then back home). We loved it and were able to leave the rack on the van (no bikes on it), and access the trunk with no problems. Only thing is that at one point during our vacation, my husband stretched one of the straps so much that it ripped. We were able to easily replace it at an affordable cost. Overall, we are quite pleased with our purchase.
5.0
Somewhat easy to use.
Seems to be a solid rack but I just got it today. I bought this to replace a Thule Doubletrack 2 Bike 990XT because of growing family. I liked the fact that I was able to use a locking pin with a built-in security cable that locked into the hitch but I am unable to use on Allen Rack. It took more time to read the one page double sided instructions than it did to put it together and install. Assembly and installation should take about 5 to 10 minutes and mounting bicycles will vary. The locking mechanism is nifty because in helps to keep the mounting arm from wobbling but the other parts of the mount will have some wobble. So far putting the bikes on this rack is one heck of a tetris game, and if your mounting 4 mountain bikes its a pain because of the frame design. Additionally, you don't really need the Cross-Bar Adaptor for non-traditional bicycle frames, just take a good look how I secured my families bikes. I will update in a few weeks on the performance of this rack.
5.0
Very pleased with quality and strength
I am surprised to see photos of bent rack arms. I almost wonder if others are carrying dirt bikes with this rack to cause that kind of failure. We had two adult bikes and two kids bikes and the Allen rack performed impressively. The rack feels strong and secure. We have the version with a built-in hitch lock, and I added a U-bolt that others suggested, and together the whole setup felt very secure. We travelled 500+ miles through the San Francisco bay area, curvy rural roads, on up to Glass Beach at Fort Bragg and didnt have any issues. I used a pair of Allen top tube adapters and also a 4-inch hitch riser and everything worked perfectly together. There were some creaks and moans from the bike rack on big dips and bumps but everything stayed together just fine. I emailed Allen about the creaking and they responded within an hour with tips on what to check. I almost went with a Thule or Yakima but they're so much more expensive and even those name-brands had posts about catastrophic failure on the road. I am very happy with the Allen 4-bike rack and look forward to using it more often.
5.0
Don't get a Thule, get this.
This rack is dumb easy to use, has survived multiple road trips to the mountains and the beach, and still looks nearly new. My biggest suggestion is that you take the time on a day you're not actually going out and learn the best order and orientation for getting your bikes on. We have two adult bikes, a teen sized bike, and a kids bike, and all fit comfortably when properly aligned. I've never had an issue with straps coming lose or bikes getting wobbly back there, and install and removal from my hitch receiver is a breeze.
5.0
Affordable and functional. Gets the job done.
Wanted an easy, affordable bike rack. Read a lot of reviews online recommending other brands like Thule and Yakima. Those were at least twice as much, if not more. I’m not a hardcore cyclist, just a dad who wants to take his kid out to a park to ride. I’ve only driven 10-20 miles so far with this rack and it gets the job done. Install was easy. The quick release tilt function works well. So does the quick release for the actual top bar. The lock function works also. Best part is the whole unit is less than 30 pounds and doesn’t take up that much space so I can take it out and throw it in storage. If it was too big, I’d probably be too lazy and just leave it on all the time. All in all, money well spent and would recommend.
5.0
Fantastic bike rack!
I was shopping for a bike rack that could carry 4 bikes and fit into my hitch. This carrier is an incredible product and value. It is well built and designed and the instructions explained very clearly how to assemble, attach and how to fold up and down. I have used it several times and am thrilled to find it is incredibly easy to pop on and off the car for bike rides. The best part is this is so much more affordable than Thule. I know that's the brand to get and k have nothing bad to say about it except they were out of my price range. I would definitely recommend!
5.0
This is the best bike rack I've ever owned
5 stars! This is the best bike rack I've ever owned. Here's why: 1. Cost. You will pay double this amount for a Yakima or Thule. This is an excellent VALUE purchase. 2. No wobble. The bolt they give you removes all wobble. It's REALLY solid. 3. The tilt-back mechanism is very effective. I can leave the rack on my car all the time, go grocery shopping, load luggage for a trip, etc. And it could not be easier to move back and forth. I drive a Mazda CX-9. All good. 4. Putting the upper rack up and down (the part the bikes sit on) is also very simple and very easy. With the upper rack down, it easily fits in my garage. 5. The hold on the bikes while they are on the rack is solid. No worries at all. 6. Assembly out of the box is a piece of cake. I am not highly mechanical, and it took me less than 10 minutes.
5.0
Very Easy to Assemble
I sold a 25 year old Thule bike carrier which tilted manually and the arms did not fold. Used the proceeds to buy this carrier, a good choice. Took old a few minutes to assemble, only 3 bolts to get it assembled. Very easy to use knobs to tilt and lower the arms. Now it can be left on our SUV and will take little room when stored in the garage. Would recommend.
5.0
Works perfectly and the price is amazing. I'll buy more of their products without hesitation. Highly recommended!
I've got Thule and Yakima racks and have had RhodeGear (sp?) and Rocky Racks. This one by Allen Sports is better than any of them. I love it. I built a hitch receiver for the back of our Airstream for this rack. It's stable, tilts and stows perfectly and the anti-rattle bolt works well. I'm very pleased at any price, and of course the fact that it's 1/4 - 1/3 the cost of the big names. I'll buy other racks and accessories from Allen Sports for our kayaks and other toys without hesitation.