Customers' Reviews:
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 OK rack, a couple of shortcomings., March 12, 2008
By MoMellen (Oak Ridge, TN)
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Have had my rack 6 months. It is reasonably well made and sturdy. Bikes go on easily. The rubber frame holders work well with my hardtail bikes. A couple of bungees or the included strap should keep your bikes from swinging; you don't need the struts or fancy clamps.
Two problems: first, the locking-bolt hole for the 1-1/2 inch bar is too close to the end, causing the bar not to fit all the way into the receiver (poor design) and making the rack stick out at least 3 inches farther than it should on my car (Subaru Forester). Why not have two holes, like my old Saris rack? I had a machinist drill and tap another hole in the correct position. The Thule customer service (joke!) people would never admit this design flaw, although their website addresses it.
Second, to fold or unfold the crossbars (that the bikes go on), you have to remove/replace a bolt with a nylock nut, requiring 2 wrenches. This should be a tool-free affair with a carriage bolt and a big wingnut.
116 of 121 people found this review helpful
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 Great bike rack, August 23, 2008
By Rob (Goldsboro, NC, United States)
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I bought the rack for a vacation trip to Maine with 4 bikes (2 adult, 2 small children) using a 2006 Toyota Tacoma with rollup tonneau cover. I was able to open the tailgate about a foot without tipping down the frame (can't do it with bikes on it), so that was handy at the hotel when we just needed a suitcase and cooler. The tip-down feature wasn't really useful because you can't lower it with bikes on it. It took some effort to figure out how to fit all the bikes on the rack, but got easier with practice. The attachments are adjustable, and I found I could make everything work by turning the smallest bike upside down to avoid conflicts with the pedals and handlebars with the bigger bikes.
I also got the Thule 950 Zipstick to better secure the bikes, but found it wasn't really effective or necessary. The 956 Parkway came with one strap, and the 950 Zipstick came with 3 straps. I was able to secure the four bikes easily with 2 straps, but used three just to make sure they didn't swing around and rub against each other. The 950 Zipstick is cheap enough, but not really needed. Maybe it's more effective with 4 adult bikes.
My only complaint is on the design they chose to secure it to the hitch. They welded a bolt to the inside of the frame, making it impossible to use a standard hitch pin and lock. I didn't buy the Thule lock (thinking I'd use the lock I already had), and couldn't find one locally before my trip. I would have felt better with a lock to keep the rack on my truck, but didn't have a problem. Just toss an adjustable wrench in your stuff if you don't spring for the Thule lock. I also found it necessary to buy a 9' cable and lock, since a 6' cable was not long enough to reach through the lock point and all 4 bike frames.
Overall, a great bike rack that served me well on a recent 2,400 mile round trip, to include highway, gravel and off-road surfaces.
52 of 53 people found this review helpful
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 Very good quality bike rack for the price, July 9, 2008
By T. J. Turner
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This rack took all of 5 minutes to assemble and have ready. I'll save the receiver attachment till the end. The bikes loaded up easily on this. I put a full suspension, old steel trail/road bike, and two aluminum frame mountain bikes on this rack and ran it through streets, highway (up to about 68mph for awhile, down a dirt road and through potholes and the bikes and rack did well. This was very easy to use and it swings down quickly with a pull of the pin.
Now to the receiver. I like to use the same pin (locking) that I use for my drawbar and ball. So, when I ordered this,I knew I was going to modify it. I took a 5/8" deming drill bit on a 1/2" drill and went right through the nut. I now just slip my normal hitch lock through this and can quickly remove the rack and switch. This works for me and you can do so at your own risk. I also do not have to buy the lock they want to sell me. Saves money if you have access to a 5/8" drill bit.
I would gladly buy this rack again.
32 of 33 people found this review helpful
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good for the price, July 13, 2007
By brooklyn reviewer (Brooklyn, NY)
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this bike rack does not fold down with the bikes on it, but give that the racks that do cost $400+, this one is a good value. It's very easy to use and holds the bikes steady.
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
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Good Basic Bike Rack, March 31, 2007
By ClayCope (Seattle, WA)
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Bike rack doesn't have the bells and whistles (arm fold down & swing away) of the swing away racks, but it is very sturdy and super easy to assemble. For my use, the swing away wasn't worth the extra $200 and added weight. There's only 2 bolts to put together. Arrived in good packaging, well protected. Would recommend this hitch to anyone.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
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A little disappointed, April 7, 2009
By Michael (Havertown, Pa)
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The 956 Rack that was sent had not been properly machined so the parts would not line up to receive one of the bolts. The rack was effectively a really large paperweight! After looking a little closer, the part that goes into the car's receiver was also screwed up a little but functional.
Thule customer service was really polite and told me that I could ship it back and then they would send me a replacement. This probably would have worked if our family was not 700 miles from home on vacation...sigh.
Stuff happens, I guess. Off to find a hardware store and fudge the job. I'll machine it when we get home.
Other than a little quality control issue and some poor timing... the rack is okay and not a bad buy for the money.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
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great value, September 2, 2008
By Tracy French (Uxbridge, MA)
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I purchased this bike rack to replace a rear mounted style bike rack. I needed a rack that could accomodate 4 growing kids/teens. The rack was easy for my husband to install on our hitch. The rack is heavy and durable. I had no problems fitting the 4 bikes of different styles and shapes. The rubber holders turn easily to fit the different style bikes. My 13 year old was able to load the bikes himself. This rack doesn't allow access to the trunk while loaded. When the bikes are off it is very easy to pull a pin and lower the rack to gain trunk access. My 7 year old could do it! This rack is a great value for the money. If you need access to your trunk while loaded or need to pull a trailer too you'll need to upgrade.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Decent rack, replace the straps, have a wrench handy, April 21, 2010
By 5XPL183 (Central Coast, CA, USA)
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This is a quality rack. Biggest complaints:
1. I have a couple bikes with wierd bulky frames (sq tubes, shocks/springs in the way), causing me to stretch the stubby stock straps to mount the bikes. When you use the rubber straps (on any car rack), they should only be snug but NOT STRETCHED or you can lose a bike. I know, happened twice, watched it happen the second time and saved the bike. So I bought longer Yakima "Replacement Rubber Straps for Yakima Bike Racks w/SwitchBlade Cradles"; neither Thule (nor Amazon) have any so bought them from [...], [...]. Twice as long w/ round holes but they work. Warning: Even so, don't trust just the straps, buy a "12 foot lashing strap" (w/ easy clamp) and wrap it around the rack and bikes and cinch it down: [...].
2. The rack mount on the hitch is goofy, requiring a wrench. I guess it tightens it all up though. Might want to get the lock for it.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
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recreation family, June 26, 2009
By Sean Adams (ny)
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this rack works very well and fits my family of fours needs . the positives are the rack is very strong and sturdy holds 4 bikes easily .. putting it together was very easy . When its together its a bit heavy and bulky, but my wife is able to move it around ,very simple to use for most people.. the so called negative -as stated in a previous review if you don't want to use the threaded bolt with a wrench to tighten into the receiver hitch then you have to drill out the threads in the base of the rack which takes a bit of energy and patience but no problem for anyone who is familiar with power tools .The biggest negative to me was my daughters bikes which is more bmx style (12inch)does'nt fit in rack due to spacing in the bars on the bike my sons bike 16inch bmx style takes some thinking to figure out how to get it on the rack but it does fit took me about 15 minutes of flipping and turn till i found the right angle above and below the racks bars. i don't think any rack out there took this into consideration for this but i don't really know though
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Good rack, Made in USA!, September 2, 2008
By Jason D. Hoy
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Rack works well, carried 4 bikes on a 1500 mile trip last week and it worked great.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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It works, July 20, 2008
By Hedgehog (Georgia)
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I have the 2 bike version. Positives? Easy and quick to put a bike on it. Bikes seem stable. Fold away mechanism is easy to operate. Negatives? Installation on hitch requires a bolt...could be easy for someone to steal the whole assembly. I use a hitch lock on my hitches and hitch cover...doesn't work with this bike rack making attaching and detaching a chore (you have to have a wrench or socket). Also, the rubber mounts holding the bikes move which is nice for setup, but they also move slightly while driving (wind pressure hitting the bike tires). Positives outweigh the negatives though.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Great Rack, August 30, 2007
By W. Hunt (NYC)
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Great rack. It's easy to put on the car and easy to load and unload bikes. Very solid and great for the price. Arrived in two days.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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 ROAD TESTED, HAS SOME ISSUES, August 9, 2011
By AmazonShopper (San Diego, CA USA)
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Just returned from a 2000K road trip from San Diego to Colorado. Bought this rack for my Mtn Bike and wife's beach cruiser. Had some issues. I think this might be a good rack for driving short distances etc, but for long distance I would consider another rack....here's why:
1. Had issues with the 2 bikes moving on the rack! This is after they were secured with rubber clips/bungee cord and the rope latch that they supply. Made me a little nervous. I don't know if this was caused by the weight distribution of the bigger cruiser bike but don't like any movement back there what so ever.
Since I had to have the 2 bikes close together to prevent movement, the MTN bike pedal did some damage to the beach cruiser......I eventually put a sock over the pedal to prevent this. Was not happy.
2. The rack prevents you from opening the back of your vehicle. A real pain if trying to get a cooler out or other stuff, etc. You have to take the bikes off of the rack in order to let the latch/rack down to open up your back of your vehicle. Would be nice to have a swivel type of mechanism where you could open it up with bikes on.
So overall, ok rack for short distances but not for long road trips due to the excessive movement of the bike. It may have been the larger/heavier beach cruiser I was using. Would look through other products before buying.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Thule 4 bike hitch mount rack, June 27, 2010
By Desmond (Philadelphia, PA USA)
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After drilling out stock thule mount was able to put a standard hitch lock through the receiver/bike rack. Also drilled out top hinge to accept a standard pull pin. This makes it easier to fold bike rails and lock into folded position. After these modifications the rack has become a much better product. I use it a minimum of 3X a week and am very satisfied with the ease of mounting bikes, the secureness of mounted bikes, and the ability to use a long steel coated locking cable to lock down my bikes. There is a little play and the rack does rock over bumps from side to side. Not sure if my reciever is rounded or the bike rack tolerances are slightly off. Not enough of a problem to worry about as it is locked down and does not sway more than a 1/4 of an inch.
Overall, satisfied with purchase and would purchase again. Amazon has great shipping, item came before it was due, well packed.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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A lot of compromise, May 12, 2010
By jscalia (NJ, USA)
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This rack system is solid, sturdy, and keeps your bikes safe. However, there are a few compromises. It is generally very difficult to manipulate bikes (especially smaller ones with compact frames) onto the rubber mounting blocks. It is a very cumbersome process. Once they are on, they are on very securely. There is only one quick release at the bottom of the rack that allows you to swing it down for access to the trunk. There should be another one up top which allows you to fold down the horizontal bike holders when not in use. In addition, removal of the rack from the hitch requires a separate tool (box wrench or rachet) because it uses a special bolt instead of a typical hitch pin. The special bolt is supposed to prevent the rack from moving around in the reciever, but this only works when you initially tighten it up. The bolt quickly loosens just enough (through car vibration) that the rack moves around a bit. This looseness has never caused any concern but defeats the purpose of having a separate bolt for the job. Unfortunately, carrying 4 bikes on a tall vehicle requires the use of such a hitch mounted rack and this seems to be the best solution, but far from perfect.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Good sturdy rack, August 3, 2008
By amazonrocks (Burien, WA)
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We haul at least one mountain bike and one kids bike on this at a time. It's sturdy and there is not a lot of wiggle if any. Easy to put together. Took me about 15 minutes or so. Easy on and off. Easy access to the back with the bikes off.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Good reasonably priced rack, August 10, 2009
By T. Oldfield
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This is a good, easily assembled, easily attached and removed, 4-bike rack. It carries the bikes securely. Hard to beat for the price.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Really glad I purchased this bike rack., May 25, 2009
By Michael C. Moser (Racing Capital of the World (Indianapolis, IN)
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This is a great bike rack. The designer paid close attention to details such as adding slots for brake cables so that they don't get pressed against the paint of the bike and erode away the paint as the bikes move during transport. I wouldn't modify the hitch as described in some of the other reviews. Instead of a hitch pin, it bolts into the receiver. This eliminates vibration, which is good and also makes it harder to steal. A wonderful product.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Thule Bike Rack 956, August 11, 2008
By E. Williams (Los Angeles, CA)
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Bike rack was delivered quickly. Quality is very good and easy to install. We bought this because a friend had the same one and loves it. When bikes are on rack they stay secure. A very good product I'd recommend
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Works well., August 14, 2010
By Gator Flyer
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The product works as intended. I didn't want to leave it hooked up to the back of my vehicle for long periods of time, so I had a machine shop drill a 1/2" inch hole in the mount to line up with my 1 1/4" Reese hitch receiver's hole. I can now use that for short trips as a quick-release rack, and use the proprietary Thule bolt to secure the rack for longer trips.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Not quite right, April 17, 2012
By Kkz
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Had this rack for 5 years and just sold it at a garage sale for 50$. Well built and sturdy, but way too heavy and awkward. Even though made for 4 bikes, 2 mountain bikes nearly filled it. Mountain bikes frames, especially those with full suspension do not fit well at all. Three bikes was a chore to cram on with pedals and handle bars interfering with each other. Requires bungees to secure the bikes from swinging and handle bars from turning and banging into each other. The rubber supports for the bikes were difficult to fit the tight frame of suspension over. Many comments about the hitch bolt. The reason there is a bolt on the hitch and not a pin is to tighten the rack so it doesn't wiggle around in the receiver. I had the Thule lock on the hitch bolt which worked well although it is hard to get to in the tight spaces between the bumper and the receiver. Storage of the rack when not on the car is also awkward as it is very heavy and ungainly to hang or set against a wall.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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ROAD TESTED, HAS SOME ISSUES, August 9, 2011
By sportazon (San Diego, CA USA)
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Just returned from a 2000K road trip from San Diego to Colorado. Bought this rack for my Mtn Bike and wife's beach cruiser. Had some issues. I think this might be a good rack for driving short distances etc, but for long distance I would consider another rack....here's why:
1. Had issues with the 2 bikes moving on the rack! This is after they were secured with rubber clips/bungee cord and the rope latch that they supply. Made me a little nervous. I don't know if this was caused by the weight distribution of the bigger cruiser bike but don't like any movement back there what so ever.
Since I had to have the 2 bikes close together to prevent movement, the MTN bike pedal did some damage to the beach cruiser......I eventually put a sock over the pedal to prevent this. Was not happy.
2. The rack prevents you from opening the back of your vehicle. A real pain if trying to get a cooler out or other stuff, etc. You have to take the bikes off of the rack in order to let the latch/rack down to open up your back of your vehicle. Would be nice to have a swivel type of mechanism where you could open it up with bikes on.
So overall, ok rack for short distances but not for long road trips due to the excessive movement of the bike. It may have been the larger/heavier beach cruiser I was using. Would look through other products before buying.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Solid product, June 27, 2011
By nelljon (connecticut usa)
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Good product and does not move with four bikes. Would have liked the top rack to use a pin not bolt but no big deal.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Beware Hitch Pin, May 12, 2011
By Wanderlust Addict (USA)
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I just got my rack and its my first hitch mount rack. I went with this one because of the review but shame on me for not reading the reviews. I never thought that something with this price would have the following two issues.
1 - The Hit pin. Basically this is an expensive rack with a quality name, and you probably have nice bikes that your going to have stuck in your hitch secured by a bolt. Anyone coming along with a crescent wrench can take the whole thing. I never thought it wouldn't have a standard hitch pin hole, which I bought a locking one along with this hitch.
2 - The bike arm doesn't go down without two wrenches. With the design of the release mechanism to tilt it down (which is very nice), its like with the top portion they said "were done just put a bolt in."
If it wasn't for those two things it would be a 5 of 5.
I haven't actually used it for bikes yet but fighting putting the bolts in, I am confident it is not budging.
I read another review about have another hole drilled, I may look into that so I don't have to buy the Thule locking mechanism which will probably sell the keys separate.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Thule 4 Bike Hitch Rack, July 7, 2010
By MTB Fanatic
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The rack is heavy duty and I haven't had any problems hauling anything from my all mountains to my dh and more. The tilt away is handy but you have to remove your bikes, all but one anyway and if you're like me and lockem up securely that can be a hassle. The rubber straps are easy to use and seem to do the job even fits my burely dh... barely. I had to bore out the nut where the hitch pin goes. It's supposed to keep the rack from banging around but it got in the way of my locking hitch pin so it had to go. It has a little movement in now but hasn't given me any troubles.
Overall great rack for the price.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great rack for price, few minor complaints, May 4, 2010
By John K (Philadelphia, PA USA)
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I really enjoy this rack, it is a huge improvement over my old trunk mount rack. It is sturdy, easy to assemble, fairly easy to mount to the car, holds 4 bikes, and is well worth the price I paid. I consider it a good buy!
My only 3 complaints are similar to the ones posted:
1) The receiver hole is too far from the assembly. It seems like it would be more sturdy if the hole was placed 2" closer.
2) To connect the carrier to the hitch requires tools and more time and effort than necessary. It has a pre-drilled hole and is connected with an M12 receiver bolt. Unfortunately, standard hitch pins and clips are 1/2" diameter... a tad too big for the pre-drilled holes. Some people are commenting that they are getting new holes put in for these reasons. (although, I'm not sure exactly where to go to get this done...)
3) The arm assembly is bolted together with 2 bolts, which means to fold down the uprights when not in use requires more tools/time/effort. To try to correct the problem, I have ordered a 3/8"x2-1/2" squared snapper pin with a 1-1/2" clearance to use in the upper hole of the assembly. The pin is similar to the one included to lower the carrier for rear compartment access. It should be easily removable to allow me to fold down the uprights when not in use... hopefully it works without compromising stability.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great rack for the money, February 24, 2010
By J-Dub
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This item arrived before the anticipated ship date. It was packed well in the Thule carton and had no damage. Assembly was a breeze and installing it on the hitch receiver is simple. The bolt for attaching to the receiver keeps the rack snug with no wobble. If you want to lock the rack to your vehicle you will need to purchase Thule's optional lock (pricy at $50) or come up with something on your own. I just use a bike cable lock through the frame of the truck. It doesn't have all of the features of more expensive racks bur overall it is well worth the money.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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solid bike rack, June 29, 2009
By PJ (California, USA)
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Shipping was fast and well packaged. The bike rack itself was solid construction but doesn't weigh too much where I would need my husband to de/re-install. It secures tight to my hitch and holds the bikes well. I like how the mounting arm and the hitch arms fold down or away. Great buy... especially for the price.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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bike mount rack for car, August 3, 2010
By nancyness2 (La Crescent, MN United States)
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It's easy to put on the car...works great on our Prius. It is not made for a womans bike, but you can make it work.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Decent rack at a reasonable price, June 9, 2009
By NYBiker
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Not too much to say about it, does what it's supposed to. It would be nice if the two bars that hold up the bike would fold down though.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Sweet Dealz, September 11, 2009
By R. Martin Quigley (Wilmington, NC)
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This bike carrier is a good deal if you gots da bikes to a haul'n
1 of 12 people found this review helpful
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ROAD TESTED, HAS SOME ISSUES, August 9, 2011
By AmazonShopper (San Diego, CA USA)
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Just returned from a 2000K road trip from San Diego to Colorado. Bought this rack for my Mtn Bike and wife's beach cruiser. Had some issues. I think this might be a good rack for driving short distances etc, but for long distance I would consider another rack....here's why:
1. Had issues with the 2 bikes moving on the rack! This is after they were secured with rubber clips/bungee cord and the rope latch that they supply. Made me a little nervous. I don't know if this was caused by the weight distribution of the bigger cruiser bike but don't like any movement back there what so ever.
Since I had to have the 2 bikes close together to prevent movement, the MTN bike pedal did some damage to the beach cruiser......I eventually put a sock over the pedal to prevent this. Was not happy.
2. The rack prevents you from opening the back of your vehicle. A real pain if trying to get a cooler out or other stuff, etc. You have to take the bikes off of the rack in order to let the latch/rack down to open up your back of your vehicle. Would be nice to have a swivel type of mechanism where you could open it up with bikes on.
So overall, ok rack for short distances but not for long road trips due to the excessive movement of the bike. It may have been the larger/heavier beach cruiser I was using. Would look through other products before buying.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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would like to see a normal hitch pin, August 1, 2010
By Slim
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Nice product, good finish, heavy enough to use regularly, but installation requires bolting it onto the hitch receiver with a 3/4 inch bolt. This means you have to carry a large crescent or box wrench if you want to drop the unit on either end of the trip. In order to secure the unit, you need to purchase their lock or use a cable lock. I would have given it a "5" if I could have used my own locking hitch pin to install and secure the rack. As-is, I will probably mill the welded nut out of the hitch insert and use my own hitch pin.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Very Pleased!!!, June 2, 2009
By dragonfly7d7 (Virginia, USA)
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LOVE IT!!! The versatility works out great...especially with the tilt-down feature to allow access to the back hatch! There's still room to pop open the back window (only) without tilting the feature down. Compared to similar types as well as other brands...I couldn't pass it up! Such a great deal!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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It's me not the product, September 20, 2011
By granny
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I'm pleased with the product although I am missing an endcap on the upright/bike arm assembly. My only problem has been getting my bike strapped down. I have an older model TREK bike that is very heavy and the bars are bigger around than the newer models. Other than that I am very pleased with my Thule hitch mount rack.
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Solid construction....wish it had more pins not bolts., April 11, 2011
By John Craven (Fredericksburg, Virginia)
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Just bought this for the family bikes. Thule makes a solid, solid constructed bike rack. Fit perfectly into my 2" hitch and bolted in. There really is no need to get a cover for the hitch bolt for security unless you think someone is going to come along with an adjustable wrench, bend down there, and spend 5 mins unbolting it from your hitch. Maybe if you were leaving it unattended, without any other people present for hours. The only thing I wish that this Thule Parkway had was another pin to raise the bike arms up and down, instead of the bolt/nut that it comes with. So you end up driving around with the arms horizontal even when there are no bikes on there, unless you want to unbolt it and lower them to the vertical position. Have to carry an adjustable wrench and pliers with you after you take the bike off. Either that or remove the entire bike carrier from the hitch. Another pin such as the one that allows you to get into the rear hatch with it on the hitch would be great, but I bet its on the more expensive model...
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Keeps bike safe on AND off the car, March 24, 2011
By American Pop
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I used to use the old strap car rack, but as the kids got bigger I needed something more sturdy. Especially when I got the wall mount (Jamas). That has been the real treasure of this rack. Once the bikes are locked in, you can forget your driving with them--and when you take it off the car, you can attach it to the Jamas and keep the bikes out of the way ( by the way I think the promo code for the jamas wall mount is RD2011 ). If there was one problem with this thing it's getting the bikes balanced together, but that is part of the snug design that keeps them close to the car on the road and close to the wall on the rack. I don't think much can be done about that.
And the rack is light enough that the kids can move it from the car to the wall and back without my help.
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Saved our vacation, September 25, 2010
By havasu family
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Our previos bike rake finally gave out on the way home from our last trip and we almost lost several bikes. We had to get something more substantial and this really did the trick. We love the piece of mind this rack afforded us. Also love the idea that we can store bike safely at night on the rack attached to our travel trailer.
Loads of piece of mind-thanks Amazon for an amzing product from you.
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bike rack, December 14, 2009
By LeeDbb (PALM CITY, FL, US)
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Good basic bike rack. Very well built and easy to set up. Comfortably holds our family's four bikes.
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Thule 4 Bike Hitch Mount Rack, September 15, 2011
By C. Snoha (Willow Grove, PA USA)
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Great product! Very sturdy, easy to install. I am very confident driving with the family carrying all of our bikes on this rack. Would definitely recommend.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Nice rack! (And you can't say that just anywhere...), April 15, 2010
By McElligot's Pool
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Assembly was a breeze -literally took a couple minutes.
Strong, well-made. I've put several bikes on it - including a tandem - without difficulty. The rubber "clamps" work well and are durable and quick to attach and detach. I've used bungee cords to further stabilize a bike, but feel it was really only necessary when I put a tandem on it - the rest of the time was probably just another example of my tendency to over-engineer (and live by my mother's oft-reminder: "better safe than sorry...").
I would agree with another review that it would be nice if the crossbar (that the bikes sit on) could be rotated up and down easier - but that's mostly just a little noise and not anything big (it's also easier solved with a quick trip to the hardware store for a quick-release type bolt/nut combo).
I've had several racks and this one is as good as any and better than most in this price range.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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bike hitch 2 inch receiver, December 27, 2011
By D. Davis
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The Thule 956 Parkway 4 bike hitch receiver rack for a 2 inch Receiver was just what I needed. I took about 20 minutes to figure it out and attach to my vehicle. The best things about the hitch is it's stability and the fold down feature. The 4 bike is best with only 3 bikes, but with a little work you can get 4 bikes on it. The fold down feature works well if you need to get into a SUV back. The only problem is that all the bikes should be off the rack to accomplish this feat. The Thule quality is evident and well worth the extra bucks for a solid dependable bike rack for a 2 inch receiver hitch.
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Thule Parkway, December 26, 2011
By Jack (California)
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This rack is pretty cool. It holds four bikes. Then you read more and find out that it holds four men's bikes..... and you have a wife and two daughters. Then it kind of sucks.
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Great buy!, December 12, 2011
By Mon
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If you have a road bike, cross bike and a mnt bike... or just 2 of the listed bikes- GET THIS RACK! then you can grab something for the road, something for a trail and friend w/ their bike and fit all four on the back! Go have some fun outside!
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A solidly made carrier worth the money., November 8, 2011
By eprahm
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After owning several carriers this is my first heavy, solidly made, one. I carry four bikes and there is absolutely no movement or swaying of the bikes during transport. Well engineered and built!
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Sturdy and easy to use, August 23, 2010
By M. Coan
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Had a fork mounted rack that required our front wheels to be in the car. With a young one along, that became impractical. Bought this thanks to the reviews of others and it's a sturdy, easy to use rack. It's a little slower to use a hanging rack than a fork mounted, but it is certainly a room-saver. And forget roof racks! Noisy and knocks your gas mileage down a bit.
Only teeny complaint is that the mounting bolt to attach to my hitch receiver did NOT come with a lock washer. Very cheap to buy, but I wouldn't use it without! Maybe it's just because my previous rack had one?
Why pay $100 more!?
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Great hitch!, July 15, 2010
By 774mary (Elm Grove, WI USA)
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This really is an easy to use and good quality hitch. Don't waste your money on the much more expensive models.
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Great product, great price, May 22, 2012
By Bret Miller
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Package arrived ahead of schedule, was exactly as described and works perfectly. Took all of 10 minutes to assemble and install. Good quality construction. Highly recommend.
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Not totally happy, April 25, 2012
By vic
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I was excited when i opened the box and installed it, was not happy to see that the arms that holds the bike can't be lowered down, you have to remove the bolt before you can do it, some models is just press and two arms goes down.
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My Tule, March 22, 2012
By Brenda Vazquez
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Love this bike rack! strong sturdy, holds four bikes comfortabley.
what i am dissappionted in is that it does not fold in the down position when not in use. Makes it a little difficult to store in car trunk, other than that, it's great.
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