The Complete Guide to Bike Carriers for Roof, Hitch, Trunk, Bed, Spare Tire and RV

Transporting bicycles to your preferred riding spot has been perfected over the years. Today, you can shop between a myriad of options and price points to find the carrier that works best for your vehicle and bike. This guide will break down some of the most common styles and mount locations so that you can make an informed shopping decision and hopefully learn a bit along the way!

Some bike rack designs are specific to particular makes and models, however most are universal for vehicles that share similar features, such as roof bars or a hitch. If you are curious about how to install a certain style.

Hitch-Mounted Bike Racks

These are among the most popular types of bicycle carriers for several reasons:

• Fits: Any make or model with a matching receiving hitch (usually 2”)
• Installation: Very easy to fit on a hitch receiver
• Safety: Plenty of options for securing wheels and frames
• Versatility: Several styles available, including with a storage carrier to truly maximize your cargo space
• Ease of Use: They don’t require removal of a bike tire and they don’t require lifting bikes high above your head

Most hitch-mounted carrier are designed to support bicycles either by their tires or their frame, and usually have options for transporting 2 to 4 bikes at a time. Securing methods include arms or levers to hold the bike frames in place, as well as ratcheting or Velcro straps to lash the wheels or frame in place.

Platform Style

Frame Style

Trunk-Mounted

For smaller cars and crossovers without a hitch, trunk-mounted bicycle racks are a blessing. Using straps, pads and tension, they offer similar stability to a hitch-mounted unit and are also available in two main styles – frame or platform.