4 Bike Rack Carrier

[Sac AZN On the EDGE]

Hi Everyone,

 

I was wondering if anyone has any additional information on this bike carrier I am interested in (more than what is already contained in the description). It is the Heininger 2250 Advantage Sportsrack glideAWAY and can be seen at this link: http://www.bestpricebuygardenhose.com/heininger-2250-advantage-1-25

 

Having never used my Edge's tow package, let alone a receiver hitch, I am not sure what size hitch I would need and if I would need anything else to mount this rack to the Edge. I like the design and the fact that the Cargo door can still easily be opened all the way by simply gliding the rack out of the way. Do any of you see a problem with this design that I'm not aware of?

 

For under $200, seems like a pretty decent bike rack option!

 

Thanks in advance for any constructive comments.

[cal3thousand]

Hi Everyone,

 

I was wondering if anyone has any additional information on this bike carrier I am interested in (more than what is already contained in the description). It is the Heininger 2250 Advantage Sportsrack glideAWAY and can be seen at this link: http://www.bestprice...-advantage-1-25

 

Having never used my Edge's tow package, let alone a receiver hitch, I am not sure what size hitch I would need and if I would need anything else to mount this rack to the Edge. I like the design and the fact that the Cargo door can still easily be opened all the way by simply gliding the rack out of the way. Do any of you see a problem with this design that I'm not aware of?

 

For under $200, seems like a pretty decent bike rack option!

 

Thanks in advance for any constructive comments.

 

That looks like a pretty good rack, but I've never heard of that company.

 

From what I've been told, the swing-aways are better for trucks with beds as they get completely out of the way of a downward folding tailgate. With an upward folding gate, the swing-away will still work, but if you are in a tight parking space or a carport, you may have clearance issues swinging it out.

 

Having said that, this rack seems to articulate, solving that issue mostly. I say this because the Edge doesn't need too much room to open the gate due to it's good pivot point.

 

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the review I did for another rack I bought: Inno Bike Rack

 

It touches on some points that might be worth it for you to think about including tailgate contact and hitch mounting and wobble and visibility.

 

 

BTW, you need a 2" hitch rack if you have the factory Class II Tow Pkg.

 

Do you have the dimensions on this thing? It seems like the bike will be fairly close to the car on this rack.

 

 

 

EDIT: just thought about something else, if you are planning to store it somewhere while not in use, make sure you have room for it (unless it folds up smaller)

 

and it looks like this rack might not have anti-sway strapping to keep the bikes from moving and contacting each other.

 

do the arms fold down?

Edited July 8, 2011 by cal3thousand

[cal3thousand]

Just read some of the Amazon reviews and saw one that would get me to do more research:

 

My boyfriend loves this bike rack so much more than the latch on he had. His only complaint is that the bikes are really close together on the rack if you have 3 or 4.

 

However my complaints are long...

 

My first complaint is it is very hard to fit a girls or woman's style bike on this rack, it takes extra effort to get it on where the men's style just glides right on. My second complaint is with a 4 bike load it makes it top heavy and the whole thing hits on the street. We drove from Colorado to Oregon with 2 bikes on it and it was still heavy enough to hit in driveways and such unless you drive though them at an angle, which is sometimes impossible to do. I do love that it attaches to the hitch and it swings out so you can still open the back of the car. But even that is a pain, because the heaviness of the bikes you can't unscrew the knob to let it swing out. You literally have to push the bikes back and hold them to take the weight off so you can unscrew it to swing out. I can't do that on my own, which is very inconvenient.

I also noticed that a 4 bike version of my 3 Bike rack is going for nearly $300 and the 2 Bike version is $260! I would highly recommend the one I got and it should be at REI's outlet for $160 still.

[Sac AZN On the EDGE]

Just read some of the Amazon reviews and saw one that would get me to do more research:

 

My boyfriend loves this bike rack so much more than the latch on he had. His only complaint is that the bikes are really close together on the rack if you have 3 or 4.

 

However my complaints are long...

 

My first complaint is it is very hard to fit a girls or woman's style bike on this rack, it takes extra effort to get it on where the men's style just glides right on. My second complaint is with a 4 bike load it makes it top heavy and the whole thing hits on the street. We drove from Colorado to Oregon with 2 bikes on it and it was still heavy enough to hit in driveways and such unless you drive though them at an angle, which is sometimes impossible to do. I do love that it attaches to the hitch and it swings out so you can still open the back of the car. But even that is a pain, because the heaviness of the bikes you can't unscrew the knob to let it swing out. You literally have to push the bikes back and hold them to take the weight off so you can unscrew it to swing out. I can't do that on my own, which is very inconvenient.

I also noticed that a 4 bike version of my 3 Bike rack is going for nearly $300 and the 2 Bike version is $260! I would highly recommend the one I got and it should be at REI's outlet for $160 still.

 

 

Thanks cal3thousand!

 

You and I must have been reading the reviews at the same time! Your review of the bike rack you purchased is very comprehensive. But I am wondering, is it necessary to fold down your rack (even just the 5-10 degrees) or will the cargo gate still open? Also regarding securing the bikes with the locking cable, do you think it is good enough for the job? Is the cable included with the rack?

 

Man, thanks for tipping me off to the fact that its a 2" receiver hitch.... I was getting ready to order the smaller one! That said, there is an REI near where I live, I think I'll pay them a visit this weekend to check out the rack you recommend!

 

Thanks,

~M

[cal3thousand]

Thanks cal3thousand!

 

You and I must have been reading the reviews at the same time! Your review of the bike rack you purchased is very comprehensive. But I am wondering, is it necessary to fold down your rack (even just the 5-10 degrees) or will the cargo gate still open? Also regarding securing the bikes with the locking cable, do you think it is good enough for the job? Is the cable included with the rack?

 

Man, thanks for tipping me off to the fact that its a 2" receiver hitch.... I was getting ready to order the smaller one! That said, there is an REI near where I live, I think I'll pay them a visit this weekend to check out the rack you recommend!

 

Thanks,

~M

 

 

 

The cargo gate will not open without tilting that small bit. You could get an extender for the receiver that would handle that, but that could cause driveway clearance issues. (most likely not with the Edge though)

 

The included cable does a good enough job to stop would-be theives in a parking lot. (comes with key and lock built into the arm) But someone that was on the lookout to steal bikes would be able to cut it with the proper tools. I wouldn't store my bikes on it overnight unless in my carport or somewhere in plain view of the public.

 

 

 

The rack that I have was purchased online at the REI outlet. Not sure if they will have this item in stores, best to call first.

 

Here's the link to it: http://www.rei.com/product/825336/inno-3-bike-hitch-mount-rack-special-buy

[Sac AZN On the EDGE]

That looks like a pretty good rack, but I've never heard of that company.

 

From what I've been told, the swing-aways are better for trucks with beds as they get completely out of the way of a downward folding tailgate. With an upward folding gate, the swing-away will still work, but if you are in a tight parking space or a carport, you may have clearance issues swinging it out.

 

Having said that, this rack seems to articulate, solving that issue mostly. I say this because the Edge doesn't need too much room to open the gate due to it's good pivot point.

 

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the review I did for another rack I bought: Inno Bike Rack

 

It touches on some points that might be worth it for you to think about including tailgate contact and hitch mounting and wobble and visibility.

 

 

BTW, you need a 2" hitch rack if you have the factory Class II Tow Pkg.

 

Do you have the dimensions on this thing? It seems like the bike will be fairly close to the car on this rack.

 

 

 

EDIT: just thought about something else, if you are planning to store it somewhere while not in use, make sure you have room for it (unless it folds up smaller)

 

and it looks like this rack might not have anti-sway strapping to keep the bikes from moving and contacting each other.

 

do the arms fold down?

 

I believe that the arms are REMOVABLE. Personally I like the idea of folding arms, but oh well.... You also bring up another good point, STORAGE of the rack when not in use! My garage looks almost as bad as those "hoarders" depicted on the Discovery channel! So where I plan to put the darn thing when not in use is a good question! I think I smell a Garage Sale happening in the near future....

 

Another question for you regarding security.... how does your bike rack prevent a thief from removing the rack from the hitch?

[cal3thousand]

I believe that the arms are REMOVABLE. Personally I like the idea of folding arms, but oh well.... You also bring up another good point, STORAGE of the rack when not in use! My garage looks almost as bad as those "hoarders" depicted on the Discovery channel! So where I plan to put the darn thing when not in use is a good question! I think I smell a Garage Sale happening in the near future....

 

Another question for you regarding security.... how does your bike rack prevent a thief from removing the rack from the hitch?

 

The pin that is included screws into one side and goes clear through to the other side. Then there's a lock that is included that goes over the open end of the pin, preventing removal.

 

Here's a shot of the extras included in the box. You can see the 9 straps for the 3 bikes in the middle, the right side bag has the hex pin and wrench to install, and the left side bag has the lock that goes on the pin's end with the keys for it:

 

 

[marcw]

I have this with my hitch: http://www.yakima.com/shop/bike/hitch/doubledown-4 works well, the belt are a little messy, but i think most racks will have the same issue. I will recommend this rack, but I have no reference to any other rack.