Best Truck Bed Bike Rack of 2021 – Reviews with Comparison

Are you a biker who likes to travel through the serenity of the beautiful, lush, forest trails? Perhaps, you are someone that likes to get extreme and hit the more challenging rocky terrains! Either way, you want to be able to get your bike from point A to point B without any damage.

One thing is for sure. No matter your biking style, you have probably experienced the frustrating battle of mounting your bike on the roof of your vehicle. Maybe you have even attempted to stuff the poor thing in the trunk. If you travel in a truck, you may have just tossed your bike in the bed and hoped for the best. However, this may cause severe damage to your vehicle or the bike itself.

This is where having a good bike mount system can come in handy. There are a multitude of options and things you should consider when making your decision. We have used a set of features to guide us in choosing some of the best truck bed bike racks. Hopefully, this will help you narrow down your choices.

Here are the features we used when considering the best bike racks for your truck bed:

  • Price
  • Use
  • Security
  • Functionality
  • Capacity

Focusing on these features, we scoured the internet and researched many options. We have narrowed our choices down to these five bike racks. So, without further ado, let us take a look at what they have on offer.


Comparison Chart


Hollywood Racks T970 Fork Mount

Thule Insta-Gater Truck Bed Bike Rack

INNO RT201 Truck Bed Bike Rack

Swagman Pickup Truck Bike Rack

Pipeline Racks Truck Bed Bike Rack

Truck Bed Bike Rack Reviews


1. Hollywood Racks T970 Fork Block

Our first entry is crafted with the care and attention to detail you want when looking at the safety of your bike. No matter where your adventure takes place, your bike will be safe and secure with the T970 from Hollywood Racks.

Review

Bikes can be expensive, and that means you will want the best possible security for your investment. The team at Hollywood Racks understands that and has assembled a team that can get the job done. When crafting this amazing bike rack, the team made sure to include the following attributes:

  • Capable of mounting to any surface
  • Crafted with a premium-grade aluminum body
  • Designed to accommodate 100mm OLD wheels
  • Pre-assembled unit
  • Lifetime warranty for any defects

This truck bed bike rack has a lot going for it. Not only is it easy to assemble and use, but the price is definitely right. When you are looking to add a bike rack to your equipment, you are doing so for a lot of reasons. Security and safety should be at the top of that list. This unit helps protect against potential theft, as well. It is also weather-resistant to ensure the security of your bike for a long time to come.

Now, even with all the good stuff, there are a few things that we need to discuss before you make your final decision. The lifetime warranty that comes with this model is great, but it is limited to only defects. This is not the biggest issue that has been reported, though. The handle sits higher than the axis, and that makes the handle very hard to turn. This could make it difficult to secure tightly.

The drawbacks are few, but they may cause some to hesitate. However, if you can overlook the few minor faults, you can see that this unit is a well-crafted option. It will offer you everything you want in a bike rack.

Pros

  • Mountable on solid surfaces
  • Easy to use
  • No assembly required
  • Price is affordable
  • Safe against theft and weather

Cons

  • Limited warranty
  • Handle is higher than the axis

CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON.COM



2. Thule Insta-Gator Truck Mount

Our next bike rack comes from Thule, a well-known name in sports equipment. This upright bike rack is easy to set up and offers ultimate security to prevent unwanted damage to your bike.

Review

Crafting a high-quality and functional bike rack takes a team that truly understands the mechanics and needs of bikers. Thule has been crafting high-quality pieces for quite a while. That is why, when designing this bike rack, they made sure to include the following features:

  • No frame contact security hooks
  • Supports tires up to 3” wide and 20” – 29” in diameter
  • Uses easy on-key locking mechanism (not included in the package)

The Insta-Gator is very easy to use. It just snaps on and voila! You have a secure bike mount. There is no drilling or bolting, which means your truck stays safe from any scratches or paint chipping. It is a lightweight unit, so it is easy to move from place to place. Plus, the system is designed to protect your tires, so no worries there either.

There are some limitations to this bike mount, though, that we would be remiss without mentioning. The unit does not work well with small truck beds or trucks that have more than a half-inch tailgate gap. That means that the versatility of this unit is limited to the bike and not the truck. The one-key lock cylinder is what makes this rack so theft-proof. However, it does not actually come with the unit.

If you purchase this rack, you will have to make an additional purchase for the one-key lock cylinder. Aside from that, though, you can’t go wrong by making the Thule bike mount your go-to choice for a bike rack.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Bike security
  • Lightweight
  • Damage-free installation
  • Protects tires

Cons

  • Not good for trucks with tailgate gaps of a half-inch or wider
  • Issues with fitting in small beds
  • Thule one-key lock cylinder sold separately

CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON.COM



3. INNO Bike Mount System

If you need as much space as possible in your truck bed, then this is the right mounting system for you. The INNO bike mounting system installs quickly and leaves you with plenty of room.

Review

Being simple and easy to use are great features to have, and it all starts with a superior design. This is done through the inclusion of multiple attributes that culminate in a superior offering. These features include:

  • C-channel track system
  • No front tire removal necessary
  • Compatible with all types of bikes
  • Tool-less assembly

Everything you need for this easy installation comes in the packaging. This is a great choice for those who are looking to lock down multiple bikes without damaging their trucks. There are very few bikes that this rack cannot house, which gives it versatility unlike many of its competitors. Plus, it is easy to uninstall when needed.

This rack only allows you to mount two separate bikes, as it is a side-mounted unit. There is also the fact that some have experienced the bike shifting some due to the lack of tire locks. Other than those few drawbacks, there is also the fact that the cable lock is not included. It does not come with all of the other accessories needed for installation. This means you will need to make an additional purchase to get the most out of this unit.

This model comes with a few issues that could make some hesitate when considering this as a valid choice. However, when you look at what you get, those issues seem to disappear. This unit is a well-crafted, high-performance option that will keep your bikes right where they need to be during your travels.

Pros

  • Comes with accessories
  • Able to lock down multiple bikes
  • Strap holds bike tight
  • No bolting or drilling
  • Works with a wide range of bikes
  • Easy to dismount

Cons

  • Side mounting kit limits the number of bikes
  • Issues with the bike moving during travel
  • Cable lock does not come in the package

CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON.COM



4. Swagman Truck Bike Rack

This bike rack uses a telescoping bar to help secure your bike as you head out on your great adventure. Durable and well-crafted, the team at Swagman took everything into consideration, even the sanctity of your truck’s paint job.

Review

The team at Swagman definitely shows they have their own type of swag when it comes to building a bike rack. This model offers everything you want. Let us take a look at all the features they opted to include:

  • Quick and easy installation with no drilling necessary
  • Fitted with rubber pads to protect the truck from any damage
  • Fork-mounted design
  • Able to transport up to 2 bikes
  • 2 tubular, high-security keys included
  • Crafted in durable, high-quality stainless steel

The last thing you want to do is struggle to get your bike mounted and ready to go. You just want to get to the trail! The fact that this unit is easy to install and use makes it stand out above many of its competitors. This bike rack is very adjustable and offers good spacing of bikes. Based on all of this, you can see why we decided it needed to be included in the top racks.

There is a lot to love about this rack, but there are also some issues that you should be aware of. The first is that this unit requires you to remove the front tire. This adds a little to the mounting and dismounting time. The rubber pads at the ends also seem to be less durable than we would like. Finally, the locking mechanism is not as secure as some would like.

These issues could be a problem for some. If that is the case for you, one of our other choices may work better for you. However, if these issues do not bother you, choosing this bike rack will give you a sense of security as you drive down the bumpiest of roads.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Adjustable mount
  • Price is very reasonable
  • Nice bike spacing

Cons

  • Issues with the effectiveness of locking mechanism
  • Rubber pads are not that durable
  • Have to remove the front wheel

CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON.COM



5. Pipeline Racks Truck Bed Bike Rack

Our last entry is easy to install and has the ability to securely transport up to four bikes. Pipeline Racks delivers a well-crafted option for the family who likes to bike.

Review

Pipeline Racks may not be a name you are familiar with. However, when you look at the fine craftsmanship of this piece, you will soon see why we included this option. The design and engineering teams have installed every attribute you would want and given this unit the following features:

  • Does not require front wheel removal
  • No bolts or drilling required
  • Works with truck beds that are 58.5” or longer
  • Adjustable to fit tire between .75” – 2.8” wide

This unit offers a lot of versatility in vehicle compatibility, as well as bike compatibility. The setup is simple and quick, which gives you more time to pedal through the great outdoors. The rack is crafted with high-quality materials, making it very durable. All of this means that you can feel safe when using this model to lock up your bike.

For the most part, every inch of this unit is very durable. However, there are a few pieces that are drafted in plastic. This will give less life to these pieces and will require you to be very careful. Also, unlike most of our other options, there is some assembly required to get this unit up and running.

Hopefully, you will not mind spending a little time assembling the unit at the beginning of your journey. After that, you will be able to take full advantage of all the benefits of this truck bike rack.

Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Fits almost any truck
  • Simple to adjust
  • Durable

Cons

  • Some parts are manufactured in plastic
  • Does not come fully assembled

CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON.COM



Final Thoughts

The accessibility of such a large number of choices may seem daunting at first. In order to streamline your search, you have to decide precisely what it is that you want this rack to do for you. Once you have that figured out, you can work on finding the perfect option for you and your needs. Hopefully, our list of the best truck bed bike racks will help you with that. We have chosen a wide variety of choices that we know will have something for everyone.

admin Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *