FFT
Gay & Stuffy
After reading the rack talk in the for sale section I figured I would share my experiences with trailer hitch racks.
For a few trip I borrowed a friends Saris Cycle on rack. I loved it, so I did what any moron would do, I looked for a better deal. I was offered a Thule at dealer cost plus an additional 10% for a web training sorta thing. He's the skinny:
The Thule rack is heavy, but constructed with cheap hardware. The buckles are plactic strips that can be stolen or lost if not removed or clipped while traveling - They are rivited to a tab on the rack, the rivit is weak and has rusted in it's first year - and may break off. The pin that the rack rests upon when in the down position is bent badly - my friends opt to put their high end bikes in the bed of the truck rather than on the rack, I dont blame them. Two thumbs down for the T2 - also use a 2 bike attatckment. Also only rated for bikes to 50 lbs - probly funny to most on here, but not to a downhiller. The website states 60lb bikes, with a max of 200lb(4bikes) WTF?
The Saris: I cant remember if it was lighter, but it may be. The fasteners for the tires are ratcheting control claw that are shaped like a C - they are very strong and will not be lost, stolen, or rust away. They are clearly a better design. The mechanism on the arm is also stonger - the arm is rectangulat tubing as opposed to the Thule which is round - I prefer the beefier tubing. The Saris rack is equiped with a knob that removes all the play from where the hitch slides into the receiver, a great option then driving down the parkway at 80. This rack would be my first pick even if it was more coin.
For a few trip I borrowed a friends Saris Cycle on rack. I loved it, so I did what any moron would do, I looked for a better deal. I was offered a Thule at dealer cost plus an additional 10% for a web training sorta thing. He's the skinny:
The Thule rack is heavy, but constructed with cheap hardware. The buckles are plactic strips that can be stolen or lost if not removed or clipped while traveling - They are rivited to a tab on the rack, the rivit is weak and has rusted in it's first year - and may break off. The pin that the rack rests upon when in the down position is bent badly - my friends opt to put their high end bikes in the bed of the truck rather than on the rack, I dont blame them. Two thumbs down for the T2 - also use a 2 bike attatckment. Also only rated for bikes to 50 lbs - probly funny to most on here, but not to a downhiller. The website states 60lb bikes, with a max of 200lb(4bikes) WTF?
The Saris: I cant remember if it was lighter, but it may be. The fasteners for the tires are ratcheting control claw that are shaped like a C - they are very strong and will not be lost, stolen, or rust away. They are clearly a better design. The mechanism on the arm is also stonger - the arm is rectangulat tubing as opposed to the Thule which is round - I prefer the beefier tubing. The Saris rack is equiped with a knob that removes all the play from where the hitch slides into the receiver, a great option then driving down the parkway at 80. This rack would be my first pick even if it was more coin.
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