There are a few important questions you need to ask yourself when looking for a car rack, things like does your vehicle have a spoiler? Is it fitted with the tow bar? And does it have a rear-mounted spare tire? These are all very important questions you need to ask before selecting a bike rack to make sure you choose the right one.
Towing with a hitch-mounted bike rack is arguably the easiest and best way to tow your bike using your Subaru Ascent. Hitch bike racks are very easy to install, they are very compact and you get easy access while driving around.
A bike rack is a wise investment. In choosing one, you have to ensure it will meet all your bike need and also that will last longer. If you are on the look for a perfect bike rack for your Subaru, then one of these will be your perfect option.
Contents show
Best Hitch Bike Rack for Subaru Ascent
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | More Info |
|---|---|---|
 | Thule T2 XT 2 Hitch Bike Rack | More Info |
 | Kuat Sherpa 2.08 Hitch Bike Rack | More Info |
 | Yakima DoubleDown | More Info |
 | Swagman XC2 | More Info |
 | Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike 102 DN-R. | More Info |
Best Hitch Bike Rack for Subaru Ascent Reviews
1. Thule T2 XT 2 Hitch Bike Rack.
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This is a top shelf platform that can accommodate 20 to 29 inch bikes with ease. It’s pretty small and compact for a bike rack. It’s unfolded dimensions measure 54 inches by 15 inches by 43 inches while it’s folded dimensions measure 54.7 inches by 22.5 inches by 33.8 inches. Furthermore, the Thule T2 hitch bike rack is pretty lightweight and portable.
You will not need any kind of tools to attach the system onto your car. What’s more, the bikes you secure will make no contact with each other or with the car due to the exquisite frame, free ratchet arm. The approximate distance between the bikes is estimated at 12.5 inches
Related:Best Hitch Bike Rack for 4 Bikes (Reviewed 2021)
Moreover, the Thule T2 hitch bike rack features a tiltable design, which means that it can be folded up even while it’s still attached to the hitch receiver. The only thing that we thought could be improved is the instructional guidelines book. Basically, the tool-free assembly is as plain as it can possibly be, but the manual is somewhat confusing, especially for people who are new to hitch bike racks.
Even so, there are so many benefits to be reaped that are more than capable of compensating for this minuscule flaw. The Thule T2 hitch bike rack is exceptionally sturdy. It’s as safe and secure as it can possibly be, and it packs a huge value for the cash. You might need to invest a couple of extra minutes to firmly affix it to the hitch receiver, but the process gets easier each time you wrap it up. It will not dent or damage your car.
Pros:
- It is durable.
- Easy to use.
- Compatible with all wheel types.
- Cheap.
Cons:
- None.
2. Kuat Sherpa 2.08 Hitch Bike Rack
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This one is meant for serious bikers, the reason why is that serious bikers have a tendency to use sturdier and heavier bikes at top of the fact that they frequently modify them with various odds and ends aiming to improve the bike’s performance in turn.
Despite its somewhat crude and bulky design, the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is actually quite amazing for day-to-day use, even though it’s bigger and heavier than most conventional hitch bike racks, it does not require any kind of tools for installation. As a matter of fact, you can wrap up the entire process by hand and near minutes.
Removing it from your car’s hitch receiver is simple and plain almost as much as installing it in the first place. Of course, it can’t really compare to the 102 DNR as the latter features a singular installation process, but it is pretty close in terms of convenience.
Related:Best Hitch Bike Rack for Jeep Wrangler
Though huge in size, the Sherpa 2.0 is the foldable hitch bike rack, which means that you will be able to easily store it wherever you are not using it. Obviously enough it’s as secure as it can be as it’s sports, a multitude of top-quality features, and a very unique locking mechanism, all of which are geared towards firmly affixing your bikes in place.
One of the best things about Sherpa 2.0 is its sports, a semi-integrated bike lock, which substantially boosts the overall security of both your vehicle and your bikes. It can be used to transport up to two bikes at a time regardless of their wheelbase and tire size. That’s another huge benefit Sherpa 2.0 offers namely most hitch bike racks are limited by the size of the bikes they are supposed to carry it where Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is completely unphased by such matters.
Another really cool feature of this hitch bike rack is the footswitch tilt mechanism. You can use this feature to adjust the height and tilt angle of the rack and obviously your bikes. This feature allows the Sherpa 2.0 to be used with different hitch receivers and different types of vehicles a bit more easily.
All in all, Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is pretty expensive and it might not be the most versatile hitch bike rack available on the market, but it’s definitely a no-brainer pick for professional and semipro bikers who are looking for nothing short of top quality.
Pros:
- It is easy to install.
- Maximum security.
- It is padded
- Affordable.
Cons:
- It can bounce at high speeds.
3. Yakima DoubleDown.
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Let’s face it, there aren’t that many, four bike racks that can actually offer the convenience of easy setup, simple foldable storage, and security. But after some digging around, we’ve managed to dig up this hidden gem.
One of the biggest advantages Yakima DoubleDown can offer to you is universal bike compatibility. Namely, it fits any kind of bike that sports traditional geometry, whereas most bikes typically require a special tube adapter. You can rest assured that you can be able to fit any bike on this hitch rack regardless of its size wheelbase and type.
The only exception from this rule is for the bikes that feature a set of slanted top tubes. In this case, you might still need to use the tube adapter, which is sold separately. Another exceptionally interesting feature of the Yakima DoubleDown is the switchblade anti-sway technology. Basically, this feature completely eliminates bike contact with other bikes and with the vehicle making the DoubleDown one of the most secure hitch racks available for the money.
Related:Best Bike Rack for Prius (Reviewed 2021)
Furthermore, this hitch bike rack features the exquisite chain straps they’re packed on every cradle and will tightly anchor your bikes in place. Moreover, the intuitive levers supplied with the anti-pinch trigger covers substantially simplify the installation and dismantling process.
You will be able to lower the cradling arms when you are not using them in order to make the double down even more compact and easier to store apart from being available. Apart from being a decently attractive price tag, this bike rack is more versatile and generally performs better than the vast majority of similarly priced hitch bike racks, which are just some of the reasons why we highly recommend that you check it out.
Pros:
- It is easy to mount and remove.
- It has security features.
- It can hold up to 200 pounds
- Can carry up to five bikes.
Cons:
- The hook may chip car paint.
4. Swagman XC2
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Although it’s not as inexpensive as our previous pick Swagman XC2 hitch bike rack is absolutely great for pretty much everyone, especially people who are commonly taking two bikes on the road with them. It’s great for day-to-day use. It’s exceptionally easy to assemble and it’s pretty versatile altogether.
First of all, the reason why Swagman XC2 made it onto our review of the top five hitch bike racks is that it’s very simple to use and assemble. The process will not take more than a couple of minutes. And moreover, the upright hitch arms are easily adjustable and able to cater to bikes of pretty much all sizes.
This hitch rack can accommodate frames that are up to 23.2 inches large. Security wise, the Swagman XC2 is as stable as it can possibly be. It features a remarkably sturdy frame and rocks and integrated anti-wobble mechanism that aims to keep your bikes locked tightly in place.
As far as storage space goes, this rack is foldable and highly compact. Disassembling it is just as easy as assembling it. And once folded, it takes up the least bit of storage space possible. You could have probably guessed it by now, but Swagman XC2 is perfect for people who aim to transport up to two bikes.
Related:Best Bike Racks for Car 2021 (all types of cars included)
It’s compatible with most hitches and this rack maximum load capacity is approximately 35 pounds per bike. It can fit tires who sizes in the range of 20 inches to 29 inches. Moreover, the Swagman XC2 is highly customizable, it is compatible with fat tire trays, locking pins and pretty much all security cables. However, the downside is that it does not come supplied with any free accessories, meaning they’re all sold separately.
All things considered, the only drawback of the Swagman XC2] is that it’s pretty expensive for a two bike rack. But other than that, its performance is absolutely marvelous.
Pros:
- It is padded to prevent dents.
- It is compatible with many wheels.
- It is durable.
- It has security features.
Cons:
- It is costly.
5. Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike 102 DN-R.
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In a nutshell, this is a budget rack that is decently easy to use decently versatile, pretty secure and incredibly easy to assemble. Compatibility wise, the Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike 102 DN-R can fit on most sedans, minivans SUV’s as well as hatchbacks and vehicles with similarly designed trunks.
The dimensions of Allen measure 4.49 inches by 22.99 inches by 13.70 inches, and it weighs no more than 7.50 pounds. This means that it is moderately sized and pretty lightweight. The Allen Sports Deluxe Rack is outfitted with premium quality side straps that provide a drastic boost to lateral stability. Even though it is just a budget bike rack, it can easily and reliably secure professional high value bikes.
One of the best things about this bike rack is the fact that it boasts the single configuration design. Namely, this means that once it has been set up, you won’t need to make any further adjustments. You can simply keep using it installing and removing it in the same way you did the first time.
Furthermore, it rocks individual tie-downs that art to be used to secure each bike separately. Even though most high-end and mid price models offer the same, if not improved mechanisms, the fact that such a feature is present on a budget bike rack goes a long way to justify its value for the buck. And accessing the trunk is no problem.
The lower frame of Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike 102 DN-R is thoroughly padded and designed in such a way that it keeps the bikes as far away from your vehicle as possible helping avoid damage to both in case you bump into a rock or any similar obstacle along the way.
The only questionable thing about Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike 102 DN-R is its durability. Namely both the straps and the frame of this rack are fairly robust, but they don’t seem to be sturdy enough to withstand a couple of years of use. Again, this is a budget bike rack that offers the benefits and advantages of a mid-priced one to say the very least. So in our humble opinion, it packs quite the punch for the buck.
Pros:
- It is heavy duty.
- It is efficient.
- It has clear instructions.
- It is sturdy.
Cons:
- None
Best Hitch Bike Rack for Subaru Ascent Buying Guide
There’s a lot of nice bikes out there. A nice bike rack is an important thing to have to get your bike to in front of your riding destination.
Types of car bike racks.
Roof rack systems
These are great. They’re somewhat expensive because there’s a lot of material involved. But once you get your initial crossbars, you can add a lot of other accessories beyond bicycle racks. So you can have a bicycle attachment, you can have a kayak attachment, you can have a lot of other things just carry lumber on there if you want to.
So they’re very useful, very handy. You can carry the big boxes on there, but they cost a lot of money. Also, they might be a little difficult to get to if you have a higher SUV. The high roof lines of today’s vehicles might take away from the benefit of roof rack system.
Receiver hitch racks
A lot of the biggest SUVs and a lot of cars actually come through with tow hitches, the square hitch on the back bumper, you can slide a receiver hitch right into that, and it just carries your bikes off the back of the car. Those are very popular because they’re very secure.
They fold down out of the way when you need to get into the rear trunk or lift gate of your vehicle, and they’re very easy to load and unload your bicycles onto because they’re right at the proper height. So you just lift up and put them on. They’re a lot less than a roof rack system.
Rear strap rack
These are probably the best selling rack, mostly because you can just put them on when you need them. They’re very light. Anybody can handle them. The receiver hitch racks are, are a little heavy. So you just would have straps that would secure them on, on the top. Whether you rested on a trunk or on a rear hatch, you have load straps from the top.
You have load straps on the bottom, keeping the rack from bouncing and then two side straps keeping it from swaying. They are great because they’re usually right at the right height for easy loading and unloading.
The neat thing about them is when you’re done using them, you can take them off quickly with the straps. They usually fold into a fairly compact size and you can store them away out of sight, out of mind.
Conclusion:
Weather you are going on a holiday vacation or just moving places, moving your bike doesn’t need to be a tough job. With hitch bike racks, hauling your bikes from one place to another is seamless. Hopefully, this review will help you choose the best hitch bike rack.
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