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Oct 15, 2024

Best Hitch Bike Rack for 4 Bikes (Including Kids Bikes!)

Hauling kids bikes can be a challenge, but over the last 15 years of hauling our families bikes around, we’ve found several great options at various price points. From hanging racks to vertical racks,

Hauling kids bikes can be a challenge, but over the last 15 years of hauling our families bikes around, we’ve found several great options at various price points. From hanging racks to vertical racks, we’ve tested over 20 different racks with kids bikes of all sizes to find the best rack for your family at every price point.

Before purchasing a rack, know there’s much more to consider than just capacity and price. Use the chart above as a starting point, but be sure to dive into the rest of this article, which contains a quick buying guide for hitch racks, mini-reviews of each rack we recommend, and insights on how different types of racks perform on SUVs and minivans.

Hanging hitch racks carry bikes by their frame rather than the tires, suspending them horizontally on two support bars. These racks typically accommodate bikes with wheel sizes 16″ and up and are available in 2 to 5 bike capacities.

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Best Hanging Rack

MSRP (4 bike): $449

CAPACITY: 2, 4, or 5 bikes

FEATURES: Lightweight, tilts for hatch access, low profile, integrated bike lock, anti-wobble hitch system, more spacing between bikes than other hanging racks

COMPLETE REVIEW: Thule Apex XT

For families looking to avoid the weight and cost of platform racks, hanging racks like the Thule Apex XT are a great alternative. They’re lighter, easier to install, and budget-friendly.

The Apex XT stands out for its sleek design and generous 7” spacing between bikes, minimizing bike interference—an issue with most hanging racks that typically have only 5”-6” of space. This makes it easier to load and reduces the risk of damage. One of our mom testers loves how effortlessly she can install or remove the rack from her van in seconds, without help.

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Best on a Budget

MSRP (4 bike): $189

CAPACITY: 4 bikes (2, 3 or 5 bike options as well); 20″ wheels +

FEATURES: Super lightweight, locking hitch, quick installation & removal, tilts for hatch access, anti-wobble hitch system

COMPLETE REVIEW: Allen Bike Racks

Often priced under $200, the Allen Deluxe Hitch Rack is a fantastic budget option. While it’s not as high-end as other models, its quality and ease of use are impressive for the price.

At just 26.6 lbs., it’s lightweight and can be installed or removed in under three minutes, perfect for spontaneous trips. Though the bikes are spaced closely, once you find the right configuration, loading becomes much quicker.

Its slim design adds just 7.75” of length to your vehicle, and the foldable arms and tilting vertical post provide easy hatch access. Despite its compact size, readers report that the 5-bike version actually fits all 5 bikes!

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On platform bike racks, the bike sits upright on the rack with its wheels resting on wheel trays. The bike is then secured to with dual ratcheting arms over the front and rear tires (ex: Kuat Piston Pro and RockyMounts GuideRail) or a clamp directly onto the frame of the bike (Thule Easy Fold XT).

Older style racks with a “shepards hook” over the front tire (like the Thule T2 Pro or Kuat NV) are not recommended for kids bikes as they struggle to get a secure fit (even with adaptors).

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Easiest to Install, Folds for Storage

MSRP (2 bike): $999

CAPACITY: 2 capacity only

WEIGHT CAPACITY (for ebikes): 65 lb. for each tray (130 lb. max capacity)

FEATURES: Holds two bikes by the frame, making it suitable for bikes with fenders; comes with ramp to help load heavy bikes; tiltable (even when loaded); super easy to put on and take off the car; stores compactly; wheels for easy transporting

The Thule EasyFold XT is the easiest platform rack to install, remove, and store—so easy, you can do it solo! It folds compactly, has built-in wheels, and takes up minimal space when stored. At just 45 lbs., it’s also significantly lightweighter than other racks and attaches to your hitch without tools, making setup a breeze.

For loading, the included onboard ramp eliminates the need to lift heavy bikes. Just roll them onto the rack. The frame clamps make it compatible with bikes that have fenders, unlike most platform and vertical racks.

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Best Bang for Your Buck

MSRP (3 bike): $1,129 ($849 2-bike base + $299 single tray add-on)RockyMounts also offers a 2-bike rack with identical platforms to the GuideRail, but with a swing out arm called the “AfterParty” which MSRPs for $1,099

CAPACITY: 3 bikes max, 2 bike base + single tray extension

WEIGHT CAPACITY (for ebikes): 60lb. first two trays, 45 lb. third tray (within racks 120 lb. max capacity)

STANDOUT FEATURES: Very easy to load and unload (no wheel straps to fiddle with), bike spacing is easy to adjust in the event of bike contact, comes with robust chain lock, frame-free contact, full metal construction for excellent durability.

The RockyMounts GuideRail is easy to use, offering the same functionality as the pricier Kuat Piston Pro at a lower cost. From loading and unloading to adjusting bikes to prevent contact, it’s a breeze. It handles a wide range of bike sizes, from long wheelbases to 16” kids’ bikes—and even some 14” bikes with extra straps around the wheels for security.

One standout feature is the GuideRail’s all-metal, plastic-free construction, ensuring durability and no risk of melting parts. Each bike tray is tiered to offset handlebars, and the longer trays allow for side-to-side adjustments without removing the bikes. For vehicles with low hitches, the rack’s tiered design also prevents bottoming out.

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Best Overall – Easiest to Use and Adjust

MSRP: $1,098+

CAPACITY: 2, 3 or 4 bikes

WEIGHT CAPACITY (for ebikes): 67 lb. per tray (42 lb. per tray if on RV)

FEATURES: Ridiculously fast and easy to load, pneumatic arms pop open with a single button, quickly adjusts to fit a wide range of wheel sizes, semi-integrated 12mm cable lock included

Having used a wide range of bike racks over the past 10 years, I can confidently say the Kuat Piston Pro is my absolute favorite. It eliminates the usual fiddly hassle of bike racks, making loading and unloading bikes of all sizes quick and effortless.

Whether I’m transporting a 16″ kids’ bike or an XXL 29″ full-suspension mountain bike, each tray easily adjusts to fit—no tools or adapters required. For someone who regularly hauls a variety of bikes, this feature alone is a game-changer.

The smooth, responsive pneumatic piston arms are the icing on the cake. They keep the rack quiet (no loud ratcheting sounds) and make loading and unloading incredibly fast.

For added security when hauling 16” bikes on the Kuat Piston Pro, I recommend using a wheel strap (we used 15” voile straps) through each wheel, in addition to lowering and tightening the rack arms. While the arms do a great job securing the bike, the shorter wheelbase of a 16” bike means it may not be held as tightly as larger bikes. Using wheel straps provides extra stability. You can see these straps in action in the image above as well.

Lastly, while I own the Piston Pro X, we’ve had ongoing issues with the rear lights, which is the main reason for its higher price. Because of this, I wouldn’t the Pro X over the more affordable Piston Pro.

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Vertical hitch bike racks position bikes perpendicular to the ground with the front tire pointed up and the rear tire pointed down. Bikes on vertical racks can either hang via their front tire, the handlebars, or the headset of the bike and make no contact with the frame of the bike.

Capacities range from 3 to 7, and between all the brands available, vertical hitch racks can accommodate all types and sizes of bikes. For a detailed comparison, check out our article on the “9 Best Vertical Racks for Cars with a Hitch“.

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Easiest High 4+ Capacity Rack to Use

MSRP (6 bike): $935

CAPACITY: 3 to 7

WHEEL SIZES: 20″ to 29″, fat bike tray upgrade available. (16″ wheel sizes in a pinch with a pool noodle and a bungee cord)

WEIGHT CAPACITY (for ebikes): 55 lb. per bike, 230 lb. total weight capacity

FEATURES: Tilt-down damper-assisted hinge for lowering bikes, models can hold up to 7 bikes, converts to a wall-mounted garage bike rack (necessary accessory parts included), optional light bar for added visibility

COMPLETE REVIEW: Velocirax

The VelociRAX is a perfect “Goldilocks” option in vertical bike racks—offering great features without being too basic or too expensive. It’s one of the few racks that can carry up to 7 bikes, making it ideal for large families or group rides.

Even for only 3 to 6 bikes, the VelociRAX remains a durable and high-quality choice. Its key feature is the damper-assisted hinge, which gently lowers a fully loaded rack for easy unloading or access to your vehicle’s rear hatch.

For families with a variety of bike sizes, the 5X model is highly recommended (image above is the 5X). With 15″ between baskets, it’s much easier to load compared to models with just 10″ of spacing.

To haul a 16” or 20” bike, however, make sure you order the Small Wheel baskets (one basket needed per bike – baskets only sold as a set of 2). To load the 16” you will need to add a cut pool noodle around the rim of the small basket for additional padding.

We also found the VelociRAX easier to load than vertical racks like the Yakima HangTight, thanks to its front tire baskets. However, you’ll need to consider your vehicle’s hitch height. Low hitches may cause scraping, while high hitches can make raising the loaded rack more difficult.

If your vehicle has an extreme hitch height, Alta Racks might be a better option, but VelociRAX works well for most vehicles. For more details, check out our full review.

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Best for Low Clearance or Cars with Lifts

MSRP (4 bike): $1,185

BIKE CAPACITY: 3 to 8

WEIGHT CAPACITY (for ebikes): 50 lb. per bike (with a 2 ebike limit), 300 lb. total weight capacity. Alta’s Superior line has a 60 lb. limit per bike with a 350 lb. total weight capacity with no ebike limit.

WHEEL SIZES: 20″ to 29″ standard wheels, 24″ to 29″ mid to fat-tire bikes, (16″ wheel sizes with a pool noodle and a bungee cord)

FEATURES: Angled hitch to prevent bottoming out, height-adjustable top bar to allow for additional clearance on low vehicles or to prevent difficult loading and unloading on tall vehicles, tool-free wheel tray spacing, 4 different swappable wheel trays to accommodate a wide range of wheel sizes, tilt-away feature for rear hatch access

COMPLETE REVIEW: Alta Racks

Out of all the vertical racks on our list, the Alta is by far the most versatile. Whether your car’s hitch receiver is low to the ground or high off the ground, the Alta can easily be adjusted to make loading and unloading easy. If you need to carry your kids’ and their friends’ mountain bikes one day and your bike and your friends’ fat bikes the next, Alta’s various sized wheel trays are quickly and easily swapped out.

Around town, the Alta is exceptional as its angled hitch arm design provides plenty of much-needed vertical clearance. From steep driveways to dips and bumps in the roads around town, you never have to worry about bottoming out with the Alta. Whether loaded or unloaded, the Alta also easily tilts down for rear hatch access.

Beyond the bikes, Alta offers a wide range of accessories including a swing out arm, rolling base for garage storage, retractable straps for extra stabilization on off-road trails, adapter bars for use with a ski and snowboard carrier, a hammock stand, a table, and a work stand.

If you’re plan on hauling a 16” or 20” bike(s), just be sure to order one GROM basket for each bike. For 16” bikes, you will need to add some additional foam padding around the GROM basket to keep the bike’s fork from rubbing on the basket.

For 24” and 26” kids bikes, you don’t need the GROM basket, but you do need a wheel chuck to use on the standard baskets (shown below). This helps keep wheel centered front the back in the standard baskets.

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All of our recommended racks are compatible with a wide range of cars, but cars with high or low-hitch receivers can present additional challenges, especially with raised SUVs and minivans.

Need a hitch receiver? Be sure to opt for a high-capacity 2” receiver. For mid-size SUVs, an OEM receiver is ideal since it often sits higher on the vehicle (mounted in the bumper vs. beneath the car) compared to standard aftermarket options.

Full-size SUVs tend to be taller, and many have lift kits that make them even higher. The taller your vehicle, the more challenging it can be to load and unload bikes on a hitch-mounted rack. Some vehicles may benefit from hitch-lowering receivers to reduce the height of the rack or extenders to allow the rack to fold up without hitting the bumper.

Both platform and vertical racks can be difficult to manage on high-hitch vehicles. While vertical racks tilt down for easier loading, pushing the rack back up into position can be a real challenge, especially with heavier bikes.

We tested both the Alta GPR and VelociRAX on our 2008 Land Cruiser with a 25” hitch height. The Alta vertical rack was our favorite as its variable height feature allowed us to lower the rack’s top bar, which greatly simplified loading and unloading bikes. While the VelociRAX vertical rack lacks adjustable height settings like the Alta, they do offer a hitch-lowering receiver that lowers the entire rack on the hitch.

Platform racks, like the Kuat and RockyMounts, are also more challenging to use on tall vehicles. Loading bikes onto a platform rack requires you to lift the bike straight up and over the end of the rack to reach the tray. With smaller 1 and 2-capacity racks, this isn’t a huge problem, but because platform racks are tiered (to offset handlebars), by the time you reach the 3rd or 4th tray, you have to lift the bike much higher than the hitch receiver height to load it (see image below).

For reference, I’m 5’10”, and while I can manage to load my bike onto the 3-capacity RockyMounts GuideRail, it still requires quite a bit of effort. Although the GuideRail doesn’t offer a 4th tray, if it did, I wouldn’t recommend it on high-hitch vehicles—it would make loading bikes even more difficult.

Several other brands do offer a 4th tray, but we’re actually not fans of any platform racks with 4 trays. 4-capacity platform racks block the rear window of the car when folded up. With the backup camera already obscured by the rack, losing visibility through the rear window for months on end is frustrating. That’s why we recommend vertical racks for hauling more than 3 bikes, as they don’t block the rear window.

For mid-size SUVs, we also recommend 3-capacity platform racks. With a lower hitch height, loading bikes requires less lifting compared to full-size SUVs. While the RockyMounts GuideRail is more tiered than the Kuat (as shown below), the mid-size SUV’s 16” hitch height requires less lifting as compared to the 25” height of a full-size SUV.

Like full-size SUVs, 4-capacity platform racks also block the rear window when folded up, so if you need to haul more than 3 bikes, we prefer vertical racks. Between the Alta and VelociRAX, we prefer the Alta due to its smoother ride when paired with Alta’s Retractable Straps (shown below), which reduces feedback from the rack. The VelociRAX tends to have more noticeable feedback, especially on unibody vehicles compared to body-on-frame vehicles, though many VelociRAX owners report no issues (we experienced strong feedback on both the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot).

Low clearance is a common issue for minivans since the hitch receiver is mounted beneath the vehicle. For 3 bikes, platform racks are a great option. If you need to transport 4 or more bikes, we prefer the Alta as it offers better ground clearance than the VelociRAX. Additionally, Alta’s retractable straps reduce rack feedback while driving.

If the Alta is too pricey, don’t hesitate to get the VelociRAX as we know many people who use them on their minivans without complaint.

From loading up helmets to pulling out the snacks, all racks on this list provide rear access to your vehicle by either tilting back away from the car (both vertical and platform racks to this) or swinging-out away from the car (both Alta and VelociRAX offer a swing-out option).

The Best Vertical Bike Racks

The Best Trunk Racks for Cars