A trunk-mounted bike rack rests on the trunk or back of your vehicle, held in place by straps that connect to the trunk, hatch, or bumper. A trunk-mounted rack is a good choice if:
Consider the following when choosing a trunk-mounted bike rack:
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Use our fitguide to shop for a bike rack that fits your vehicle
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Bike Compatibility
Trunk-mounted bike racks work with most types of bikes. To make sure that a rack will work with your bikes, consider the following:
Number of Bikes
Bike racks are available with maximum capacities from 1 to 3 bikes
1-Bike rack | 2-Bike rack | 3-Bike rack |
Standard Frames
Trunk-mounted bike racks work best with bikes that have a large frame and a horizontal crossbar. The rack's arms will easily fit inside the frame and the horizontal crossbar will ensure that the bike rides level. Remember that your bikes should ride as level as possible, and they should have adequate ground clearance so that they won't contact the ground while you're transporting them.
Alternative Frames
Bikes that don't have standard frames - step through frames, women's bikes, children's bikes, bikes with small frames - may not fit well on a trunk-mounted bike rack. But you can usually carry these types of bikes if you remember the following:
Arm Spacing
Arm spacing varies among different brands and models of bike racks. If your bike has a small frame, consider racks that have narrow arm spacing so that the arms fit. (But remember that wider arms will provide a more stable ride for larger bikes.)
Popular racks with wide arm spacing
Thule Passage 2-bike carrier | Hollywood Racks Express 2-bike carrier | Pro Series Duette 2-bike carrier |
Popular racks with narrow arm spacing
Thule Archway XT 2-bike carrier | Saris Bones 3-bike carrier - adjustable width | Thule Raceway PRO 2-bike carrier - adjustable width |
If you can't mount your bike on a trunk-mounted bike rack because its frame is too small or it lacks a horizontal crossbar, you may still be able to take your bike by using an adapter bar. An adapter bar clamps onto the seatpost and head tube of your bike and provides a support that rests on the bike rack's arms. Most adapter bars adjust in length to allow them to fit a range of bike sizes. To ensure that a specific adapter bar will work for you, measure between the seatpost and head tube of your bike and then check the dimensions of the adapter bar.
Trunk-mounted bike racks work on many different kinds of vehicles. In fact, most racks adjust so they can adapt to fit different vehicles.
Vehicle Fit
Trunk-mounted bike racks fit most cars, vans, and SUVs.
Use our fitguide to shop for racks that fit your vehicle
Shop for a trunk-mounted bike rack that fits your vehicle
Vehicles with Spoilers
Don't let a spoiler spoil your fun. A vehicle spoiler can get in the way of a bike rack, resulting in the rack's mounting straps pushing against it, which can cause damage. But some racks are designed to be mounted on vehicles that have spoilers. These racks are usually designed to clear the spoiler on a taller vehicle - like a van or SUV - or to clear the spoiler on a sedan.
Shop for a rack that clears a spoiler
Notes
Some racks have extra features that make them more useful and convenient. Check out some of these features, below, to help narrow down your choices of bike racks.
Read more about the following topics:
Construction
Most racks are made of steel. Some manufacturers make racks of injection molded plastic or nylon. These racks are light, rust resistant, and available in a variety of colors that are molded into the plastic.
Popular Steel Bike Racks
Thule Passage 2-bike rack | Yakima HalfBack 2-bike rack | Hollywood Racks Over-the-Top 3-bike rack |
Gas-Injected Nylon | Injection Molded Plastic | |
Thule Raceway PRO premium bike rack | Saris Racks - Many Saris racks are made of molded plastic and available in many different colors |
Protect Your Bikes and Rack from Theft
Unsecured bikes and racks can be an easy target for thieves. If you want to leave your bikes on your rack unattended or even leave your rack on while you go riding, you might want to consider locking your rack and bikes. Cables are available to lock your bikes to your rack. And straps are available to lock your rack to your vehicle. These straps usually have a steel core to resist cutting and a puck- or tube-shaped anchor on one end. The anchor is placed inside your trunk or hatch, and when the trunk or hatch is closed, the anchor can't be pulled out.
Cable locks secure bikes to rack | Thule security strap | Yakima security strap |
Some racks have built-in locks, which can make locking your rack and bikes more convenient.
Shop for a locking trunk-mounted bike rack
Anti-Sway Cradles
The motion of your vehicle accelerating, slowing, and turning can cause bikes that are mounted on a rack to rock back and forth, possibly scratching each other or your car. To help keep bikes from swaying, some racks are made with built-in anti-sway cradles. These cradles usually have extra mounting straps that grasp a downward bar of your bike to hold it securely.
Shop for a bike rack that has built-in anti-sway
Ease of Installation
Some racks are easier to adjust to your vehicle and to install than others. The following information can help point you to racks that are easier to install.
Fit Adjustment
Thule FitDial system | Yakima HUB system |
Bike racks have to be adjustable so that they can fit the many different shapes and sizes of vehicles out there. When you install a bike rack, you must adjust it to fit your vehicle. In most cases, you have to work with the adjustments until the rack fits correctly. To make installation easier, some manufacturers design their racks with vehicle-specific settings to make it easy to fit your exact vehicle. You can adjust these racks to the correct position (just follow the manufacturer's instructions), and you'll know that you have the best fit without any guesswork.
Popular Racks That Have Built-in Vehicle-Specific Settings
Thule Passage 2-bike rack | Thule Archway XT 2-bike rack | Yakima HalfBack 2-bike rack | Thule Raceway PRO 2-bike rack |
Number of Straps
Most racks use 6 straps to hold the rack to your vehicle. Some racks, however, have only 4, which can make installation of a rack simpler and easier.
4-Strap bike racks | 6-Strap bike racks |
Adjustable and Folding Arms
The support arms on some racks can be adjusted. This useful feature lets you position the arms to hold bikes level. And some racks allow you to fold the arms down out of the way when you don't have bikes loaded.
Racks with adjustable arms | Racks with folding arms |
Updated by: Raymond P.
Last updated: 6/26/18
Carely G.
8/25/2021
After doing research for a few days, I'm still completely overwhelmed because of all the different options.. I'm hoping I can get a little bit of help finding a reliable bike rack for two bikes, mine is a Trek Marlin 6 (Medium 29" wheels) and the other would be a L-XL Men's Mountain bike. I'm hoping to find something that won't scratch up my 2012 Hyundai Accent GLS (Sedan) or the bikes, won't sway/move (as I'll be spending most of my time driving on highways or gravel, with lots of potholes), and won't make me anxiously check the rear view mirror every few seconds to make sure the bikes are okay and not hitting the road while I'm driving. Any recommendations?
Sheri C.
5/12/2021
Are there trunk bike racks that can used for 2 E-Bikes - one step through and one mens? Must fit 2020 Volvo XC60
Kathy
8/17/2020
When you have a trunk mount on an SUV you cannot open it? So, these bike racks have to be taken off after using if you want to utilize the back of your suv? If that is the case, can you open the hatch if you have the hitch mount? thanks.
Ed
5/14/2020
the article suggests most racks can be used on such without a hitch, yet the manufacturers page will say they have no hitch for the vehicles I need. Confusing.
"Very easy process, good prices and my products were shipped on time and were delivered on time. The instructional videos online helped make installation easy!"
Terri W.
7/8/2022
We have a 2016 Rav 4. We have an upright walker that we would like to set on the back hatch lift. Is there something you recommend that would adjust for an upright walker? It is approximately 36” front to back, 12” wide folded, and 48” tall.