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"Love the fold down design." - WI boy

With all the options out there, choosing a bike rack can be overwhelming. Reading customer reviews is just one more way to help you make the right choice. Below are a few bike rack reviews we wrangled up for the Yakima DoubleDown 4 hitch-mounted carrier. Enjoy!

“I drive a Honda Element and had been putting my bike in my vehicle for 2+ years. It can be a little labor intensive and can take an 15+ minutes of my day taking out my kid’s car seats, folding up the rear seats, taking off the bike’s front wheel (and then putting everything back again before the family can go out again). I finally talked my wife into letting me get a hitch mount rack and I’m glad I bought the DoubleDown. I almost made the mistake of buying “cheaper” and I’m glad I didn’t; this thing is a well made cycling tool. I’ve kept the rack on for a few weeks now – it tilts out more than enough for me to open the back of my Element. Now, I have my bike with me 5 or 6 days a week for rides instead of just 2 or 3 times a week.

I was initially concerned because for the first 24 hours it sounded like the rack was rattling around too much but I simply hadn’t tightened it enough. A few quick turns with the corresponding socket/ratchet and I can’t even tell the rack is back there. I should also mention that Yakima provides a few tools to assemble the rack; all you really need is a screwdriver. You should have a few wrenches and maybe a socket set ready to make sure everything is nice and tight – it comes together in a few minutes. Assembly = piece of cake.

It might be a good idea to visit a store like REI to touch a few of these racks in person first – Thule makes a similar product. Shop around to see who might have the best prices and then come back to Amazon – You’ll find a few vendors with free shipping.

*Well built
*Convenient
*Easy to assemble
*Well built (to me, that’s the best part)”

- Alfredo Mar

“Purchased this product one year ago. Rack is used for road and mountain bikes, all frames are different shapes and sizes. Securely holds bikes without damaging them. Bikes will not move when all straps are used. Well built heavy duty unit. Very little wear and tear after one year of use. Fold down arms and fold down mast feature work well. Individual bike cradles are movable and adjustable for any frame or spacing between bikes. Fold down mast allows access to back hatch (Jeep Cherokee) with no problem. I have even folded it down with bikes on to access the hatch (not recommended, but it will work). Previously owned a Rhode Gear rack mount which was good, but this is a much better product by far. Also purchased lock for hitch pin which works well. I would highly recommend this product.”

- Brian Borcherding

“Love the fold down design. Bought the BuckHorn 4 carrier first because it was $70 less. I realized that storing the Buckhorn and having it sit on our vehicles for any period of time was inconvenient and sometimes hazardous as you walk around the back of the vehicle and clothesline yourself on the bars sticking out. The Buckhorn rack is fine and operates exactly like this DoubleDown, but the convenience of being able to flip down the bars is well worth the price difference. The Doubledown rack gets tight into the hitch once you tighten the bold through the hitch and it folds down great by easily pulling up on the lever, as opposed to messing with the pin-method on the Buckhorn. Great design, we are able to use the rack more easily and keep it on our vehicles longer which is a great benefit and time saver when it comes to those last minute rides with the family.”

- WI Boy

“I purchased this rack based on the positive reviews. Have now used it for a year, have not been disappointed, and love it. I am a 47 year old mom, and go biking 2 – 3 times per week. It only takes me a couple of minutes to strap on and secure either my road bike or mountain bike all by myself. Pop it on the rack, strap it tight, and I add a cable lock at the bottom thru the tires to secure the bike tighter to the rack and minimize movement. We also purchased the security deadbolt but haven’t seen a need to use it yet. I can easily put the rack on myself with the wrench (provided) and unless a random person is really ambitious it’s secure enough for the rural area we live in.”

- Kel

Use a spotter to keep an eye on the rider at all times.

Make sure your day out on the water is a fun one with these safety tips for water tubes and towables.

1. Require life jackets for all riders.
As with any activity out on the water, the rider should be wearing a life jacket, even if he or she is a strong swimmer. In case of injury, a life jacket can keep the rider above water until help comes.

2. Check the tow rope.
Before accelerating the boat, make sure all the slack is out of the tow rope and it’s not tangled up in anything. If the tow line gets caught on something, it can flip the tube, damage your boat or equipment, or injure the rider.

3. Know your equipment’s limits.
If your towable is rated for one rider, never carry more than one rider. Know the weight limits and rider limits for your towable and tow rope. The tow line should be rated to match the water tube or towable.

4. Know your rider’s limits.
Every rider has different comfort levels when it comes to water tubing. If you’re pulling a rider that you’ve never towed before, start out slow and gentle. Then let the rider guide you with hand signals if they want to go faster or stop. If you’re carrying multiple riders, judge your driving by the least aggressive rider’s preferences.

5. Establish signals.
All riders, spotters, and drivers should be clear on the hand signals used by the riders. Thumbs up means go faster. Thumbs down means go slower. A hand slicing across the throat means the rider is finished. Holding up one hand with the palm flat means stop. Search online for more rider signals, or establish your own system.

6. Check with the rider before starting.
Make sure the rider is ready before you take off. The driver should yell, “Ready?” The rider either responds, “Hit it!” or “Wait!” Avoid using “go” and “no” since they sound too similar. If it’s difficult to hear one another, you can also use hand signals to tell the driver you’re ready to go.

7. Drive responsibly.
Know the rules for the body of water where you’re tubing. Make sure the driver is not too tired, can see what’s coming, and knows the body of water well. If you’re on a new lake, drive around the lake before tubing to get a feel for the terrain. Also, never drink before towing riders. Even a little alcohol can impair your judgment.

8. Use a spotter.
Since the driver can’t keep an eye on the riders all the time, use a spotter who can communicate between the riders and the driver. The spotter can catch any trouble immediately and tell the driver to stop or slow down if needed.

A skid mat protects your vehicle's paint job.

When you’re loading and unloading skis, boats, bikes, and other gear on your vehicle, there’s bound to be a few “oops” moments. You know—the ones where the kayak slips out of your grip and scratches the car roof. Or you’re not as careful with the skis as you should’ve been and the bindings scuff up the paint.

For most of us, a few nicks and scuffs are worth it. But if you want to keep your baby in decent shape, here are a few tricks to prevent scratching your vehicle.

1. Ask for help.

Yep, that includes you, “macho man.” Finding someone else to balance the other end of the canoe is going to cut down drastically on the chances that you’ll drop it. If you bike, ski, kayak, etc. with a friend, then you won’t have trouble finding help.

2. Use a skid mat.

For solo adventurers, asking for help usually isn’t an option. That’s where a skid mat (or an old blanket or bath towel) comes in handy. Drape the mat over the back or side of your vehicle to protect it from scratches.

If you’re loading a boat, you can slide the canoe or kayak up the mat and onto the cradles or foam pads. If you’re loading a bike or other gear, you can use the mat to prevent accidentally nicking the car as you lift the gear into place.

3. Wax your vehicle.

For the occasional minor mishap, a good coat of wax should keep scratches from messing up your paint job. Although car wax won’t help with deep scratches, it can protect your vehicle against minor nicks and scuffs.

This hitch bike carrier swings away for rear door access.

Exploring new trails on your bike is a great way to spend the weekend. With a bike carrier, you can explore just about any area you want. Here are some tips on choosing the right bike carrier for your vehicle.

What Type of Bike Carrier?

The type of bike carrier you choose will depend partly on what type of vehicle you own. For example, hitch racks require a hitch, and trunk racks won’t fit on a truck or an SUV with a spare tire on the rear door.

Choosing a bike carrier style also depends on how much you want to spend, how easily you want to be able to pop the bike rack on and off your vehicle, and whether you want to be able to use the rack for other sports equipment.

A roof rack gives you the option of carrying other equipment besides your bike. You can use the rack year-round for skiing, snowboarding, boating, biking, and surfing.

A trunk bike rack provides a cheaper alternative—plus it’s easier to install and remove. Trunk racks are your most affordable option for transporting bikes.

Hitch bike racks are an option for vehicles with a tow hitch installed. They are typically the easiest for loading bikes, and some models swing out of the way to allow rear access.

Spare tire bike racks and truck bike racks are also available for these types of vehicles.

How Many Bikes?

The size of your bike carrier will depend on how many bikes you plan to carry. We recommend adding an extra bike space just in case you need it.

Also, trunk bike racks are sometimes easier to load with a space between bikes—for example, using a 3-bike carrier for only two bikes. The extra space in between makes it easier to load and keeps the bikes from knocking into each other and scratching the frames.