Bike Rack 2 bicycle truck mounted Trunk-Mounted Bike Racks

Model OF1201

Finding the right way to transport your bike on a vehicle can be difficult. With so many options, it can be easy to get overwhelmed, particularly if your vehicle lacks the necessary components like a hitch receiver or adequate roof space. That is why a trunk-mounted bike rack can be a good option. Instead of taking up dedicated roof space or requiring a hitch receiver, all you need is a rear-end on your car. Regardless of whether you have a hatchback, minivan, SUV or anything in between, a trunk-mounted rack could work for you. To learn more about this often-forgotten bike rack option, read on for our guide.

• Safely transport your bikes. The most important thing any bike rack can do is to keep your bike safe during transport. The common knocks and bumps a vehicle experiences can damage a bike frame if not properly secured. Trunk-mounted racks often include enough weight supports, padding, straps, anti-sway measures, and other features to keep the bike immobilized and protected.
• Easily remove the bike from the rack. One of the biggest inconveniences of roof-mounted bike racks is the effort they can take to remove the bike from the cradle. Not only do you have to reach the roof, but you also sometimes have to hyperextend yourself while lifting the weight of the frame. Hitch- and trunk-mounted racks provide more convenience by lowering the bike frames within easy reach near the ground. Trunk-mounted racks offer even more convenience since they are more compatible with a greater variety of vehicles that may lack the proper hitch receiver to work.
• Find a bike rack for smaller vehicles. For hitch- and roof-mounted bike racks, you either need a lot of roof space or the right hitch receiver to make the setup work. Smaller, compact cars, on the other hand, often lack the necessary setup, leaving the vehicle owner high and dry. Trunk-mounted bike racks only require enough flat space on the end of the vehicle, making them perfect for smaller cars.

Fixed

This is the most basic type of trunk-mounted bike rack. The frame is a fixed design that uses several pieces of metal either welded or bolted together. The design typically comes in several bike capacities (usually from two to four bikes) and is relatively easy to set up since there aren't too many adjustments you can make. At the same time, the simple design also leaves some limitations if you want to increase the bike capacity or make it work for awkward vehicle designs.

Adjustable

Opposite to fixed bike racks are adjustable frames that include arms you can extend or add on to increase the bike capacity or alter the position of the best support. An adjustable bike rack is perfect if you need a more custom fit for your particular vehicle and can't find the right fixed design on the market. Some adjustable frames, however, can be trickier to set up and may sacrifice some weight capacity.