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A bike rack offers a convenient way to transport your bike without having to take it apart and struggle to fit it inside the car. A rack also means that valuable passenger or luggage space inside your vehicle is not compromised.
If you’re looking for a quick answer on the best bike rack for spoilers, the Saris Bones Trunk rack is the one.
Since cars come in different shapes, it is not just a case of picking a rack and hitting the road. You need to check compatibility and this is even more important if you drive a car with a spoiler.
If this is you, then this article will guide you through the best bike racks for cars with spoilers.
Top 7 Best Bike Racks For Cars With Spoilers Reviewed
1. Saris Bones Trunk Bike Rack Carrier (Best Overall)
- Weight: 11lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2
- Weight Limit: 70lbs
The Saris Bones Trunk Bike Carrier is a classic rack that more than lives up to its reputation. The Saris Bones rack broke away from the design of conventional bike racks a long time ago and has never looked back.
The five, arched arms spider off the main cylinder and are held on to the vehicle using three long straps. It is a simple and elegant design that makes installation easy.
A simple lock nut holds the arms in place and makes them easy to adjust to most vehicles, including those with rear spoilers.
Once you have unloaded the bikes, the Saris Bones rack folds down with ease and can be popped in the trunk.
The bikes are held securely in place with soft straps across the top tube and the seat tube rack prevents bikes from swaying into each other.Â
Features:
- Elegant design compatible with most vehicles.
- Arm design keeps bikes on different levels.
- Easy and fast installation.
2. Thule T2 Pro XT (Best Hitch-Mounted Rack)
- Weight: 52lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2
- Weight Limit: 120lbs
Moving away from trunk racks, the Thule T2 Pro XT is a great choice if your vehicle has a hitch and you don’t want to take any risk of damage to your rear spoiler.
Given that Thule are world leaders when it comes to attaching things to cars it is not hard to see why this is one of the best hitch-mounted bike racks available.
This particular rack will carry two bikes and the cradle design means that no bike type is off-limits. Mountain bikes, fat bikes, road bikes and even kids bikes with at least 20-inch wheels.
Once on the rack, the ratcheting system keeps them extremely secure on the bumpiest of roads.
The easy access of the HitchSwitch Lever allows the rack to be tilted to make bike loading extremely easy.
One of the main advantages of hitch-mounted racks compare to trunk-mounted racks is security. The Thule T2 Pro XT is no exception with security at the heart of its design.
With the rack locked to the vehicle, a sturdy and well-positioned cable locks keeps the bike safe from any opportunists.
Features:
- Easy to use tilt feature.
- Integrated cable lock.
- Wide range of bike compatibility.
3. Hollywood Racks Over-The-Top (Best Vehicle Compatibility)
- Weight: 11lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2 and 3-bike option
- Weight Limit: 70lbs (2-bike option)
The high-rise frame of the Hollywood Over-The-Top Trunk Rack means that it won’t interfere with cars that have rear spoilers. Compatibility is further improved by having three different types of attachment straps.
To avoid mounting to the spoiler directly which is a potential weak point on the bodywork, the Hollywood rack straps go over the spoiler and use anchors that can attach to the vehicle’s roof rails if available.
If your car does not have roof rails then all is not lost. There are anchors available from the company that allow you to attach the rack inside the rear doorways of the car.
Once the rack is on properly it is extremely secure owing to the anti-sway cradles and EPDM rubber straps. The nature of the high frame also means that this rack doesn’t interfere with licence plates.
When not in use, it folds completely flat for easy storage in the trunk.
Features:
- High rise frame.
- Roof rail attachments to avoid rear spoilers.
- Folds flat for storage.
4. Yakima FullBack (Best for Security)
- Weight: 23.5lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2 and 3-bike option
- Weight Limit: 70lbs
The Yakima FullBack rack is one of the few rear-mounted racks that is available with a full SKS (Same Key System) locking package to lock the rack to the vehicle.
This offers peace of mind when you step away from your vehicle as long as you have also locked your bikes to the rack itself.
If you still don’t want to leave the rack on the car, the arms fold down so that it doesn’t take up a lot of room in the trunk.
The rack itself is a little on the heavy side and this can make installation tricky for one person. The flipside is that, combined with the interlocking hub, this makes the rack extremely stable on the car and limits sway when driving.
And because every cyclist also loves beer, the Yakima FullBack comes complete with a bottle opener. A pointless gimmick or a lifesaver? You decide.
Features:
- SKS locks rack to vehicle.
- Integrated bottle opener.
- Easy installation.
5. Allen Sports Deluxe (Best Budget)
- Weight: 8.lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2
- Weight Limit: 70lbs
Depending on the model you select, the Allen Sports Deluxe Bike rack can support between two and four bikes and for a great price. This is a great rack if you are on a budget or only plan to use the rack occasionally on short trips.
Although the Allen Sports Deluxe Bike Rack is a basic design compared to its higher end competitors, it still does the simple stuff well. It will hold two bikes securely and is a great rack if your vehicle has a rear spoiler.
The rack is shipped fully assembled, so all you have to do is take it off out of the box and unfold it. The fact that it folds completely flat and is a fairly compact rack, it takes up very little storage and fits in a crowded trunk with ease.
Features:
- Narrow arms for better bike compatibility.
- Great value for money.
- Easy installation straight out of the box.
6. Allen Premier Trunk Mounted Bike Rack
- Weight: 11.2lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2
- Weight Limit: 70lbs
The Allen Premier Trunk Mounted Bike Rack is another rack that is ready to be attached to your vehicle straight out of the box using the neat quick-snap design. For a great price you get a rack that is secure, easy to use and great for the occasional weekend bike trip.
This is a fairly basic, lightweight rack that holds two bikes securely.
The padded, wide snap-on feet do a good job of distributing the load evenly on the vehicle and protects the bodywork effectively.
The easy assembly of the Premier rack translates into easy removal and fold-flat storage when you are away from your vehicle and enjoying sometime in the saddle.
The Premier rack is also available in a three-bike version with the same great value features.
Features:
- Quick set-up straight from the box.
- Wide profile feet protect vehicle bodywork.
- Narrow arms accommodate children’s bikes.
7. SportRack Pursuit
- Weight: 11.6lbs
- Bike Capacity: 2 and 3-bike option
- Weight Limit: 70lbs
The SportRack Pursuit is a solid rack that is available in a two-bike and three-bike option. The six straps used to secure the rack to the vehicle are well positioned and easily adjusted to give a solid feel.
The soft rubber cradles that hold the bikes prevent any sway and prevent any damage to the bike frame.
Like most of the other rear racks featured here, the SportRack Pursuit also folds down completely flat to store in the trunk when you are out hitting the trails.
The straight arms that hold the bikes do mean that this rack may not be suitable for any bikes that don’t have a straight top tube.
Features:
- Great budget option rack.
- Anti-sway design keeps bikes in place.
- Folds flat for easy storage.
Types Of Bike Racks Used
There are three main types of bike rack that you should be aware of:
- Roof racks
- Hitch-mounted racks
- Trunk racks
In this article we focussed predominantly on the best rear-mounted trunk racks that are compatible with cars with rear spoilers. If you still don’t like the idea of fitting a rear rack and worry about damaging your spoiler then a roof rack is a great alternative.
As the name suggests, with a roof rack the bikes are secured on the roof using bike racks that fit to the crossbars. These racks are great if you require access to the trunk.
They can be secured to the vehicle to prevent theft but they do have a large impact on the fuel economy.
If your vehicle has a hitch, then a hitch-mounted rack is another great option. They are easy to load and do not have the same impact on fuel economy as roof racks. We have included one of the very best hitch-mounted racks in this article if your vehicle in case your vehicle has this capability.
Video: A Look At Different Bike Racks
Bike Rack Features to Keep An Eye On
Storage
The main advantage of rear racks compared to other rack types is the fact that they can be easily removed and stored away when not in use.
Rear racks typically fold down to fit in the trunk when you are on your bike and away from the vehicle.
Security
Most rear racks do not include any dedicated security features and this usually means that it is wise to remove the rack and put it in the trunk when out on your bike.
Ease of Use
Most people are turned-off rear racks because they have a reputation for being difficult to install.
The truth is that racks design has improved massively and they are no longer the mess of straps and arms that they used to be.
Compared to trying to squeeze your bike into the trunk, installing a rear rack takes a matter of minutes, can be done by one person and will not damage your bike.
Capacity
The rack that you eventually buy will be mostly determined by how many bikes it can carry.
In general most racks are available in a two-bike option and this is certainly the most popular.
The more bikes you transport, the heavier the rack and this obviously puts additional stress on your vehicle’s bodywork. It will also add significant length to the vehicle.
Safety
Most rear racks secure the bikes using straps on the top tube and the seat tube. In general this should be enough to stop the bikes swaying into each other. You should also secure the front wheel.
Due to the position of rear racks they can obscure the rear licence plate and brake lights, which may be a legal issue depending on where you drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can A Bike Rack Break A Car Window?
Most rear racks feature soft feet to prevent accidentally damaging windows or paintwork. That said, the lower supports should never rest on the windows as they support the load and could potentially break the glass.
Do Trunk Racks Damage Your Car?
Although the foam pads prevent scrapes, the constant rubbing can damage the paintwork over time especially if the rack is not secured properly.
Can You Put A Bike Rack On A Hatchback?
Yes, most rear racks are compatible with hatchbacks. Typically one arm rests firmly on the window using the upper straps.
Final Words
If you are tired of the same cycle routes and trails, a bike rack for your car can open up more epic days in the saddle.
Just because your vehicle has a rear spoiler doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the advantages of fitting a rear bike. All of the racks featured in this article will get you on your way but unique styling and overall functionality of the Saris Bones Trunk Bike Carrier makes it the overall winner.
Its strength is its versatility. The articulated arms of the Saris Bones racks make it an ideal option for transporting full suspension mountain bikes.
For a hitch-rack solution, look no further than the Thule T2 Pro XT.
The Yakima FullBack is another great rack that also has integrated security, something that is still novel in trunk-mounted racks. This is enough to stop opportunist thieves when you step away to grab a coffee on the road.
If you want a solid rack for a great price, the Allen Sports Deluxe Bike is a great option for riders looking to get away on the occasional weekend cycling trip.
Read More:
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- Best bike racks for Mini Coopers
- Guide to bike racks for Popup Campers
- Best truck bed bike rack
- Best covers for bikes on racks
Allen carriers do not work on all cars with spoilers – it depends on the size of the spoiler. (This is direct from the company/)