How Often Are You Using Your Car Rack And How Far Are You Travelling
The best racks for long distance travel: Tow ball, Hitch Racks and Roof Racks.
Secure and reliable, these racks also save precious trunk space when loaded up for a big adventure. Offering the least amount of wiggle and rattle, these racks are easier to take off the beaten track and are least likely to damage your bike or vehicle when mounted for long drives. Since Tow ball and Hitch Racks are mounted at the rear, they will not affect your fuel consumption, while roof racks may create some drag and catch a few bugs along the way.
The best racks for short distance travel: Trunk Mounted & Roof Racks
Trunk mounted racks are lightweight so easy to mount and dismount once you have your straps setup correctly, they are great for throwing a bike on the back for an afternoon ride around your local trails. Roof Racks are excellent for short trips as they can be left on the vehicle full time, they don’t affect your rear visibility or parking ability so you can just load your bike up and be ready to go almost immediately.
Top Tips For Transporting E
- If you have a van, sport utility vehicle or hatchback, you can put your E-bike in the back of your vehicle. Transporting your bike inside ensures your bike and components stay clean, dry, and free of contamination.
- Removing the front wheel and battery before placing the bike inside your vehicle will make for a better fit and make the bike lighter weight and easier to lift.
- When transporting an E-bike inside a vehicle, make sure cables and handlebar mounted control systems are not getting rubbed or damaged. Place a blanket over the E-bike to protect it from damage.
- If using a bike rack, make sure the rack you have is rated for the weight of your E-bike, and can accommodate the size of the wheel/tire or frame.
- Generally speaking, the best bike racks for use with an E-bike is are hitch/receiver-mounted, tray/platform-style racks. Not only do they require less of a lift to get your bike onto the rack, they are also more likely to be rated to hold the weight of one or more E-bikes.
- Remove your battery before loading the E-bike onto the rack. Why? It will be lighter and easier to load and prevent possible theft or loss.
- After your bike is on the rack, secure the E-bike properly with the straps on your rack. In addition, we recommend securing your bike with a lock.
- When transporting your E-bike on the back of your car, consider covering your bike to reduce the chance of damage and contamination.
Buying Guide For The Best Bike Rack For Electric Bikes
If you have just got your hands on the perfect electric bike for yourself and cant wait to explore your surroundings with it, you have come to the right place. While taking an electric bike for a ride around town is not that big of a deal, it becomes slightly inefficient when it comes to going long distances and riding the bike on non-uniform terrains. For that, you will have to hook up your electric bike to a decent bike rack attached to your car and use your car to cover long distances with ease.
A lot of adrenaline junkies use it to take the bike to distant locations or to the top of the mountains to ride it down the most adventurous path they could find. Therefore, you should also consider buying a bike rack for your electric bike right now as you will need one sooner or later. On this list, you can find the best options available in the market for an electric bike rack. If you are not sure how to choose one, it can get a little confusing. To make it easier for you, we are bringing this helpful buying guide for the best bike racks for electric bikes.
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Bike Rack Ramp For Easier Mounting Process
Some electric bikes are heavier than others. It might be hard to lift and set a heavy e bike on your rack.
If you want to make the mounting process more smooth, you can get a ramp that will allow you to push and slide up the bike on the rack.
An inexpensive ramp like the Pit Posse PP290 can make your bike mounting process much easier for you.
Which Rack Do You Prefer To Transport E

Keep in mind, theres roughly two types of hitch-mounted bike racks.
1.Hanging bike racks which are racks that utilize arms and a mast to hold bicycles by the frame. More affordable and compact however generally not suitable to support heavy e-bikes.
2.Platform bike racks, known to carry various types and sizes of bike including e-bikes. Their versatility stems from the fact that bicycles are supported by the platform, reducing sway and wobble.
Weve tried to do our best to help you pick the e-bike rack thats optimal for your situation or specific scenarios. Among these several choices, which rack do you prefer?
Doesnt the 160 lbs weight capacity suffice? Need a really heavy duty rack? Look up the Guide Gear Fat Tire Bike Carrier Rack that can carry up to 200 lbs.
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How To Choose A Bike Rack For Electric Bikes
An automotive bike rack is a necessity for many folks when transporting their bicycle. eBikes require special consideration due to the added weight of the electrical system over a traditional bicycle.
We do not recommend trunk-mounted racks or other racks that are secured only with straps for our eBikes.
Kac Overdrive Sports K4 Hitch Rack:
This heavy-duty rack can hold up to four e-bikes simultaneously. Whats best? Its one of your favorites for family vacations and weekend breaks with your friends because you dont have to pay more for that extra room.
Use any common two-inch hitch to mount this carrier for fat e-bikes, conventional e-bikes, and non-electric fat tire bikes. This rack can hold four bikes, each weighing 60 pounds.
For instance, the 55-pound Charge XC electric mountain bike. One of the four bikes this rack can accommodate.
On top of that, it is readily converted into a two-bike carrier if you dont need as much room.
Also Check: Wall Mounted Bike Racks For Garage
What Type Of Bikes Are You Transporting
Second only to what vehicle you have, what type of bikes you need to carry is also an essential part of choosing the right rack for your needs. For example, for simple two prong towball racks some bikes such as smaller kid’s bikes or bikes with low top tubes are often incompatible or harder to mount, while lifting a dual suspension bike onto a roof rack can be a backbreaking effort and ebikes are only compatible with certain bike racks rated to carry the extra weight.
Best Racks for Kid’s Bikes: Most racks are suitable for kid’s bikes due to their smaller size and lighter weight. Just make sure if you’re getting a simple towball or hitch rack that the bikes top tube is high enough to slip between the prongs, otherwise you’ll need an adapter which creates a bar between the handlebar step and saddle. The best option is a higher tech towball or hitch rack that allows you to secure the bike with an adjustable frame clamp. Keep an eye on the roof racks specs before purchase as well, because some bikes are too small to clamp the wheels.
Best Racks for Lighter Bikes: All racks are suitable for lighter bikes, roof racks are a great choice as bikes are out of the way allowing you trunk access. Trunk mounted racks are also a convenient choice that are compatible with a lot of vehicle options.
Electric Bike Rack Examples:
How Much Does A Bicycle Carrier Cost
Like any other product on the market, the cost of a bicycle carrier varies dramatically from one style to the next. Some cost under $200 while others are over $800. In some cases, the price is related to the quality of the components. In other cases, its all about features. If you ride a very expensive bike and use your carrier frequently, it may be worth paying for additional features designed for higher-end bikes. If you ride a beater bike , you probably dont need an $800 rack. The same principal applies to features like integrated lighting, which is a phenomenal feature if youll be transporting multiple bikes at night. But if you only go for morning rides, or if you only own one bike, integrated lighting is not a crucial a feature.
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Pure Instinct 2 Bike Rear Carrier
The Pure Instinct 2 bike rear carrier is great for ebikes – it has wider spaced wheel holders to accommodate e-bikes.
It’s a safe and secure folding rear mount car rack for 2 bikes.
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Carries 2 bikes or 2 e-bikes it has wider spaced wheel holders to accommodate e-bikes
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6 straps tested 300 kg load, for extra safety
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Fully assembled
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Steel tubes have anti-rust treatment
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Quick and easy to fit and remove
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Carries bikes from 12″ to 29″ frames
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Folds flat for storage
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Folds up to save space
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Supplied with grab arms for 2 and 3 bikes
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Doubly safe with extra safety strap fixed to the frame
Mounting Options & Security
The mounting options offered by a bike rack are also crucial to acknowledge in order to ensure that a certain bike rack is a right choice for you or not. Generally, the mounting options available with a bike rack are tire mount, hitch mount, clamp mount, power grip, and some more. The preferred mounting choice for your bike is also dependent on where exactly you wish to attach the bike rack to your car.
While the most common practice is attaching the bike rack to the rear section of the car, some users prefer trunk mount, tailgate mount, or even roof mount for their bikes based on their weight. Therefore, your best bet for a bike rack for your electric bike is to buy an option that allows versatile mourning options. This way, you can easily choose the right mounting option for your bike and also try out different methods until you find the perfect mounting option. It also allows you to change the mounting position in case you wish to upgrade your electric bike in the future.
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Benefits Of A Rack With A Ramp
Even though the platform on a hitch rack is near the ground, it can still be a chore to heft a heavy e-bike onto it. If your rack has a ramp, you simply roll your bike onto it. So a ramp is a helpful feature for anyone, and is especially important for someone who struggles to lift and carry an e-bike. Some racks include a ramp that stows within the rack during transport some racks let you buy a ramp as a separate accessory some racks dont offer either option.
Lift assist: The ultimate in load assistance , this powered mechanism hoists a bike onto the rack. Your vehicles hitch must be set up electronically, though, just as it would be to work with the taillights on a trailer.
Degree Swing For Easy Access To Your Cars Backend

RockyMounts is based out of Colorado with its beginnings in bike racks dating back to 1993. The company was started when its founder, Bobby Noyes , saw a need for more versatility in car racks. That versatility is on display with the BackStage.
We love having tilt on a bike rack so we can access the rear hatch of an SUV when needed. But the RockyMounts BackStage really goes the extra mile by allowing you to get your bikes out of the way completely thanks to their swing away platform hitch rack. The BackStage allows riders to tilt the rack for quick access or swing the bikes out of the way if greater access is needed. It also carries bikes with tires up to 5 thick and 29 diameter, and makes use of an anti-wobble system axis on 2 hitches.
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Best Bike Racks For Electric Bikes
Tip:
- Capacity: 2 bikes
- Allows Trunk/Cargo Access: Yes, with bikes loaded
- Carrier Weight: 39.5 lbs
- Locks Included: Bike lock only
- Frame Contact: Yes
- RV Rated: Yes, all RV types. Reduces capacity to 40 lbs/bike
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
Loading my e-bike onto the Yakima OnRampThe wraparound latch on my bike frameMy bike tire catches on the sides of the ramp as I wheel it up
Check out AJ’s Yakima OnRamp review
- Capacity: 2 bikes
- Allows Trunk/Cargo Access: Yes, with bikes loaded
- Carrier Weight: 45 lbs
- Max Tire Width: 3″
- Locks Included: Yes – Bike & hitch lock
- Frame Contact: Yes
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
Wheeling my e-bike up the EasyFold ramp. It’s wide, but a bit steep.I can easily pop this lever with my knee and tilt the bike rack away from the vehicle.The EasyFold features 2 wheels that make it easy to wheel the rack to your car.The EasyFold’s “open” frame clamp. You can see that the clamp grips the bike frame, but it doesn’t completely enclose it on all sides.
- Capacity: 2 bikes – 4 bikes
- Allows Trunk/Cargo Access: Yes – with bikes loaded
- Carrier Weight: 52 lbs
- Max Tire Width: 3″
- Locks Included: Yes – bike and hitch lock
- Frame Contact: Yes
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
wantnotawesomeLook at that sleek finish and distinctive touch of orangethis bike rack makes a stylish addition to the back of any car.I struggled with loading my heavy e-bike on this rack without a ramp or other load assist.easy
No Bike Left Behind Accommodates Up To 7 Bikes
Part of a new breed of hanging bike racks, the high-capacity VelociRAX can accommodate up to four e-bikes weighing up to 55 lbs with a total carrying capacity of 230 lbs. The largest model has spots for seven bikes, so depending on the weight of the bikes youre carrying you can take the whole family plus some friends just make sure you stay within the weight limits. They include damper-assisted hinges to lower the rack so you dont have to lift the bike on and off. It also has a garage mounting kit to keep your bikes organized at home. Versatility like that in a bike rack is great to see.
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Best Cheap Platform Rack For E
robust, less than $200, tilt away, 2 x 60 lbs 120 lbs max weight capacity, only for 2 receivers
Feel an e-bike rack purchase shouldnt be brutal on your wallet? Dont need all the bells and whistles but just a quality carrier you can work with? Consider the highly affordable WEIZE hitch e-bike rack.
Its a basic rack, stripped down of many high-end features yet since its constructed of reinforced steel its sturdy. Moreover, its quite versatile as it fits all kinds of e-bikes, from understated city bikes to fat tire e-bikes with large frames.
Pros:
More specifically, the WEIZE rack accommodates small and big bikes with 17 to 29 wheels and up to 5 tires and wheelbases up to 63-1/3 thanks to the sliding V-shaped wheel holders. This rack hauls various e-bikes such as two Super73s without issues.
Wheels are strapped to the rack with velcro straps. In addition its hook bars also clamp on step-thru bikes so theres no need to purchase additional parts. You can adjust the removable platform to carry just one or two e-bikes.
At this low price, yet still providing the tilt away feature for easy trunk access while bikes are loaded, the WEIZE offers remarkably much value for money. Keep in mind that the cheapest model doesnt fold up for easy storage but a slightly pricier version does.
Comes with a hitch tightener to prevent wobbling and swaying, foam padded clamp to prevent bike paint scratches, a hitch lock, and a safety strap. The racks own weight is 38.54 lbs.
Cons:
Halfords Advanced 2 Bike Towbar Mounted Bike Rack
- Design to carry e-bikes and heavy bikes
- Carry up to two bikes with max weight 60kgs/132lbs
- Locking clamps with pads to secure the bikes.
- Quick-releasing straps with pads to conveniently secure bikes.
- Tilt down for trunk access with bikes on.
- Lock bike to the rack.
- Lock rack to the tow ball
The Halfords Advanced 2 Bike Towbar Mounted Bike Rack is designed to transport heavy E-bikes and has a high load capacity of 60kg. Its easy to use with great stability, this Bike Rack also offers durability and a touch of simplicity in design.
Type |
Best Value for Money
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Best Value For Money Car Rack For E
versatile, affordable, sturdy, solid, safe, ease of use, with many features 65 lbs per bike fits 2 receivers
Initially we hadnt included the relatively affordable, versatile, high quality Vibrelli tray-style e-bike rack in this overview. After having used this rack ourselves, being able to put it to the test hauling world-traveling cyclist Svens quite bulky, big tired, custom-made frame with triple crown fork e-bike and various more conventional e-bikes, we knew its a shame the Vibrelli wasnt on this list.
So here it is. Our top pick e-bike rack for most people.
Why get this carrier? The Vibrelli V70 hitch rack lets you lug around mountain bikes, fat tire bikes, road bikes with tires up to 5 inches wide on regular cars, pickup trucks and SUVs with a minimum of 12 hitch-to-ground clearance. It has no issues carrying popular e-bikes such as the Rad Power Bikes Radmission or the Aventon Adventure e-bike.
Pros
Its foldable for efficient storage and can be tilted away via a quick release foot pedal so you can reach the trunk. So no reaching your arm between the frames to reach a pin.
Three locks let you secure the rack to your car and the bikes to the rack.
What we really like is the attention to details . Take for instance the rubber padding that protect the rims.
Or the fact that the center hooks that clamp to the e-bike frames are padded and so tightly secured that there is no friction. The anti-vibration lock contributes to this stability.
Cons
Concluding