Top 6 Best Bike Racks for Subaru Outback

There is nothing like the Thule promise – to simplify your active life. With their lightweight and heavy-duty bike racks, you will get the best value for your money. The Thule T2 Pro XT two bike racks are a premium platform-style hitch bike rack that holds the bike’s wheels using its ratcheting tools. You are sure that there is no frame contact because of the sliding cradles. Furthermore, the rack is made from solid steel construction and coated with a black powder finish to avoid rust and corrosion.

The hitch-mounted bike rack of Thule can carry two bikes at the back of your Subaru Outback. The Thule T2 Pro XT is versatile enough to fit most bikes, from fat bikes to electric bikes. With the front-mounted HitchSwitch lever of the rack, anyone can easily lift and fold the rack. Furthermore, the ratcheting tools of the Thule T2 Pro XT are on pivoting upright arms to hold the bike securely by the front wheels, allowing a no-frame contact of the bikes.

The rack also has large front and rear-wheel cradles to make it easy to load the bikes. The rear-wheel cradles slide with the ratcheting straps to adjust the bike’s fit. The deep wheel cradles with the extra-long wheel straps accommodate fat bikes with a tire length of up to 5″.

The adjustable bike trays of the Thule T2 Pro XT slide up to 3” sideways to optimize the bike spacing.

The Thule T2 Pro XT has a quick and easy installation because of the AutoAttach system. Users can simply slide the rack into the receiver and insert the Auto Pin through the hitch pin hole and shank. To tighten the leg, simply turn the hand knob.

The Thule T2 Pro XT has a One-Key System that locks your rack and your bike to your Subaru Outback and avoids theft. The hand knob of the One-Key System secures your rack to the Subaru Outback, and the integrated cable locks secure your bike to the rack. You are sure that all the parts of the Thule T2 Pro XT are of high quality since it is made in the USA.

Specifications:

• Application: 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 2 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 60 lbs per bike
• Maximum tire width: 5″
• Carrier weight: 52 lbs
• Limited lifetime warranty

Yakima understands your love for the wild side, which is why it wants to make your adventurous life easy with the Yakima HoldUp Evo bike rack. The Yakima HoldUp Evo bike rack was built to carry up to two bikes at a time. The rugged platform-style rack of Yakima holds the bike by the wheels using the ratcheting hooks and pivoting cradles for a no-frame contact.

Anyone can easily tilt the rack to access the rear cargo area and fold it for storage with the easy-to-access levers of the Yakima HoldUp Evo bike rack. The KickStart foot level lowers the rack from the storage position so that the bikes can be loaded. The bike trays also have remote tilt levers that tilt the rack up for storage or down to access the cargo area.

The Ratcheting hooks and the pivoting cradles hold the bikes securely by the front wheels, and the large front and rear wheel cradles make bike loading easier. You can also adjust the rear-wheel cradles and the ratcheting straps of the rack to accommodate other bike sizes. With the deep wheel cradles and extra-long wheel straps, you can carry even the fat bikes with 5” wide tires.

Bike spacing is optimized with Yakima HoldUp Evo’s adjustable bike trays that slide on the side. Also, the SpeedKnob of the rack offers a tool-free and rattle-free installation. You just have to simply tighten the rack inside the hitch to reduce the noise and movement of your bike.

The Same Key System locks of the Yakima prevent theft and loss of both the rack and the bikes. With the SpeedKnob, you are sure that your rack is tightly secured to the Subaru Outback. Also, with the integrated cable locks, your rack is securely locked into the rack.

If you have more than two bikes, you can purchase the Y02482 add-on to convert your two bike rack into a four bike carrier.

Yakima only produces the highest quality bike racks with their solid steel construction and glossy black powder coat finish to prevent rust and corrosion on the Yakima HoldUp Evo bike rack. Plus, after that long bike riding and loading, you can easily enjoy your cold drink with the signature bottle opener built into the end of the rack.

Specifications:

• Application: 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 2 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 50 lbs per bike
• Maximum tire width: 5″
• Carrier weight: 50 lbs
• Limited lifetime warranty

The Kuat NV 2.0 is another platform-style rack that can carry two bikes at a time. Because of its hitch-mount style, it can accommodate different bike sizes, designs, and brake style. There is a no-frame contact with Kuat’s ratcheting hooks that firmly grip your bikes on the front wheels. Furthermore, the TPE coating prevents the hooks from scratching and scuffing the bike frame coating.

You are in for easy installation with Kuat NV 2.0’s hand-tightening cam system that does not need any tools to install your rack. Just turn the knob to tighten the rack in the hitch and have that anti-rattle installation.

The large front-wheel cradles of the rack allow an easy bike loading, and the sliding and ratcheting straps lets you carry bikes with up to 4 -13/16″ wide tires. If you want to carry more bikes with fat tires, you can also purchase the APBK adapter.

Anyone can easily tilt and fold the Kuat NV 2.0 bike rack with its front-mounted foot levers. It also has a built-in bike repair stand for your on-the-go maintenance. The stand can fit ¾” to 2 ½” diameter tubing and can adjust for the best bike positioning.

You don’t have to worry about your bikes and your rack being stolen since the Kuat NV 2.0 bike rack has keyed-alike locks to securely lock both your bike and your rack to the Subaru Outback. The Keyed-alike locks have a hitch-lock that secures the rack to your Subaru Outback and the cable lock, which locks the bikes to the Kuat NV 2.0 bike rack.

All of the products of Kuat are of high quality. The Kuat NV 2.0 is made with lightweight aluminum that is durable and corrosion-resistant. It is also coated with metallic black anodized gray powder for rust resistance.

Specifications:

• Application: 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 2 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 60 lbs per bike
• Maximum Tire Width: 4.8”
• Weight: 52 lbs
• Limited lifetime warranty

Hollywood Racks is known for its adjustable bike racks, which can hold up to four bikes. With the Hollywood Racks Sports Rider SE, you can carry up to four bikes using the platform-style bike rack with the front two bike positions easily removable. The ratcheting hooks on the center mask of the rack can hold bikes securely to the frame. Don’t worry about the hooks damaging your expensive bikes because it is covered with cushion.

The Sports Rider has adjustable wheel hoops that allow easy access of the user to load the bikes. The hoops can slide along the bike trays and get secured with the hand knobs. The Hook-and-Loop straps, which are similar to Velcro, also ensure the wheels to the hoops.

The two quick-release spring pins allow you to tilt the rack to access the rear cargo area and fold it up for storage.

The welded stop plate of the Sports Rider automatically aligns with the shank and the hitch pin holes to eliminate your effort to get on your knees and align the holes. It also has an anti-rattle handle that can reduce rack movement in the hitch receiver; therefore, no tools are required to tighten the shank. You just have to turn the handle to tighten it to the receiver tube.

You don’t need to worry about theft or stolen racks and bikes since the Sports Rider has a keyed-alike hitch lock with frame hooks and a security cable that will securely lock your rack to the Subaru Outback and the bike to the rack.

Hollywood Racks only believe that producing the highest quality racks are essential to cope up with the daily stress of traveling and carrying heavy bikes. With this, the Sports Rider was built with durable steel construction and coated with a black powder finish to resist rust and corrosion.

Specifications:

• Application: 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 4 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 50 lbs per bike
• Maximum tire width: 3″
• Weight:
  • Two-bike rack: 51 lbs
  • Four-bike rack: 81 lbs
• Limited lifetime warranty

Another excellent work of Thule is the Helium Pro 3 Bike Rack. Like any other Thule bike racks, the Helium Pro 3 is an ultra-lightweight hanging rack that can carry three bikes per travel. The hitch-mounted rack has the HideAway feature, which creates anti-sway cradles with the ratcheting straps to provide hassle-free loading of your bikes.

The rack can fold up against the arms so that it’s easy to slide the bikes over the cradles. The frames also do not touch each other and will not collide because of the 7” space for each bike. The arms of the rack can also rotate to accommodate a wide array of bike sizes and frames. Furthermore, the rack holds three points of each bike to avoid contact between bikes and bike-to-car.

The HitchSwitch levers of the Thule Helium Pro 3 allow you to fold down the rack’s arms for storage and tilt the rack for the rear cargo area access.

You don’t need to worry about getting your Helium Pro 3 and your bikes from being stolen because Thule provided a One-Key System lock for every Thule bike rack. The locking hand knob of the system secures the bike to the rack, and the built-in cable lock secures your rack to the Subaru Outback.

Thule created the SnugTite feature for the smooth and tool-free installation of the Helium Pro 3. Also, you are sure that there will be no noise and vibration on your rack because of the anti-rattle hitch pin. The hitch pin eliminates the movement and the rattle in the hitch receiver of the rack. Helium Pro 3 also has removable sleeves that can convert the rack back for 1¼” hitches.

Thule only promises to manufacture durable and versatile racks, which is why the Helium Pro 3 has durable aluminum construction, which is lightweight and rust-proof. Furthermore, all Thule products are made in the USA, so you are sure that everything is reliable.

Specifications:

• Application: 1-1/4″ x 1-1/4″ (Class I and Class II) and 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 3 bikes
• Weight capacity: 37.5 lbs per bike
• Carrier weight: 20 lbs
• Limited lifetime warranty

Swagman stands with its promise of providing racks for every bike; racks for everyone. With its Swagman Chinook 2 bike platform rack, anyone could afford to buy it because of its affordability compared to other bike racks. The Chinook is a platform-style carrier that can carry two bikes on every travel. It can fit 1¼’ – 2″ hitch receivers with a weight of up to 45 lbs per bike.

You are sure that the Chinook will take good care of your expensive bikes because of its ratcheting padded hooks that hold your bikes firmly by the top tubes. Since the hooks are padded, there is no need to worry about any scratches or scuffs on your bikes. With the pushbuttons, the hooks are allowed to move independently and hold different types of bikes. The locks in the arms also secure your bikes to the rack.

The Swagman Chinook has sliding cradles with ratcheting straps that secure your bike wheels to the rack. Also, with the hand knobs of the rack, you can adjust the cradles to accommodate bikes at different lengths.

You can easily tilt the rack to open the rear cargo area and fold it up for storage because of the spring-loaded levers. You can even tilt and fold the rack even without unloading the bikes.

The Chinook has hitch locks to secure your rack to the Subaru Outback, and the threaded pin also serves as an anti-rattle device to reduce the rattling in the hitch receiver.

You can quickly convert the rack to accommodate bikes with 1¼” hitches with the removable adapter sleeves of the Chinook.

Lastly, the Chinook is built with solid steel construction and coated with black powder finish for that robust, durable, and rust-proof bike rack.

Specifications:

• Application: 1-1/4″ x 1-1/4″ (Class I and II) and 2″ x 2″ trailer hitch receivers
• Carrying capacity: 2 bicycles
• Weight capacity: 45 lbs per bike
• Maximum tire width: 3″
• Carrier weight: 47 lbs
• Limited lifetime warranty