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A biking adventure won’t be much fun if your bike falls off your SUV before you can even start your ride. That’s why it’s important to make sure your bike rack is sturdy enough to carry your gear. To help you make the right choice, we’ve compiled this list of the best options from brands like Saris Bones, Kupper Mounts, and Thule.
The best bike racks for your SUV will depend on the type of bike you use and your price range, among other factors, and choosing the right one can take quite a bit of research. To help save you time, and simplify your search, we’ve put together a list of the best bike racks for SUVs—and we’ve even organized them by mount type, so you don’t run out to buy a roof rack when you actually need a trunk mount. Read on to find out which option is right for you on your next bike trip.
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Best trunk mounts
Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack
A simple, easy-to-install option, the Saris Bones 2-Bike rack gets some of the highest ratings of any SUV bike rack on the market. This is thanks to its lightweight construction that adjusts to a wide variety of trunk and tailgate shapes without the need for tools.
- Pro:100% tool-free installation and adjustments
- Con: Doesn’t work with untraditional bike frame shapes or full-suspension bicycles
Allen Sports Ultra Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack
“Compact” is putting it mildly—the Allen Sports Ultra Compact Bike Rack can fold up to the size of a shoebox when it’s not in use. This rack attaches to your SUV with padded legs, keeping both your car and your bikes from getting scratched. Plus, this rack isn’t just for SUVs—it can fit on sedans and hatchbacks as well.
- Pro: Adjustable straps mean it can fit a wide range of bike types
- Con: The rack wobbles a bit, so it’s not the best for long journeys
Saris Bones EX 3-Bike
Solidly built but lightweight, the Saris Bones EX 3-Bike is an excellent option for SUVs even with the most bulbous of backsides. Fully-adjustable curved arms allow the rack to fit over almost any shape of trunk or tailgate, and it folds almost completely flat for storage.
- Pro: Versatile
- Pro: Lightweight
- Pro: Affordable
- Con: No side-to-side support for the bikes
Best hitch mounts
Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack
The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is one of the easiest SUV bike racks to use. It features tool-free installation and a max weight of 40 pounds per bike. Unlike many racks, it even looks good.
The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is unique in its lightweight aluminum construction that also allows full access to the rear of the SUV thanks to a swing-away hitch mount. Available in 1.25- and 2-inch hitch-mount sizes, this 2-bike rack can carry up to 80 pounds.
- Pro: Allows full access to trunk or tailgate
- Pro: Foot lever tilt release makes the already easy-to-use rack even easier
- Con: Time-consuming assembly required
- Con: Only accommodates 3-inch wheels
Thule Apex XT 4-Bike Hitch Rack
When you’ve got a lot of bikes to move, this is the rack you want. The Thule Apex XT can carry up to four bikes, and it features the SnugTite Stinger, which secures your rack to your SUV, and an integrated cable that locks the bikes to the rack for added safety and security.
- Pro: HitchSwitch lever allows you to tilt bikes down for easy access to the back of your SUV
- Con: Top tube adaptor needed for use with women’s and children’s bikes
Best roof mounts
Seasucker Komodo
Don’t let its appearance fool you—the Seasucker Komodo is a quality rack that will keep your bikes firmly suctioned to the roof of your SUV. Testers even drove with it on the Autobahn with no issues. Unfortunately, while the suction is super strong, there’s no way to lock it, so opportunistic thieves need only pull the tabs to steal this pricey SUV bike rack.
- Pro: Easy to install and remove
- Con: Expensive
- Con: Can’t be locked to your vehicle
Kupper Mounts
A much less expensive alternative to the Seasucker, Kupper Mounts offers a vacuum roof rack that installs in seconds and includes a door strap for a bit of added security. This SUV bike rack is a great option for use with rental vehicles or for switching quickly between cars.
- Pro: Affordable
- Pro: Easy to install
- Con: Separate adapter must be purchased to work with thru-axle bikes
Thule ProRide XT
Unlike most roof racks, the Thule ProRide XT lets you leave your bike’s wheels on for transport. Keep in mind that this will add significant height to your already tall SUV, so be sure to watch out for low clearances.
- Pro: No need to remove your bike’s wheels
- Con: Not the best option for taller SUVs
Best alternative mounts
RockyMounts BackStage Swing Away
Even with a bike rack that offers tilt features, it can be difficult to access your SUV’s tailgate—that’s not the case with the RockyMounts BackStage Swing Away. Instead of tilting, it swings completely to one side, allowing you full, unhindered access to the rear of your SUV.
- Pro: Easy, unhindered trunk and tailgate access
- Con: Almost unmanageably heavy
Saris Bones Trunk or Hitch Carrier
The Saris Bones Trunk or Hitch Carrier is available in 2-, 3-, and 4-bike configurations, and it’s a great hitch for SUVs, minivans, and sedans. This lightweight SUV bike rack comes fully assembled and is available in a variety of colors for the style-conscious.
- Pro: Tilt allows access to trunks and tailgates while in use
- Con: A hitch lock is available but must be purchased separately
Factors to consider when choosing your bike rack
- Mount position: Not all bike racks will work with all SUVs, so be sure you know how you plan to attach your rack to your vehicle. For example, if your SUV doesn’t have a hitch, you shouldn’t get a hitch-mount.
- Rear-vehicle access: Consider how often you’re going to need to access your trunk or tailgate while transporting your bikes. If you need a lot of access, you should opt for a swing-away or tilting model, or perhaps a roof mount.
- Number and weight of bikes: Racks are rated not only by full-load weight but also by per-bike weight, so don’t think you can get away with just carrying one heavy bike instead of two lighter ones.
- Bike type: Your bike’s frame will go a long way toward determining the type of SUV bike rack you should get. Hitch mounts are better for larger, heavier bikes, while trunk mounts tend to work better with smaller, lighter bicycles.
- Budget: Bike racks can get expensive fast, especially if you’re looking at high-capacity models. Be sure you know how much you’re willing to spend before you start shopping.
How to find affordable car insurance for your SUV
We spend a lot of time shopping to make sure we find a bike rack that will keep our two-wheeled babies safe on our way to the next big ride. It only makes sense that we should put the same amount of effort into finding an insurance policy to protect the SUV that carries them, right?
But, let’s be honest—who really wants to spend hours looking for affordable
car insurance
when we could be spending it riding.That’s why you should let
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FAQs
Do you have to drive slower with a bike rack on?
You might. Many bike rack manufacturers offer recommendations regarding top speed while using their products.
Can you open your trunk with a bike rack on?
That depends on the rack. You can always open your trunk with roof-mount racks, but some hitch-mount and even a few trunk-mount racks offer features that allow you to access your trunk or tailgate with the rack installed.
By Sarah Gray
Updated on Feb 16, 2023
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett, Senior Editor.
- Best trunk mounts
- Best hitch mounts
- Best roof mounts
- Best alternative mounts
- Factors to consider when choosing your bike rack
- How to find affordable car insurance for your SUV
- FAQs
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