As the name suggests, downhill bikes are used for the mountains. Climbing uphill is not as challenging as going down. You need high-quality and sturdy bikes that are designed especially for the downhills. These bikes offer the best traction, allowing you to get your bike down seamlessly. So, whether you are planning a trip to the mountain trails or a unique tourist spot, the downhill bikes make an excellent choice for bikers.
Let's have a look at the best downhill mountain bike racks
Allen Sports Premier Locking Tray Rack
Best Overall
- Reasonably priced
Pros
- Strong and reputable brand
Cons
- Requires hitch
Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks
Budget option
- Affordable
Pros
- Adapter to minimize wobbling
- Safe and durable design
Cons
- limited access to rear
Thule EasyFold XT 2 Hitch Bike Rack
Premium option
- Great all around option
Pros
- Foldable design
- Easy to mount
Cons
- None
While you can ride the downhill mountain bikes to any location without any hassle, it can attract dirt and mud pretty easily if it is ridden on muddy terrain. That’s why most people get mountain bike racks, which are designed to accommodate multiple downhill bikes and transport them safely to any location.
Why Buy a Bike Rack for Your Mountain Bikes?
Before we discuss the types of racks for these bikes, it is important to note that the downhill mountain bike racks are different from the casual racks. That’s because mountain bikes have fat tires, which need a sturdy rack compatible with fat-tire bikes. Besides, these bikes are quite heavy. They run slowly on any pavement because of their heavyweight and fat tires. They have flat handlebars and are designed for muddy and hard trails. If you have used mountain and road bikes, you must have noticed the differences in the ride experiences. Mountain bikes are hard to ride on regular pavement. They are incredibly slow, while the road bikes are easy to peddle. Unlike regular bikes, downhill mountain bikes can be used for different trails.
Plus, peddling these bikes is noticably harder. These bikes are for mountainous trails mainly. If you ride cruisers and other road bikes on such trails, there is a good chance you will end up falling frequently. This clearly shows that you can’t ride a mountain bike on a regular terrain, which leaves you with the only option, i.e., to carry them in your car. The good news is you will find a plethora of premium and rugged bike racks designed especially for mountain bikes.
In this post, we will take a look at 4 such bike racks that are designed to house downhill bikes. Let’s take a look:
Allen Sports Premier Locking Tray Rack
The first on our list is Allen’s sports bike rack. Thanks to its wonderful combination of versatility and durability. The rack might carry only one bike, but it makes the best fit for your heavy downhill mountain bikes that fit into the downhill bike-special racks only.
This downhill mountain bike rack by Allen is made of aluminium and is available in a black finish. The tray is sturdy enough to hold different frames and styles of bikes easily, including the bikes with fat tires. It connects securely to the vehicle’s hitch receiver. Despite being made of heavy-duty aluminum, the rack is pretty compact and lightweight.
The manufacturer supplies safety straps that keep your mountain bikes secured to the wheel tray throughout the journey. No matter the condition of the road and the length of your trip, with Allen Sports Premier Locking Tray Rack on your car, you can carry just about any type of bike to your desired location without any hassle.
Another advantage to using this product is the quick assembly. We understand that you need a product that can be installed easily, allowing you to load your downhill bikes on the rack and get it on the road as soon as possible. That’s what you can expect from the Allen Sports Premier Locking Tray Rack.
Built-in Lock System
The safety of your bikes is never a concern with this rack. The built-in locking system keeps your bikes securely attached to the rack. You could also invest in separate bike locks if you are driving in theft-prone areas. That, however, is not needed! The integrated locking mechanism is more than enough to ensure maximum protection for your mountain bikes.
Another factor that makes Allen Sports Premier Locking Tray Rack an ideal option for downhill mountain bicycles is its versatile and adjustable wheel tray that can accommodate bikes having wheelbase ranging from 35” to 48”. For additional security, use the ratcheting straps. It is available for your bikes’ front and rear tires and is used to keep your bikes stable and sturdy while your car is on the move. The company supplies large straps that can fit the heavy tires of your mountain bikes flawlessly.
Easy and Quick Installation
The rack can accommodate one bike of up to 40 lbs, and it fits a 1 1/4 “ to 2” receiver hitch. Now, the installation is pretty quick and straightforward. It comes equipped with a sturdy locking knob that makes it easier for you to secure your rack to the car’s hitch receiver. It also ensures a wobble-free and seamless installation. Make sure you keep the rack locked in its position using the built-in locking system for maximum protection.
It has a foldable design, meaning you can fold the rack and store it in the trunk when you are not using it. In addition, the tilt-down design gives you quick access to the rear gates of the car. Thus, you can get access to your cargo without having to remove the rack over and over again.
Features
- Fits cars with 1 1/4 in – 2 in hitch receivers
- Carry one bike and a total weight of 40 lbs
- Designed for sports and mountain bikes
- Accommodate bikes with a wheelbase ranging from 26 inches to 29 inches
- Comes equipped with a locking hitch
- Tilt-back design
- Made of aluminum and plastic
- Universal fit
- Folding design
- Safety straps are available for the front and rear tires
- Sliding wheel tray can accommodate bikes of varying frames and styles
- Built-in bike locks
Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks
A perfect option for those planning a trip to the mountains with their families or friends. This 4-bike rack by Allen is sturdy, durable, and versatile. Featuring steel construction and available in a black finish, the rack comes with a rugged design and is a full-featured rack with the capacity to hold up to 4 bikes and 140 lbs.
As the name implies, the rack fits the 2” hitch receivers. The easy installation, quick assembly, foldable design, and easy cargo access are a few interesting features that make it an ideal option for bikers. The rack does not come pre-assembled. It has 3 bolts that can help you connect the rack to the receiver hitch within a few minutes.
Folding Carry Arms
The manufacturer has integrated two big red buttons on the rack for easy storage. You can press these buttons to fold the rack and store it away when you don’t need it. It comes with sturdy and safe straps that hold the bikes in place and ensure their safety during transportation. Plus, its flexible carry arms are compatible with bikes of varying styles and sizes, in addition to the downhill mountain bikes. The easy tilt-away design enables people to access the car’s rear gates without detaching the rack from the hitch.
In addition, it has a spine shield that delivers maximum protection to your mountain bikes when the car is on the move. The reason we have listed this rack in the list is that it has the capacity to hold a weight of 140 lbs, which is sufficient for mountain bikes. Besides, the dual-compound cradles and high-quality safety straps help you secure the fat tires of the downhill bicycles to the rack. With this rack holding your bikes, you can rest easy, knowing that your bikes will be safely transported to your desired destination without any wobbling or excessive movement.
Then, we have the individual tie-down cradle system that secures each bike to the rack properly.
Features
- Easy access to the vehicle’s rear gates with the tilt-away design
- Quick and seamless installation
- Individual tie-down cradle systems
- Folding design
- Hold up to 4 bikes
- Capacity to carry 140 lbs load
- Designed for 2” hitch receivers
- Smooth carry arms
- Three-bolt installation
- Backed by Allen’s warranty
Thule EasyFold XT 2 Hitch Bike Rack
Thule is the leader when it comes to the hitch bike racks. Even though it is a little on the pricey side, the product has a sturdy design and is compatible with all types of downhill mountain bikes. In fact, it is designed specifically for fat-tire bikes. You can accommodate a wide range of bikes on the rack seamlessly. Available in a black finish and made of aluminum and plastic, the Thule EasyFold XT 2 is for those looking for bike racks in the premium section.
The installation is also pretty simple, with advanced and versatile bike arms. The model is designed for mountain bikes especially, but of course, you can load bikes of other frames and styles on the tray efficiently. The foldable design allows bikers to fold the rack and store it in the trunk when not in use. The product comes with a foot paddle tilt and an anti-theft design that guarantees maximum protection to your bikes. The manufacturer has included the locks for the bike and the rack. The rack is designed for all types of cars with 1.25” and 2” hitch receivers. It can carry two bikes and bear a weight of 130 lbs effortlessly. It comes with receiver locks and a tilt function. The rack can accommodate bikes with a tire width of up to 4.7”.
Features
- Aluminum and plastic construction
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Universal fit
- Designed for cars with 2” hitch receivers
- The load capacity of 130 lbs
- Carry two bikes
- Receiver and bike locks
- Tilt away design
Thule ProRide XT Roof Bike Rack Black
This aluminum-made rack is another high-quality mountain bike rack from Thule. It comes in a black finish and features a control dial that can be adjusted to your specifications. The company sells the locks for the bike and rack separately. It also has a ratcheting safety strap, which secures your bikes quickly and tightly to the rack, delivering maximum protection. The ergonomic design of the rack can accommodate downhill mountain bikes, and other bicycles comfortably
With this rack, you don’t have to worry about damages to your bike’s frame or the car’s surface. The premium claws of the rack are designed to hold your bikes tightly and ensure safe mounting. It has smart wheel holders that keep your bike stable and sturdy. The rack is easy to use and offers a high level of convenience to the bikers carrying their mountain bikes to the trails located far away from their homes.
Features
- Universal fit
- Smart dial control system
- Innovative wheel tray
- Locks for bikes and racks are available
- Capacity to handle 44 lbs
- Robust claw pads
- Safe diagonal straps
- Sleek and ergonomic design
- Made of aluminum
Thule ProRide XT Roof Bike Rack Black, One Size
Thule is a trusted brand name for the ProRide XT roof bike rack. This roof rack with the universal upright design can haul one-bike on your car. It is a perfect match for passenger cars with Thule Wing bar, Thule Aeroblade, Thule Square bar and most of the factory racks.
To make mounting quick and easy, Thule Pro has a torque limiter dial which controls the force going into the bike frame and also confirms the safety of bikes. Thule ProRide XT bike rack offers extra protection for frames of carbon bikes.
The pressure spreads through large, soft claw pads that adapt to your bike frame tubes which minimise the risk of damage. The aluminium bike rack can haul 44 LBS single bikes. The bike with the tire dimension of 3 “fits the Thule bike rack. You can make this rack compatible for fat bikes or bikes up to 5’ tire width by separately purchasing an adaptor.
The ergonomic design frame holder and wheel tray of this bike rack automatically positions the carbon fibre bike when you load it. Thule roof rack has the claw’s extended from the lower jaw to hold your bikes steady enough to give a stress-free driving experience when you are off to the mountains.
A diagonal quick-release wheel strap keeps the wheels of the bike stable on tough terrain. It is an easy to use and tool-free interface for switching carriers from one side to the other of your vehicle. You need to purchase a lock to secure bikes from theft. If you’re after the perfect bike rack for your carbon fibre bike than this could be the one for you
Our final say on downhill mountain bike racks
These were the top 4 bike racks for downhill mountain bikes, designed to offer maximum protection to your bike’s frames and the cars. The racks keep your bikes secure and stable. Buy the rack that fits your requirements and have a safe journey!