Swagman is a company that specializes in bike racks. They are one of the leading companies in this industry and are known for their high-quality and strong designs.
A Swagman bike rack is a great choice for any vehicle owner because it can be installed on any type of car, truck, SUV or van. It can hold up to two bikes with ease and is easy to install as well. The price is also very reasonable with prices starting from $40 for the basic model to $500 for the deluxe model which includes a locking cable system and anti-sway cradles that protect your bikes from damage while driving on bumpy roads.
Things to consider buying a Swagman rack:
- How many bikes you need to carry. This is the first question you have to ask. For more than 3 bikes I would recommend hitch Swagman racks, whereas roof Swagman racks are more flexible and you can buy it just for one bike,
- How much your bikes weigh. For lightweight bikes (under 35 lb) both hitch and roof Swagamn rack are available. For heavy bikes, you need to buy a hitch Swagman rack,
- Types of bikes you are going to transport. Keep in mind that not all bikes (such as fat-tire, women’s, etc.) fit all Swagman racks so you need to check compatibility. Hitch Swagman racks are more universal in this sense,
- If your bikes are expensive (especially carbon frame), I would recommend zero frame mounting to avoid scratches. There is a zero frame contact Swagman roof rack available,
- Keep in mind that roof Swagman racks require crossbars and hitch Swagman racks require a trailer hitch. Check the compatibility before bing any of these items.
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Best hitch Swagman racks
There are two Swagman hitch racks that I can recommend. Both of them require a trailer hitch to be installed. The first one is more expensive but capable of carrying heavy bikes. The second one is much more affordable but designed to carry two bikes only.
Swagman Quad 2+2 (4) – Decent hitch rack for 4 bikes
- Max number of bikes: 4
- Max bike weight: 45 lb (20.4 kg)
- Total load capacity: 180 lb (81.6 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): 20” to 29” (51 to 74 cm)
- Max tire size (width): 3″ (fat-tire trays can be purchased separately)
- Max wheelbase: 50″ (127 cm)
- Empty rack weight: 81 lb (36.7 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: Yes
- Bike-to-rack lock: Yes
- Hitch receiver size: 2″ (class 3)
- Tilt function (easy trunk access): No
Swagman Quad 2+2 is the perfect bike carrier for those who need to transport 4 bikes at once. It’s made from steel and plastic, and requires a hitch receiver to be installed. The Swagman Quad 2+2 can carry up to 4 bikes of 45 pounds each, and secures bikes by the frame. With it, you’ll be able to take your bikes with you on any adventure you go on!
Key Takeaways
- The quality of this rack is decent and it is worth it especially if you need to carry more than 2 bikes,
- No wobbling has been reported,
- The installation is rather tricky but it is very easy to load bikes,
- It is a good choice for those who need to carry more than 2 bikes,
- I would not recommend this bike rack for expensive bikes because of frame contact mounting,
- If you need to carry 3 or 4 bikes quite often, then this rack is for you since it does not require any add-ons to be purchased separately.
PROS
- Reasonable price for 4 bikes hitch rack
- Quite robust
- Rack-to-car and bikes-to-rack locks
- Won’t damage your car
- Can carry 4 bikes out of the box
- Can be transformed into 2 bikes rack
- Little mileage reduction
CONS
- Bad assembly instructions
- You might need some help to install it (81 lb empty)
- Can’t carry really heavy bikes (up to 45 lb)
- No tilt function
- Frame contact mounting can scratch your bikes
- Only 2″ hitch receiver version available
Swagman XC2 (2) – Budget hitch rack for not heavy bikes
- Max number of bikes: 2
- Max bike weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
- Total load capacity: 70 lb (31.8 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): 20” to 29” (51 to 74 cm)
- Max tire size (width): 2.5″ (fat bike trays available)
- Max wheelbase: 50″ (127 cm)
- Empty rack weight: 28 lb (12.7 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- Hitch receiver size: 1.25″ and 2″ (class 2-3)
- Tilt function (easy trunk access): No
The Swagman XC2 bike rack is the perfect solution for transporting your bikes. It holds up to two bikes and is made from solid steel, which means it’s durable and strong. The great thing about this bike rack is that it can be mounted on either a 1.25″ or 2″ hitch receiver, so it is pretty much universal!
Key Takeaways
- Decent quality rack given that it is much cheaper than most hitch models,
- This rack is quite robust overall,
- It is easy to get bikes mounted,
- A legit rack if you will be using it occasionally,
- This rack is designed to carry rather lightweight bikes (there are also limits to tires width and frame shape),
- I would not recommend it for carrying expensive and carbon frame bikes since it can leave scratches.
PROS
- Much cheaper than most hitch racks
- Easy to assemble, install and mount bikes
- Even it is cheap, it is quite sturdy
- Won’t damage your car
- Fits both 1.25″ and 2″ receivers (with an adapter)
- Moderate mileage reduction
CONS
- Mediocre quality of materials
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- Some rounded frame bikes won’t fit
- Can’t access the trunk with bikes loaded
- Frame contact mounting (can scratch you bikes)
Best roof Swagman racks
If you are looking for a roof bike rack that won’t break the bank then Swagman roof racks are definitely a great choice. Both models are super affordable in comparison with their premium competitors, but get the job done fairly well.
Swagman Standard – Budget roof rack for carrying not heavy bikes
- Type of mount: fork
- Max bike weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): 29” (74 cm)
- Max tire size (width): 3″
- Max wheelbase: 48″ (122 cm)
- Empty rack weight: 6.6 lb (3 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- No frame contact
The Swagman Standard is a lightweight and easy-to-use bike rack that can carry most bikes up to 35 lb. The aluminum construction is durable and requires crossbars to be installed. The bike is secured by its fork (no frame contact) and fits any vehicle equipped with crossbars
Key Takeaways
- This rack gets the job done and does not cost all money in the world,
- Even it is rather cheap, it quite reliable and properly secures a bike,
- The installation is not that straightforward due to unclear instructions,
- This rack can carry most bikes under 35 lb. The width of the tire must not exceed 3″,
- Won’t scratch your bikes thanks to zero frame mounting.
PROS
- Very affordable
- Decent quality overall
- Quite sturdy
- Can carry most bikes
- Does not cover license plate and taillights
- Zero frame contact
- Low risk of damaging your car
- Fits most crossbars
CONS
- Not that easy to assemble
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- No locks
- Be ready for 10-20% mileage reduction
- You have to remove the front wheel to load a bike
- A bit noisy
Swagman Upright – Affordable roof rack for not expensive bikes
- Type of mount: frame
- Max bike weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): 29” (74 cm)
- Max tire size (width): 3″
- Max wheelbase: 54″ (137 cm)
- Empty rack weight: 5 lb (2.3 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
You’re tired of throwing your bike in the back of your truck – now you can carry it on top with the Swagman Upright! This rack is made from aluminum and was designed to fit most bikes. You’ll be able to carry up to 35 pounds and your bike will be secured by the frame. The Swagman Upright will get you where you need to go, hassle-free!
Key Takeaways
- This is not the best rack on the planet but it is very cheap in comparison,
- To properly secure your bike you will probably need to use extra straps,
- It is fairly easy to load bikes on given that a bike can be heavier than 35 lb,
- This rack is quite universal as most bikes will fit,
- I would not recommend this rack for carrying expensive bikes (especially carbon frame) since it will scratch your bikes because of frame mounting.
PROS
- Very affordable
- Reasonable quality for a cheap rack
- Easy to install
- Can carry most bikes (including fat-tire)
- Does not obscure license frame and taillights
- Won’t damage your car (opposite to cheap trunk racks)
- Fits most crossbars
CONS
- A bike won’t be secure out of the box (you have to strap it)
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- No locks
- Frame contact mounting (expect scratches)
- 10-20% mileage reduction
- A bit noisy