Bike Racks
A bike rack is chosen by how it attaches to the car — hitch, trunk, roof or spare wheel — and then by how many bikes it has to carry.
The buying advice on this page is retained from the original article. Its 2018 product picks have been removed — the links were dead and the models discontinued. Current model tables live on the brand pages.
When buying a car, one needs to pick the car that fits right into his or her life. For instance, hatchbacks provide an economical way to move around and they are visually appealing. However, the cars may not be suitable for carrying luggage that cannot fit inside the trunk. To carry such luggage, you will need to modify your car. For instance, you could install a bike rack for car with spoiler. This allows you to transport your bike without scratching the exquisite paint polish on your car.
This article is a review of the best bike racks for vehicles that have spoilers. The weight of the rack, the load capacity of the rack, the number of bikes the rack can carry, the price, assembly, number of attachment points, and the quality of frame materials are some of the factors that we considered when making this list.
What decides the choice
| Specification | What it changes | Options in use |
|---|---|---|
| Mount | Where it attaches to the car — the first thing to settle | Hitch · trunk strap · roof · spare wheel |
| Hitch size | Has to match the receiver | 1¼″ · 2″ |
| Carry style | Tray holds the wheels; hanging holds the frame | Tray · hanging arm |
| Capacity | Bikes carried, and the weight limit for each | 1–5 bikes · 35–60 lb per bike |
| Tailgate access | Whether the rack tilts to open the boot | Tilting · fixed |
| Frame compatibility | Step-through and full-suspension frames need an adapter on hanging racks | Adapter bar · tray suits all |
| Spoiler clearance | A spoiler changes which trunk racks can sit flat | Check pad and strap geometry |