Recommendation for Bike Rack that can hold 5 bikes?

We have a 2" hitch on our minivan. Would like to take the wife & kids biking at a local park. Do you have a recommendation? Brand? (Thule vs. Yakima vs. Allen)

Thanks for your consideration.

 

Draftmaster makes a nice 5 Bike hitch mount rack.


http://www.draftmaster.com/hr.html

 

North Shore Racks. Hands down the best one. Doesn't even block the tail lights and holds 6 bikes.

 

North Shore all the way if I had to buy a new one - http://www.northshoreracks.com/index.htm

 

North Shore Rack

I have had my current rack for the good part of 8years now and would like to replace it as I worry a bit with it now even though the welds and bolts still look to be in good condition.

I have been debating getting a North Shore rack for a while, does anyone have any long term (at least a year or two) personal experience with one?

If so, how is the quality?
How well do the bikes stay in place on the highway?
Does the rack make you nervous when on rough roads? Why?
Any other pros or cons you found with the rack?

All I can find in terms of first hand experience are the testimonials on their site. Guess I could check eMpTyBeeR as well.

 

Maybe a hitch plus a roof rack? I don't know what the tongue weight rating on your hitch is but 5 bikes plus the rack is probably tipping the scale at more than 200lbs.

 

Who was that directed at?
The TW rating for my hitch (class IV) is 1000lbs, don't think I need to worry.

 

Northshore has nice racks but are on back order

 

My friend has the Nortshore for over a year now.... its pretty solid.... only thing I dont like is that thing that secures the rear tire.... I can't really seem to figure out how to lock it well... but no issues with quality...

edit: oh I crashed once and landed on my shoulder.... it was a bitch for me to lift my bike to hang it on the rack... maybe because I'm a little short?

 

Wow, I am in the market for a new rack and the Northshore NSR 4 looks like one I will have to consider. I have a 2006 Xterra, does anyone have an NSR 4 on one or a similar SUV?

Looks like I will have to get on a waiting list for it, but since I am in Seattle, my riding is about to end until spring #-o

 

I chatted with a guy over at eMpTyBeeR who has had one for a while and he runs it on a Toyota FJ. Had the same statements as DropD.
He has a couple pics on his blog with it mounted up, you'll need to scroll down a bit

Sean's Blog

 

Drop D, I had the same issue. Make sure you tie the back wheel as instructed in the manual. When put on properly, it is really tight. I added an anti-slop pin with threads and it is solid. I highly recommend the North Shore Rack.

 

+1 on N.Shore for carrying 5-6 bikes.
Anything under that, and I'm a bit biased.

My advice -on all things- is to test one out before you buy. The pic of the N.Shore looks like the bikes stick out pretty far. Make sure that works for you.

 

I heard that Northshore racks are severly backordered like until the end of 2011. Has anyone else heard this?

 

http://www.discountramps.com/blue-devil-bike-rack.htm

I was thinking of buying a rack from these guys. You might have to invest in frame adapters depending on the bikes you have.

 

I had to make the same jump a few years ago- 5-bike rack on a 2 inch receiver on the back of a mini-van... I went with a Saris 5 bike one- I carried adult bikes, kids bikes, trail-a-bike, the works- you just need to see what places on the rack work best for each bike. I bought it in 2003, it still works great has been taken all over the place. Never had any damage to the bikes or the van.

I think it was like $200 or $250 when I got it. but like I said it worked great for us.

On the tongue weight issue- we only had problems if there was a steep transition on a driveway, but even after being hit a few times it is still working fine.

 

Those look sweet! Thanks