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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Thule 669ES Mountaineer ES Rooftop Cargo Box

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A cargo box that is perfect for the next family vacation at an affordable price
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Technical Details

- Impact and uv resistand ABS construction
- Central locking system for each box opening and closing
- One key system with locks included 17 cubic foot capacity
- Easy snap mounting hardware allows you to get on the road in minutes
- Mounts to most removable and factory installed racks(see fit guide)
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Customer Buzz
 "Good Value" 2008-07-26
By Billy Murray (San Antonio, TX)
I recommend this product for anyone who needs extra room while traveling and do not want to spend a lot for the extra room. We have a Volvo XC90, however, when we travel with our pet (lab) it allows him to have room in the back and keep all of our belonging clean, dry, and without dog hair. We traveled more than 2000 miles without any problems.


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Thule 878XT Set-to-Go Rooftop Kayak Carrier

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This saddle provides the perfect combination of hull conformance and lateral stability
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Technical Details

- Sold as a pair. Complete system with additional saddle carrier
- Maximum kayak protection and transport stability provided by soft, adjustable saddle
- Includes one ratcheting tie down, strap and buckle protector
- Fits Thule standard, Rapid Aero, Xsporter bars, Yakima and most factory installed racks
- Includes a ratcheting tie down, and a strap and buckle protector
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Customer Buzz
 "The best for my 12 foot Ocean Kayak" 2009-09-19
By Wilfredo M. Viray (Orange County, CA)
I don't know about the other reviewers but I actually bought mine from Amazon, so I really have one and I really use it. These saddles will ensure that your kayak will not slide during transit. And since these can only be used with the Thule Hydro glide rear saddles, it also makes loading very easy. The Hydro glide will let you slide the Kayak on the Roof. Once you have the position right, just lower the Bow onto these Set-to-go saddles and it will remain there. Based on the shape and design of these, it is meant for kayaks with a flatter wider bottom, just like Ocean, Cobra, Pelican and Hobie. You obviously should not slide your kayak on these saddles. That is what the Hydro Glide is for. If you had actually done your research and asked the experts, they would have told you how to use these properly. I have seen many people in Newport beach use these as well. Thule is the best brand in roof racks, with Yakima as a close second in my opinion, as we also have Yakima saddles. Thule has an amazing customer service as well. My suggestion is to go to your nearest REI and have a look yourself and ask questions.



Pros:

1. Your kayak will not slide off. It grips your kayak and refuses let go. You need that when you are on the freeway.

2. It is very durable if used properly. Always ask the experts on how to use it.

3. When used with the matching Thule Hydro Glide, loading time is only 5 minutes.



Cons:

1. I am worried someone might steal them off the roof of my car, as they are not cheap, it really concerns me. I have to remove them all the time just to be sure.





It can conform to almost any kayak hull. Just like my Yakima, these need to be adjusted correctly in order to work properly. I have seen people scratch their kayaks because they did not install Thule or Yakima saddles. ALWAYS ASK FOR ADVICE FROM PROFESSIONALS. You just need to ask for advice once anyway. I went to REI, and they were more than happy to give me guidance. As a result, I have never had any problems.

Customer Buzz
 "Junk, do not buy!" 2009-04-22
By D (Maui)
I bought this item because of the adjustability, I figured being able to change the angle to fit my boat exactly would be a good thing. In theory, sure, but unfortunately Thule decided to make the important parts out of cheap crummy plastic.



I paddle a lot - generally at least a few times a week, and transport my 23lb carbon fiber canoe hull (basically the same shape as a racing kayak). Maybe this item would be acceptable to the weekend warrior who only uses it a few times a year, but then why bother with saddles at all? It wasn't long before I was driving down the road and suddenly my boat started wobbling all over the place. I pulled over to discover that the rack arms had flattened. Fortunately I had some duct tape and extra straps with me so I was able to make it home without losing my boat. I took it apart to see what the problem was and found cheap, soft, PLASTIC teeth that had been stripped (coulda seen that coming, what the heck was Thule THINKING???).



Do not - I repeat DO NOT use these racks. I was very lucky my $3000 canoe wasn't damaged. I purchased these racks to protect my canoe, but they'll do just the opposite. I'm going to stick with padded flat racks from now on.

Customer Buzz
 "Works Great" 2009-01-30
By F. DuMars (Washinton state)
I little heavy, and expensive, but they support the kayak well, and keep it from slipping on the rack

Customer Buzz
 "Do not buy this if you have a plastic kayak" 2008-06-20
By Mike C (Grass Valley, CA USA)
I purchased these racks last December and installed them on my van. After a while I noticed that the arms that support the rubber slings that are designed to support the kayak would drop down, resulting in the kayak resting more or less on the rack cross bars, instead of being supported by the slings. The problem is made worse by the fact that the sling material is very grippy-great for holding the kayak in place, but making it very difficult to actually get your boat into the racks. With 2 people loading a boat, you can drop the kayak from above, but the kayak needs to be raised up off the grippy slings to adjust its position fore and aft. The boat will absolutely not slide while in the racks. The only way to load a kayak by yourself is to put a towel on the rear saddle (slings), so the boat can slide on the towel, and shove the boat forward with a strong heave. Again, to adjust fore and aft, you need to haul down on the rear of the kayak to get it off of the front rack in order to re-position it.

I was pretty much resigned to dealing with these shortcomings using the work-arounds noted above, until the weather turned hot. Now when I strap the kayak down, the ill-fitting racks push into my plastic boat, deforming it. This is a known issue with roto-molded plastic boats, which is why I bought $140 racks in the first place. I have contacted Thule; they said talk to Amazon, because I bought the racks from them! A very conscientious Amazon rep is going to talk to Thule to try to see what can be done. Incidently, I talked with an employee at my local kayak shop, and he just rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I get the same complaint from everybody that buys this rack." I recommend potential buyers look at Yakima products before buying.

And now the rest of the story:

The conscientious Amazon customer service rep called Thule on Friday, couldn't reach the appropriate person, and called me back to let me know that she would try again on Monday. She called me Monday morning, after reaching Thule with the rep's name. I called him, and he seemed surprised to learn of the problem. He said he could not refund my $$$, but would happily send me another of their products. After re-visiting Thule's site, I picked the 835 Hull-a-port Pro as a replacement. Thanks to Amazon and Thule for helping me correct the Problem!

Mike


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Friday, October 30, 2009

Swagman Locking Knob for Originals

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Swagman Locking Knobs... secure your bike! Built specifically for the Swagman bike carrier line, these Locking Knobs provide peace of mind while you roll down the highway! Screw 'em in to your bike rack for a gorilla grip on your bicycles. Knobs come in packs of 2. Put the clamps on your bike while you travel... order these Locking Knobs today! Swagman Locking Knobs
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Technical Details

- Replace Tension Knob on most bike racks.
- New Keyed Secure Lock
- Easier to Use than Padlocks
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MotoGroup Bike Rack for Car, Truck, or SUV - 2 Bike Carrier

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Fits with 2" hitch receiver with attached adaptor OR 1.25" hitch receiver without the adaptor. Simply remove the included adaptor to fit 1.25" hitch receiver. ***NOTE***: Might not fit Suzuki XL7 due to the spare tire. Please keep this in mind before purchasing. We do not reimburse shipping due to bike rack not fitting.
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Technical Details

- Carries two bicycles
- This bike rack was made with all steel components that have been powder coated for weather resistanc
- Fits with 2" hitch receiver with attached adaptor OR 1.25" hitch receiver without the adaptor.
- Rubber bike straps keep your bike from being scratched during transit. (Not the nylon straps like ev
- Fits a 1-1/4" OR 2" Class I, II, III or IV hitch size.
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Customer Buzz
 "Poor service, adequate product" 2009-06-21
By W. R. Redmond (usa)
Item came with no instructions on use or assembly. Basic assembly fairly easy using photo. Connection to vehicle quite different. Has several options and still not sure what some of the parts are for, or if it is safe to use as I am. Sent company request for guidance several weeks ago with no response. Uncomfortable taking bikes onto freeways as is. Very disappointed and would buy from another company next time.


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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Thule 369 Specialty Load Carrier Roof Rack Foot Pack (Mercedes Benz S Class 81'-91' Sedan)

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Speicialty Thule Foot Pack for Mercedes Benz S Class Sedan 1981 - 1991
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Technical Details

- Uses Thule LB50 Load Bars - not included
- Customized design for the Mercedes Benz S-Class Sedans
- Solid Steel Construction - lockable with Thule lock cylinders - not included
- Black polyester-powder coating provides vibration damping and protects against slippage
- Raingutter blades are vinyl dipped; hardware is made of zinc and iron-plated steel
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Hollywood Racks HR1200 Sport Rider SE 3-Bike Platform Style Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver)

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The Sport Rider fits all bikes using a padded universal top clamp and adjustable wheel holders. It is quick and easy to use and has a MSRP under $199. Includes Hollywoods No Wobble" threaded hitch pin that prevents rack sway.
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Technical Details

- Heavy-duty platform-style rack mounts on 2-inch hitch, holds 3 bikes
- Bikes drop into wheel holders and padded clamps slide down onto frames
- "No-wobble/no-tools" hitch system with locking pin, 9' security cable
- Folds flat against vehicle when not in use
- Limited warranty against defects
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Customer Buzz
 "Hollywood Racks Rule!" 2009-07-13
By Samuel K. Jones (Oshkosh, WI USA)
Tremendous product overall. Works well and transports bikes securely. No problems there. And do be ready... it is very heavy/bulky (as it needs to be) so some strength is required for attachment to a vehicle. Finally, I would send props to the company for their excellent customer service. One part arrived defective in the box and they replaced it immediately with no hassle whatsoever ... you don't see that too often these days.


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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Thule 368 Specialty Load Carrier Roof Rack Foot Pack (Toyota Corolla 88' - 97')

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Specialty Thule Foot Pack for Toyota Corolla's 1988-1997
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Technical Details

- Uses Thule LB50 Load Bars - not included
- Customized design for popular Toyota Corolla
- Solid Steel Construction - lockable with Thule lock cylinders - not included
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Thule 897XT Hullavator Kayak Roof Rack Mount Carrier

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Kayak Carrier Accessory with lift assist - reduces lift height by up to 40" for carrying kayaks on roofracks
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Technical Details

- Reduces effort to lift boat with gas assist shockt that help raise boat onto vehicle roof
- includes lift system, integrated padded support, mounting hardware, and all straps to carry one kayak
- Mounts to Thule standard, Rapid Aero, Xsporter, and Yakima load bars
- Superior boat protection with integrated paddes support
- Accomodates kayaks up to 36" wide and 100lbs
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Customer Buzz
 "Great idea needs better execution" 2008-08-03
By C. Chang (DFW)
I've seen many video clips on the net introducing this product (search youTube) so I will skip the functions of it. Lifting my 17' kayak onto my CR-V roof is not something enjoyable, so I bite the bullet. I had to abandoned my factory cross bar and installed the Thule Aero Rapid bars (Thule square and Yakima round will also work but the Aero bar looks much nicer) to accommodate that. This is needed for the load bar to extend 4 to 8 inch beyond the foot, my factory bar will not do that. So after sinking in about $700 I got this going. The installation was not difficult; they even included a DVD with installation instructions. It seems the Hullavator is designed with the square bar in mind. The adaptation to the Aero bars looks like an afterthought. They gave you 4 thin plastic clear films per arm to protect the contact points. A square bar would fit nicely under the mounting bar. But for the Aero bar there were just 4 contact points; I don't even want to tighten the screws too much because of that.



I know before hands that the added height to my CR-V will not clear my garage door; so keep that in mind. The shorter cradle can barely makes it; the bottom taller cradle just simply won't. Now Thule has the Hull-a-port PRO which has a cradle/carrier that will fold, you would think they could have that feature on this $440 product, right? That will sure let me drive my CR-V into my garage without taking it off. The DVD suggest that you take the whole arm assembly off when entering a low clearance garage and states that it is easy.. Ah, it was not that easy, the arms are heavy and putting and removing the pivot pins through the holes can be tricky. I think I will just take the cradles off for now.



Another thing is the Aero bars are nice looking but this Hullavator is not; two big gray boxes without much aero dynamics are sitting on my car roof.. They did pack a lot of mechanisms in there so I guess there is not much room for improvements in that regard. Oh, also be careful not to hit your head, it sticks out just enough to get you. on the other hand it was a good thing that it leave more space on the rack for other things. I moved the front cross bar to in between the front and back doors to avoid it. I can see some other car may not have that choice.



Enough whining I guess the benefits are exceeding the shortcommings so it is a keeper for now.




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Yakima Fork Lift Fork Mount Rooftop Bike Rack

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Feast your eyes on our first-ever fork-mount with direct to factory crossbar capability right out of the box. It features quick and easy tool-free installation, and it¿s compatible with most disc brakes
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Technical Details

- Rooftop bike rack with quick and easy tool-free installation
- Offers direct-to-factory crossbar support right out of the box
- Secure, lockable skewer with integrated adjustment knob
- Easy-to-adjust sliding wheel tray for simple rear wheel positioning
- Sleek design and attractive automotive finish; lifetime warranty
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Customer Buzz
 "Very Sturdy, even at 80+ MPH" 2009-10-07
By Chiznarles (Los Angeles, CA USA)
I have this mounted on my 2008 Subaru Impreza STI with OEM Factory bars and the fit is perfect. I had a problem with other racks that were made for either round or square bars. My OEM bars are large and oval-shaped, and this rack had no problems fitting on. The clamps are very sturdy.



I took my mountain bike on a 5 hour drive to Mammoth Mountain from Los Angeles, even hitting speeds of 80+. The rack held up very well. I prefer the fork mounted design of this rack because it seems like a more secure way to mount the bike. I only wish it came with a separate front wheel holder so I didn't have to throw the front wheel in my trunk.

Customer Buzz
 "Time to Go Bike" 2009-09-20
By Brian Bills (Fort Collins, CO)
Why spend more money for those adaptors and other stuff that add to the price. If you already have a factory roof rack, you are ready to bike. This attached perfectly to my factory roof rack (2000 toyota 4runner) and holds strong with all of its tightening latches. The best thing is that my bro can use it with his car because it adapts to most factory roof racks. So why spend 300+ bucks to get the bike rack, adapter, and locks when all you need is fork mount, easy install roof rack. Could not find the lock that comes with this one (though I know it is capable of a lock) but honestly with how fast and easy it is to remove the rack, there is no need to lock it to your roof, just throw it in the back. Love it, and I would buy it again and again

Customer Buzz
 "Nice product for use on OEM rack - Horrible warranty experience" 2009-07-18
By S. Morris (Avon, Ohio USA)
I purchased two of these racks for use on the cross bars that come stock on the Subaru Outback (2008 XT Limited in my case.) They assembled relatively easily, but took some time to get the multi-position clamps just right. One position was too tall, so I tried the next, which was too low. Back to the first and adjust a little more. Not hard, just a little time consuming. I had to mount the front crossbar as far forward as possible to avoid the rear of the tray from hitting the wagon's door when open. The tire clears about 1/4"



The rack is easy to use, although since the crossbar as some curve to it, the two bikes tilt out a little bit. The crossbars are plenty secure enough with two 25# bikes on top.



The only problem I had, and which cost this review three stars, was Amazon and Yakima's customer service. The racks are well made, but sometimes parts aren't up to snuff. The second time I used the rack, one of the red plastic covers for the locking skewer came out. It turns out that the die cast zinc cover has a cast in rivet to retain the plastic cover, and the flared end on the rivet broke off, allowing the cover to fall out. This shouldn't be a safety concern, according to the Yakima service person, but it does render the locking mechanism useless. The skewer can be locked, but without the cover, anyone can get to the nut with a pair of pliers and remove the bike.



Yakima doesn't handle warranty issues on products that are sold through Amazon. Yakima has a lifetime warranty, but as an Amazon customer, I don't get to enjoy that warranty. Meanwhile, Amazon does not handle any warranty service for Yakima parts. If I want a new skewer, I have to send my entire roof rack back and order another one.



A really nice product, but one that yields a frustrated customer that won't recommend purchasing Yakima products through Amazon unless you want to give up your warranty.



July 30, 2009: A follow-up to the above review. Amazon stepped up and offered a partial refund in lieu of not having replacement parts. This will allow me to buy a replacement skewer, and end up with what I purchased to begin with. Thanks. Amazon! I'm bumping the rating up from two to three stars. Still a nice product, but buying through Amazon still forfeits Yakima's lifetime warranty. If you have problems, don't tell 'em you got it here!


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Thule 877XT Roller Coaster Kayak Roof Rack Mount Carrier

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Roller Coaster Kayak Accessory
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Technical Details

- Easy loading with optimally posistioned roller
- For use with 878xt Set - To - Go saddle
- Roller eliminates boat to load bar contact when loading boat
- Fits Thule square bars only
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Monday, October 26, 2009

Softride 26247 Access Dura 4-Bike Rack

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Softride Access Dura 4-Bike Rack features a powder-coated steel construction for the best in strength and corrosion resistance. A unique patented parallelogram design operated by a spring loaded pull pin release allows for easy up and down maneuverability and superior rear vehicle access. QuietRide locking and tightening anti-rattle technology and padded anti-sway cradles with rubber straps keep the bicycles solidly and quietly mounted onto the vehicle. Its safety features include end-of-arm safety reflectors for nighttime visibility, cable lock, and a super reinforced top plate. This rack is outfitted with a 2 inch and 1.25 inch universal hitch bar to accommodate all receiver sizes.
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Technical Details

- Easy access to the rear of the vehicle
- Anti-rattle tightening hitch bolt
- Has an anti-sway cradle
- Carries 4 bikes
- Powder coated steel
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Saturday, October 24, 2009

Thule 997 Goal Post Hitch Mount Truck Adapter for Thule Canoe and Kayak Carriers

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The hitch mounted GoalPost provides a rear mounted load bar on vehicles equipped with 2" receivers
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Technical Details

- Easy height adjustment for different size trucks with telescopic design
- Works great with Thule's half-packs for long load stability
- Anti-wobble design keep the GoapPost snug in receiver
- For 2" receivers only
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Customer Buzz
 "A better solution to cartop racks" 2009-01-06
By GLB (Wichita, KS)
This rack is sturdy and easy to install. It carries my 16 ft canoe on my Explorer Sportrac with ease. My only gripe is that Thule uses a bolt with nut welded in the hole that fixes the hitch to the receiver. I prefer a plain hole so that I can put my locking mechanism in it. However, it is fairly easy to drill out the nut and use the lock instead.



In my opinion, this and other Thule products are well built and a good value.



Customer Buzz
 "Good but could use improvement" 2008-07-05
By Plumbing stuff shopper (USA)
It is serving it's purpose and a decent product overall. Great for a pickup truck.



Why I rated it a 3 out of 5 is that it comes with a bolt that needs to be tightened in the vehicle hitch.



One can't just use the usual clip that we all use for connecting trailers, etc to our trailer hitch.



That means that if you wish to use this hitch mount T on a van or suv it's a pain and time consuming to get into the back of your van or suv.





Customer Buzz
 "Thule Hitch Post" 2007-03-10
By Chalk dust (Fresno, Ca)
I bought this hitchpost to haul my 12 1/2 foot porta-bote on top of my F-150 (Cab to Hitchpost).

It fits into the 2" receiver on the back of the truck and bolts to your hitch via a threaded receptacle. (It would have been better to have a normal sized hole so I could use my locking receiver bar) It has 2 straps which I hooked inside the truck bed. I also added a second strap and that seems to hold the back from swaying. I tied rope around the hitch to hold the porta-bote onto the hitchpost. This seems to hold it tightly. You can adjust the height of the hitch post easily. I am using car straps to hold the front of the porta-bote on the cab of my F-150 but this is a separate issue.

All in all, I am pleased as it has solved a problem for me.


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Swagman XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (1.25 and 2-Inch Receiver)

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Transports up to 2 bikes, fits both a 2" and 1-1/4" hitch receiver with a built in anti-wobble hitch device. The XTC2 carries a wide variety of bike frames without the hassle of removing wheels. Push button ratchet arm easily adjust to secure your bike. Bike hooks have a soft-frame friendly coating to protect the bike's finish. Easily adjust to different bike frame sizes with the simple movement of the wheel holders. Rack folds up for easy storage when not in use. Center arm folds down to allow access to the rear of vehicle without removing the rack.
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Technical Details

- Transports up to 2 bikes
- Fits 2" and 1 1/4" hitch receiver
- Built in anti-wobble hitch device
- Now with new push button ratcheting arms
- Center arm folds down to allow access to the rear of vehicle without removing the rack
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Customer Buzz
 "BUY this one!" 2009-09-08
By Wayne Thornton (Sacramento CA)
This is an awesome rack. Bikes are loaded in less than 1 minute! I could not be happier.

Customer Buzz
 "Fantastic- Greatly Relieved" 2009-07-22
By Miles R. Granger (Libby, MT)
What a relief! I spent many a hour looking/researching/contemplating on the next rack I should get after my last one suffered an epic failure.



I have a Mazda 3 sedan and my concerns were:



-I have an expensive and heavy freeride bike.. which bent my last rack.

-My bike is oddly shaped (2007 KingFisher) and hangs on those "racks" very awkwardly... maybe this lead to the rack bending in the first place?

-With the sedan, the bike isn't shielded from the wind like a SUV.

-I drive 45 min on a regular basis to the trails I like at 65+ mph.



Putting it all together was easy peezy. Impressed with the construction. Went for the XTC since I have a semi steep driveway and was skeptical whether the XC would scrape.



Once you have the wheel slots lined up. Putting the bike on is so simple its stupid. Makes you feel like you should do something more.. but that bike isn't going ANYWHERE! Enjoy the ratcheting system and the fact you can lock your bikes in. (locks not included)



Set my two wheeled, 40lb, 8" of travel fun onto the rack and set off for the trails. Cruising along at a cool 65 I was soon satisfied with it's stellar performance. Very little movement. Mozied along going 75mph now. Within 15min of arriving there was the infamous bridge crossing that when taken at the speed limit 65mph will make a noticeable bump up onto the bridge followed by a vicious bump off.. (did my last rack in)



In the spirit of science I took it at 85mph. Very impressive! Very sturdy indeed!



Kept a ratchet in the trunk to take it off once I got to the trails, I would advise getting a lock washer when putting the threaded bolt through.. I'm sure it won't come loose without one.. but it provided peace of mind for me.



Final Note: Great bike rack, very glad I got it! I used other bike racks and always found myself looking in the rear view mirror to see how the bikes were doing... not anymore! They're staying put!

Customer Buzz
 "Nice, but some improvement possible" 2009-06-29
By Jason Davidson (Clinton Township, MI)
I bought this to use on the back of my 2008 Dodge Caliber for my two Comfort Bikes. The main issue I have with the rack is that while the bar is supposed to tilt sideways to make it easier to put the bikes on, I am pretty much unable to do with the two hooks in place - it doesn't give me the clearance. Secondly, the bikes seem to wabble when driving, but I am confident they are not going anywhere (especially after I drove 12 hours each way from Detroit to Minneapolis with them).



Other than those to issues, the rack is very nice and it securely holds the bikes in place. It is FAR easier to use then the truck mounted one that we have for the other car, and the adjustable tire slots allows you to customize the hold for your bike.



Once slight addition I made was buying a coated security cable (the one that seems to have a plastic coating with a loop on either end - be sure that it is not too long). I put one loop on the main up right bar of the rack, then put it through the tires of each bike then locked it to the hitch (it just gave me the added comfort of locking everything together.

Customer Buzz
 "Very glad I bought this" 2009-06-21
By R. Mimbs
Whether you specifically buy the Swagman or not, my strongest recommendation is to get a bike carrier that attaches via a hitch and has the bikes sit on their wheels rather than hang from a bar by a strap. You just feel more confident that your bikes are secure. You feel more secure while you are driving and you feel more secure when you have to leave your car unattended (assuming you use a locking hitch pin and lock for the bicycle hook arms). If you are going to need a bike carrier more than once, buy one of this type. It's also the best option for women's bikes, which don't have the top bar. (I never trusted aftermarket bars that attached to the seat post and handlebars.)



Things to know (in general):



> Don't go to your car dealership for a hitch. It's the most expensive option. You can get a hitch online for $150 or less and installation should be approximately $50 at any mechanic or auto body shop. The hitch can also be purchased at your local auto parts store, but will be slightly more.

> You want ratcheting bike hook arms (like the swagman). It is so much simpler and faster.

> You might need a can of Rust-Oleum to cover any places where the "protective powder coating" has been scratched off. A can is less than five bucks at any hardware store and you don't want to allow exposed bare metal, which can rust.



Things to know (about the Swagman specifically)



PROS

> holds bikes quite tight and you do not worry at all that they will fall off.

> The anti-wobble hitch pin works.

> Would be difficult (but not impossible) to steal if you use both locking hitch pin and barrel lock for the bike arms.

> Accommodates any size bike, even very small or women's bikes.

> Folds up into very tiny space when not in use. Does not obstruct view out back window.

> Easy to remove and re-attach with say... teenage boy strength required.

> I can open the trunk on my Mazda 3 with it installed (so long as there is no bike on it).

> Very nicely priced as compared to the models from Tule and Yakima.



CONS

> Sometimes the bike arm for one bike will be in the way of you installing a lock on the other bike arm. This would leave one bike unprotected. (This is my one star reduction)

> The little rubber covers for the bike arm hook release lever like to slide off. This is a minor annoyance and does not warrant any reduction in the rating.



OTHER

> If your bikes' top bars are of similar height, you can likely get by with only one lock for the bike arms. If the bikes are the same height, the top bike arm will likely sit so close to the bottom that the bottom one could not be lifted high enough to remove the bike anyway. However, if the two bikes are of dissimilar size, you might need two locks.

> Buy the locking anti-wobble hitch pin (sold separately). It's worth the piece of mind. Also buy a RATCHETING 7/8in crescent wrench to tighten it.

> The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider seems almost identical to this product. Check out both before purchasing.



-RM

Customer Buzz
 "This Style of Bike Rack is the Way to Go!" 2009-05-13
By 10-2-Go (Beaumont, Texas United States)
I have a 1-1/4" Class I hitch on my 2003 Toyota Camry, and the Swagman XTC2 is great for carrying my and my husband's mountain bikes. The XTC2 comes with an adapter for use with a 2" hitch that seems very sturdy--two pieces of metal that sandwich around the rack's 1-1/4" shank and are secured using the supplied bolt. I didn't need the adapter, though, for my Class I hitch. Putting it together and attaching it to my hitch took about 20-25 minutes. I bought Swagman's locking anti-rattle threaded hitch pin to use instead of the supplied threaded hitch pin. Adjusting the wheel hoops to fit both mountain bikes was not as easy as I thought it would be. Luckily, I only have to do that once since I'll only use it to carry our two bikes! My problem was positioning the bicycles so that the ratcheting bike hook that is in the lower position on the center post was far enough down on the center post so that the upper hook could in turn be pushed down far enough to securely hold down the top tube of the other bike (the padded bike hooks that ratchet to press down on and hold the top tube of each bike are situated one on top of the other on the center post, one hook pointing toward the trunk, the other pointing away from the trunk). I hope that makes sense. Because both of our mountain bikes have top tubes that slant downward from the head tube (at the base of the handle bars) to the seat tube, the only way (after much experimentation and adjustment) I could get both bikes secured was to position them facing in the same direction but with one further forward and the other further backward in relation to the center post. This way, the lower hook is at the lowest point of Bike A's top tube (close to the seat tube) and the upper hook contacts Bike B's top tube closer to the handlebars, where the top tube is higher. Again, I hope that makes sense! And maybe I'm the only one who had this problem, but all the pictures of the bike rack that I could find showed the front wheel hoops relatively close to each other and the back wheel hoops relatively close to each other, which is not how I had to adjust mine. And, I could not find clear pictures of the rack with two bikes on it. The reason I chose the XTC2 over the cheaper XC2 is because the XTC2 has a shank that angles upward from the hitch receiver, allowing extra ground clearance since the Camry is not very high off the ground (the XC2 appears to have a straight shank). So far, I have not had it scrape the ground, although I am careful to avoid really steep driveways. Once I got the wheel hoops adjusted, it's been a breeze. Place the bike wheels in the hoops, lower the ratcheting bike hooks (each hook has a place for a lock--not included--to prevent the hook release from being pressed), hook the supplied sturdy rubber securing straps over each wheel, and off you go--takes a minute or two at most! Watch out to make sure you don't scratch your car with a bike pedal. No more dangling bikes blowing in the wind like the standard bike rack design. The rack folds up easily so it can be placed in the trunk when not in use. It's made of very sturdy powder-coated steel and weighs 33 pounds according to Amazon; 34 pounds according to Swagman. All in all, I could not be happier with this purchase and recommend it to anyone looking for a two-bike, hitch-mount bike rack.

Added 5/13/2009: I forgot to mention that there were two small silver screws (about 1/2" long) included that were not mentioned in the assembly instructions0. I discovered on another website that one goes into the hole on the end of each arm to prevent the wheel hoops from sliding off the ends.

6/11/2009 Update: Took a 5-day, 1100-mile road trip with my husband and the two bikes. The bike rack performed like a champ, even at hubby's standard 80+ mph driving speed! Just wanted to note a couple of things: the road vibration does loosen the wheel hoop knobs, so I got in the habit of checking them regularly. The two round screws on the underside that attach the rack to the shank also loosened, but they only had to be tightened once (make sure you keep the supplied hex wrench easily accessible so you can tighten them--the wrench fits into the center of each hex screw). I did notice that one of the padded hooks became more difficult to remove--the hook release would not depress. We had to use a key to put upward pressure on the bottom of the release and wiggle it a bit. Once it was depressed, the hook was difficult to slide off. I am going to try WD40 to see if that helps. We only scraped the ground twice, both times on very steep driveways (where others had also scraped--you could see the gouges in the asphalt). All in all, a super enjoyable mountain biking trip made more enjoyable by this easy-to-use bike rack!


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