Bikes are fun for the whole family and are a great way to enjoy the outdoors. However, bikes are also one of the most difficult items to transport in a vehicle due to their awkward shape and size.

Whether you drive a truck, SUV, or car, it's almost 100% necessary to get a bicycle rack to transport your bikes safely and securely.

Different Types of Bicycle Racks

When shopping for bicycle racks, the first thing to consider is what kind of vehicle you have. The next thing to consider is how many bikes you need to transport. The different types of bicycle racks typically correspond somewhat to the type of vehicle. For example:

- Trunk bicycle racks attach to the trunk or hatch area of your car or SUV

- Hitch bicycle racks attach to the tow hitch of your car, truck, or SUV, assuming it has one, and are one of the easiest ways to carry your bike

- Roof bicycle racks are mounted on your roof and are usually for SUVs, vans, or cars

- Truck bed bicycle racks are made specifically for truck beds, so they are only installed on pickup trucks

In general, if you have a truck, a truck bed bicycle rack is usually the best choice as a hitch mount will keep you from being able to tow at the same time. Hitch mounts are better for cars and SUVs as long as you don't need to tow anything.

Another option for cars and SUVs is the trunk or hatch mount. Roof mount bicycle racks are convenient and work for many vehicles, but the main downside is that it raises your vehicle's height considerably and will cause a drop in fuel economy. It’s also a little more difficult to get the bikes on and off your roof bicycle rack, especially on an SUV.

Types of Bicycle Racks

Let's take a closer look at some of the options, how they work, and their pros and cons.

Hitch Bicycle Rack Carrier

These come in tray and mast mounts and are designed to attach to the tow hitch of your vehicle. Hitch carriers are a good choice for people who want something quick and easy to load.

Pros

- Easy to install, load, and access

- Fuel-efficient and convenient because they're always behind your vehicle

Cons

- Tend to be the most expensive option

- Requires a hitch, so you'll need to add one if you don't have one already

- Many models will hinder access to your trunk

Roof Mount Bicycle Rack

These come in either fork or upright mount styles and attach to the top of your vehicle, which gives you the versatility of not having your trunk blocked by the rack. Some racks can lock both bike wheels, but some require that you remove the front wheel before loading.

Pros

- Stable and secure for easy hauling

- Won't keep you from accessing your doors or trunk

Cons

- High profile means aero drag, which will lower your MPG

- May not fit in low-clearance areas

- Can be hard to reach for unloading

Trunk Mount Bike Rack

Trunk mount racks are designed to attach to the rear of your car or SUV. These racks tend to be fairly inexpensive and are easy to adjust for fitment to multiple different vehicles. However, they're not the most secure type of rack and they can do major damage to your paint over time.

Pros

- Inexpensive and portable for occasional use

- Easy to load and access

- Easy to fold down for storage

Cons

- Not particularly secure

- Impedes access to your trunk

- Can damage paint over time

Truck Bed Bike Racks

These can only be used with pickup trucks and are the best option if you have a pickup truck compared to some of the others. Truck bed mounts are fairly inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to install.

Pros

- Inexpensive and easy to move from truck to truck as they're often adjustable

- Easy to load and access the bike

Cons

- May not be ideal for regular use if you need your bed to haul things

- Bikes can sway on bumpy terrain

Popular Bike Rack Brands

When shopping for bicycle racks, you might notice that certain brands are more prevalent than others. Some brands make several types of racks, while others only make a few different types or specialize in one type. Let's take a look at some popular brands sold by Action.

Enthuze Bike Racks

Enthuze is a popular brand that makes a wide variety of different truck and SUV accessories, including bicycle racks. If you're looking at Enthuze bike racks, you'll find trunk mount racks and hitch mount racks in two and four-bike styles. Enthuze products are extensively tested for quality before adding the Enthuze name.

Thule Bike Racks

Thule is a Swedish brand that is well-known for making a wide variety of adventure gear and accessories for trucks, cars, and SUVs. Thule makes quite a few different bicycle racks as well, including van mount racks, fork-mounted racks for the roof, truck bed mount racks, and tailgate bike carriers. As a world leader in sports utility transportation, there's a good chance you can find the bike rack you need from Thule.

CURT Bike Racks

CURT mainly makes quality hitch-mounted bicycle racks for two or four bikes, but some can also hold up to five bikes. CURT is a top manufacturer of high-quality towing products, including tow hitches. If you need to get a hitch for your vehicle in order to use a hitch-mounted rack, you can get both from the CURT brand.

You can browse for bike racks online or you can stop in and browse/buy the bicycle racks in any Action Trucks store in Canada. Every location sells a great selection of different bike racks. Look for the wrench indicator that shows we install the bicycle rack at any of our stores.