1-Bike Add-On for Kuat Piston Pro X Bike Rack for 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount

Video Transcript for Comprehensive Review: 1-Bike Add-On for Kuat Piston Pro X Bike Rack for 2" Hitches

Hey, everyone, it's Evangeline here at etrailer. And today, we have the Kuat Piston Pro X 1-Bike Add-On with the wiring. We're gonna take a look at how it assembles, how it installs, as well as why you might need this 1-bike add-on to your Kuat Piston Pro X base. So the reason you might be interested in getting a 1-bike add-on is because you already have the 2-bike base, and every now and then you may have to carry around a third bike. And it was really nice to see that the process for adding this add-on was very simple. And if you needed to take this extra piece off, because maybe the bike rack's too long and you're not carrying three bikes, it's also nice to know that the removal process is just as simple.

Something you do have to consider though is if you need the single-bike add-on or the 2-bike add-on. You cannot add another single-bike add-on to this, it really is one or the other, so that will take some planning ahead of time. Fortunately, here at etrailer, you can get them available as a whole kit. So whether it's a 3-bike rack or the 4-bike rack, or you wanna start with a 2-bike base and then get the add-on later when you're ready to upgrade, you can do so. For the Kuat Piston Pro X, there are different designs for the wiring that you might notice if you watch other reviews.

So the original design has a magnetic method of connecting the wiring. That way, your taillights on your bike rack mimic the taillights on your vehicle. Now, there is a redesign which involves plugs as well as other wires compared to that magnetic mount, and that's what we're gonna be talking about today. Everything you need to install this is included with your add-on. And here at etrailer, you can get the full kit all at once.

So we sell the 3-bike rack as well as the 4-bike rack, which is the 2-bike base with a 2-bike add-on or the single-bike add-on. Now, with that in place, the first, first thing you need to do is unlock your end of the bike rack, and that way, you can take out this tool. This tool is used to loosen this bolt at the end of the end cap. Once that bolt is loose, you can then take that end cap off, which will then reveal two bolt holes on the inside, as well as this plug. If you look closely at the plug, you will find an arrow, and that's gonna be very important to see, because that arrow lines up with the arrow on your add-on mast.

So with that lined up, you're able to plug that base together with your first piece, and then you get to push this into your bike rack. The two bolts are already included with your extension, so you're then going to use the included Allen key with your add-on, and this is going to tighten down on those two bolts. Get your side of the tray, and then you're gonna go look for these plugs. So these are going to fit together, and it may be a little tricky to get them lined up first, so what I do is I just rest one half of the tray on the bike rack as I line up our plugs. You're gonna see where the hole matches the clip, that clips together. And now, you can push part of that wiring harness in as you grab your tray. And this attaches by lifting up to get that notch into place, then you can drop it down. Just like that. So even without the bolt securing it, it's gonna hold in place, so you can get the next tray all set up. As you push the wiring harnesses in, try to push them towards your vehicle, because you need to make sure where the letter is, that's where your bolt is gonna go through, and it's a lot easier if you don't have the wiring harness in the way of the bolt. (tray clanking) Put the nut in the tray that's marked B, put the bolt in through the A tray. You may need to wiggle around your trays a bit if they don't automatically allow the bolt to push through. But then, you're going to tighten down with your included Allen key. And if you forget which side is A and which side is B, you can see how there is a cutout designed specifically for that nut. And that way, you don't need a separate wrench to tighten down on that bolt. Continue tightening down on that bolt until there's no longer any movement of the bolt or the trays, and that's how you know it's secure. Don't forget to put the end cap back on and secure it with the smaller bolt, and you can use the locking tool this time to get everything in place. Once that's secure, don't forget to put the tool back into the end cap, and lock down your bike rack. And just like that, very fast, very easy. (mast ratcheting) You we're able to install your 1-bike add-on. Now, the main difference is gonna be the wiring plugs. Those are pretty important to get all lined up, especially the one for the extension piece, so definitely look for those arrows and double check that your tray's plugs are all connected too. You can also turn on your vehicle, and if everything lights up, that's it for the assembly and install. If you are looking for the add-ons for the Kuat Piston Pro and not the Pro X, we also have those available here at etrailer.com. The main difference is it doesn't have the wiring and the taillights. But if you're looking for something that will work with a wired version of your Kuat Piston Pro X, then you found it right here. This was a look at the single-bike add-on for your Kuat Piston Pro X Bike Rack at etrailer.com. My name's Evangeline, and I hope you enjoyed this install.