Top 5 Best Swing Away Bike Racks | 2021 Reviews

Specifications and Features

• Application: 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 2 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 60 lbs per bike
• Wheel diameter: 20″ – 29″
• Maximum tire width: 5″
• Carrier weight: 60 lbs

RockyMounts know the struggles of every outdoor enthusiast well that they created a line of gear carriers for every biker’s needs. With their range of high-quality gear racks, they will complete every outdoor lover’s dreams of going on adventures.

Among their line of great products is the Backstage platform-style hitch-mount bike rack. This rack lets you carry two bikes using the hitch of your car. The swing-away design allows you easy access to your rear cargo area without even unloading the bikes. The rack can extend up to 67 inches away from the hitch to allow full access to the rear of the vehicle.

With Backstage’s versatile design, you can load most bikes into the rack, like fat bikes up to 60 pounds in weight. The front-mounted, easy-release lever of the rack allows you to tilt and fold down the rack whenever accessing the back of your vehicle.

This 2-bike rack has ratcheting hooks that hold up the bikes securely on the front wheels, which means that the bikes will not collide with each other on the trailhead.

Thanks to the large front and rear wheel cradles, you can quickly load and unload your bikes. The rear-wheel cradles with the ratcheting straps can easily be adjusted to fit bikes of different lengths. The deep wheel cradles also have extra-long straps that can fit fat tires up to 5 inches wide.

It has adjustable bike trays that can slide to 3 inches from side to side to make bike spacing more available. To adjust the trays, you can easily loosen the four bolts attached to the bottom of the rack, then slide the trays left or right and then tighten the bolts again.

Installing the Backstage is quick and easy. Because of the threaded, anti-rattle hitch pin of the rack, you can simply slide the shank into the hitch receiver and insert the pin then tighten using the tool included in the package. The anti-rattle hitch pin will reduce the noise and the movement of the rack.

Specifications and Features

• Application: 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 4 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 160 lbs
• Length of Rack Arms: 25”
• Cradle width: 1 ¾”
• Carrier weight: 56 lbs

The Yakima FullSwing rack has the best value for your money. It’s a 4-bike rack that securely holds bikes on the rear with ZipStrips while assuring easy vehicle access. Thanks to the high-quality rack swings of the FullSwing, you can easily access the rear cargo area of your car without unloading your bikes.

The hinged arm at the base of the rack lets you swing it away from the receiver hitch while your bikes are still loaded. It gives you the convenience of not having to unload your bikes when you open your rear cargo area. To open the hinged arm of the rack, you need to loosen the T-bolt and pull the spring-loaded pin then swing the rack away. It will lock in place once the rack is in full extension, so you don’t need to hold it while opening your rear cargo.

To put the rack back in its place, just press the hinge release lever and pull the pin to swing it again back to the original position. You will know that the rack is in place if the spring-loaded pin will click. Then, tighten the T-bolt to secure the rack in place.

If you are worried about your rack not being able to support four bikes, don’t fret because FullSwing has dual arms with TPE padding that absorbs road shock and vibrations on the rack, offering excellent bike support. With the quick-release TriggerFinger lever, you can quickly fold the arms of the rack for storage.

Don’t worry about your bikes and your rack being stolen because the FullSwing has a Same-Key system that can deter theft on both rack and bikes. The SpeedKnob secures the rack to your vehicle, and the integrated cable lock secures the bikes to the rack. With the SpeedKnob and the AutoPin, you can easily install the rack to the hitch receiver without any tools. The SpeedKnob also controls the vibrations and rattles of the shank to the hitch receiver.

The AutoPin is a spring-loaded pin that clicks when it enters the side pinhole of the hitch. The thumb-release button disengages with the AutoPin so the rack can easily slide out of the hitch.

The FullSwing is made with the highest quality steel construction coated with a black powder finish for a chip-resistant and rust-resistant rack.

If you plan to carry a mountain bike or a kids’ bike that doesn’t have a traditional frame, though, you might have to purchase a frame adapter.

Specifications and Features

• Application: 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 4 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 35 lbs per bike
• Carrier weight: 42 lbs
• Distance between bikes: 5.5”
• Made in the USA

The Thule Vertex is a hitch rack with a unique arc design that can support up to four bikes. It is the best option if you and your family are into cycling and adventure.

Like all the other bike carriers on our list, the Vertex lets you access your rear cargo without unloading the bikes. With the hinged arm at the base of the hitch, you can swing the rack back and forth with ease, and have easy access to your trunk, hatch, or tailgate. You can also efficiently operate it with the help of the spring pin and the hand knob.

The HideAway anti-sway cradles with the cushioned straps make bike loading and unloading easier. You can fold up the rack against the arms, so it’s easy to slide the bikes over the cradles. You can carry different sizes of bikes with the 7-inch space of the rack along with the arm rotation. The rack also holds at three points to prevent bike-to-bike and bike-to-car contact.

No need to worry about theft because the One-Key system can deter if the rack and the bikes are being stolen. With the locking hand knob, you can secure the rack to the vehicle. The built-in heavy-duty cable lock also secures the bikes to the rack.

The SnugTite stinger and hand knob provide a smooth, tool-free installation. With the anti-rattle hitch pin, you will not hear any noise and movement in the hitch receiver.

Thule only uses the highest quality materials to build its racks. The Vertex is made of durable steel construction coated with black powder to resist corrosion and rust. Plus, you are sure that your Vertex will last long since it is made in the USA.

Specifications and Features

• Application: 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 4 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 35 lbs per bike
• Carrier weight: 42 lbs
• Length of arms: 28”
• Made in the USA

This is one of the premium racks of the Apex XT line. The only difference is its swinging feature, which will allow you to access your rear cargo area without even unloading the bikes.

The Apex has dual arms that will hold your bikes securely while providing ground clearance during vehicular movement. The HitchSwitch lever also allows you to fold the arms if not in use.

You are sure that the cradles can secure the bikes with the HideAway anti-sway feature. The cradles have two straps that will hold the bike – one on the top tube, and another along the seat post. Each strap is also dual-molded and durable. The cradles can also rotate along the arms to accommodate different bike frames.

Every cradle has a 7-inch gap, allowing more space between bikes and preventing it from tangling with one another while on the rack. It also has grooves on the surface to prevent the brake and the shifter cables from getting pinched.

Thule is known for the fast and tool-free installation of its racks. With the Apex Swing, you can easily install the rack using the knob at the front of the shank. You can slide the shank into the hitch and then turn the knob using the snug. The knob will then deploy an anti-rattle wedge in the shank to secure the hitch connection. With the SnugTite hitch pin, you will know that the connection is already in place when you hear it tick.

The manufacturers were also kind enough to consider how to ease the process of carrying and handling the rack, so they included integrated handlebars.

Every Thule product has a One-Key system that locks the bikes to the rack, and the rack to the vehicle. The integrated cable lock locks the bikes by inserting it on the end of the left arm.

The hand knob of the rack’s arm has a lock that secures it to the vehicle. The knob will freely spin when it is locked so that when a thief tries to steal the rack, s/he could not operate on the knob. Also, the locks have the same keys, so you can use any of it to open both locks.

All Thule products are made with the highest quality materials, using durable steel construction for all racks and coated with black powder to resist corrosion and rust. Plus, you’ll be happy with the fact that all the products are made in the USA and come with a limited lifetime warranty.

Specifications and Features

• Application: 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 4 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 140 lbs
• Carrier weight: 58 lbs
• Length of arms: 25”
• Distance between arms: 13”

If you are looking for a rack that has excellent features but not a high price tag, then the SportRack Ridge Swing might be the one for you. Like any other SportRack products, the Ridge Swing is made with the highest quality materials, but it’s affordable enough for every adventure-seeker.

The Ridge Swing can carry up to four bikes and can mount on sedans, trucks, SUVs, and vans. The swing-away design can easily swing outward and locks in place to provide access to the rear cargo without unloading the bikes.

Swinging your Ridge Swing is simple. You just need to loosen the knob to the anti-rattle bolt and then pull up the black handle and turn the rack away from the rear of the car to get your cargo. To lock the rack in a 45-degree position, you have to insert the pin in the rack’s arm joint. The pin will allow you to access the cargo without the need to hold the rack. To fold the rack back to the original position, just remove the pin.

The swing-away rack also has anti-sway cradles that will prevent collision between bikes and the vehicle. The cradles assure the steady hold of the bike by grabbing the seat posts at two points on the top tubes. The cradles can also rotate and slide along the arms to make the proper spacing between bikes. The rubber straps of the cradle also hold your bikes in place securely.

Some racks cause noise and rattle whenever the vehicle is in motion. But with the Ridge Swing’s anti-rattle hitch pin, you won’t have to worry about any sudden movements when attached to the hitch receiver.

SportRack believes that their products are all of the best quality despite the affordability. With the steel construction of the rack and the black powder finish, it will last longer and resist rust and corrosion. Plus, the rack is made in the USA, so you don’t have to worry about low-quality materials.