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Beach cruisers are the ultimate bikes for chilling out on vacation. But how do you get them to your destination? And how do you keep them unspoiled at home?
A good bike rack is the answer in both cases.
This article looks at the best bike racks for beach cruisers and brings a few to your attention. Topping our list is the Saris Freedom EX 2-Bike Car Rack, which carries a beach cruiser of any specification.
We also offer advice on choosing a bike rack to suit your needs.
Top 7 Best Beach Cruiser Bike Racks Reviewed
Below, we review various beach cruiser bike racks.
1. Saris Freedom EX 2-Bike Car Rack (best hitch mounted)
- Rack type: hitch-mounted
- Weight capacity: 60 lbs per bike
- Bike capacity: 2
The fully lockable Saris Freedom EX 2-Bike Car Rack tops our list because all its features are ideal for carrying beach cruisers.
It has a generous weight capacity, wide wheel trays for fatter tires (max 4”), and a platform-style design that carries bikes of any shape.
Soft ratchet straps hold your wheels to the rack, and a center mast with adjustable clamps secures the bike frame. This mast is fine for holding beach cruisers by their downtubes, but its lack of height does reduce clamping options with other bikes.
A tilting feature lets you access the hatch of your car even when bikes are loaded.
What We Like
- Tilt – the loaded rack tilts outward for hatch access.
- Versatile – platform design and wide wheel trays hold most bikes.
- Security – bikes and the rack are lockable.
What We Don’t Like
- Limited clamping – center mast is too short to reach top tubes on regular bikes.
2. Hollywood Racks Gordo 2-Bike Rack (best trunk-mounted rack)
- Rack type: trunk-mounted
- Weight capacity: 35 lbs per bike
- Bike capacity: 2
Most trunk-mounted racks struggle to carry beach cruisers without crossbar adapters. The Hollywood Racks Gordo 2-Bike Rack has widely spaced arms to address this. It’s almost unrivalled as the best trunk-mounted rack for cruisers.
The arms of this rack are 22” apart and should fit beneath the sloping tubes of a beach cruiser.
To protect the finish of your bike(s), the rack has rubber sleeves, cradles and straps. Though it’s hard to find compatibility info for specific cars, this rack does fit on most trunks without spoilers.
What We Like
- Wide – widely spaced arms are perfect for holding beach cruisers.
- Protection – rubber and foam parts protect your bike and car.
- Quality – sturdy alloy steel and aluminum construction.
What We Don’t Like
- Info – compatibility info is hard to find (rack is near-universal).
3. Thule ProRide XT Rooftop Bike Rack (best roof rack)
- Rack type: roof-mounted
- Weight capacity: 44 lbs per bike
- Bike capacity: 1
If you’re strong enough to lift a beach cruiser onto the roof of your car, the Thule ProRide XT Rooftop Bike Rack will hold it there securely. This rack is a winner for its manufacturing quality and 44 lbs capacity, which caters for most beach cruisers.
The ProRide XT grips the downtube of your bike with a rubberized clamp. Ratcheting straps simultaneously hold your wheels.
Optional lock cylinders are sold separately for the Thule ProRide XT, enabling you to leave the bike briefly with less risk of theft. Some buyers will find it inconvenient these aren’t included, even at a higher price.
What We Like
- Easy – easy to mount and remove bikes.
- Clamp – well-designed downtube clamp grips the bike.
- Lockable – optional lock cylinders are available separately.
What We Don’t Like
- Extra cost – many would prefer cylinder locks to be included.
4. Swagman CHINOOK Hitch Mount Bike Rack (best for SUV)
- Rack type: hitch-mounted
- Weight capacity: 45 lbs per bike
- Bike capacity: 2
A bike rack used by many SUV owners is the Swagman Chinook Hitch Mount Bike Rack. It’s well made and has a special tilt feature that lets you access the hatch of your vehicle at all times.
As a platform-type hitch rack, the Swagman Chinook is perfect for carrying beach cruisers. Its 45 lbs capacity supports most bikes.
This rack comes with a lockable hitch pin, so you can leave the rack on the car without risk of casual theft. Lockable ratchet hooks secure your bike as well. Though there are cheaper ways to carry cruiser bikes, this product offers value for money.
What We Like
- Tilt – access the hatch of your vehicle with bikes loaded.
- Capacity – a useful 45-pound capacity per bike.
- Lockable – locking hitch pin and lockable bike hooks.
What We Don’t Like
- Price – expensive, but less so than some rival products.
5. Bikehand Floor Type Indoor Bike Rack (best for garage or home)
- Rack type: floor (indoor)
- Bike capacity: 3
A sturdy freestanding bike rack suitable for the garage is the Bikehand Floor Type Indoor Bike Rack. It makes our list for its ease of use and clever patented design.
The rack holds your bike wheel at three contact points for stability. Most floor racks only secure a bike at two points. You push the bike into the rack without any need for lifting.
The Bikehand rack accepts a max tire width of 2.4”, but you can exceed this slightly.
What We Like
- Design – clever, patented push-in design.
- Wide – accepts wide cruiser tires up to 2.4”.
- Durable – powder-coated finish enhances durability.
What We Don’t Like
- Price – a little pricey for a floor rack.
6. Swagman XC2 Hitch Mount 2-Bike Rack (best value)
- Rack type: hitch-mounted
- Weight capacity: 35 lbs per bike
- Bike capacity: 2
Platform-style bike racks are ideal for beach cruisers, but many of them are expensive. The Swagman XC2 Hitch Mount 2-Bike Rack is kinder on your bank balance without forfeiting functionality.
This rack features ratcheting rubber-coated arms to grip your bike frame.
Thanks to its folding design, the XC2 takes up little space in storage or when left on the car. The only drawback is lack of security: you need separate accessories to make the rack lockable.
What We Like
- Value – not many rival products at this price.
- Foldable – folds into a compact size.
- Durable – hard-wearing construction.
What We Don’t Like
- Security – not lockable.
7. Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Rack With Adapter Bar (best budget)
- Rack type: trunk-mounted
- Weight capacity: 70 lbs total
- Bike capacity: 2
If you’re looking to transport a beach cruiser on a budget, the Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Rack With Adapter Bar offers a solution. It fits onto most types of cars, including sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs.
This rack suspends bikes from two arms. It comes with a crossbar adapter, which often makes a beach cruiser easier to install.
You can buy the same rack without an adapter bar if you think you can do without one.
A potential downside with this rack is the metal strap clips, which you could tape up to protect the car’s finish.
What We Like
- Price – you’ll struggle to find a better rack for less.
- Adapter – top tube adapter included for easier installation.
- Ready – comes assembled and ready for easy installation
What We Don’t Like
- Metal – metal strap clips may damage your car’s finish.
How To Choose A Bike Rack For Your Beach Cruiser Bike
There are a few things to consider when choosing a bike rack for your beach cruiser. With its shape and weight, this type of bike has particular demands.
The Ideal Rack Type?
You can install a beach cruiser onto any bike rackin theory, but the step-through frame of many beach cruisers creates a problem for “hanging style” racks.
Let’s go over the possibilities:
- Roof rack – leaves access to your car free, but it does mean more lifting to install a heavy cruiser bike. You need crossbars installed on the roof as well.
- Trunk-mounted – these are always hanging-style racks, so you’re quite likely to need a top-tube adapter before you can load up a beach cruiser (not always).
- Hitch-mounted – these come in hanging or platform types. Platform racks are ideal for beach cruiser bikes, as the frame shape of the bike doesn’t affect compatibility. Hitch racks are often lockable, too.
Video: Hanging-Style vs Platform-Style Hitch Racks
All hanging styles of bike racks rely on a high top tube (aka crossbar) so the rack’s arms can hold the bike level. Without this top tube, the bike will either be held at an angle or it won’t mount. This problem vanishes if you spend extra money on an adapter.
Bike Weight Capacity
Keep an eye on the weight capacity of bike racks, also. Beach cruisers are not lightweight bikes and heavier ones may exceed the max capacity of some racks. Weigh your bike with luggage scales so you know what capacity you need.
Bike weight capacities usually start at around 35 lbs, which is borderline for some cruisers. Platform-type hitch racks tend to support heavier bikes than trunk racks.
Check Your Tire Width
Bicycle tire width is a crucial element of rack suitability for beach cruiser bikes. You need a rack that will accept tires of up to 2.4” or 2.5” for good compatibility.
If you have extra-wide tires on your beach cruiser (e.g., 3 inches), you may need a platform-style bike rack that supports fat bike wheels.
Other Features
Additional features you might want on a bike rack include:
- Lockability – bike racks can be locked to the car and bikes locked to the rack.
- Protection – rubberized or plastic-coated surfaces avoid damaging the finish of your bike. Foam padding protects your car on trunk-mounted racks.
- Tiltability – a tilting bike rack lets you access your car’s hatch even when bikes are loaded.
Final Words
Let’s recap on our product reviews. In first place is the Saris Freedom EX 2-Bike Car Rack. This rack surpasses all requirements for carrying a beach cruiser. It supports heavy bikes of any shape and it’ll accept all cruiser tire widths. It also tilts!
The Hollywood Racks Gordo 2-Bike Rack is exceptional for beach cruisers, particularly in the trunk-mounted category. Its widely spaced arms accommodate the long wheelbases of cruisers.
Roof racks are often versatile, and the Thule ProRide XT Rooftop Bike Rack is no exception. It boasts a generous 44 lbs maximum capacity.
Take your beach cruiser anywhere without stress or hassle!
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