A trunk rack is a type of bicycle rack that’s mounted on the back of your vehicle and carries one, two or three bicycles (four is also possible) by attaching to the rear bumper or trunk lid. Trunk bike racks are much more affordable than other types of bike racks because they do not require crossbars or a trailer hitch. They can carry many different types of bikes and do not require any special tools to install them on your vehicle. These racks also have low mileage reduction.
Things to consider buying a trunk bike rack:
- Even though most trunk racks are universal and fit most cars, you have to check compatibility anyway as some of them do not,
- If you need to carry heavy bikes (35 lb and more) then trunk racks is not for you,
- You won’t be able to open the trunk with bikes loaded,
- Trunk racks have the highest potential of damaging your car if not properly installed,
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Saris Bones EX (2 or 3) – Trunk rack that fits most cars
- Max number of bikes: 2 or 3 bikes versions
- Max bike weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
- Total load capacity: 105 lb (47.6 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): any
- Max tire size (width): any
- Max wheelbase: any
- Empty rack weight: 11 lb (5 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- Number of straps: 6
Saris Bones EX is the perfect bike rack for everyday use. It’s lightweight, easy to install and it will carry up to 2 or 3 bikes with a weight limit of 35 lbs each. It’s great for when you’re on the go, and it doesn’t require any special equipment like a trailer hitch or crossbars.
Key Takeaways
- Best-seller trunk rack with a good reason for that (fits most cars and decent quality overall),
- Don’t expect it to be very sturdy (some wobbling is inevitable),
- Quite easy to easy overall, but keep in mind that trunk access will be blocked,
- Fits most bikes under 35 lb (an adapter will help with kid’s and women’s bikes),
- I would not recommend it for carrying expensive bikes (especially carbon frame) since it will cause scratches.
PROS
- Reasonable price
- Easy to install
- Fits most bikes (including fat-tire)
- Compatible with most cars (universal)
- Quite compact
- Won’t affect mileage much
CONS
- Don’t expect it to be sturdy
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- Blocks trunk access
- Very easy to steal (both rack and bikes)
- Bikes will be hitting each other (expect scratches)
- There is some risk of damaging your car
Yakima HalfBack (2 or 3) – Premium quality but quite affordable
- Max number of bikes: 2 or 3 bikes versions
- Max bike weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
- Total load capacity: 105 lb (47.6 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): any
- Max tire size (width): any
- Max wheelbase: any
- Empty rack weight: 22 lb (10 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- Number of straps: 4
HalfBack is one of few bike racks that firs most cars, without the need for a hitch or crossbars. The HalfBack’s patented design allows you to carry up to 3 bikes by securing them to your vehicle’s frame. Yakima HalfBack is made from alloy steel and plastic and can carry up to 35 pounds per bike.
Key Takeaways
- Worth every penny due to really high quality and affordable price,
- Super sturdy once installed (rather uncharacteristic for trunk racks),
- Fairly easy to use overall, but you have to remove bikes each time you would like to open the trunk,
- This rack is recommended for carrying lightweight bikes of most designs and shapes,
- Not suitable for carrying expensive bikes since bikes will inevitably scratch each other.
PROS
- Good price for a premium rack
- Goes assembled, fairly easy to install
- The rack is sturdy
- Relatively easy to load bikes on
- Most bikes will fit including fat-tire (kid’s and women’s bikes require an adapter)
- Does not require anything to be installed
- Negligible mileage reduction
- Folds up when not in use
CONS
- Bikes will wobble a bit (any trunk rack has this problem)
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- Can’t access the trunk with bikes loaded
- Very easy to steal
- Bikes will scratch each other
- Some risk of scratching your car (true for all trunk racks)
Hollywood F2 Over-The-Top (2 or 3) – Premium trunk rack but a bit pricey
- Max number of bikes: 2 or 3 bikes versions
- Max bike weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
- Total load capacity: 105 lb (47.6 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): any
- Max tire size (width): any
- Max wheelbase: any
- Empty rack weight: 21 lb (9.5 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- Number of straps: 6
If you’re looking for an over-the-top bike carrier that’s easy to use, you’ve found it. Hollywood F2 is made from alloy steel and aluminum, so it won’t rust. You can mount it on your vehicle without any installation required (no trailer hitches or crossbars needed). There are two versions that can carry 2 or 3 bikes respectively, so you can find the one that suits your needs.
Key Takeaways
- The quality is premium but there are cheaper premium models,
- The rack is sturdy once installed (though bike will wobble a bit which can be said about all trunk racks),
- Fairly easy to use (except for first installation),
- Can carry most bikes under 35 lb (kid’s, women’s and other rounded frame bikes require an adapter),
- This rack is not recommended for carrying expensive bikes since there is basically no clearance between bikes which will result in scratches.
PROS
- The rack is quite sturdy
- Fits most bike types under 35 lb
- Requires nothing to be installed (neither a trailer hitch nor crossbars)
- Manageable mileage reduction
CONS
- A bit pricey
- The instructions are unclear
- Bikes will wobble a bit (“feature” of all trunk racks)
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- Blocks trunk access
- Very easy to steal
- Bikes will scratch each other (problem of all trunk racks)
- Some risk of scratching your car
Thule Outway Hanging (2 or 3) – Premium trunk rack for not heavy bikes
- Max number of bikes: 2 or 3 bikes versions
- Max bike weight: 33 lb (15 kg)
- Total load capacity: 99 lb (44.9 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): any
- Max tire size (width): any
- Max wheelbase: any
- Empty rack weight: 19.6 lb (8.9 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- Number of straps: 2
Thule Outway Hanging is one of the most convenient and easy ways to transport your bikes! It’s perfect for those who don’t have a trailer hitch or crossbars on their vehicle. Outway can carry 2 or 3 bikes up to 33 pounds each. The bikes are secured by the frame and hung from the Thule Outway, which can be easily mounted on any car. It’s easy to install and use.
Key Takeaways
- Premium quality trunk rack that won’t break the bank,
- The whole construction is quite sturdy though you should be prepared for some wobbling of bikes,
- You won’t be able to open the trunk with bikes loaded. Other than that, it is quite easy to use,
- This bike racks fits most bikes regardless of their frame shape. The only limit is that a bike must not exceed 33 lb,
- Don’t transport expensive bikes on it since some scratches are basically inevitable.
PROS
- Reasonable price given that it is a premium brand
- Relatively easy to assemble and install
- Fits most bikes under 33 lb
- Does not require anything to be installed
- Low mileage reduction
- Quite compact
CONS
- Some wobbling of bikes (problem of all trunk racks)
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- You won’t be able to open the trunk with bikes loaded
- Bikes will scratch each other
- Very easy to steal
- Might scratch you car
Yakima FullBack (2 or 3) – Premium trunk rack for a reasonable price
- Max number of bikes: 2 or 3 bikes versions
- Max bike weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
- Total load capacity: 105 lb (47.6 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): any
- Max tire size (width): any
- Max wheelbase: any
- Empty rack weight: 23 lb (10.4 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- Number of straps: 4
Yakima FullBack is the perfect solution for cyclists who want to carry their bikes on their car but don’t want to bother with a trailer hitch or crossbars. It installs directly on your car and can carry two or three bikes with no hassle at all. It has been designed to be lightweight and easy to install, so you can get back on the road in no time.
Key Takeaways
- Very well made truly premium trunk rack,
- The rack itself is very sturdy though bikes will wobble a bit,
- Fairly easy to use overall though keep in mind that accessing your trunk won’t be easy,
- Universal in term of bike types it can carry (for women’s and kid’s bikes you have to buy an adapter),
- This rack is not good for carrying expensive and carbon frame bikes (will leave scratches at the very least).
PROS
- Affordable given that it is a premium brand
- Goes assembled, easy to install
- The rack is sturdy
- Can carry most bikes (including fat-tire)
- Does not require anything to be installed
- Low mileage reduction
- Compact when not in use
CONS
- Some wobbling is inevitable (true for all trunk racks)
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- You won’t be able to open the trunk
- Very easy to steal
- No clearance between bikes
- Can scratch your car (all trunk racks have this problem)
Best budget trunk bike racks
Hollywood Express (2 or 3) – Very affordable trunk rack
- Max number of bikes: 2 or 3 bikes versions
- Max bike weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
- Total load capacity: 105 lb (47.6 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): any
- Max tire size (width): any
- Max wheelbase: any
- Empty rack weight: 13 lb (5.9 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- Number of straps: 6
Hollywood Express bike rack is the ultimate budget solution for transporting your bikes. It’s made from alloy steel and aluminum and mounts directly on your car without a hitch or crossbars. There are two different versions, one for carrying 2 bikes and another for carrying 3 bikes, each up to 35 pounds. Hollywood Express bike rack is the best way to get your bikes from point A to point B.
Key Takeaways
- This rack is reasonably well made given the price,
- The rack itself is quite sturdy but bikes will wobble a bit,
- Relatively easy to use (both installation and bikes mounting),
- Can carry most bike types under 35 lb. Some rounded frame bikes might require an adapter,
- Not recommended for expensive bikes since your bikes will inevitably get scratches (or even may be dents).
PROS
- Very affordable
- Relatively easy to assemble and install
- Can carry most bike types under 35 lb
- Requires nothing to be installed (such as trailer or crossbars)
- Reasonable mileage reduction
CONS
- Bikes will hit each other on the road
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- No trunk access with bikes loaded
- Super easy to steal
- Might leave scratches on your car
Allen Sports Premier (3 or 4) – Budget trunk rack for budget bikes
- Max number of bikes: 3 or 4 bikes versions
- Max bike weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
- Total load capacity: 100 lb (45.4 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): any
- Max tire size (width): any
- Max wheelbase: any
- Empty rack weight: 12.7 lb (5.8 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- Number of straps: 6
Allen Sports Premier bike rack is perfect for those looking to transport their bikes in a hassle-free, easy-to-use way. It carries up to 4 bikes and can hold up to 35 pounds per bike. The rack is made from alloy steel, so it’s durable and does not require a trailer hitch or crossbars to be installed.
Key Takeaways
- Budget trunk rack for carrying more than 3 bikes,
- Not 100% sturdy. Moreover, expect bikes to wobble a bit,
- Not that easy to use (strap adjustment is a bit tricky),
- Fits most bikes under 35 lb, including fat-tire, women’s and kid’s bikes,
- Not recommended for expensive bikes because of low clearance between bikes (they will hit each other leaving scratches).
PROS
- Very affordable
- Universal as it fits most bikes under 35 lb
- Does not require anything to get installed (no trailer hitch or crossbars)
- Low mileage reduction
CONS
- The installation process is not that easy
- Bikes are not sturdy on the rack
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- No trunk access with bikes loaded
- Easy to steal
- Bikes will scratch each other
- Can damage your car (scratches)
Tyger TG-RK3B203S (1, 2 or 3) – Super affordable trunk rack
- Max number of bikes: 1, 2 or 3 bikes versions
- Max bike weight: 33 lb (15 kg)
- Total load capacity: 99 lb (44.9 kg)
- Wheel size (diameter): any
- Max tire size (width): any
- Max wheelbase: any
- Empty rack weight: 11 lb (5 kg)
- Rack-to-vehicle lock: No
- Bike-to-rack lock: No
- Number of straps: 6
Tyger TG-RK3B203S is a bike rack that can carry up to 3 bikes. It’s made from alloy steel, installed directly on your vehicle, and there are three versions of this rack (can carry 1, 2 or 3 bikes) up to 33 lb each. Bikes are getting mounted by the frame.
Key Takeaways
- Very cheap rack that gets the job dome,
- Unfortunately, it is not as sturdy as we would like it to be,
- This rack is fairly easy in daily life use,
- The weight of a bike is the only thing you should keep in mind. Other than that it fits most bikes (an adapter might be needed),
- Highly not recommended for carrying expensive (especially carbon frame) bikes as bikes will scratch each other.
PROS
- The price is super low
- The installation is straightforward
- Fits fat-tire bikes
- requires nothing to be installed (no crossbars, etc.)
- Low mileage reduction
CONS
- Not sturdy enough
- Bikes will wobble hitting each other
- Can’t carry heavy bikes
- Block trunk access
- Super easy to steal
- Can damage your car