Title. Looking at hitch mounted bike racks, specifically two types: racks that have a vertical bar and the bike hangs down by the frame, and racks with a horizontal platform that the wheels sit in. Think things like Thule.
I see heavy ebikes being held by heavy duty racks, or multiple MTBs on one. How is it that they are stable? I would think that – especially the hanging ones – they would act like a giant breaker bar against the hitch opening. I know that they are designed not to really wobble right and left, but how does that little 1.25 or 2” square slot stop 3-4 feet of steel bar with 30-100lbs of weight on the end from breaking loose?
Definitely not asking because I’d like a hitch rack for my bike and have trust issues. Lol. I can’t fathom how these work, and why they don’t need to be secured from the top at least.
In: Engineering
They can cause issues on smaller cars. You want a class lll hitch or better. Put one on a 1.25 hitch on a sedan and you’ll have a bad time. Hitches are designed with a tongue weight. You are right that the leverage arm magnifies the weight of the bikes. But the big issue is hitting bumps or rollers on the road. That creates a huge moment that will bend many hitches.
I regularly haul my 250# dirt bike AND 2 mountain bikes on mine. When built right, they are fine.
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