YAKIMA, FullTilt Tilting Hitch Mount Hanging Bike Rack, 5 Bike Capacity

I don't want to make this review too long, but I can't believe how great this rack is! Prior to this rack, I got one from a competitor, and it wasn't a cheap one, either. That one was smashed in an accident (no bike on it, thank the Lord), and I had to get a replacement. I was trying to find a big rack that would hold 5 bikes, and which wasn't a "hanger-type" rack. My experience with that other rack really soured me on these types, and I was looking for something better. I found that my options for 5-bike racks were quite limited, so I thought I was "settling" for this rack, but I couldn't have been more wrong. This rack has absolutely exceeded all my expectations, and here's how.To begin, locking toolless install ought to be standard on ALL bike racks. It is not. My last hanger rack had it, and it was the only feature I really liked about it. THIS rack's is even better. For one, the tightening knob is triangular. This means that it's easy to really crank down...easy to get a grip on. My old rack knob was circular. For another, there's a protruding piece of metal that will protect the knob from scraping on the ground. I just did a 10 hour round trip vacation with this rack installed, and with 5 bikes, as shown, and the install knob is still intact despite a few scrapes due to driveway dips. The lock to the cable and the installer knob are the same, which is also convenient.Another thing I liked about this rack is the lever to tilt the rack away from the car for trunk access is up top! I don't have to bend over to fiddle with the lever to get it tilted. Speaking of the tilt, it doesn't lock into place extended. My other rack locked in place for no reason. (When would I EVER need it locked in a position that you're not supposed to drive in?) One-handed operation!This rack is quite configurable. The entire surface of the rack is rubberized to protect your bike's finish! The mount points slide and lock into place. Some bikes might be able to be closer together. Others will need to be further apart. No problem. Easy to handle.The 3-point mount system to strap the bikes in place is SO SECURE. The bikes never moved, even after bouncing on a gravel road for 20 minutes. The bikes don't tilt back and forth, because the third point straps the seatpost. Seriously ingenious design. Having the little strappies come completely off the rack is annoying because I have to put them somewhere while I'm loading bikes, but having them off the rack also means that I have less clearance issues with the straps getting in the way of loading.I bought the extra top tube adapters, and that made installation a breeze. If you plan on loading kids' bikes or mountain bikes with slanted top tubes, those adapters are really highly recommended. Expensive, especially if you get the Yakima ones, which I really liked, but made things so much better.Finally, when you decide to remove and stow the rack, the hitch mount post folds down so the rack can be stored flat.This rack was so much better thought-out than the other rack I had it's not even funny. I was able to fit 1 full size mountain bike, 2x teen mountain bikes, and 2x BMX-style kids bikes, and it required some finagling to fit, but I got them on there both for the trip up and back, and those bikes didn't move AT ALL. absolutely 5 stars.

The Yakima FullTilt 5 bike rack offers a robust, secure, and convenient solution for transporting up to five bikes, with easy installation, access, and storage features. It is securely mounted on a vehicle, showcasing its robust and sleek design. It accommodates up to five bikes, making it ideal for family trips. The rack's padded arms protect bike frames from scratches, while ZipStrips provide a secure hold. The tilt mechanism allows access to the vehicle's trunk without removing the bikes, adding to its convenience. The installation process appears straightforward, with a tool-free attachment system. Additionally, the built-in locking mechanism secures both the rack and the bikes, enhancing security. The rack's foldable design makes storage easy when not in use.

We’re in the middle of our vacation and maiden voyage with this rack and it has FAILED only halfway to our destination! I am LIVID!I’m no stranger to bike racks and everything is installed properly. The narrow shaft of this rack has completely bent under the weight of five standard bicycles. The 1.25” expandable shaft is completely inadequate support for the load weight, making this a TERRIBLE engineering design. Now we are stuck without means to haul our bikes and have to overnight an adequate replacement while carrying this thing around till we get back home to send it back.Will update later to tell you how YAKIMA handles this terrible product situation!

Received about a month ago. Since that time, the rack has become a semi-permanent fixture on the back our 2014 Enclave. We have used it multiple times to carry my wife's and my bike to the trailheads. As advertised, the loading and unloading of the bikes is quick and painless. The ratchet straps are a breeze to clip in and take off. We really enjoy the ability to fold the rack down and tilt it out as this provides us access to the lift gate without having to remove the rack from the car. It is also very easy to install in the hitch, although the first time I put it on the car, it wouldn't fit... Turns out that I am an idiot and didn't unscrew the locking knob enough to get it in. The rack does sit a tad bit too high for my wife to comfortably lift her bike on it (she is around 5'4"), but she is getting used to finagling it.Yesterday was the first time we tried loading all 5 bikes on the rack. Although it was a bit of a spatial relations headache, we did manage to fit our two road bikes, two mountain bikes and my daughter's 7 speed kid's Raleigh. I have to say it was a bit harrowing going down the highway (approximately 15 miles to where we were going to start our ride) as there is a tremendous amount of bounce to the rack when it has that much weight on it. I have to assume that this is by design as we made it there without any lost bikes or ancillary damage to the car, bikes or rack. It is going to take some getting used to, however, so that I am not constantly watching the rearview mirror. I wish that the security locking cable was a tad longer as it is tricky to weave through the bikes and still get it locked into place, but it is a nice inclusion. The only problem is that one of the locking strap cleats lost it's thumb release latch (see attached pic) and so Yakima is sending me a new one to replace it with. This concerns me as the rack is only a month old and has not been off of the car since we have owned it. Will have to see about the overall durability / longevity of the rack, but it does have a limited lifetime warranty, so I'm not too concerned.Overall, definitely recommend for family rack (with the above mentioned caveats.)Pros:Heavy DutyEasy to Install / UseDoes (barely) fit 5 bikesBikes fit securely on rackSecurity cable includedBottle Opener!Cons:Ratchet strap cleat already brokenLot's of bounce when fully loadedEasy to pinch finger in tilt release (Be Careful!)Sits high (Con for short people)Security cable is a bit short for my taste