Just got one. I was even impressed with the way it was packaged. They went to extremes to protect it during shipment. In mine, the place where it fits in your receiver has a spring loaded pin so you have one less part to remove/lose and there is a 'screw type' system to tighten it in the receiver that reduces shaking to basically nothing you can notice. Also, the part that fits in the receiver can be locked so stealing the upper parts is useless. Haven't used it much but it is built like a tank. As with all carriers, there isn't much room between bikes so a good idea to get one that holds one more bike than you are likely to carry.
Hope you all found this video helpful. If you did, hit that thumbs up button for me, please. Let me know what you think here in the comments. Also, please consider Subscribing to the Channel. All of these things really help this channel a lot.
I just bought one of these. Haven't opened the box yet because I need to have a hitch put on in a few days. I feel a lot better about my purchase now. Thanks.
Great review as I too have three bikes, but I wanted to get a rack that will hold four bikes...just in case we take our daughter’s friend riding with us. After two years and you’re still happy with it says a lot. Don’t need anything fancy, just something that works. :)
Finally a product user that shares his real life experience of the product as oppose to other reviewers that make video and hardly never used the product.
Thanks for the comments. I'm glad that you found it useful. Likes, Shares, Subscribing, and Comments all really help this channel get noticed. I and other viewers really appreciate the comments.
My bike frames are not standard so it makes it tough to get them all on but I make it work lol! You made mounting these look easy haha! Mainly because you have standard tubing frames
But how to get that square thingy at the bottom of the car? I think its called a hitch base? i dont think all vans have one or I have to get one installed.? I have 2005 chevy uplander and i dont see where I can even put the bike rack into. cause I dont have a hitch base to stick the bike rack in .. need help ..
What is the length of the bars where the bikes are hanging? I have a bike rack that is mounted for my rear tyre(Rav4 1st generation). I can fit maximum 3bikes with a push and I need to care 4bikes. Planning to extend the bars, but wondering with how much? Thanks
I have that rack and like it. Couple things. The tilt is fantastic with a empty rack and I do a one-hander with one bike. Multiple bikes get pretty sketchy, both the weight and having the bikes grind against each other as they shift. I suppose if its necessary, a person could make some sort of a y stick to prop the rear of the rack from the ground while its tilted? On the bike mounting, so many different frame shapes, be sure to consider side shifting. Allen also sells a transport bar to act as a upper frame tube if necessary, I use one. Curious to know if any US states have issue with obstruction of tail lights and license plate?
I have used this rack in Kentucky for several years now and have never had an issue with any law enforcement questioning the rack blocking or obstructing the tail lights or license plate. "Knock on wood" LOL I'm not saying it can't happen, but it hasn't been an issue for me.
I would say very little. The pin that came with it was fat on one side and skinny on the other side. I took a drill and drilled out the hole on the other side on the bike rack part that goes into the hitch receiver, for one reason only, I wanted to be able to use the same hitch pin for both of my trailers and this rack. So, saying that, I may have a little more wobble than those that use the pin that came with it. But also, that being said, I don't even notice a wobble while driving, so it must not be that bad.
I was wondering how the bikes aren't swaying when you lower the rack to open the back hatch? We have this rack and the bikes sway almost to a 40-45 degree angle. Do you use any other straps?
I do not use any other straps. I think they are just intertwined with each other so they don't move much. Also, I believe that it has a little to do with the fact that I put the straps on one of the smaller bikes on the slanted bar instead of the straight top bar. They do swing out some but not a whole lot. Thank you for your comments. I really do appreciate it. Please share the video with others.
Was just curious how did it feel when driving? As you're driving and you make a turn, can you feel it sway any that would be great to include in the review. Thanks
Thanks for the video. I just bought one of these. So, you don't think I need to use an extra strap to wrap around the bottom of the bikes, like the instructions say?
Thank you for your comments. I do not use an extra strap around the bottom of the bikes. I am not against using one, but I just never have. If it makes you more comfortable, then absolutely do it. I appreciate the comments. Likes, shares, comments, and subscribing, really help this channel get found in searches.
If you have only one bike on the rack then it may swing a little bit, but mine doesn't hit the back of the vehicle. If you have two or more bikes on it then they barely move, because the bikes kind of lock into each other. If you are concerned with it swinging and hitting the back of your vehicle when only having one bike on there, then I suggest that you put it on one of the tie down points of the rack further away from the back of the vehicle. I hope this helps.
Thanks for the review! I noticed you didn't get the locking version. Do you lock the rack to your hitch in any way? Or lock the bikes to the rack? I am considering getting one of these and saw poor reviews on the locking version, but I am concerned about anything getting stolen if I run into a store for a minute.
Glad you liked the review. I do not lock mine to the hitch receiver. If you wanted to lock yours to the hitch receiver you could do it with a pin lock similar to this one amzn.to/3dx6LDH. As far as locking the bikes to the rack, I personally don't do that either. I have nothing against it, but I just have never felt the need to do so. I might feel it necessary if we had really expensive bikes, but we don't.
Here is my recommendation. If you have multiple bikes on the rack, then they kind of interlock together and the don't swing, hardly at all. BUT if you have only one bike on the rack, it will swing a little bit more. I have never had my bike wheel hit the back of my car, but to be 100% sure, if you are concerned when hauling only one bike, move it to the bike positions on the rack that are further from the vehicle. If I only am carrying one bike, I typically with put it on the furthest or the second furthest from the vehicle. I hope this helps and answers your questions. I appreciate your comments.
Yes I agree. It's not over complicated and I appreciate that. It's has been perfect for my family. I have had mine for about 4 years now and it still does a great job.
I just purchased this hitch off Amazon. The "No wobble Bolt" is what they included for me to secure the bike rack to my car's hitch. I would much prefer the thing you used as it seems way easier to secure and remove the rack that way. Can you tell me where you got that from?
I took out the “no wobble bolt” and I drilled out the other side straight across and I use a 1/2” pin instead. I did it so that I could use the same pin for my mower trailer and my bike rack.
I'm glad you liked the video. I'm not sure if you asking, about installing the hitch receiver onto my highlander or if you are talking about put the bike rack into the hitch receiver? Please clarify. Thanks.
@@ReichpoloTech - I should have been more clear, how hard was it to attach the hitch receiver (thanks for the language) to your SUV, did you do that part yourself, or did you take it to the mechanic to get it done? Let me know, thanks!
I installed mine myself. Mine went on with, I believe 4 bolts. The frame on my highlander already had holes in it with rubber plugs. In the Toyota models they cut and tap the holes with threads for all the frames when the come down the line, but just put rubber plugs in the models that don't get factory tow packages. I found out through videos on UA-cam how to install it. Make sure you search for a hitch receiver that matches your vehicle. They are different for different models. For example look how mine has an offset to get around the tailpipe. My hitch receiver is a "Curt" brand. The receiver is pretty easy to install. The wiring for the trailer lights is also pretty easy to do, but it is little more involved. But once again there are a lot of videos on UA-cam to do that as well. I hope this helps.
@@ReichpoloTech thanks, I've done exaclty what you stated and am starting to research exactly the hitch receiver that I'll need to install. There's a quite a few videos out there to help get this done. All the best, and thanks for the great details!
Honestly, I would not feel comfortable recommending one that is not a for trailer hitch. I used one years ago (like 14 years ago) on a Pontiac Grand Am, but I felt like it was a pain in the butt to use. They may have come a long way and gotten a lot better since then. I am sorry that I can't help you out with a recommendation, I just don't have much experience with them. I would rather be honest with you and tell you that I don't have a recommendation for you, then just blindly recommend one. Good luck with it. I appreciate the comments.
Yes sir, There are several replaceable parts on the racks. Here is the link directly to the Allen website where you can get the parts. allen.bike/collections/parts I'm not sure I follow what you are asking about the tubing being cushioned. I hope this helps answer your first question at least.
If you don't have a 2" hitch receiver on your vehicle, then you would have to put one on there, to use this type of bike rack. I would not recommend you do this on a leased vehicle. If you were to put on a hitch receiver yourself, you would need to install 4 bolts, normally, into the frame of the vehicle. My Highlander came with the pre-threaded bolt holes, but not all vehicles do. It also requires connecting into the wiring for the break lights and running lights to install the hitch receiver trailer lights connection.. You can pay to have the hitch receiver installed as well, if you don't want to tackle it yourself. I would suggest that you do a different type of bike carrier on a leased vehicle, if it doesn't have the hitch receiver already installed. I hope this helps. Thank you for your comments.
There is no built in way to lock your bikes on the racks. You would need to use use a separate locking device to lock them to it. Something like a cable or chain and lock. Thanks for your question and thanks for watching.
That isn't something that I wouldn't know about the rack. I have never taken it off-roading, or on extremely bumpy terrain. Hopefully some of the other viewers can chime in on this.
If you have only one bike on the rack then it may swing a little bit, but mine doesn't hit the back of the vehicle. If you have two or more bikes on it then they barely move, because the bikes kind of lock into each other. If you are concerned with it swinging and hitting the back of your vehicle when only having one bike on there, then I suggest that you put it on one of the tie down points of the rack further away from the back of the vehicle. I hope this helps. Have a great and prosperous 2021.
There is no built-in way to lock your bike(s) to the rack. I would suggest that you use a chain and lock, if you need to lock it for a short period of time for errands. I would get one long enough to go around several bikes and part of the bike rack. Hope this helps.
There is no security with this. What I did was: 1. locking receiver pin (had to drill larger holes in the rack's receiver to fit the lock pin). 2. peened (smashed) the bolt end threads against the nuts on all the assembly bolts. Seems to me that I had to replace with slightly longer bolts. 3. Added a heavy truck ground cable to the lower vertical bolts for form a loop to feed my security cable through.
I'm going to have rely on other commenters on this post, because I don't have any first hand experience putting a Trek Women's Marlin 5 on mine. Hopefully someone else that sees this can give you some insight on it. Thanks for your comment.
While I think that it would probably be fine, I have never had a bike that costed me more than $300. I have driven my sub $300 bike on that rack for 2 hour trips on several occasions without any problems. if I had a $3000-$4000 bike I would hall it in an enclosed trailer where it would be kept out of the weather elements. That is a very expensive bike. I like biking, but that is a whole entirely different level, than I am used to.
None of the Allen Sports Models have built-in ways to lock the bike on the rack. You would to need to find a way to lock it to the rack with a secondary lock. The locking Allen Models lock the rack to the hitch, but not the bikes to the racks. Thanks for your comments.
The instructions and Allen videos advise not to put the rack in the downward position when the rack is loaded. This could weaken the integrity of the rack/frame causing the frame to brake or bend. This could cause a potential road hazard and damage your bikes if this were to happen while driving. ****Do not release the rack in the downward position while loaded****
I would agree, don't ever drive with it in the downward position. I only lower it for a brief second if I need to get something out of the back, while stopped, and then put it right back up. I would agree, it is not designed to be kept down for a long period of time with bikes on it. I only do it if I have to grab something really fast out of there and I don't want to take 3 or 4 bikes off the rack. If it makes you feel uncomfortable lowering it with the bikes on there for a brief moment, then by all means don't do it. I just showed that it is possible to do it. Thanks for your comment.
That generalization is not correct. They have different "CLASS" levels. Class 1 and 2 are 1-1/4", but Class 3 is 2". My Curt hitch receiver is "class 3" and it is 2". It all depends on the "CLASS" of hitch receiver that you get. They make different ones.
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Lol
A product review after two years of usage is extremely useful. I bought one last week. Going to install it now. Much appreciated.
Glad you liked it. I appreciate the comments.
Thanks for the review. I appreciate especially as it's after 2 years of use, so all the more valuable.
I'm glad you liked it. Please share it with others. Thank you for your comments.
Agree, much more worthwhile perspective. Thanks!!
Thanks guys. I appreciate the comments.
Just got one. I was even impressed with the way it was packaged. They went to extremes to protect it during shipment. In mine, the place where it fits in your receiver has a spring loaded pin so you have one less part to remove/lose and there is a 'screw type' system to tighten it in the receiver that reduces shaking to basically nothing you can notice. Also, the part that fits in the receiver can be locked so stealing the upper parts is useless. Haven't used it much but it is built like a tank. As with all carriers, there isn't much room between bikes so a good idea to get one that holds one more bike than you are likely to carry.
Hope you all found this video helpful. If you did, hit that thumbs up button for me, please. Let me know what you think here in the comments. Also, please consider Subscribing to the Channel. All of these things really help this channel a lot.
Thanks for the video and review. I was looking at picking one of these up.
I'm glad you liked the video. I have been really happy with mine.
Thank you. This is the best review I see on this stuff.
I’m glad you found it useful. Likes, shares, subscribers, and comments really help this channel get noticed. I appreciate it.
Great job. Trying to get my family more active around COVID. Thanks you have good content.
Glad to help. Thank you for your comments.
I just bought one of these. Haven't opened the box yet because I need to have a hitch put on in a few days. I feel a lot better about my purchase now. Thanks.
Glad the video was helpful. I think you will really like it. I really like mine. I appreciate your comments.
Thanks for this video! Just pulled the trigger on one from Amazon!
Glad I could help! I appreciate the comments.
Great review as I too have three bikes, but I wanted to get a rack that will hold four bikes...just in case we take our daughter’s friend riding with us. After two years and you’re still happy with it says a lot. Don’t need anything fancy, just something that works. :)
Thank you for the comments. I appreciate it.
I have been considering getting one of these racks for a long time. Very good review!
Thank you. I really appreciate that comment.
Awesome, we need one like this! Thanks.
You’re welcome :)
Thanks for the review! Mine is arriving today and this review video is the only one I watched. Also a 3-bike fam here! Later.
I’m glad you found it useful. I appreciate the comments, likes, and shares.
Finally a product user that shares his real life experience of the product as oppose to other reviewers that make video and hardly never used the product.
Thanks for the comments. I'm glad that you found it useful. Likes, Shares, Subscribing, and Comments all really help this channel get noticed. I and other viewers really appreciate the comments.
Perfect video, sir! Exactly what I needed!!!
Thanks. Glad it helped!
Thank you so much for taking the time to model this "How To". This video was extremely helpful. Liked and subscribed!!
Glad it helped. I appreciate the comments. Thank you for liking and subscribing.
Cool man, I just ordered one. I'm glad it's some count.
I've a locking pin for my receiver hitch too.
Enjoy it. I have been really happy with mine.
Great review, just what I needed to know.
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome review, thanks for your time
You’re welcome . I’m glad it was helpful.
So helpful! Thank you so much...we had no idea on how to get the bikes on it.
Glad I could help!
Hey man, I know you aren't a huge youtuber but keep it up, good videos and personable guy!
Thank you. I appreciate that.
Awesome review! Subscribed
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for subscribing.
Great review solidified me buying this rack. Had it in my cart initially but hit your link so you get a bit of kick back!
Thank you
Great review! Thank you.
Glad you liked it and I'm glad it was helpful. I appreciate the comment.
So helpful. Great vid. It's nice it's not focused in the beginning...lol...get the haters outa here before the best video review. Thanks!!
You're welcome. I appreciate that! I'm glad you liked it.
Thanks, nice demo
You’re welcome.
Perfect review, thanks.
I'm glad you liked it. I really appreciate the comment.
Good review. Thank you.
Thanks for watching. Glad you liked it.
My bike frames are not standard so it makes it tough to get them all on but I make it work lol! You made mounting these look easy haha! Mainly because you have standard tubing frames
These are the only bikes we have. Ha ha.
I saw your name on your car and decided to check your channel out and it’s pretty cool! I wasn’t driving btw.
Thanks for checking it out. Share it with all your friends. :) Happy Holidays.
@@ReichpoloTech happy holidays too
great video, thanks.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for the comment. I appreciate it.
Very very helpful video thanks 😊 i just buy one like that one 😀
I'm glad I could help. Glad you liked it.
Please share the video with others and Happy New Year.
Nice video! If you only mount 1 bike, will the handle bar and front wheel rotate as you drive? Seems nothing is there to hold the front wheel
But how to get that square thingy at the bottom of the car? I think its called a hitch base? i dont think all vans have one or I have to get one installed.? I have 2005 chevy uplander and i dont see where I can even put the bike rack into. cause I dont have a hitch base to stick the bike rack in .. need help ..
What is the length of the bars where the bikes are hanging? I have a bike rack that is mounted for my rear tyre(Rav4 1st generation). I can fit maximum 3bikes with a push and I need to care 4bikes. Planning to extend the bars, but wondering with how much? Thanks
I have that rack and like it. Couple things. The tilt is fantastic with a empty rack and I do a one-hander with one bike. Multiple bikes get pretty sketchy, both the weight and having the bikes grind against each other as they shift. I suppose if its necessary, a person could make some sort of a y stick to prop the rear of the rack from the ground while its tilted? On the bike mounting, so many different frame shapes, be sure to consider side shifting. Allen also sells a transport bar to act as a upper frame tube if necessary, I use one. Curious to know if any US states have issue with obstruction of tail lights and license plate?
I have used this rack in Kentucky for several years now and have never had an issue with any law enforcement questioning the rack blocking or obstructing the tail lights or license plate. "Knock on wood" LOL I'm not saying it can't happen, but it hasn't been an issue for me.
Worked hard for best video though. Thks
Thank you. That means a lot to me. I really appreciate your comment.
Thank You!!!!
You’re welcome :)
Any issues with your front bike tire hitting the vehicle?
Thanks!
You're Welcome. I hope it was helpful. Thank you for your comment.
Thanks for sharing'
Is there a lot of play in the hitch portion? Does the rack wobble when driving?
I would say very little. The pin that came with it was fat on one side and skinny on the other side. I took a drill and drilled out the hole on the other side on the bike rack part that goes into the hitch receiver, for one reason only, I wanted to be able to use the same hitch pin for both of my trailers and this rack. So, saying that, I may have a little more wobble than those that use the pin that came with it. But also, that being said, I don't even notice a wobble while driving, so it must not be that bad.
How can you ship the rattling?
I was wondering how the bikes aren't swaying when you lower the rack to open the back hatch? We have this rack and the bikes sway almost to a 40-45 degree angle. Do you use any other straps?
I do not use any other straps. I think they are just intertwined with each other so they don't move much. Also, I believe that it has a little to do with the fact that I put the straps on one of the smaller bikes on the slanted bar instead of the straight top bar. They do swing out some but not a whole lot. Thank you for your comments. I really do appreciate it. Please share the video with others.
Was just curious how did it feel when driving? As you're driving and you make a turn, can you feel it sway any that would be great to include in the review. Thanks
I don't notice any sway at all. I may be used to it, but I don't remember it ever being a noticeable thing to me.
@@ReichpoloTech thank you. I bought it today. 🙂
You're welcome.
Thanks for the video. I just bought one of these. So, you don't think I need to use an extra strap to wrap around the bottom of the bikes, like the instructions say?
Thank you for your comments. I do not use an extra strap around the bottom of the bikes. I am not against using one, but I just never have. If it makes you more comfortable, then absolutely do it. I appreciate the comments. Likes, shares, comments, and subscribing, really help this channel get found in searches.
Do the bikes wobble (front wheel) and hit your vehicle, such as your rear bumper or liftgate when driving? Appreciate your video!
If you have only one bike on the rack then it may swing a little bit, but mine doesn't hit the back of the vehicle. If you have two or more bikes on it then they barely move, because the bikes kind of lock into each other. If you are concerned with it swinging and hitting the back of your vehicle when only having one bike on there, then I suggest that you put it on one of the tie down points of the rack further away from the back of the vehicle. I hope this helps.
Thanks for the review! I noticed you didn't get the locking version. Do you lock the rack to your hitch in any way? Or lock the bikes to the rack? I am considering getting one of these and saw poor reviews on the locking version, but I am concerned about anything getting stolen if I run into a store for a minute.
Glad you liked the review. I do not lock mine to the hitch receiver. If you wanted to lock yours to the hitch receiver you could do it with a pin lock similar to this one amzn.to/3dx6LDH. As far as locking the bikes to the rack, I personally don't do that either. I have nothing against it, but I just have never felt the need to do so. I might feel it necessary if we had really expensive bikes, but we don't.
How do the people behind you see your tail lights????????
What about wheel swing? Does the front wheel of the closest bike hit your car as you drive over bumps, or during braking, or under any circumstances?
Here is my recommendation. If you have multiple bikes on the rack, then they kind of interlock together and the don't swing, hardly at all. BUT if you have only one bike on the rack, it will swing a little bit more. I have never had my bike wheel hit the back of my car, but to be 100% sure, if you are concerned when hauling only one bike, move it to the bike positions on the rack that are further from the vehicle. If I only am carrying one bike, I typically with put it on the furthest or the second furthest from the vehicle. I hope this helps and answers your questions. I appreciate your comments.
Easy and Reliable
Yes I agree. It's not over complicated and I appreciate that. It's has been perfect for my family. I have had mine for about 4 years now and it still does a great job.
I just purchased this hitch off Amazon. The "No wobble Bolt" is what they included for me to secure the bike rack to my car's hitch. I would much prefer the thing you used as it seems way easier to secure and remove the rack that way. Can you tell me where you got that from?
I took out the “no wobble bolt” and I drilled out the other side straight across and I use a 1/2” pin instead. I did it so that I could use the same pin for my mower trailer and my bike rack.
Thank you for your comment. I really do appreciate it.
Looks very wobbly??
Super cool review, very clear and thanks. How hard was it to get the hitch onto the car?
I'm glad you liked the video. I'm not sure if you asking, about installing the hitch receiver onto my highlander or if you are talking about put the bike rack into the hitch receiver? Please clarify. Thanks.
@@ReichpoloTech - I should have been more clear, how hard was it to attach the hitch receiver (thanks for the language) to your SUV, did you do that part yourself, or did you take it to the mechanic to get it done? Let me know, thanks!
I installed mine myself. Mine went on with, I believe 4 bolts. The frame on my highlander already had holes in it with rubber plugs. In the Toyota models they cut and tap the holes with threads for all the frames when the come down the line, but just put rubber plugs in the models that don't get factory tow packages. I found out through videos on UA-cam how to install it. Make sure you search for a hitch receiver that matches your vehicle. They are different for different models. For example look how mine has an offset to get around the tailpipe. My hitch receiver is a "Curt" brand. The receiver is pretty easy to install. The wiring for the trailer lights is also pretty easy to do, but it is little more involved. But once again there are a lot of videos on UA-cam to do that as well. I hope this helps.
@@ReichpoloTech thanks, I've done exaclty what you stated and am starting to research exactly the hitch receiver that I'll need to install. There's a quite a few videos out there to help get this done. All the best, and thanks for the great details!
Thank you and good luck.
Can you recommend a bike rack that does not require a trailer hitch, for a Subaru Forester or Hyundai Santa Fe?
Honestly, I would not feel comfortable recommending one that is not a for trailer hitch. I used one years ago (like 14 years ago) on a Pontiac Grand Am, but I felt like it was a pain in the butt to use. They may have come a long way and gotten a lot better since then. I am sorry that I can't help you out with a recommendation, I just don't have much experience with them. I would rather be honest with you and tell you that I don't have a recommendation for you, then just blindly recommend one. Good luck with it. I appreciate the comments.
Are the straps replaceable if they tear? Also, is the tubing cushioned to not scratch the bike frame?
Yes sir, There are several replaceable parts on the racks. Here is the link directly to the Allen website where you can get the parts. allen.bike/collections/parts I'm not sure I follow what you are asking about the tubing being cushioned. I hope this helps answer your first question at least.
If you are talking about the cradles where the bikes hang from, then yes the newer models are rubber lined to help protect the bike frame.
Great review!
Can this rack hold kids bikes (say a 16 inch bike meant for 4-6 year olds)?
Yes it would, actually using for my 4 kids bikes,two 26inchs,one 24inch and a 20inch.
Yes, absolutely
What do you have to attach to your vehicle first.... or rather How? Concerned about bolts or damage as my vehicle is a lease
If you don't have a 2" hitch receiver on your vehicle, then you would have to put one on there, to use this type of bike rack. I would not recommend you do this on a leased vehicle. If you were to put on a hitch receiver yourself, you would need to install 4 bolts, normally, into the frame of the vehicle. My Highlander came with the pre-threaded bolt holes, but not all vehicles do. It also requires connecting into the wiring for the break lights and running lights to install the hitch receiver trailer lights connection.. You can pay to have the hitch receiver installed as well, if you don't want to tackle it yourself. I would suggest that you do a different type of bike carrier on a leased vehicle, if it doesn't have the hitch receiver already installed. I hope this helps. Thank you for your comments.
Is there a way to lock your bikes while on the rack to keep them from being stolen
There is no built in way to lock your bikes on the racks. You would need to use use a separate locking device to lock them to it. Something like a cable or chain and lock. Thanks for your question and thanks for watching.
Is it safe to drive on bumpy roads or dirt roads ( reall off road )while the rack is installed
That isn't something that I wouldn't know about the rack. I have never taken it off-roading, or on extremely bumpy terrain. Hopefully some of the other viewers can chime in on this.
Does the bike handlebar swing while you drive?
If you have only one bike on the rack then it may swing a little bit, but mine doesn't hit the back of the vehicle. If you have two or more bikes on it then they barely move, because the bikes kind of lock into each other. If you are concerned with it swinging and hitting the back of your vehicle when only having one bike on there, then I suggest that you put it on one of the tie down points of the rack further away from the back of the vehicle. I hope this helps. Have a great and prosperous 2021.
do the bikes not sway from it being only being secured at the top?
If they do, its not much. They have never hit back of my vehicle.
@@ReichpoloTech ok, thanks. That was my biggest worry when I bought this but I've only used it once so far.
Is there a way for me to lock my bikes while on the rack incase I need to run errands?
There is no built-in way to lock your bike(s) to the rack. I would suggest that you use a chain and lock, if you need to lock it for a short period of time for errands. I would get one long enough to go around several bikes and part of the bike rack. Hope this helps.
There is no security with this. What I did was: 1. locking receiver pin (had to drill larger holes in the rack's receiver to fit the lock pin). 2. peened (smashed) the bolt end threads against the nuts on all the assembly bolts. Seems to me that I had to replace with slightly longer bolts. 3. Added a heavy truck ground cable to the lower vertical bolts for form a loop to feed my security cable through.
Will this work for a women’s Marlin 5?
I'm going to have rely on other commenters on this post, because I don't have any first hand experience putting a Trek Women's Marlin 5 on mine. Hopefully someone else that sees this can give you some insight on it. Thanks for your comment.
Where can you purchase replacement straps
You can buy them on their website here: allen.bike/collections/parts
Did it come with the pin?
Yes, It does come with a pin.
Nice video. Which model is this? Deluxe?
amzn.to/2WFyICt this is the model in the video.
Yes the one in the video is the deluxe, currently $99 on Amazon, as of today 6/12/20.
Is there a way to lock your bike to the bike rack?
There is not a way to lock your bike to it, that comes with it. You would need a secondary locking device, like a u-lock or a chain and lock.
If you had a 3,000$-4,000$ bike, would you feel comfortable strapping it to that rack?
While I think that it would probably be fine, I have never had a bike that costed me more than $300. I have driven my sub $300 bike on that rack for 2 hour trips on several occasions without any problems. if I had a $3000-$4000 bike I would hall it in an enclosed trailer where it would be kept out of the weather elements. That is a very expensive bike. I like biking, but that is a whole entirely different level, than I am used to.
Can you lock the bike on the rack?
None of the Allen Sports Models have built-in ways to lock the bike on the rack. You would to need to find a way to lock it to the rack with a secondary lock. The locking Allen Models lock the rack to the hitch, but not the bikes to the racks. Thanks for your comments.
I'm pretty sure that is not meant to be tilted back with all of the bikes on it. Racks that cost 3 times as much aren't made for that.
I would agree that it’s not designed to do that, but in a pinch it can be done, carefully.
The straps look like they scratch the bike paint.
you can just remove it from the hitch, fold it and put it inside the van. No need for a lock
Yes, That is an option as well.
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it.
looks bit wobbling, isn't that bother you?
No. It doesn't bother me. I actually drilled out the pin hole on mine so that I could use the same pin for my bike rack that I use for me 14' trailer.
The instructions and Allen videos advise not to put the rack in the downward position when the rack is loaded. This could weaken the integrity of the rack/frame causing the frame to brake or bend. This could cause a potential road hazard and damage your bikes if this were to happen while driving. ****Do not release the rack in the downward position while loaded****
I would agree, don't ever drive with it in the downward position. I only lower it for a brief second if I need to get something out of the back, while stopped, and then put it right back up. I would agree, it is not designed to be kept down for a long period of time with bikes on it. I only do it if I have to grab something really fast out of there and I don't want to take 3 or 4 bikes off the rack. If it makes you feel uncomfortable lowering it with the bikes on there for a brief moment, then by all means don't do it. I just showed that it is possible to do it. Thanks for your comment.
Too bad Curt hitch is 1.1/4 not 2inches.
That generalization is not correct. They have different "CLASS" levels. Class 1 and 2 are 1-1/4", but Class 3 is 2". My Curt hitch receiver is "class 3" and it is 2". It all depends on the "CLASS" of hitch receiver that you get. They make different ones.
word of advice get a hitch lock...
Yeah, I suggest it in the video. Thanks for the comment.