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If you and your family enjoy bike riding, finding a secure rack to fit all of your bikes on can be a difficult task. The majority of cars cannot fit two bikes in the trunk, let alone four. This is why a bike rack is a necessity.
There are many different types of bike racks available and a hitch-mount rack can be particularly useful. It can be secured into the hitch at the back of your car easily and will store your bikes securely. One company that creates good quality bike racks is Allen Sports.
In this article, we will be discussing and reviewing one bike rack, in particular, the Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount. It will likely be the answer to all of your bike transporting problems.
We will be discussing the company’s history and the product’s specifications. We have provided you with a useful table of pros and cons to compare. We will be discussing whether or not it is worth the money.
Allen Sports History
To give you a little insight into the company, Allen Sports was founded in 1967, by a man called Dick Allen. Being a cycling enthusiast, he wanted to create a way of transporting bikes on the outside of his car for trips away with his family.
From this, he created the first trunk-mounted rack and founded the company, Allen Bike Racks. These bike racks gained in popularity fairly quickly and in 1971, they were being sold by various distributors all across the USA. The idea was innovative and much safer than the alternative of using string to hold the bike in place.
The company has grown from strength to strength with innovative ideas since. They are well known for their good quality, affordable, and durable bike racks.
Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack Review
We have split this review into useful specification sections for you to follow.
Allen Sports unisex-adult Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack
Design and Cost
Overall, the design of the Allen Sports rack is sleek. It has a powdered black finish and has accents of red on it. It can hold up to four bikes at one time which is great if you have a large family who all own bikes. It is also great if you and friends are going on a camping trip.
The rack will help to free up space in your trunk and you do not have to attach four bikes at one time, you can attach between 1-4 bikes. It has a fairly low loading height which is easy to reach.
The Allen Sports Deluxe is made out of particularly durable steel. As the mount is attached to the back of the car, you will want it to be made out of good quality durable materials.
This mount rack will fit a two-inch trailer hitch only. If you are looking for a model that will fit other hitches, it may be worth looking into the Deluxe Locking Hitch Mount Rack.
There are a few different versions of this Mount Rack available in addition to the Deluxe that we have listed below:
- Deluxe Locking
- Deluxe+ Locking
- Premier
- Premier Locking
- Premier Locking With Spare
While all of these will do fundamentally the same thing, each of them does have slightly different specifications that are worth looking into, such as hitch size differences.
In terms of the cost, this is a reasonably priced hitch mount rack and is a great option for those on a budget. It is a good quality product at a good price. Compared to other competitors on the market, it fairs very well.
One thing to note is that it does not contain any security features if you are leaving the bikes unattended. For safety, it is worth purchasing these separately. However, it provides everything that you would want and need from a hitch mount rack.
List of Pros and Cons
We have provided you with a useful list of the Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount rack pros and cons. As you can see there are a lot of great positives to this rack.
- Quick installation
- Made out of durable steel
- Wobble Free
- Foldable carry arms
- Good weight capacity
- The Mount rack tilts backward for an easy-lift gate access
- Individual tie-down system
- Tilt away mast
- Good value for the money
- Can be a bit of a struggle to fit four full-sized bikes on this mount rack
- Only fits a 2-inch hitch
- No warranty is provided if purchased through a third-party seller
- Security features would need to be purchased separately
Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack Buyer’s Guide
Quick Installation
In terms of installation, this is quick and easy. The rack comes with a locking hitch insert that is easy to attach. It does not wobble when it is locked in place and remains secure.
The Allen Deluxe Mount rack is designed to be wobble-free when installed which will give you peace of mind when on the road. It comes with a no-wobble bolt to ensure that your bikes remain safely in place.
You do not need any complicated tools to install the rack, it simply locks in place with three bolts. This is great as it will save you time when preparing to travel. The instructions are simple to follow and easy to understand. You can have this rack assembled in just a few minutes.
Foldable Carry Arms
What is great about the Sports Deluxe is that it comes with foldable carry arms. This is great for when you need to store your bike rack.
When it is not in use, it can easily put down and stored away without taking up too much room. The carry arms are 22 inches in length.
Weight Capacity
The Allen Sports Mount rack can hold up to 140lbs. This reassures you that your bikes will be secure and will not be too heavy for the bike rack.
Although it is important to ensure that you are not reaching the weight limit of the rack, you do have a lot to work with.
Easy Access
When installed and in place, the mount rack is easily accessible. It can tilt backward which is great for easy-lift gate access.
When tilted backward it is unlikely to cause any scratches or paint damage to the back of your car.
Individual Tie-Down System
The individual tie-down system holds each of your bikes in place and provides them with extra security. Once tied in place, you will not have to worry about them potentially falling off into the road while you are driving.
The tie-down system keeps your bikes securely tied to the carry arms. In addition to this, they can be rotated on the carry arm before they are secured. This allows you to attach a wide selection of different sizes and models of bikes to your mount rack.
Each tie-down system can be adjusted separately, meaning you can easily store adult and children’s bikes on this mount rack.
The bikes are placed quite closely together on the rack and if you are securing four larger bikes you may find that it will take a little while to secure them all. In addition to this, if you have an expensive bike or are worried about any potential damages, perhaps place two or three bikes on the mount instead of four.
Tilt-Away Mast
The main mast of the Hitch Mount Rack can be tilted to each side with ease. This is great if you need to access your trunk after the rack has been secured in place.
It means that you will not need to remove the entire rack every time you need lift gate access.
Warranty
The Allen Sports Deluxe Hitch Mount does come with a warranty if it is bought directly from the manufacturer.
However, it is worth noting that you may not be able to receive a warranty on this product if it is purchased through a third party seller.
Summary And Where To Purchase
If you are looking for good quality, sturdy mount rack, the Allen Sports Deluxe is a great option for you. Although it is a basic mount rack, it can hold up to four bikes and is easy to use.
The installation is simple and only requires three installation bolts. It is made out of particularly durable steel and can hold four full-sized bikes with ease.
The carry arms all have individual adjusters to hold the bikes in place. The adjusters can also be rotated to help keep your bike secure.
Although you would need to purchase security features to keep your bikes safe if left unattended, this mounting rack is a fantastic option.
Although it can be a little more tricky to place four adult full-sized bikes on this rack, you still can do this. It is great for a big family that enjoys bike rides and is fantastic value for money.
