The 6 Best Hitch Bike Racks of 2023
By: Colin Edwards: Bike Buyer | June 7, 2023
Trailer hitches aren’t just for trailers. Dedicated cyclists know they’re the perfect way to mount a bike rack to your car. Sure, roof racks, strap-on racks, and tailgate pads exist, but it's hard to beat a hitch rack for maximum ease of use, security, and durability. They’re easier to load than roof racks, hold bikes more securely than a strap-on rack, and, well, if you don’t have a truck bed, tailgate pads won’t get you anywhere. Of course, there are still plenty of options among hitch bike racks. Folks looking for the most capacity should consider vertical hanging racks. Riders with a wide variety of wheel sizes might do best with a prong-style rack, and those who aren’t really sure will probably be happy with a tray rack. Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got it on this list of the best hitch bike racks out there.
New This Year:
This year, hitch-style racks continue to gain popularity while trunk-style racks take a backseat. Vertical hanging-style racks like the Yakima HangTight 4/6 are gaining traction thanks to their ability to carry 4+ bikes with ease. However, platform/tray-style racks still reign supreme, offering unmatched durability and user-friendliness. Compatibility is the buzzword this year, with more racks accommodating a diverse range of bikes, frames, and tire sizes. Furthermore, ease of access to the back of your vehicle has become a key design consideration. So, explore our carefully curated list, choose a car bike rack, load up your bikes, and hit the road for an epic ride!
This Year's Best Hitch Bike Racks:
Yakima HangTight 4 Vertical
The whole family can always come on adventures with the Yakima HangTight 4 Vertical Hitch Bike Rack. The upright position maximizes space and can carry anything from kids bikes to fat bikes. Head up to Bellingham with the entire family or shuttle the crew on the Wasatch Crest Trail - the four bike capacity will always save the day.
| Style | Bike Capacity | Original Price |
| Hanging Shuttle Rack | 4 | $848.95 |
Yakima StageTwo
The Yakima StageTwo Bike Hitch Tray is just as versatile as it is easy to use and fast to load/unload. Designed to accommodate wheel sizes ranging from 16" all the way up to 29" (and tires up to 3.25" wide), the StageTwo is compatible with virtually every bike you throw at it — fat-tire, mountain, road, hybrid, e-bikes, BMX, kids'. What's more, the offset trays provide extra clearance that makes loading/unloading easier than ever. Finally, Yakima's integrated SKS lock system paired with their remote tilt lever makes those quick stops less cumbersome and offers great peace of mind.
| Style | Bike Capacity | Original Price |
| Hitch Tray | 2 | $748.95 |
Thule T2 Pro XTR - 2
The Thule T2 Pro XTR - 2 Bike Rack features everything you need in a lifelong bike rack. This transport solution safely secures your rig without dinging the frame, and offers complete locking convenience with an integrated cable lock and lock knob. Top it off with the tool-free AutoAttach system for easy installation and you're trail bound in minutes!
| Style | Bike Capacity | Original Price |
| Hitch Tray | 2 | $799.95 |
Küat NV 2.0 - 2"
It's time to join the league of grown ups -- no more jerry-rigging you and your partner's bikes to the roof of your car in a rat's nest of bungee cords... Throw the refined Küat NV 2.0 2-Bike Rack on the back of your rig and travel with peace of mind and sophisticated style. With enough room to host 2-bikes and adjustable trays to accommodate fat bikes, mountain bikes, and the like, the Küat NV 2.0 fits into a 2" hitch receiver and comes with fully integrated cable locks, a hitch lock, and the famed Trail Doc built-in bike stand.
| Style | Bike Capacity | Original Price |
| Hitch Tray | 2 | $849.00 |
Thule Camber 4
The Thule Camber 4 Bike Rack fits easily in most receivers and holds up to four bikes at a time. This transporter of two-wheeled toys is friendly to carbon frames and has ample room to keep abrasion to a minimum. A foldable and swingable design makes real world usage easy and means you can actually use the back of your car with the rack on it. The Thule Camber 4 Bike Rack can live on your rig to help you always be ready for the next ride.
| Style | Bike Capacity | Original Price |
| Prong Rack | 4 | $379.95 |
Thule DoubleTrack Pro XT
A smart hitch rack user-friendly features, the Thule DoubleTrack Pro XT Rack instantly becomes an item you can't imagine living without. Its trays are adjustable and the padded arms hold your bike frames in place with no wiggles, scratches, or clanging (trust us: clanging is the worst). When all you have to do is lift your bike to knee height, slide a smooth arm down onto the frame, and drive to the meeting spot, you'll find yourself riding a whole lot more.
| Style | Bike Capacity | Original Price |
| Hitch Tray | 2 | $499.95 |
Learn More With Our Other Bike Guides:
How to Choose a Mountain Bike
Mountain Bike Sizing and Fit Guide
How to Get Started Mountain Biking
How to Choose a Mountain Bike Wheel Size
Mountain Bike Suspension Basics
Women's Mountain Bike Buyer's Guide
How To Get Started Gravel Biking
Electric Mountain Bike Buyer's Guide
Classes of eBikes
Travel Guides - Where to Mountain Bike
Travel Guides - Where to Ride eBikes
Mountain Bike Cockpit Setup & Seat Height
How to Choose a Mountain Bike Dropper Post
How to Choose Mountain Bike Tires
How to Choose Mountain Bike Handlebars
How to Choose Mountain Bike Pedals
How to Choose Clipless Pedals, Shoes & Cleats
How to Choose a Bike Seat / Saddle
Women's Mountain Bike Gear & Clothing Guide
How to Choose MTB Knee Pads
Bike Helmet Size & Fit Guide
How to Choose Bike Shoes
Shimano Groupset Hierarchy Explained
SRAM Groupset Hierarchy Explained
SRAM vs Shimano Groupsets Compared
What to Bring Mountain Biking
What to Wear Mountain Biking
Mountain Bike Tire Pressure Guide
Mountain Bike Maintenance Schedule
How to Clean a Mountain Bike
How to Change Bike Pedals
How to Bleed SRAM Brakes
How to Bleed Shimano Brakes
How to Convert to Tubeless Tires
How to Replace Internal Cable Housing
How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur
How to Replace a Bike Chain
How to Fix Bike Creaks & Noises
The Selection Process:
Our bike buyer has an endless amount of knowledge on all things bike stemming from years of experience in the bike industry in tandem with their countless hours out on the dirt, gravel, and tarmac. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Colin Edwards
Meet Colin Edwards, evo's in-house Bike Buyer and mountain biking aficionado. With 15+ years of e-commerce buying experience under his belt, Colin is the go-to guy for all things related to "Riding Dirt." He's worked across various categories, including bike, snowboard, travel, climbing, and surfing, giving him the know-how to recognize and select top-notch mountain biking products for evo's customers.
Colin's been shredding trails since he was a kid, starting on his trusty hardtail Trek 800 Sport. Born and raised in Utah, he recently made the move to Bellingham, WA with his partner, Kenz. Colin's real-world biking experience, combined with his background in product trends, relationship building, and sales analysis, makes him an invaluable asset to the evo team.
When he's not busy handpicking the raddest gear, you'll find Colin ripping through PNW trails or hunting for the world's best dirt. And when the snow falls, he's all about snowboarding. Colin also loves trail running and exploring the PNW's stunning landscape with his two dogs and Kenz.
With Colin's expertise and passion fueling evo's mountain biking selection, you can trust that his recommendations are spot-on and tailored to the evo community's adventurous spirit.
