I liked it a lot but....

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

This product is the king of most hitch bike carriers. The design is so hip and compliments my SUV. It might be heavy to attach but it alls goes down to how stable , easy and secure the attachment to the hitch receiver will be. It got all 5 stars for me and as well the secured feeling and ease in loading your precious bikes. The only downside is they should had the cable locks longer to secure the wheels and frame together or put a key lock attachment on the lever holding the front tire.

Adriel P.

NV 2.0 + ext. after 1 season of use

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Nice match on my late model 4-Runner--very secure, no rattle, sway, etc. My XL 29" mtb w/2.6 front, 2.4 rear and wife's small 27" (2.6 tires) fits fine. I left NV 2.0 rack on for most of Spring thru Fall CO riding and no problem swinging up and down to access tailgate for daily use. Removal for car wash or whatever fine, unit is fairly heavy (pays off in robust nature of construction and operation.) Also added the 2.0 extension after a few mos. use and same description applies as above. If it's in your price range, buy quality once and enjoy. Highly recommended.

Steve S.

Worth Every Penny

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I hesitated in buying this type of carrier two years ago and only cost myself more money in the end. So easy to use. So rock solid stable. The rack doesn't shake on the back of the car. The bike doesn't shake on the back of the car. I love the way it tilts down so I can open the back of the car before off loading the bike. Tilts up and out of the way nicely when not in use. Worth Every Penny

Albert S.

What wheel size range will this accommodate?

Stephen P.

Do I need a specific attachment or just a 2” hitch?

STUART HARTMAN

Cracked lever

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

Runs small

Note that this model is for the 1.25” hitch, despite the photos of the 2” model. I had to buy the Kuat adapter for additional $30 to fit my 2” hitch. On my first trip with this, arrived at my destination to find the height lever had cracked and was loose. Backcountry was accommodating and refunded the product but was overall bummmed since I thought this would be the best rack for my mountain bike. I hope they get more in stock soon as I’d consider getting it again - does seem like one of the best models on the market, with an intuitive design.

Ethan B.

Nice Rack

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I have the 1.25" mount option. The rack was fairly easy to put together and mount on the hitch receiver. It has a bit of wobble even with the stabilizer tightened all the way. Most of the wobble was cured by adding a $10 metal hitch stabilizer and now it feels pretty solid. Putting a bike on it is simple and I'm not worried about it going anywhere. Beware of interference with long longer style fenders if you run them. The trays aren't super long - my size large mountain bike is about max length - so if you ride a long bike you might want to double check or look elsewhere. The tilt function is great and allows me to access my rear hatch even with bikes on the rack. The cable locks are nice to have, but after a few months they became pretty sticky and difficult to lock. I lubed them every few uses and that has seemed to help. Kuat does sell replacement parts. My rack was hit while my car was parked in a public lot and I was able to easily replace the broken ratcheting arm for about $60. Overall a solid rack, with a few nitpicky things I'd like to see improved on a premium priced rack.

TR

awesome rack

For most bikes, this is an awesome rack. It is not a good design for bikes with a front fender. The feature that snugs the rack into the hitch receiver is awesome. so many other racks are loose and can move a lot.

Paul H.

Solid rack

My bikes are not going anywhere!! I use this with the add on. Very well made. The bikes are secured solid!

Natan A.

Great rack

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I bought both 2" and 1 1/4" versions for each of my cars, and they are great. I'd prefer if they had gloss finish, like the NV 2.0, but there is nothing wrong with the matte paint, and I didn't want to pay another $100 for the bike stand that I'll never use. We have two bikes - one heavy electric bike with 2.5" tires and one road bike with 26 mm tires. the front cradle holds the wheels securely and locks them in place preventing them from rotating. The back wheel ratchet strap is easy to apply or remove, even with one hand. The bikes are secure on it - I have driven up to 70mi/h with bikes on and on city roads with occasional bumps and minor pot holes. The ball locking mechanism is amazing - there is no rattle at all with this rack, as it is attached rigidly to the hitch. Customer service was helpful and helped me save money with a discount. I am completely happy with the purchase and the seller.

Artur C.

As good as billed

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

First hitch based rack as I have used roof racks for the past 20 years. Super easy, really secure. Now I am totally sold

Mike Conway

They are everywhere!

Good looking hitch rack

Charles Denney

Kuat Bike Rack

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

We recently purchased a fat bike and needed a bike rack to accommodate wheelbase. We were lucky enough to borrow neighbor’s Kuat to test out before this purchase. Also with are previous bike rack which took a beating on the White Rim we needed a system to stabilize the rack nice and “sturdy” The Kuat is so sturdy and beautifully made. We are really impressed with the system to stabilize the rack on the hitch. Putting the rack together was simple, and the way the rack functions is very well engineered. We are very pleased with this purchase. We also purchased the add-on extension to carry 2 more bikes total of 4.

Joni Paiz

My number 1

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

This is my second Kuat bike rack. The first one I had lasted 9 years after being dragged through every weather condition imaginable and it was still in great working condition when I donated it. While this rack is on the heavy side, its buttery smooth, easy to install into the hitch, and very stable. And it looks amazing.

Chad Nelson

Best Rack - superbly engineered

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I recently purchased a 29er mountain bike, and also a Fat Bike (4.5" tires) and needed to upgrade from my 10 year old Saris brand, hitch mount rack. The Kuat is just excellent, and is beautifully made. I purchased the base model because I've never needed a bicycle repair stand trailside, so I saved a little bit doing that. The finish is nice, but the base model is not glossy, it's a matte finish. Putting the rack together was simple, and the way the rack functions is very well engineered. In particular, mounting my fat bike is solid, and I've driven hundreds of miles with the fat bike on the rack without even a wiggle. I expect that I will add the extension to carry four bikes at some point. Another feature I like about the rack is the system to stabilize the rack on the hitch is very well designed, and works perfectly. This is a big deal when carrying four bikes, or driving offroad or on bumpy pavement, as you can put a lot of pressure on the bikes and hitch mount if the entire unit is not stable. The rack also tilts, which is super handy when needed to access the rear hatch of your vehicle, and the built in bike locks are a smart and appreciated feature. I did a lot of research on comparative products, and this is one of those purchases that you won't regret, because the rack is engineered smartly, built to last, and a joy to use. Great piece of kit.

Jason W.

works great

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I got this rack as a spur of the moment purchase and was very pleased. Very stable even fully loaded on rough roads. easy to use and raising it was easy even for my wife who has had issues with other models.

Steve O

Top Notch Bike Rack!

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I’m loving the Kuat bike rack! It was easy enough to assemble but very sturdy. It holds the bikes very securely and I love that it has built in locks. The tilt feature is a must have for a hitch rack on an SUV and this one works very well. Overall, very happy with my purchase.

Kristina Fischer

Great construction, well thought out.

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I've used racks from all the major players, this one though you pay a price for it is very well built and clearly using superior materials.

Ben B.

Kuat Base

James Pramick

Best Rack I’ve ever owned

I have been a loyal Yakima customer for 20 years. I have always gone first to Yakima before looking at other brands, and have used Yakima racks on 4 different vehicles. They have always worked well and have been of the highest quality. However, this rack was a complete let down. I bought it about 2 years ago and loaded the rack with 4 bikes (it is rated for 5 bikes) for a Memorial Day trip. Everything was locked down and solid when we left. Half way from Portland, OR to Utah I noticed the bike rack was really loose in the hitch. I called Yakima and all they did was tell me to not travel using the rack because it wasn’t safe. Last thing you want to hear in the middle of a trip you’ve been planning and looking forward to. I found a great bike shop in Nampa, ID (Rolling H - I highly recommend them) who helped me get the hitch lock mechanism to tighten up better. Made it to Utah, was afraid to take it out of the hitch the whole time. Rode bikes a lot in UT and then headed home, rack rattling loose in the hitch the whole way. Once back in Portland, I called Yakima and asked for a refund. They wouldn’t refund, but sent me a new tightening mechanism that I installed in the rack and it was just like new. BTW, I consider myself very mechanically inclined and this was not a user error, I intimately understood the mechanism for tightening the rack in the hitch. I had studied it in detail on the side of the road trying to find a solution to save my trip. When I got the new mechanism, I had taken apart the old one completely to troubleshoot why it came loose. I could see where the steel teeth were stripped that made it come loose. I assumed that if I just tightened until it was barely snug then the teeth would stay strong. That worked for a couple local rides in Portland over the next year. Fast forward to the next summer when I again loaded up 4 bikes for a long awaited family trip to NE Oregon and Hells Canyon. Rack locked into hitch solid when we left but by the time we arrived it was rattling loose again. That same tightening mechanism had loosened and the whole rack was rattling in the hitch. I was so mad it ruined the first day of the trip completely. Luckily, I had planned ahead and bought a “hitch titan” that worked great as a patch job for the loose rack. Had a great time riding and the “hitch titan” saved my bacon on that trip. For the over $500.00 that I paid for this rack I expect a much higher level of quality and service from Yakima. I have since sold this rack and purchased a Kuat. KUAT IS THE BEST RACK I HAVE EVER OWNED HANDS DOWN. Yakima lost a 20 year loyal customer due to the poor quality and terrible customer service I experienced with this rack. This rack is so solid. The hitch tightening mechanism is light years ahead of the Yakima version on the rack that this replaced for me. So easy to get bikes on and off this rack, and the bikes travelled so smoothly without rattling or swaying. If you care about your bike this rack will keep it secure and protected from both road vibration and thieves. I was a 20 year Yakima customer and became very disillusioned with the bad rack quality and poor customer service I experienced on my last Yakima rack. From the moment of opening the Kuat box, this rack has been a completely different experience. Very well engineered, quality is top notch. So happy I switched to this rack, is is worth every extra cent that it costs over the competition.

jansonholm