Camping outdoors is not only about enjoying nature but also about exploring a brand new place with your own bike. Hence, many people look for decent bike racks to carry their vehicles whenever they go. However, finding the right gear for your cars is not an easy task, especially when you own an Outback.
But these top 4 bike rack reviews will help you with a detailed view and a comprehensive buying guide.
Top 4 Subaru Outback Bike Racks
Here is a recommended list of top four options if you are lost in the world of Subaru outback bike racks.
1. Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Rack
Top of this list is the Allen Sports bike racks with an excellent capacity of up to 4 bikes. This brand is the leading hitch bike racks manufacturer with over 50 years of experience.
The Allen Sports bike rack will be a great choice for a family to carry mountain bikes for outdoor trekking with a maximum capacity of 140 lbs. It features a rack that fits either 1¼ inches receiver hitches for 2 and 3 bike models or 2 inches receiver hitches for 4 and 5 bike models. Thus, it will be a wise choice to carry bicycles on road trips and camping excursions.
It is designed with the thought of users in mind. Combining with rack titles backward, the folding carry arms allow you to fold out of the way when not in use. This feature adds extra flexibility in using your vehicle with the rack on. Also, it saves you a lot of space and let you have the whole control of what to do with this rack.
Moreover, it features a quick installation system with a locking hitch insert for a wobble-free installation. You can also lock the rack at a certain position for added security. Besides, an individual tie-down system adds extra reliability for your system with fixed but rotating tie-downs. It also makes it more versatile to handle many sizes and styles of bicycles.
Made from high-quality steel and a trustable weight of 22 lbs, it can stand the beating of weather and time. You are also backed with long-term support from Allen Sports.
- Accommodate several types of bikes, including odd-shaped frames and girl frames bike with no supporting bars needed.
- Feature a tension bolt to stop the bike rack from rattling inside of the hitch
- Extra support for store and remove bikes
- Close bike when putting them on the rack
- Not quick to remove like a hitch lock
2. Thule T2 Pro XT 2-Bike Rack
If you are looking for a premium platform hitch bike rack to transport your vehicles for a camp excursion, the Pro XT is a great option. It is manufactured in the United States with a thoughtful design for optimal usage.
Made from the sturdy steel, this bike rack weighs 51 lbs and can accommodate two bikes of class 2-4 or class 1-2. The maximum load capacity of this bike rack is 100 lbs, which is more than enough to carry bikes. You will also find this rack spacious to carry bikes with big tires of up to 29 inches.
The Pro XT bike rack is ideal for carrying carbon frames, mountain, downhill, e-bikes, and fat bikes without any hassle. It can hold two bikes with a maximum tire width of 5” with the distance between two bikes of 12.5 inches. Thus, you don’t have to worry about scratching your bikes when carrying them anywhere you go.
With a modest folded dimension of 54.7 x 22.5 x 33.8 inches, you can fold the Thule rack conveniently to save some space. Moreover, with a tool-free attachment knob and a built-in lock cylinder, you can set this rack up in a matter of minutes.
In terms of security, the Thule Pro XT bike rack has a user-oriented design with ratcheting arms and 24” locks to secure bike quickly. Moreover, it offers generous space between bikes for a side-to-side arrangement for least interference.
You can also maximize the use of this bike rack with a separate addon that allows you to carry four bikes in the platform.
- Can accommodate several types of bikes
- A spacious platform to carry two bikes without any interference
- Easy to assemble with a tool-free knob
- A little bit heavy to move the rack around
3. Genuine Subaru SOA567B020 Bike Roof Rack
The Genuine Subaru bike rack is a cost-effective choice that offers you a full-function rack to transport your bike around. It is a center-mounted bike rack that will save you a lot of space and cause no hassle in opening the car trunk.
With an innovative design to make the best use of space at the top of your car, the Subaru bike rack is the best choice for carrying one or two bikes on your trip. It comes from the original manufacturer of your cars; thus, you don’t have to worry about compatibility in installation. Moreover, this Subaru genuine accessory is suitable for five different versions of cars, making it one of the best dependent bike racks.
Made from high-quality steel, this Subaru bike rack offers a reliable way to transport your bike around no matter whether you want to take it to a repair shop or for outdoor camps.
In terms of usage, this rack can accommodate only one bike, but it is compatible with any type of bike. It can eliminate the hassle of a back bike rack that makes it inconvenient to open the car trunk. Installed on the roof of your car, it will handle the weight of your bike without unbalancing your car.
With a user-oriented design, the Subaru bike rack minimizes the installation and makes it possible for those who even don’t know about engineering. Adjustable clamps will simplify the installation and allow you to switch between multiple vehicles.
It has self-adjusting jaws that will wrap around the downtube automatically. You don’t need too much adjustment for precise frame hold. Besides, ratcheting straps will handle the front and rear wheels securely.
- Genuine OEM products with high compatibility
- Reasonable price
- Easy to install
- Suitable for only one or two bikes
4. Tyger Auto TG-RK1B204B Trunk-mounted Bike Rack
The Tyger bike mount is a wise choice for those who want a versatile carrier rack that fits with any type of car from Sedans, Hatchbacks to Minivans, and SUVs. This is a one-bike carrier with a maximum load capacity of 55 lbs that can accommodate any bikes.
It features a lower frame with pads that will keep your vehicle away from your vehicle. But if you might wonder about the security, the included safety strap will help you. They will attach the bike firmly to the rack and keep it safe and sound throughout the trip.
Moreover, the individual cradles will protect your vehicle from twisting even when the road is rough. The integrated ratchet buckles make it even more secure to attach your bike to the rack.
The thoughtful design of the Tyger carrier rack included long-lasting rubber bumpers to protect your car’s surface that has direct contact with the frames. It also acts as an anti-slipping feature to hold the rack on your car securely.
In terms of installation, you will find this rack as easy as a lego puzzle with the help of an instruction manual included. You can finish the installation steps in a matter of a few minutes without any technical knowledge required.
The Tyger carrier rack is made from high-quality steel with an OE standard black coating for rust resistance. You are also backed with a lifetime warranty from Tyger.
- Easy and simple installation with a DIY guideline
- Anti-scratch system to protect your car
- A secure system to carry your bike without any damage
- Only available for one bike
Subaru Outback Bike Rack Buying Guide
If you haven’t found your optimal options in the list above, it’s time you should make your own decision. The following criteria for a novice in bike racks will help you a lot in choosing a bike rack for your Subaru car.
1. Compatibility
The first thing you need to address is the compatibility. Cross away several options that are not compatible with your SUV or Minivans car. This process will eliminate a lot of competitors that will make choosing an easier task.
Small advice for you is to choose the accessories from the original brands like Subaru. They offer a wide range of selection for carrier racks to transport bikes. Otherwise, you should pay attention to your rack’s compatibility to make sure that it can be assembled in your car.
2. Type of bike racks
And now, you might want to consider the types of bike racks that you should go for among three primary types: roof-mounted bike racks, trunk-mounted bike racks, and hitch-mounted bike racks.
The roof-mounted bike racks are convenient and space-saving. It is the lightest bike racks among the three that require a little effort to install. A good roof-mounted bike rack doesn’t make you take off your front wheel but can handle the bike reliably.
However, the downside of roof-mounted bike racks is that you need a lot of strength and mobility to lift the bike over your head.
The second type of bike racks is trunk-mounted bike racks, the most friendly carrier rack for everyone. Trunk-mounted bike racks are lightweight and easy to assemble. They often come pre-assembled with a few final details that allow you to install or remove the rack with ease. Moreover, they can be folded up and only take a modest space in your garage.
But a trunk-mounted bike rack often blocks your license plate. And it is not for a high frequency of use, so you might find its lifespan shorter.
The last type of bike rack is a hitch-mounted bike rack. The advantage of this type is they still make your trunk available and create extra room to store all of your camping stuff. Although they can accommodate large bikes, they can also be folded up for space-saving.
But the downside of hitch-mounted bike rack is that they are too heavy for one person to install them himself. And the enormous weight of them will hurt your gas mileage a little bit.
3. Capacity
How many bikes do you want to carry out? The answer to this question will help you remove a bunch of options on your choice list. A roof rack can often carry only one bike. And if you want to have more bike on the go, the hitch rack or trunk rack might be a wise choice.
Moreover, you need to pay attention to the load capacity of the rack. Carrying more than the rack can handle might cause severe problems not only for your car but also dangerous for you.
Another thing to consider is the size of your bike. If you have bikes with chunky sets of rubber, an expansive tire width capacity is needed. In this case, a hitch-mounted bike rack might be a decent option for you.
4. Security & Safety
The next important thing that you should keep in mind is the security and safety of your bike. You might want a sturdy and reliable rack to keep your bike safe during transportation. So make sure that you are backed with additional strap and lock to secure your bikes.
The stability of your rack also matters. An unbalanced rack might defect your car’s performance, and might cause damage on your bikes.
5. Installation
Bike racks are not consistently installed on your car. Hence, you might want to spend as little effort as possible to install and remove them.
With that in mind, you would prefer the tool-free installation system that integrated in many carrier racks. Some manufacturers also include a DIY guideline on their product to make it easier for you.
6. Price
The last factor that will affect your choice is the price. If you don’t want to pay over $200 for a rack that you don’t use it often, many cost-effective options can satisfy you.
However, you should remember that with a bike rack, you will get what you paid for. Generally, the price might be traded for the capacity and versatility of the bike rack.
Conclusion
Having a bike rack is a must for those who are in love with camping and trekking. This article will help you know what the best bike rack for Subaru Outback is and make the best choice.
And if you ask for the best choice above, the Allen Sport 4-bike hitch rack is the optimal choice for a whole family. But in case you want a trunk-mounted carrier rack, the Thule T2 Pro XT 2 might be an excellent option.