The Best Truck Bed Bike Racks

Buying Guide

Every bike rack has a limit to how much force it can handle, and a heavier bike will exert more force on the rack during turns, as well as during sudden starts and stops. While the ideal goal is to drive carefully when hauling a bike, unexpected situations can demand unexpected action.

After all, electric bikes can range from 30 to 80 pounds, due to the battery and motor. While street bikes are designed to be as light as possible, mountain bikes are heavier, to not only endure the impact from jumps and rocky terrain but also to absorb some of it, reducing how much force is transmitted to the rider. Based on these weights, you can shop for a bike rack that would be best suited to the bicycle you have.

Not all bike racks can hold larger tire sizes, such as 29-inch diameter tires, or anything wider than 2.5 inches. Most mountain bikes have wider tires, and specialized “fat” bikes have oversized tires. Consider the sizes of your bike tires when shopping for a rack.

If you are having trouble determining whether a bike rack will fit in your truck’s bed, you can contact the company’s customer service line. They will be able to provide more concrete answers about edge cases where you aren’t sure about the compatibility of your truck bed or your particular bike with the rack.

When in doubt, measure your truck bed carefully. Compare those measurements to the manufacturer specifications for any bike rack you’re considering.

• It’s standard practice to choose bike racks based on how they secure your ride.
  • Racks that hold bikes by the wheel are faster to use and don’t damage the paint on the frame, but they have less holding power.
  • Frame-holding racks will hold heavier bikes more securely, but they risk damaging the frame’s paint. Paint is important for preventing rust and reducing drag.
  • Fork-securing racks are best for street bikes, but they require removing the front wheel each time you use them, and they generally have lower weight limits than other types.
• Before driving but after securing your rack and your bike(s), test the stability of your set-up.
  • Be sure that any rubber pads aren’t shifting against your truck nor against the bikes, which can damage the paint.
  • Check for dirt or debris between any securing pads and the surface where they are in contact.
• Most bicycle thefts are spur-of-the-moment things when the thief spots an opportunity. If you are driving a long way and expect to leave your vehicle and bikes unattended for any length of time (bathroom breaks, souvenir shopping, ordering food and so on), lock your bikes through their frames, not the wheels, to prevent an opportunistic snatch-and-run.