Hollywood Racks HR1400 Sport Rider SE 4-Bike Platform Style Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver)

I’ve been looking for a rack with some specific criteria for a while – capacity for 4 bikes, platform rack, solidly constructed, holds mountain or road bikes, 2+2 configuration for when the family stays home. This was the best value.

Things I really like:

• This rack can fold in multiple ways – the top tube folds sideways, so the whole rack can fold up while attached to the car. Or the side tubes fold up for surprisingly compact storage. Locking pins are secure & make for easy setup.
• Includes a locking hitch pin and long cable lock in the package.
• Holds the bikes very securely. I had a hanging-style rack, and the bikes were too close, swung into each other damaging 2. This is rock solid. The bikes are held very securely.
• Ratcheting hold down clamps – once it’s configured for your bikes, it’s very quick to put the bikes on and off.

Workable, but minor annoyances:

• Attaching the extension to carry 4 bikes requires a wrench & two bolts with lock washers – there’s no quick disconnect. But on the plus side, it’s much more secure, and only takes a minute.
• Two bikes that are exactly the same frame size can be a challenge, especially with horizontal top tubes. If the bikes are too close in size, the clamps can interfere. If there’s any tilt to the top tube, it’s much easier, or you can secure one clamp to the down tube. I made everything work, but it takes some configuration time when 2 bikes are identical in size.
• A padlock can lock the ratcheting clamps in place for extra security, but the holes are small – a standard Master lock doesn’t fit. You need the kind with the smaller clasp.
• It’s heavy. But to be fair, that’s also a bonus – it needs to be heavy duty. But just know it’s awkward to lift when fully assembled. I store it in 2 parts, which is much more workable.
• To secure the rack to the hitch, there’s a threaded rod that creates tension on the hitch pin. Cool idea, but it takes some minor fiddling to get the hitch pin through the clamp properly. Not a big deal.
• The design of the main support is on an upward incline away from the car, which was smart, but it’s still a big contraption and fairly close to the ground. Fire roads with steep transitions or parking lots crossing really high sidewalks need to be taken s-l-o-w-l-y. Don’t expect to go crazy off-roading with this. At least not at high speed. I bottomed out only once – no damage – but it can happen, so take it easy.

Despite any minor annoyances, this was EXACTLY what I’m looking for. I highly recommend it. If you’re even slightly mechanically inclined, this is a piece of cake. It’s solidly built, does what it’s supposed to do.

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