Customer Reviews:
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 Be careful, October 28, 2008
By gfoots (Prince Frederick, MD)
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We purchased this product so we could haul 4 bikes at the same time we are towing a popup camper. The tow vehicle is a 2008 Aspen SUV. In that situation there are some options but they are limited. We also wanted something we could use whether or not we are towing the camper, so a camper-mounted rack was out. The good news is that 4 bikes fit on the rack with very little problem - I rotated the handlebars on bike #1 90 degress to help the puzzle fit but that was the only modification. The bad news is, when we arrived at our destination there was some damage to the rear door of our vehicle, where the lower bar rests. That is a lot of weight, and apparently that part of the door could not handle it. There are a couple small dents, which are not exceedingly hideous but are noticable. I am considering adding some kind of buffer to that area, something that can absorb / distrubute the weight without incurring further damage to the door. Anybody have any suggestions?
36 of 36 people found the above review helpful.
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 Review of Allen Deluxe 4-Bike Trunk Rack, July 17, 2008
By B. Kendrick
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I purchased this in June 2008 to carry 4 mountain bikes, mainly for use on the back of my 4Runner while towing a tent trailer to some mountain camping areas. I went this route rather than purchasing a roof mounted bike rack on the car or trailer for a couple reasons. First, the roof mounted racks were too high for my wife to get the bikes on / off, and we wanted the versatility of using the racks with or without the trailer.
The setup was very straightforward. Just unfolded the unit out of the box, and attached it to the rear of the car with the two top straps. Then adjusted to the correct height, and attached and adjusted the other straps. The unit is heavy, a good thing as it is also very strong and seems to easily deal with the weight of 4 bikes. We fit the 4 bikes with no issues, and used it to go camping a couple weeks ago. We went over 200 miles, sometimes over rough terrain and bumps, and the rack performed fine throughout.
27 of 27 people found the above review helpful.
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Wow, great product!, February 11, 2007
By average joe (LA, California)
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When you consider all the steps to assemble it, it's actually very simple. I get easily frustrated with instructions, and these were pretty good.
The product is solid. I use it on a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country and have no problems. Even though it says not to do so, I'm able to open my tailgate with it attached. I use it with 2 adult bikes, 1 kid's bike, and 1 bike trailer (the 1-wheel type that hook on the back of an adult bike).
I looked hard for the right 4-bike mount rack, and I'm overjoyed with this one. Now if I can just move from LA to a safer place before someone steals my bikes from my rack while we're in In-n-Out...
21 of 21 people found the above review helpful.
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 minivan owners beware, January 24, 2009
By Savvy shopper (North Carolina)
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We read all the reviews before purchasing. All but one seemed to be very good, so we figured the one bad review had just installed the item improperly. We wished that we had listened! We installed the rack on our minivan and double checked it to make sure all was sturdy. We were only traveling about 2 miles and only carrying 2 bikes, but the portion of the rack that was against the top part of the hatch completely crushed the car hatch and the bikes were nearly falling off the vehicle. This product should not be used on a minivan!!!!! We have quite a bit of damage for a 2 mile ride and needless to say we are returning the item for another car rack. If you own a minivan, DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!!!
14 of 16 people found the above review helpful.
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 Affordable, user friendly 4 bike rack!, July 17, 2007
By Kathleen Beil (Seattle, Wa USA)
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This rack is easy to install but quite a bit heavier than the one I already own. Very sturdy and secure with all the attachment straps and tie-downs. We bought foam tubing to cushion/protect bikes at contact points. I recommend this rack if you need a 4 bike carrier and don't have a trailer hitch.
13 of 13 people found the above review helpful.
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A Bike Rack Adventure, August 14, 2008
By Rita N. Brooks (Glen Allen, VA)
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We purchased the Allen Deluxe 4-Bike Trunk Mount Rack for a recent camping trip. We wanted to take all four of our bikes but neither of our vehicles is equipped with a hitch. After researching racks both in local stores and online, this Allen rack seemed to be a good choice. It was easy to mount on the car and held the bikes beautifully . . . in the driveway. Even for a short trip around the neighborhood it seemed we had made a wise purchase. However, 45 minutes from home and on a busy interstate during rush hour traffic, we were singing a different tune. The rack collapsed and though the bikes did not actually fall off, they were being dragged along the highway at 65 miles an hour. We had to call for help and then sit along the interstate with our two boys for over an hour. There was damage to the rear bumper of the car to the tune of $644. It became evident that it would have been cheaper to just rent four bikes for the week once we got to our destination. I would not recommend trunk mounted (or non-hitch mounted) racks for anything over two bikes. Even though we were well under the recommended total bike weight for the rack, it was just too much for the rack to handle.
12 of 14 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent Product, June 18, 2008
By arjzv (Long Island, NY)
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Excellent Product. I was looking for a bike rack which can carry 4 bikes and wouldn't need a hitch since I don't have one. This one fits the perfectly on my Minivan. It is very easy to attach and take off (if you are worried about it getting stolen while your are out biking). I haven't tried 4 bikes on it yet, but it seems very sturdy and holds 3 bikes very securely. Although I kept looking in my rear view mirror to see if the bikes were secure, there was no need. The bikes were held securely even at highway speeds. So far so good.
9 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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not enough info online, August 12, 2009
By booty71 (portland, or)
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I never got to use the product. Online it says that it fits most SUVs, minivans, etc. When the package arrived, right on the back of the box it lists which cars it does and does not fit. Mine, of course, was listed as one it does NOT fit. That info should be listed online because then I would have known to never buy it in the first place.
8 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent!!!!, August 5, 2008
By Assateague Island camper (Shenandoah Valley Va)
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We used this bike rake going to the beach....a 5 hour trip. It worked perfect! The bikes were very easy to get on, no noise or movement, easy to put on (we have a minivan), great to store (folds nicely). We were very impressed with it and was so well worth the $100 we paided for it. We have a men's & women's adult mountain bike and two children's 18" bikes. Well made!!
7 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Allen Bike Rack, July 16, 2007
By Family Biker (Northeast, USA)
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The Allen 4-Bike trunk mount rack was one of only a few available capable of holding 4 bikes. It was easy to mount, easy to secure, easy to tie the Bikes down to, and easy to undo everything as well. Folds up relatively flat and is light weight. Very happy with the purchase
7 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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poor products and poor customer service!!!!, June 28, 2010
By familyfirst (Richmond, Va.)
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Allen Deluxe 4-Bike Trunk Mount RackAllen Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver)
We purchased the Allen Trunk mount rack at first. My story is like the others. The rack fell down causing the bikes to fall. We put the rack back on different ways thinking it would hold this time.... (4 more times) It didn't, we had to put 2 of the bikes in the van so we could get home safely. Good thing we weren't on a major highway with traffic behind us!!!!
We also had a hitch mount they sent us....We only traveled about 20 minutes away and thought we better make sure it's holding up...It wasn't, the pin was coming out. It came out of one of the holes. We weren't taking any more chances. We contacted the company once again. They sent us 2 racks previously without fixing the problems. This last time we wanted our money back. They told us we couldn't get our money back because we must have caused the damage and it wasn't covered under warranty!!!!
I will never purchase anything from this company again!!!!
7 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Solid construction, easy to mount/dismount, September 17, 2010
By BostonBiker
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Years back I found a relative roomy economy car perfect for a family of four living in a city (the Toyota Echo), but once my kids got to bike riding age I ran into the problem of how to cart around four bicycles for when we wanted to go riding outside the city.
I could have plunked down for an expensive roof rack or a hitch and hitch-mounted bike rack, but that always seemed like overkill to me. I bought an affordable, sensible car and costly accessories for it struck me as a silly idea. I found some trunk-mounted 3-bike racks and tried one that turned out to be a catastrophe (a Bell rack that twice broke on me during summer vacation trips. the 4-bike trunk racks I saw always struck me as too flimsy.
Finally I saw the Allen 4-bike trunk rack and it seemed like a viable solution. While not dirt cheap (cost me just over $100) it was fairly affordable. It's lightweight, my 10-year-old daughter can carry it with no problem.
It uses a typical six strap system to mount onto the trunk of my car. Flex straps on the side and lower mounts make it easy to get a tight fit. The rack bars for the bikes angle upward enough to prevent the bikes from scraping against the back of my car.
The rack's maiden voyage was a three-hour trip up to central Maine and it held up beautifully. The straps didn't slip at all, the rack didn't sag under the weight of the bikes. And there was minimal shimmy from the rack while I drove.
Things to be aware of:
1) While all four of our bikes fit on the rack bars, it was a tight fit. You need to be aware of where your pedals are and mount each bike with a little extra care.
2) Bikes for smaller children may be challenging to fit across the rack bars, which are primarily designed for adult bikes. Anything smaller than a 20" frame may require a creative solution.
6 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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Good Product, August 27, 2010
By Go'n Bike'n
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We've used it a few times and it has done the job fine. The bottom of the rack did rub against the paint on the car and leave a mark on our 8 hour adventure away from home. It was easy to set up, easy to get bikes on and off and is a good product. It is also easy to get on and off the back of the Grand Caravan we own.
6 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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poor products and poor customer service!!!!, June 28, 2010
By familyfirst (Richmond, Va.)
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Allen Deluxe 4-Bike Trunk Mount RackAllen Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver)
We purchased the Allen Trunk mount rack at first. My story is like the others. The rack fell down causing the bikes to fall. We put the rack back on different ways thinking it would hold this time.... (4 more times) It didn't, we had to put 2 of the bikes in the van so we could get home safely. Good thing we weren't on a major highway with traffic behind us!!!!
We also had a hitch mount they sent us....We only traveled about 20 minutes away and thought we better make sure it's holding up...It wasn't, the pin was coming out. It came out of one of the holes. We weren't taking any more chances. We contacted the company once again. They sent us 2 racks previously without fixing the problems. This last time we wanted our money back. They told us we couldn't get our money back because we must have caused the damage and it wasn't covered under warranty!!!!
I will never purchase anything from this company again!!!!
6 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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Sturdy and easy to install!, March 15, 2007
By C. Soetarman
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this is my first bike mount rack. I was a bit 'worry' about the strength and the installation. But it's quite easy to install and it's seem very sturdy. It doesn't bounce at all. Highly Recommended!!
6 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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Good Price, Not Easy to Use, September 30, 2009
By Parker (New York)
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The price was good and I hoped to use the rack for four bikes. No way. Maybe for lean racing bikes, but my road bike and two kids bikes were a tight squeeze. Also, you have to lift the bikes over your head to get them on the rack since the bar is at a steep angle when trunk mounted. Once on, I felt the rack was safe and the bikes secure.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Product!, June 13, 2009
By C. Hanson (Georgia)
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I was torn between a trunk mount carrier and installing a trailer hitch. I finally decided on the trunk mount due to the expense and portability. We have two adult and two kid bikes so I really wanted a carrier that would hold all four. The Allen mount was super easy to install and kept the bikes very secure. We traveled over various types of roads on a seven hour trip and only had to slightly tighten one strap once. I would definitely recommend this product to others.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Works Well, July 28, 2008
By Phinboy
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The bike rack works well, the only thing I don't like is how the bike straps tend to slide down and closer to the car which could cause your bike to touch your car and scratch. Installation of rack is easy and loading and unloading bike is quick.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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4-bike car rack, May 27, 2009
By A Mother of 2 Kidlets (Chicago suburbs)
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It was difficult to find a bike rack made that would fit my Ford Taurus and hold 4 bikes. This one does. While the rack is a tad heavy for me (not surprising because it needs to hold 4 bikes) it is functional. I recommend some extra velcro straps to help secure the wheels and keep them from moving in transit.
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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4 bike trunk carrier, June 27, 2008
By Stacy Corrado (Charlotte, NC United States)
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We have been very happy with this product. We bought the bike carrier to take a long trip with all 4 bikes. It worked great. Very easy to put and the all 4 four bikes which ranged in sizes 18", 24", 24" and 26" fit fine.
There was some vibrating that we had to get used to once you reached a certain speed.I would also suggest you place a towel under the middle of the carrier that sits on your trunk to protect the paint.
Other wise it was a very good purchase.
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Great quality bike rack, August 12, 2008
By Sasha Kemmet (Des Moines, IA)
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This bike rack was relatively easy to put on and to take off. We went to Colorado and back with it and the bikes stayed secure the whole time. Foam pads help protect car. Great buy.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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be aware, April 19, 2011
By M. Greenblatt
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My 2004 audi A4 cabriolet was listed as compatible on their website, but the bottom two sponges pressed on the bumper so hard with 3 bikes (1 adult and 2 kids) that it cracked and permanently dented my plastic bumper cover. Hence, I am telling you now that the 2004 Audi A4 is NOT COMPATIBLE. in addition, the clips that go onto the side of the trunk was a V shape, say 10 degrees, but it was too small an angle so I could not easily close the trunk. the 10 degree angle was so narrow that the clip could not attach flush onto the trunk lid. as such, the only way that I could close the trunk was to slam it shut and accept the fact that my paint was going to get scuffed by the clip.
I am pretty sure that changing the design so that the 2 sponges that come into contact with the bumper are made wider, such as 1 foot wide total instead of the existing 2 x 2 inch wide sponges, it would put less weight per square inch. at the very least, it would likely not crack the plastic like it did for me.
If you have an all metal bumper, you should be fine, but a bumper with a plastic cover may be a problem.
if you can get a roof rack or tow hitch rack, you may be better off.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Attaches Easily, Holds Securely, July 26, 2010
By http://www.kevinjbowman.com (Roselle, IL United States)
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I must admit when this arrived at my house I was a bit concerned, the attaching instructions are useless and my vehicle was listed as "not compatible" on the box. That information would have been useful on the Amazon page. Despite both of these problems, I set out to see how it felt. After 30 minutes the rack was securely attached, my bikes were mounted and I was ready to take a test drive around the neighborhood.
I have traveled now several times with 2 adult and 2 children's bikes attached and everything is snug and secure. When comparing to the much more expensive options like roof mounting or adding a tow package to my vehicle, I am VERY satisfied!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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very pleased, June 26, 2010
By the Ts
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We found this product to be great! It held four bikes with ease and was easy to put on our Toyota Sienna minivan. Soooooo worth the money!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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a bit expensive, but worth the money you pay, May 6, 2010
By honking (New Jersey, USA)
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I dont need to write anything more about this product other than what has already been covered by other reviewers. This product definitely needs the good reviews. All I can say is that this product is worth the money. I use this on my mini-van and the car and with few adjustments of the strap, you can get this product to load and carry 4 heavy bikes around on the trunk.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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very quick delivery., December 21, 2009
By Marta Rockwell
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we used this product once. Seems very sturdy. We have 2008 Hyundai elantra. We scratched the car a bit due to having bikes too close to truck.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great product, November 15, 2009
By Roberson (Abilene, Tx)
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Greetings, I have used this rack many times with great success. We have two adult bikes, one medium bike, and one small bike, which all fit and ride perfect. The bikes have safely traveled many miles secure in the rack, some of the miles being over rough terrain. I recommend this rack to anyone needing to transport bikes on the trunk of a car.
Note: Please make sure pedals are not against the car trunk. This will cause paint damage!
Thanks
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Allen 4-Bike Trunk Mount Rack, August 29, 2009
By Cross-Country Trekker (Ashburn, VA)
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The bike rack worked fabulously. We drove with it for 7 and half hours without having to stop and check that our bikes were still intact. The rack itself is really strudy and held the bikes well. We did have an issue with some of our bikes fitting, however. My daughter has a Schwinn mountain bike and the gap wasn't wide enough to fit on the rack. We also had to improvise with my younger daughters' bikes. They were much smaller and didn't fit into the ridges as well, but we were still able to secure them in around other parts of the bike. There were also minor scraps to my 2003 Toyota Sienna mini van from the base bar of the rack. There are cushions to pad it, but my van was still a bit scraped up. It also rubbed on the Toyota logo and scraped away a bit of the paint. To prevent minor scraping on the tail of van on our drive home, my husband placed a wadded-up t-shirt around the base bar of the rack. This was effective.
Overall, it was a great rack. It was strong and held the bikes securely. There was plenty of room for all four, it was just the matter of the bikes not being large enough to fit comfortably across the width of the rack. I plan to use the rack again and would recommend it.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Simply the BEST!!!, August 27, 2009
By Rhetse4kids
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I purchased this years ago for our family bike outing. We use it all the time on our minivan and it's one of the easiest to install on our outings even for this Mom! Folds up nicely and fits perfect at all angles of the minivan's rear. It actually accomodates four bicycles nicely. If you have a family with four bikes, this is the BEST!!!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent Product, April 5, 2009
By ghoff (Jackson, MI)
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Allen Deluxe 4-Bike Trunk Mount Rack
My family and I Traveled over 1200 miles from Michigan to Tennessee with my mountain bike along with two kids bikes. The rack worked great with very little movement from the bikes and no scratches to the bikes or my vehicle (Dodge Grand Caravan). The kids bikes(one 16" girls and one 20" boys) did not fit the traditional way as mine fit, but I was able to mount them securly without any extra straps or adjustments. We only traveled with three bike, but a fourth bike would have fit perfectly. It took about 20 minutes to attach the mount and mount the bikes the first time, but I was able to do it all in five or ten minutes for the trip home. I would recommend the tension bar adaptor for a women's bike. Although we did not take my wife's bike on the trip, the tension bar will be necessary for our next trip when we take all four bikes. If there is a fault, I would say that the bracket(hook) that attaches the rack to the vehicle should have some kind of pad to prevent scratching the vehicle. I don't know that it would have scratched the door, but I took a preventive measure by cutting pieces of cloth to place between the door and the brackets. The cost of the rack and tension bar was far less than if I would have purchased it through the local bike shop. I am very happy with my purchase.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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bike rack, November 22, 2008
By Jason O. Howes (portland, or)
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Drove from Michigan to Oregon with four bikes on the back of my Suburu legacy. Drove through bad road conditions and high winds. The product was sturdy and did the job just fine.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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easy to use -- but drains the gas, June 12, 2009
By snag (florida)
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We purchased this because we needed a rack to haul 4 bikes. My wife and I along with our two boys enjoy riding.
My wife and I were the first to use it on a substantial trip. We put both of our bikes on and decided to take an out of state trip.
At the time I drove a Honda Civic Hybrid. Normally I get about 40mpg driving on the highway. With the bike rack I was getting about 30 mpg.
I think it was the way the weight is distributed. I tow scooters all the time with my hybrid (which weigh more; but, are towed on a trailer as opposed to the trunk) and get around 38 mpg with the scooters.
This is easy to use -- but, I was amazed at how inefficient it caused my fuel consumption to become.
2 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Simply the BEST!!!, August 27, 2009
By Rhetse4kids
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I purchased this years ago for our family bike outing. We use it all the time on our minivan and it's one of the easiest to install on our outings even for this Mom! Folds up nicely and fits perfect at all angles of the minivan's rear. It actually accomodates four bicycles nicely. If you have a family with four bikes, this is the BEST!!!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent Product, April 5, 2009
By ghoff (Jackson, MI)
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Allen Deluxe 4-Bike Trunk Mount Rack
My family and I Traveled over 1200 miles from Michigan to Tennessee with my mountain bike along with two kids bikes. The rack worked great with very little movement from the bikes and no scratches to the bikes or my vehicle (Dodge Grand Caravan). The kids bikes(one 16" girls and one 20" boys) did not fit the traditional way as mine fit, but I was able to mount them securly without any extra straps or adjustments. We only traveled with three bike, but a fourth bike would have fit perfectly. It took about 20 minutes to attach the mount and mount the bikes the first time, but I was able to do it all in five or ten minutes for the trip home. I would recommend the tension bar adaptor for a women's bike. Although we did not take my wife's bike on the trip, the tension bar will be necessary for our next trip when we take all four bikes. If there is a fault, I would say that the bracket(hook) that attaches the rack to the vehicle should have some kind of pad to prevent scratching the vehicle. I don't know that it would have scratched the door, but I took a preventive measure by cutting pieces of cloth to place between the door and the brackets. The cost of the rack and tension bar was far less than if I would have purchased it through the local bike shop. I am very happy with my purchase.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Very Impressed, August 3, 2011
By Randy Glassman (Corona, CA United States)
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When we read some of the other reviews on the bike rack we were a bit nervous about purchasing. But we needed a rack that held 4 bikes and and may of the others were really a lot of money. We dont have a hitch mount and our Minivan is NOT suitable for bike racks since it has too much plastic so we had to find one that would fir on a Honda Civic. This particular rack specified that it would be able to be used on a Civic so we bit the bullet and oredered it.
Well I'll tell you...for those of you who had a negative remark about this product I'm sorry to hear that. This rack EXCEEDED our expectations...we have 2-26" Cruisers and 2-20" bikes. The rack was very easy to install and held all 4 bikes very nicely. Most of the weight is supported by the bumper which alleviates a lot of weight from being suppoeted by just the trunk like many other racks. There is also SIDE straps which help with the balancing of the bikes and adds extra support and keeps the rack from swaying.
We took the bikes all the way to San Diego..we also took them to Santa Monica with no issues. Once we stopped after about an Hour of driving JUST TO CHECK the rack and it hadn't even moved an ince...no additional tightening was needed. we used some Bungee cords that we used to keep the wheels from spinning around and for extra support and they worked great. WE LOVE this rack very much. Just check the MFG Website BEFORE purchasing to see if your car is listed as one being able to be used because many cars are not so check 1st....if it is THEN GET IT!!!!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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fits 2005 Toyota 4Runner with spoiler, July 13, 2011
By Pablo (Midwest USA)
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Couldn't quite tell if this would work, but I took a chance and this rack does fit a 2005 Toyota 4Runner, with the spoiler installed, which I believe is optional on this year (mine had the spoiler when purchased as a used vehicle). The top straps pass under the spoiler without touching it, the hooks on the top straps then fit into the slot above the rear hatch. I was quite impressed with ease of installation once I figured things out. The hooks/straps for the rack all attach various places around the 4Runner's rear door (not to the fender, bumper, or other external area), so it is possible to raise/open the rear door/hatch with the rack in place. I have not tried to do so with a bike on the rack, but it would probably work, at least for partially raising the door, though I'm sure is not recommended. The padding/design seems adequate to protect the 4Runner's paint job. I have not used the rack extensively yet and only loaded 3 bikes (not the 4 maximum) but I'm quite happy so far and will add to this review if problems develop. The straps have a partial "stretch section" which allows you to really get them tight, and they are PLENTY long. Good design as it appears so far.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Chris W., May 29, 2011
By Chris W
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We just took this bike rack on vacation.We have a 2002 Chrystler Town and Country. Loaded with four bikes, it rode great both ways. I did cut up a swimming noodle to pad contact points between the bikes as well as the cross bar that contacts the van. Well worth $100.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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overall good, June 25, 2010
By D. Simons
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This is about the only FOUR bike trunk mount rack we could find. All the rest were trailer mount and our van doesnt have a trailer hitch. It installs super easily and once you figure out how to place the bikes to fit them its pretty simple, but that first time is a bit of a puzzle. Once they were on the bikes and wheels didnt move and were quite secure. Overall we were very pleased with this rack.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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great product, October 2, 2009
By K Hobbs (Greenfield, IN)
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This bike rack was exactly what we were looking for. We have a Susuki XL7 and it did not have a hitch and most racks for 4 bikes were for hitches. This product worked wonderfully with our vehicle. It was very secure and transported all 4 adult bikes without any shifting. I was able to hook it up without any difficulty. We drove about 7 hours total with the bikes on the rack.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent bike rack, September 14, 2009
By RD (Chicago IL)
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The bike rack is heavy, has a solid feel and is well constructed. Installation is very easy, go to the allenracks website for an instructional video. It took no more than 5 minutes to install the bike rack. I was able to install the rack on a 1999 Saturn over the rear spoiler and on a Mazda MPV mini van with no assistance (See pictures). The rack easily accommodates 4 adult bikes, if one is transporting women's bike purchase the Allen Tension Bar Bicycle Cross-Bar Adaptor($20)as it makes mounting the bike a lot easier. Even without the tension bar the tie downs on the rack swivel to accommodate bikes of different configurations. There are 3 pairs of ties that secure the rack to the trunk, all of which are very easy to install.
I have used this rack on two 100 mile trips with no issues. The bikes were stable, and did not shift during transit. I did use additional ties to secure the wheels. I would highly recommend this rack.
Amazon has the best price on this rack. Consider purchasing the tension bar and some extra straps.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Good bike rack overall, September 12, 2009
By M. Wronski (Massachusetts)
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I finally had the chance to use this bike rack. I like it. The rack did not fold and drop our bikes into the street like I read in other reviews. Mounting the rack is real easy now that I have done it once.
I had two bikes on it and traveled 200+ miles. It is sturdy and seems very capable. If folds up nicely and is in the box when not in use.
Small bikes may not fit on this rack without the adapters; I didn't/don't want to spend $20 a pop for these adapters. I had to squeeze the two support bars together to get my daughters bike on it and this is a 15" Trek (medium size). There is a little play that allowed me to do this and get the bike on the outer most position.
Clearer, Easier to read instructions would be nice. Read the instructions carefully they are very busy; there are many options.
I have a hatch back (Ford Escape); I am going to experiment with a different option next time as truthfully, I may have not done the bottom part right but it held because there's outcrop that the bottom bar rested on.
I have not tried to mount this on the Camry yet.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Well designed rack, August 17, 2009
By Edward Kuczmarski (Chicago, Illinois)
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Needed a rack to hold 4 bikes for a trip from Chicago to Mackinac Island, on a Sebring convertible. It was quite a sight, seeing all the bikes stacked high!; but was able to drive 70 mph with no problems. The rack anchors firmly at the top of the trunk, and side and bottom attachments have some elastic to keep things taught. Worked very well, and much less expensive than the roof racks we considered for our other car.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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WARNING! Poorly made and may cause accidents, December 11, 2011
By dc (Dallas, TX)
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This rack actually fit fine and carried the bikes properly. But on the very first use, the most important top hook dis-attached from its strap (must have been glued/sewed improperly). Fortunately, we were almost home. If this had happened on the highway, it could have caused death/injury to cars behind us (aside from destroying all of our bikes and rack.). Wow, we dodged a bullet and are popping this baby back in the mail!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Allen bike rack awesome!!!, August 28, 2011
By Vic
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I wasn't sure how this bike rack was going to work on my vehicle, but as soon as I took it out the box it seemed very simple and straightforward. Granted my neighbors did have some suggestions for me as I put it on my Honda van, but overall very easy to use. I also had some concerns about durability and stability but the bikes were secure and survived a 500 kilometer (250 mile) trip down to the southwest coast of Washington. Now that I have used it a few times, and taken it on and off the car I would recommend it highly to anyone!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Very Happy - Great Bike Rack - Highly Recommend, August 28, 2011
By Carla (California)
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We purchased this at the last minute for a camping trip. We weren't sure what to expect or if it would even arrive on time. The product arrive just in time for the trip, as promised, and we were very happy with the quality of this product. It fits our Toyota Highlander (SUV) and it also fits our Ford Fusion. All four bikes fit easily and securely. You just have to be patient and think about which bike to put first, second, third and fourth. It is easy to put on the vehicles and easy to take off. The bikes were secure and didn't move around. We didn't worry at all when driving three hours to the camp site and three hours back. We have since used it for shorter trips and love it. We highly recommend this product!
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Allen bike rack awesome!!!, August 28, 2011
By A Customer
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I wasn't sure how this bike rack was going to work on my vehicle, but as soon as I took it out the box it seemed very simple and straightforward. Granted my neighbors did have some suggestions for me as I put it on my Honda van, but overall very easy to use. I also had some concerns about durability and stability but the bikes were secure and survived a 500 kilometer (250 mile) trip down to the southwest coast of Washington. Now that I have used it a few times, and taken it on and off the car I would recommend it highly to anyone!
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Awesome Bike Rack, August 22, 2011
By Julia A (Middlesex, NJ USA)
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I purchased this rack in June and finally was able to use it in August. It is fantastic - held 4 bikes with no issues what-so-ever. We have 2-26", 1-20" and 1-12" bikes. We followed the comments of others & fit them like a puzzle piece. We did buy the extra bar for female bikes as well as velcro straps - all were exactly what we needed. We drove 400 miles round trip & they barely budged at all (going 80 mph).
I have a Nissan Murano ('10) and assembly took less than 2 minutes. Our other car is a Mercedes C class and assembly/use on that is the same - quick & easy!
Highly recommend!
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Very good bike rack, August 20, 2011
By FairfaxVACustomer
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This is a very good bike rack for carrying four adult bikes. It is easy to setup and take down. The frame and straps held everything securely. I also appreciate how it folds compactly for storage. No complaints.
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4 bikes and no hitch needed, August 14, 2011
By Mary Gray
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There aren't many racks that hold 4 bikes without needed to have a hitch installed. This rack is easy to put on, easy to take off...and despite other reviewers comments, I did not scratch my car at all using it...and I use it alot. One review about the car types I agree with though, though...the box comes and listed on it are the car types it will work for (there are many) but some cars it apparently won't. I would call before ordering to ensure it will work with your vehicle and it would be nice if that info could be linked here.
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Excellent Product, July 26, 2011
By Kailash Gangar
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Looked everywhere locally for it. Found it on Amazon and am happy w/ the purchase. We used it and it worked beautifully. It was easy to install/uninstall.
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Great product, July 25, 2011
By mami2threeangels
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THis bike rack is great. Easy to install and helps so much for a family of 4 going bike riding! The straps are a little confusing to figure out but once you get it it will be easy.
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Minivan needed Bike Rack for Vacations, July 20, 2011
By Wife, Mom, and Professional (Seattle, WA)
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Our family needed a large rack for our bikes to go on vacation. It fit four bikes, was easily installed on our Town and Country, and travelled with us for our first trip so far of 1000 miles. One preschool age bike was akward on there, but it worked. It will be useful for years to come!
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Not a good product, June 23, 2011
By Jared M Heatherly
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I bought this rack to replace an old 3-bike rack that we had for years. We never had a problem with that one. After reading the reviews, I put the rack on the van ahead of time to be sure that it felt secure. It seemed okay, but 1 hour into a trip with 4 bikes on the back of the van, the rack collapsed, denting my tailgate and one of the bikes. I weighed the bikes, and we were not above the 140 lbs that they say it will hold. The problem was caused by the top straps not staying tight. We had to put one of the bikes in the back of the van and tie a knot in the straps at the buckle in order to get to a friend's house, where we could borrow a different bike rack and leave one of the bikes behind. I will be calling Allen tomorrow, but I do not expect much. Beware- this product may be an expensive risk to take!!!
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Bullet proof, February 2, 2011
By ToddB
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We got this rack a month ago and I'm very impressed with it. Sturdy contruction and I love how the bike are right there for taking them off and on. It's worth every penny.
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Strong Construction...Easy to set up., November 1, 2010
By Mark A. Martorano
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Very happy with this product. Easily installs on the back of our mini-van & safely holds all 4 of our bikes.
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Great Product, October 20, 2010
By Gary G
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Fits my 2000 Ford Expedition and my wife's 2002 Ford Focus! Can you get more bang for your buck?
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Works Great, August 19, 2010
By T. Hall
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I wasn't sure how good the quality would be because it was so much cheaper than all the others, but it is really solid. Hooks up easy, and works great. Don't waste your money on the more expensive racks just because of the brand name, this rack works perfectly!
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Great rack!!!, August 1, 2010
By Jorge Lopez
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Great bike rack... takes only 5 mins to put it on the car and about 1-2 mins to load the bikes. It is great...
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Chermm, June 1, 2010
By book crazed (Allentown, Pa USA)
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Have used the bike rack a few times and really love it. Easy to hook up to Suv (I'm a small 5 foot woman!) I do use a step stool to hook up the top first. But the construction of it is very strong with no wobbling when I drive. Very satisfied!
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Love it!, February 11, 2010
By lilbutterfly)i( (Miami, Fl)
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I was afraid to attempt to install it since it looked a bit complicated.. Once we got to it.. it was incredibly EASY to install and remove! It's holds a tight grip to our Surburban. We can easily remove the bikes, remove the rack and open our trunk for our coolers, baby trailer, snacks and bags in about 5 minutes. Best part is we can take all 4 Mountain Bikes together on the bike rack..leaving the inside of our car free of mudd from the bike wheels :) This was my first ever bike rack.. and i'm glad it's perfect!
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My Bike Rack.., August 18, 2009
By Teresa Ortiz (The Windy City)
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Durable, reliable and was very easy to install. Holds all four bikes without a problem. This is great item to have if you need your bikes to be transported and your vehicle does not have a hitch. Great investment, worth the money.
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DO NOT BUY THIS BIKE RACK - CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY CAR, April 9, 2012
By Kevin Sproge (Springfield, VA)
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We bought this bike rack to transport bikes from VA to SC for Spring Break. On the return trip (the second time we used the rack) the cheap bumper pad split while we were driving and the rack caused hundreds of dollars of damage to the back of the car. I highly recommend you choose a rack of better construction and quality.
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Great Product, BUT...Doesn't Fit All Bikes!, April 2, 2012
By Faheem
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The bike rack itself is of great quality construction, has a solid weight and quality to it, but it doesn't fit all bikes!
For instance, a woman's bike will NOT fit without an adapter. (The product description doesn't make this clear).
Also, I wanted to mount 2 kid's bikes, but they don't fit either! They're the standard 20" (tire size). The product description doesn't make this clear either.
Essentially, I bought this to carry our beach cruisers...but a male beach cruiser won't fit on this because the top bar is curved - this rack is made for bikes with a straight bar.
Basically, this bike rack is meant for standard men's bikes, 24" and above. Won't fit my beach cruiser, wife's beach cruiser, or our kid's bikes.
Good product otherwise and great price.
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Good, a bit fiddly, February 23, 2012
By divination devotee (US)
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This was a bit difficult to install the first time however now that I've done it once i think it would be easy the next time. It folds up completly and stores away in the cupboard. The one thing I had completely forgotten about is that you don't ave access to the boot (trunk) when it's installed. Love that I can take the kids biking again without a tow bar.
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Allen 4 bike rack, January 14, 2012
By mcairns
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Very pleased! Very easy to install on vehicle. It carries all four bikes without a problem. Had to figure out the proper order to put them on. It is a great buy!!
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4-Bike rack, November 5, 2011
By Jeffrey
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Fast delivery, Worked great, took hardly any time to install. Installed with one person. and easy to remove. I am pleased with the product.
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Great prodcut. Works as advertised, October 29, 2011
By Gautham H
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Super easy to setup, assemble and disassemble. Takes a little bit of work to get 4 bikes on there, but very impressed with the product overall.
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Do NOT open the door after you have bikes mounted., September 30, 2011
By Rachel O. Recknagel (St Louis Park, MN)
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Against all advice, I opened the door of our Dodge Caravan after mounting the bikes on the rack. Now the door has dents and we have trouble opening the door. big mistake. There aren't many racks that can hold 4 bikes that don't attach to the hitch. We drove across the country with 3 bikes and a Trail-a-bike on this rack, probably should not have done that. buyer beware.
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Worked Well, September 27, 2011
By janagrc
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I used this bike rack to secure three bikes to a minivan. The multiple points of tension kept the rack and bikes from moving too much, even over moderately bumpy terrain. Putting the bikes on was a little tricky, and if you have women's bikes, they will hang at a slight angle (unless you buy a tension bar). The biggest issue we encountered is that our rental minivan had a sort of spoiler-like overhanging "rain-guard" ledge at the top of the back window. The rack mounts over the top of the back/trunk door of the minivan, which would put all the weight of the bikes on the ledge and might break that piece off the van. The instructions explicitly say not to install the rack over spoilers or rain guards such as this. We hacked the setup by jamming tennis balls under the ledge to support it against the weight of the bikes, and had no problems during our extended road trip. I wouldn't recommend this for frequent use, but it worked in a pinch.
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Very pleased!, September 6, 2011
By jj
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We purchased this bike rack over a month ago and have used it several times now. Very easy to put on our montero sport and easy to load our three bikes. Haven't needed the 4th holder yet but wanted it just in case. We feel, for the price, it has been a great purchase!
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Great rack for the money!, September 5, 2011
By Ben
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Great bike rack. Easy to set up and worked well, very sturdy. Loaded it up with four bikes and took it on a seven hour road trip. Very happy with purchase.
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Minivan needed Bike Rack for Vacations, July 20, 2011
By Parents who are happily married, y.. (Seattle, WA)
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Our family needed a large rack for our bikes to go on vacation. It fit four bikes, was easily installed on our Town and Country, and travelled with us for our first trip so far of 1000 miles. One preschool age bike was akward on there, but it worked. It will be useful for years to come!
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Compatibility Warning, April 28, 2012
By Sanyukta Mathur
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Warning, the actual box of this product lists the makes and models that it is not compatible with. Please check the manufacturer's website before you order. It otherwise seems like a great rack. What a shame.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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