In-stock alternatives that can ship today
This platform-style rack holds 4 bikes with adjustable wheel hooks and sliding ratcheting straps. Rack tilts down with bikes loaded for cargo area access and folds for storage. Easily converts to 2-bike rack. Includes hitch lock and cable locks.
Features:
Specs:
The Kuat NV Base platform-style rack lets you transport 4 bikes of almost any size, shape, or frame style. A detachable 2-bike add-on lets you easily convert the rack to a 2-bike carrier. Ratcheting wheel hooks and sliding wheel straps hold your bikes with no frame contact. The rack tilts with bikes loaded for cargo area access and it folds up for storage. The aluminum rack has a dock for an optional work stand (TDKB - sold separately) for on-the-go repairs, it installs without tools, and it includes locks to secure your bikes to the rack and the rack to your vehicle.
There is an included detachable 2-bike add-on that lets you convert the rack from a 4-bike rack to a 2-bike rack. Simply remove 4 hex head bolts with the included Allen key and slide the extension out of the base.
Ratcheting hooks grab your bikes firmly by the front wheels - not the frames. These hooks allow you to rapidly load and unload your bikes, and they won't scratch or scuff your bike paint. Each hook adjusts in 2-mm increments to ensure a snug fit over your wheel, and it releases with the push of a button.
The wheel hooks are mounted on arms that pivot nearly 180 degrees from left to right. This makes it easier to load when compared with a rack that has the hooks mounted on a central post. To load simply set your bike in the wheel cradles, rotate the arms up over the wheels, and press the hooks down over the wheels until snug.
The front wheel cradles are extra-wide to accommodate fat bike wheels.
The rear-wheel ratcheting straps let you transport bikes with a wide variety of wheelbases. The straps slide freely along grooves in the wheel trays - just move a strap into position underneath your bike's rear wheel. A quick-release button on each strap buckle makes it easy to free the rear wheel to remove your bikes. 2 extender straps are included for use with 2 fat bikes. Additional extender straps (APBK - sold separately) are available if you have more than 2 fat bikes.
The foot lever on the base is easily accessible even with your bikes loaded. No more crawling through bikes or squeezing between the rack and the vehicle to hit the tilt release lever.
The rack tilts down - with or without bikes loaded - so you can access your vehicle's rear cargo area.
When the rack is unloaded you can fold it up for storage. This makes it easier to park in small lots at the trail head or in cramped parking garages, and it keeps the rack out of the way of other vehicles and riders.
The Trail Doc (TDKB - sold separately) is a handy repair and maintenance stand that attaches to the front of the rack. It grabs your bike by the seat post or top tube and lets you position your bike as needed for adjustments and on-the-go repairs. Easy-to-use pressure clamps let you raise or lower the stand, rotate it on its base, and rotate the clamp arm. It can be locked into place to prevent theft and includes a cap for the housing if you prefer to use the rack without it.
The knob at the front of the shank lets you quickly and easily install the rack. Just slide the shank into your hitch and turn the knob until snug. The knob deploys an anti-rattle wedge inside the shank to help take play out of the hitch connection. The locking hitch pin has an Allen tool on the end that further tightens the hand knob if you are still experiencing rattle after hand-tightening.
Each wheel tray has an integrated cable lock that lets you secure your bike to the rack. A 1/4" thick, braided steel cable extends from the end of the wheel tray, threads through your bike's frame, and locks back onto itself.
A locking hitch pin is also included to secure the rack to your vehicle. It's keyed alike with the cable lock so you only need 1 key for the rack.
Alternate Instructions
Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (148 Customer Reviews)
This platform-style rack holds 4 bikes with adjustable wheel hooks and sliding ratcheting straps. Rack tilts down with bikes loaded for cargo area access and folds for storage. Easily converts to 2-bike rack. Includes hitch lock and cable locks.Quality bike rack. Easy to put together and install. Very solid. Keeps bikes secure and doesn’t bounce around unlike my Thule bike rack. I purchased this rack after almost losing new mountain bikes as I was driving from the carrier bouncing around. It also has integrated cable locks. I bought the additional extension to carry up to 4 bikes. The only criticism is that the extension uses a different type of cable lock with a different key.
This rack definitely has some pros and cons (as do most racks). A minor frustration is that despite ordering the rack and add-on at the same time, the keys don’t match so if locking three or more bikes you need two different keys (this has only really irritated me when it was raining). As other reviewers have mentioned, this thing is heavy. Neither my wife nor kids can lift it to put it on or get it off the car by themselves. The downside is that given the size of the rack it is not real convenient to just leave it on the car. When the rack is in the up position, it is impossible to get in the back so it is necessary to lower the rack each time you want to get in. The other downside is that the rack significantly cuts down on visibility when backing up. All that being said, the rack is rock solid and the bikes are very secure. The rack is great for extended trips. When loaded and tipped down, it is great to be able to open and access the back. The spacing of the bikes is great and I don’t have to spend 15 minutes figuring out how to slide four bikes in just the right spot to make them all fit as I did with my old rack. Best of all the bikes are only sustaining damage on the trail, not on the back of the car! Despite some minor annoyances, I highly recommend this rack. As for assembly, my 13 year old put it together by himself in about 20 minutes (I promised him i would include that fact).
William L - 01/01/2019We needed to move up from our Saris Bones 3 rack now that our youngest is on a big girl bike. We initially went for a budget platform rack which was (not surprisingly) subjected to a recall. After an incredible amount of research, I opted for the Kuat NV 2.0 Base. I took advantage of the etrailer price pledge program and was very satisfied with the etrailer staff who were very easy to deal with both on the phone and online. Following my order, etrailer inadvertently sent me the incorrect base model. The sent me the 1.25 inch instead of 2.0 inch model and as the shipping label covered the hitch size I only discovered this after opening and unpacking it (thereby having to repack and re-ship it). This inconvenience notwithstanding, etrailer was very apologetic, paid for the return shipping and sent out the correct 2.0 inch model. Unpacking and assembly was easy (the second time...and I learned the valuable lesson of taking photos of the unpacking in the event you need to repack it). You certainly get what you pay for with Kuat! The fit and finish are first rate and the rack's design, in my opinion, makes it the most intuitive, cleanest and best looking rack out there. I was considering the RockyMounts Split Rail 2+2 (similar design and athletics and a bit lighter) but I am so glad I went with Kuat. I mounted it on my 06 Pilot today in less than 5 minutes with my wife's help (though it can be accomplished solo), locked the pin and tightened the anti-rattle mechanism for a rock solid mount. All bikes fit on it like a dream (my 29er, wife's mountain bike and 2 kids mountain bikes...have not tried by road bike yet but I don't anticipate any issues). Very impressed with the rack and my etrailer experience.
With a SUV we didn't want to hoist our bikes on the roof (we are rather short in our family), so we looked for a hitch rack that could fit our 4 bikes. The NV base + the addon works great at this. Assembly is not the easiest since it can be tricky to get the bolts to line up while holding in place, if you have another person to help that will make it tons easier. Loading and unloading a bike is very easy and so far the bikes are always securely on without any issue. The locks are ok, nothing fancy, and nothing that will stop a determined thief, I consider them mostly a "slow them down a little" item. My only gripe is how heavy it is. We live in the city and plan on removing it from the car while not in use, and that is a bit of a chore with how heavy it is. Overall if you are looking for a great 4 bike hitch bike, can't really go wrong with it
I worked with Katie and she's amazing! Her knowledge of the available products was deep and very helpful, she made the process of ordering the bike rack very easy, she followed up post sale to make sure all was okay. Five stars for sure! The Kuat NV 2 was fairly easy to put together (need an extra set of hands) and my fat tire bike fits it perfectly. Great quality and I'm VERY happy with the rack. Bike doesn't move at all while underway.
Got the bike rack in a great time, and have had it for a year and is still awesome, no banging bikes, and super easy and smooth to put on
Chris b - 06/26/2020Amazing customer service! Called about an update of my order late in the evening and they were super helpful. I will defiantly recommend and purchase from them again.
The rack is heavy and somewhat cumbersome due to the weight to attach to your hitch mount. If you have mountain bikes, be aware that with the longer bar widths and dropper post setup it will take some finessing when loading 4 bikes. The conversion from a 4 bike carrier to 2 Bike is also cumbersome due to the bolts that have to be unthreaded.
The Kuat NV 2.0 Base 4-bike is really well made but heavy. Assembly and installation took about an hour and definately requires two people. Fits four bikes well and is really easy to use.
I love my new bike rack, Kuat is top of the line!
We literally could not be happier with Etrailer! We placed an order at 6:30pm on a Wednesday and at 8:30pm the same evening we got an email saying “thank you! Ypur Order has been shipped” it was here on our porch on Friday. I couldn’t believe it. Unbelievable customer service, QUALITY (we love our hitch and bike rack!) and better prices than I’ve seen anywhere else.
The rack shipped timely and box was slightly damaged. Kuat really packages their items well and nothing inside was damaged. The rack was very easy to put together. I purchased the add on, which was also easy to connect. Even though it’s considered light for a 4 bike platform it’s still got some weight to it. I was able to lift it with no problem and attached it to our Honda Pilot. Wow, it was so nice and easy to load my bikes. You then turn the stabilizer knob to prevent it was swaying and off you go. It’s easy to lower and raise. It’s well made and I am glad we bought it. I really like the fact that it’s aluminum and easy to adjust for various bikes.
I really like this product so far. Easy to assemble, well engineered, well built. Makes hauling our bikes super easy. I recommend it.
While heavy and expensive, this rack is the best bike rack we have ever owned. It holds the bikes securely and well away from each other, preventing scratching. I love the feature where you can tighten the rack into the receiver and it's rock solid. This is one quality piece of gear. In this case, you get what you pay for.
We purchased this same product from etrailer.com some time ago. It was stolen, along with our old Toyota FJ Cruiser last year. So we purchased another (same) bike rack from etrailer.com. Their web site, service and promptness are excellent. Also, and most iimportant, their prices are good. We highly recommend them. Also, as an avid bicylist for 40 years, the Kuat bike rack ROCKS ! etrailer.com had the best price anywhere.
Awesome bike platform. Assembly instructions are straightforward (although I brought it down to a UHaul dealer to assemble for $20 tip - they were installing the hitch anyway). It's very easy to use, sturdy with hardly any sway. The ordering and delivery was easy and quick and the price on etrailer was extremely competitive!
One of the locks didn’t work at first. Kuat customer service was attentive and helpful. They sent me parts to fix it promptly as it was my preference. The rack is fantastic. Durable, easy to use, good looking, locks are secure, and doesn’t rattle around at all.
Sturdy as all get out, easy to assemble and works great with all my bikes (29er, road, wife's cross and 2 different kid sizes). Even better than the rack itself (and that's hard to beat) was Nick C. at etrailer and the customer service provided on my order. I'll spare the details but after an issue came up with my order Nick was quick to offer options and resolution to the problem. Great work making me a customer for any future trailer needs! -
Excellent product! Also saved $200 on average from other companies by ordering through Etrailer. Will definitely use them again!
Info for this part was:
At etrailer.com we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time.
Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.
Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.