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Home > Swagman XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (1.25 and 2-Inch Receiver)
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Swagman XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (1.25 and 2-Inch Receiver)
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Show more by Swagman Bicycle Carriers
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Average Rating:  (50 Reviews)
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List Price: $230.00
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Our Price: $144.19
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You Save: $85.81 (37%)
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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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- Hitch-mounted, platform-style bike rack for two bikes (20 to 29-inch wheels)
- Fits 2 and 1.25-inch hitch receivers; built-in anti-wobble hitch device
- Push button ratcheting arms for easy adjustments; soft frame-friendly grip arms
- Center arm folds down for access to rear of the vehicle
- Carry bikes without removing the front wheel; Limited lifetime warranty
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Product Description:
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Transports up to 2 bikes, fits both a 2" and 1-1/4" hitch receiver with a built in anti-wobble hitch device. The XTC2 carries a wide variety of bike frames without the hassle of removing wheels. Push button ratchet arm easily adjust to secure your bike. Bike hooks have a soft-frame friendly coating to protect the bike's finish. Easily adjust to different bike frame sizes with the simple movement of the wheel holders. Rack folds up for easy storage when not in use. Center arm folds down to allow access to the rear of vehicle without removing the rack.
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The XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Rack is designed to make it easy to carry two bikes securely on your car's hitch with no risk of bike-on-car, or bike-on-bike damage. Thanks to a built-in anti-wobble device, the platform-style rack secures solidly to 2 or 1.25-inch hitches. To load the bikes, simply lift them into the wheel platforms, secure the wheels with the integrated wheel straps, and secure the grip arms over the frames. With push button ratcheting arms and sliding wheel platforms, the rack provides a custom fit for bikes with 20 to 29-inch wheels and can accommodate multiple frame types. The soft frame-friendly coating on the grip arms, ensures that your bikes' finishes remain unmarred. In comparison to roof mounted bike racks that generally require you to remove the bike's front wheel and hitch-mounted cradle carriers that don't support the bikes from the base, the XTC Cross-Country is easy to use and worry free. Whether your rack is fully loaded or not in use, the rack provides ready access to your car's trunk. The rack folds up for easy storage when not in use and the center arm folds down to allow access to the rear of vehicle without removing the rack. Built to last, the XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Rack carries a limited lifetime warranty from Swagman. Please note: an optional locking hitch pin and 10-millimeter security cable can be used with this rack and are sold separately.
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Customer Reviews:
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 I like it, but construction is "ify", August 22, 2008
By KEB (KS, USA)
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I'm going to try a do two different ratings here, so bare with me.
BIKERACK (5 stars): the bike rack has some issues, that seem to be standard with these "import" models (Swagman/SportRack); however, that being said: the bikes are very well secured and very well protected. The ratcheting arm clamps go down tightly and stay there. No friction knobs to keep checking. Once you push them down, they stay there, and there is a place to put a pad lock on each for anti-theft security. The hooks are also padded and did not mark up the bikes even in the slightest. Due to the flexibility of the rack I was able to get a large men's bike and small woman's bike loaded and was able to arrange them so everything made good positive contact; hooks, wheel straps, etc.. Overall, I'm not the least bit worried the bikes will come loose during transit. Excellent design and so very easy to use.
CONSTRUCTION (3.5 stars): this is where all these import models seem to fail; but it's due to their flexibility of use. The entire rack is made from 1-1/4" steel tube. This was done so you could use the rack on a 1-1/4" receiver hitch. With this light steel there is some inherent "flex" that allows the rack to wiggle. It would have been much better to use bigger steel that fit a standard 2" receiver, then have an adapter to go down to the 1-1/4" receiver. I'm going to use the rack a few more times as is, but I may make some modifications to it to help sturdy things up a lot more. The anti-wobble bolt, while a great idea probably works well on the 1-1/4" receiver, but with the supplied "adapter" it doesn't do a good enough job on the 2" receiver. In review of both Swagman & Sport Rack, they're made exactly the same, except for the following: Swagman has ratcheting locking support hooks which are excellent; the Sportrack uses a friction lock, don't like that. Both racks use metric hardware, so if you think you're going to replace a bolt with standard hardware, no dice, the threads are different, etc. The Swagman can also be used on Class I hitches and above, whereas the Sportrack is for Class II and above. Packaging of this Swagman rack, finish, easy of assembly and use were nice.
30 of 30 people found the above review helpful.
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Very glad I bought this, June 20, 2009
By R. Mimbs
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Whether you specifically buy the Swagman or not, my strongest recommendation is to get a bike carrier that attaches via a hitch and has the bikes sit on their wheels rather than hang from a bar by a strap. You just feel more confident that your bikes are secure. You feel more secure while you are driving and you feel more secure when you have to leave your car unattended (assuming you use a locking hitch pin and lock for the bicycle hook arms). If you are going to need a bike carrier more than once, buy one of this type. It's also the best option for women's bikes, which don't have the top bar. (I never trusted aftermarket bars that attached to the seat post and handlebars.)
Things to know (in general):
> Don't go to your car dealership for a hitch. It's the most expensive option. You can get a hitch online for $150 or less and installation should be approximately $50 at any mechanic or auto body shop. The hitch can also be purchased at your local auto parts store, but will be slightly more.
> You want ratcheting bike hook arms (like the swagman). It is so much simpler and faster.
> You might need a can of Rust-Oleum to cover any places where the "protective powder coating" has been scratched off. A can is less than five bucks at any hardware store and you don't want to allow exposed bare metal, which can rust.
Things to know (about the Swagman specifically)
PROS
> holds bikes quite tight and you do not worry at all that they will fall off.
> The anti-wobble hitch pin works.
> Would be difficult (but not impossible) to steal if you use both locking hitch pin and barrel lock for the bike arms.
> Accommodates any size bike, even very small or women's bikes.
> Folds up into very tiny space when not in use. Does not obstruct view out back window.
> Easy to remove and re-attach with say... teenage boy strength required.
> I can open the trunk on my Mazda 3 with it installed (so long as there is no bike on it).
> Very nicely priced as compared to the models from Tule and Yakima.
CONS
> Sometimes the bike arm for one bike will be in the way of you installing a lock on the other bike arm. This would leave one bike unprotected. (This is my one star reduction)
> The little rubber covers for the bike arm hook release lever like to slide off. This is a minor annoyance and does not warrant any reduction in the rating.
OTHER
> If your bikes' top bars are of similar height, you can likely get by with only one lock for the bike arms. If the bikes are the same height, the top bike arm will likely sit so close to the bottom that the bottom one could not be lifted high enough to remove the bike anyway. However, if the two bikes are of dissimilar size, you might need two locks.
> Buy the locking anti-wobble hitch pin (sold separately). It's worth the piece of mind. Also buy a RATCHETING 7/8in crescent wrench to tighten it.
> The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider seems almost identical to this product. Check out both before purchasing.
-RM
27 of 27 people found the above review helpful.
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 This Style of Bike Rack is the Way to Go!, May 12, 2009
By 10-2-Go (Beaumont, Texas United States)
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I have a 1-1/4" Class I hitch on my 2003 Toyota Camry, and the Swagman XTC2 is great for carrying my and my husband's mountain bikes. The XTC2 comes with an adapter for use with a 2" hitch that seems very sturdy--two pieces of metal that sandwich around the rack's 1-1/4" shank and are secured using the supplied bolt. I didn't need the adapter, though, for my Class I hitch. Putting it together and attaching it to my hitch took about 20-25 minutes. I bought Swagman's locking anti-rattle threaded hitch pin to use instead of the supplied threaded hitch pin. Adjusting the wheel hoops to fit both mountain bikes was not as easy as I thought it would be. Luckily, I only have to do that once since I'll only use it to carry our two bikes! My problem was positioning the bicycles so that the ratcheting bike hook that is in the lower position on the center post was far enough down on the center post so that the upper hook could in turn be pushed down far enough to securely hold down the top tube of the other bike (the padded bike hooks that ratchet to press down on and hold the top tube of each bike are situated one on top of the other on the center post, one hook pointing toward the trunk, the other pointing away from the trunk). I hope that makes sense. Because both of our mountain bikes have top tubes that slant downward from the head tube (at the base of the handle bars) to the seat tube, the only way (after much experimentation and adjustment) I could get both bikes secured was to position them facing in the same direction but with one further forward and the other further backward in relation to the center post. This way, the lower hook is at the lowest point of Bike A's top tube (close to the seat tube) and the upper hook contacts Bike B's top tube closer to the handlebars, where the top tube is higher. Again, I hope that makes sense! And maybe I'm the only one who had this problem, but all the pictures of the bike rack that I could find showed the front wheel hoops relatively close to each other and the back wheel hoops relatively close to each other, which is not how I had to adjust mine. And, I could not find clear pictures of the rack with two bikes on it. The reason I chose the XTC2 over the cheaper XC2 is because the XTC2 has a shank that angles upward from the hitch receiver, allowing extra ground clearance since the Camry is not very high off the ground (the XC2 appears to have a straight shank). So far, I have not had it scrape the ground, although I am careful to avoid really steep driveways. Once I got the wheel hoops adjusted, it's been a breeze. Place the bike wheels in the hoops, lower the ratcheting bike hooks (each hook has a place for a lock--not included--to prevent the hook release from being pressed), hook the supplied sturdy rubber securing straps over each wheel, and off you go--takes a minute or two at most! Watch out to make sure you don't scratch your car with a bike pedal. No more dangling bikes blowing in the wind like the standard bike rack design. The rack folds up easily so it can be placed in the trunk when not in use. It's made of very sturdy powder-coated steel and weighs 33 pounds according to Amazon; 34 pounds according to Swagman. All in all, I could not be happier with this purchase and recommend it to anyone looking for a two-bike, hitch-mount bike rack.
Added 5/13/2009: I forgot to mention that there were two small silver screws (about 1/2" long) included that were not mentioned in the assembly instructions0. I discovered on another website that one goes into the hole on the end of each arm to prevent the wheel hoops from sliding off the ends.
6/11/2009 Update: Took a 5-day, 1100-mile road trip with my husband and the two bikes. The bike rack performed like a champ, even at hubby's standard 80+ mph driving speed! Just wanted to note a couple of things: the road vibration does loosen the wheel hoop knobs, so I got in the habit of checking them regularly. The two round screws on the underside that attach the rack to the shank also loosened, but they only had to be tightened once (make sure you keep the supplied hex wrench easily accessible so you can tighten them--the wrench fits into the center of each hex screw). I did notice that one of the padded hooks became more difficult to remove--the hook release would not depress. We had to use a key to put upward pressure on the bottom of the release and wiggle it a bit. Once it was depressed, the hook was difficult to slide off. I am going to try WD40 to see if that helps. We only scraped the ground twice, both times on very steep driveways (where others had also scraped--you could see the gouges in the asphalt). All in all, a super enjoyable mountain biking trip made more enjoyable by this easy-to-use bike rack!
14 of 14 people found the above review helpful.
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Good alternative to more expensive Hitch Mounted Carriers, December 7, 2009
By Roldan Teroy (Colton, California USA)
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I own several bike carriers, including a Thule Trailblazer hitch mounted 4-Bike carrier, trunk mounted and roof mounted carriers, and fork mount blocks for pickup truck beds.
Advantage of hitch mounted carriers:
1) Secure the bike in the back reduces wind resistance at high speeds.
2) Avoid low height accidents like garages vs roof carrier bikes.
Disadvantage of hanging type bike carriers:
1) Bike swings during transit with stop and go traffic. More expensive carriers have brackets to minimize this.
2) Bikes may rub on each other if position too close, which risk marring the paint finish. Two custom road bikes did not fit my hanging carriers, and I was tired of removing the front wheel. I wanted a hitch mounted bike carrier that folded up compactly and did not require removing the front wheels during bike loads. I looked at the Thule, Yakama, and Saris product, but they were expensive, heavy and bulky. Swagman is a Canadian company, and the XTC2 was manufactured in Taiwan. The quality of the product was very good for the price.
The advantage of the Swagman XTC2 over the older XC Cross Country Carrier:
1) XTC2 wheel wells are 1/2 loops vs. full loops of the XC. This allows the tires to be tied down with the improved rubber straps vs. the wheel just sitting on the full loop well.
2) The receiver bar on the XTC2 is S-curved that lifts the carrier above the exhaust pipe vs. a straight bar on the XC. This higher ground clearance also helps with deep road dips and driveways.
3) I agree with the another reviewer that the ratchet locking system to hold down the bike to the rack found on the XTC is much better than the friction knob found in the older carriers by Swagman and carriers by Sportrack. The frame grip arms were improved and soft frame friendly to protect the bike's finish. You can lock the bike to the carrier using a padlock for each hook holders to prevent release of the ratchet. The padlock shackle needs to be a 3/16 inch in diameter or less. Anything thicker will not fit the hole. The spacing from the shackle to the lock needs have at least a 5/8 inch or larger clearance. Anything narrower will not lock. I found such a lock made by Masterlock (Model 131T) at a local discount superstore. The lock is covered in scratch resistant vinyl. They sell it in a 2 lock set with matching keys.
4) Assembling the carrier was easy. Only took about 20 minutes with a phillips screw driver, supplied allen wrench, and socket wrench (to attach the hitch receiver bolt).
5) I was pleased to see that the carrier cleared the rear window hatch opening on my 2006 Ford Escape. I use this hatch to access rear storage when the bikes are mounted. The vertical bar folds down in order to clear the rear door opening. The bikes need to be off the carrier to fold down the bar.
Disappointments:
1) The outer box arrived damaged. It was made of cheap cardboard material. The content were bubble wrapped and loose in the box. See picture. It would have been better if the shipper opened the box, filled it with shipping popcorn, then re closed the box into an outer, more studier shipping box. Luckily, all the parts were present and with no damage.
2) The main carrier can be removed along with the loaded bikes by a motivated thief with the proper tools even to there was a hitch lock in place. Two allen wrench screws are located in the underside crossbar junction. I added a separate cable lock to secure the rack to the hitch.
3) One item not described in the assembly instructions was that two machine screws need to be installed at the underside of the tip to prevent the wheel wells from sliding off.
4) Although the 1-1/4 inch to 2 inch hitch adapter was made of solid metal, and the screw in type hitch pin did minimize wobble, the 1 1/4 inch tubing used to make the receiver bar still had in inherent sway of a few degrees when driving with loaded bikes. The instruction sheet warns to remove bulky item such as child carriers to reduce wind resistance.
Update: December 14, 2009
We recently had a rain storm come through our area. After a few days I noticed a few rust spots on the latch pins which wiped off easily with a rag. The metal not have a rust resistant undercoating, so it is best if the rack is kept dry or out of the elements for long periods of time. I purchased the Swagman 2 inch threaded hitch pin lock from another website and it provides a peace of mind.
Overall this carrier was a great value.
8 of 8 people found the above review helpful.
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Fantastic- Greatly Relieved, July 21, 2009
By Miles G. (Libby, MT)
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What a relief! I spent many a hour looking/researching/contemplating on the next rack I should get after my last one suffered an epic failure.
I have a Mazda 3 sedan and my concerns were:
-I have an expensive and heavy freeride bike.. which bent my last rack.
-My bike is oddly shaped (2007 KingFisher) and hangs on those "racks" very awkwardly... maybe this lead to the rack bending in the first place?
-With the sedan, the bike isn't shielded from the wind like a SUV.
-I drive 45 min on a regular basis to the trails I like at 65+ mph.
Putting it all together was easy peezy. Impressed with the construction. Went for the XTC since I have a semi steep driveway and was skeptical whether the XC would scrape.
Once you have the wheel slots lined up. Putting the bike on is so simple its stupid. Makes you feel like you should do something more.. but that bike isn't going ANYWHERE! Enjoy the ratcheting system and the fact you can lock your bikes in. (locks not included)
Set my two wheeled, 40lb, 8" of travel fun onto the rack and set off for the trails. Cruising along at a cool 65 I was soon satisfied with it's stellar performance. Very little movement. Mozied along going 75mph now. Within 15min of arriving there was the infamous bridge crossing that when taken at the speed limit 65mph will make a noticeable bump up onto the bridge followed by a vicious bump off.. (did my last rack in)
In the spirit of science I took it at 85mph. Very impressive! Very sturdy indeed!
Kept a ratchet in the trunk to take it off once I got to the trails, I would advise getting a lock washer when putting the threaded bolt through.. I'm sure it won't come loose without one.. but it provided peace of mind for me.
Final Note: Great bike rack, very glad I got it! I used other bike racks and always found myself looking in the rear view mirror to see how the bikes were doing... not anymore! They're staying put!
6 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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 Beware if you have a 2" hitch, May 22, 2011
By cris welp (Portland, OR)
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Beware to anyone buying the Swagman XTC-2 that has a 2" hitch receiver. The threaded hitch pin that ships with the bike rack is NOT LONG ENOUGH to reach through a 2" receiver and install the safety pin through the hole in the end of it. I drive a 2011 Toyota Tacoma with a factory installed 2", Class 4 hitch. But hitch receivers are all the same regardless of hitch class, just that 2" hitches have thicker steel in addition to the larger size than 1 1/4" hitches. Bottom line is the XTC-2 must be really intended only for a 1 1/4" hitch. Also, this short hitch pin is apparently a proprietary size and thread of Swagmans, so forget trying to buy a longer bolt to replace it, I tried. And I question the durability of this wimpy threaded hitch pin: it is soft steel, and in reality is only 3/8" in diameter. My only solution seems to be to drill out the threaded block in the hitch the hitch pin goes through, and re-thread it for a 1/2" bolt, long enough for a safety pin or locking nut. And I will definitely use at least a Grade 5 bolt. Who would want to cause an accident or have very expensive bike mangled on the interstate at high speeds because a soft, 3/8" hitch pin failed? Oh, and Swagman's solution? They'll sell you a #60429 locking threaded hitch pin of the same diameter that they claim will be long enough. Swagman even told another retailer of their products I had look into the problem that the threaded hitch pin would be fine without the safety pin in the end, "just tighten it down as much as you can"! I give this Swagman XTC-2 two stars only because the rest of the bike rack seems solid, but this hitch pin problem doesn't deserve even one star!
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Rack....., April 19, 2011
By daddyo_gld
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Was looking at these for a while and finally decided to pick one up. I love it! Very easy to use. Bikes can be put on or taken off in seconds. I really like the fact that you can lock the arms down with a padlock....just make sure the lock just barely fits through the hole. I bought the masterlock 131 set on the advice of an earlier review and THOSE ONLY WORK FOR THE HITCH PIN to lock the rack into your hitch reciever. If the lock on the arm is too small, you can still squeeze the release in far enough to move the arms up and down(no point in wasting the money for a lock in that case). For locking the arms down onto the bikes, I found that the masterlock 141 works perfect once you run a drill bit through the hole. It almost fits already but is maybe a millimeter off. Just find a bit that is the same size as the hole and run it through a couple of times to smooth the metal inside and the lock will fit perfectly. I bought a 3 lock set so that all the locks will work with a single key. I needed the third because I own a jeep and with the spare tire in the way I had to add a hitch extension to get the inside bike away from the tire. That defeats the idea of using a lock on the hitch pin. I just use a cable and the third lock to lock the rack to the hitch.
I bought the hitch extension here on Amazon as well (Advantage Hitch Extension for bicycle racks). Works great and also has the anti wobble setup just like the rack. Thought it might add some movement, but the rack seems just as solid as it did without it. The rack will work without it, but with the spare tire so close, you have to remove the pedal closest to the vehicle.
So, if you're looking for a really simple and convenient bike rack, and you have a reciever for a hitch on your car or truck, this is the best I've found.....even bought a second one for my girlfriend (so I could keep mine).
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Nice, but some improvement possible, June 29, 2009
By Jason Davidson (Clinton Township, MI)
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I bought this to use on the back of my 2008 Dodge Caliber for my two Comfort Bikes. The main issue I have with the rack is that while the bar is supposed to tilt sideways to make it easier to put the bikes on, I am pretty much unable to do with the two hooks in place - it doesn't give me the clearance. Secondly, the bikes seem to wabble when driving, but I am confident they are not going anywhere (especially after I drove 12 hours each way from Detroit to Minneapolis with them).
Other than those to issues, the rack is very nice and it securely holds the bikes in place. It is FAR easier to use then the truck mounted one that we have for the other car, and the adjustable tire slots allows you to customize the hold for your bike.
Once slight addition I made was buying a coated security cable (the one that seems to have a plastic coating with a loop on either end - be sure that it is not too long). I put one loop on the main up right bar of the rack, then put it through the tires of each bike then locked it to the hitch (it just gave me the added comfort of locking everything together.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Swagman XTC great, August 2, 2011
By Nancy Button (TUCSON, AZ, US)
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The Swagman XTC bike mount is by far the best one we have ever found, after trying four different others. It is so stable, holding the wheels down, and is so easy to use. Being senior citizens, this was made for us.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Rack is great for the price. Warranty unspecified, but I have the answer you are looking for., June 26, 2011
By C. Macaluso (New Orleans, LA)
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After a solid week of research, I decided on a platform style hitch rack for my bikes. However, I also required compatibility with a Class 1 receiver, which limits the amount of options I have with these styles of racks. I was between a few brands, but what sealed the deal for me was the ratcheting frame hooks. Most racks in this price range look and function similarly, but few have the ratcheting hooks, and instead opt for a more complicated screw tension model. This model also has updated rubber wheel straps as opposed to velcro straps like most other racks out there. Both of these were selling points for me. Another thing to mention is that this rack actually has an S shape to the receiver insert so it lifts the platform out of the way of low lying car exhaust pipes.
Packaging was pretty crappy with absolutely no padding to protect the rack, but it did arrive undamaged. The box was mangled, though. The ratcheting frame hooks don't really have much in terms of padding, but instead have a harder rubber which does protect it from scratching or marring frames. I further padded this rack with a bit of pipe insulation found at the hardware store.
My one unpleasant surprise with this rack was, upon unboxing, finding a warranty paper that stated that the rack came with a 1 year limited warranty. I had done research on Swagman before this purchase and could have sworn I had read that all of their racks came with a limited lifetime warranty. 1 year vs lifetime was a huge difference. I was prepared to return it for that reason alone, regardless of how it performed, but after a quick email to Swagman, it was confirmed that all Swagman racks do come with a limited lifetime warranty valid for the original purchaser. I was relieved to hear that.
One other thing to note after a little reading of the manual, the manual makes mention of avoiding use on cars with stiff suspension/springs. Unfortunately this rack will be also used on a sports car from time to time, so I am going to pay special attention to it during that type of use, but at a glance the rack seems way too sturdy to ever have a problem from shaking or jarring.
I would recommend this rack.
Edit: One last thing to note. The SUV that I will be using this on (2006 Honda CRV) has a spare tire which extends off the back of the vehicle, unfortunately this rack does not extend far enough out of the receiver to clear that spare tire and allow 2 bikes to be attached. Without any sort of receiver extension I am limited to carrying one bike on the rack. With a 7" extension I should be able to carry two bikes but would still not be able to fold the rack up into the stowed position.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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The most versatile rack, June 21, 2011
By mystery buff (Pamlico County, North Carolina, USA)
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This rack is great. It is very well built, strong, and fits any bike. We use it for a Trek Mens bike and an Earth Cruiser Womens bike mounted on a Toyota 4Runner. It is easy to install and mount the bikes on. If you purchase the anti wobble hitch pin just make sure you get the right one so you won't have to return it. It requires the Swagman Pin #64029 for the 2" hitch.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Further Details., May 13, 2011
By MussSyke
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I'll try to get to the details not already mentioned multiple times:
FOLDED DIMENSIONS: 38"H x 15.5"D x 10"W when completely folded with the hitch bar removed. I was really pleased to see what a small footprint this takes up when not attached to the car. Folding takes about 40 seconds, and removing the hitch bar - if desired - takes another 60 or so and requires an allen wrench. I made a partially-sided box out of scrap wood to hold and protect this nicely behind the car in the garage when not in use.
When folded, the center bar and two side bars come to within about 1/8" of each other without touching - very nicely designed.
TIGHTENING MECHANISMS: I was delighted to see that the mechanisms to hand tighten the wheel holders are the high quality, non-abrasive clamping type, rather than the screw-down-a-machine-screw type that flakes paint and distorts metal over time.
CONSTRUCTION: All immovable joints are welded, the rubber straps on the wheel holders are very thick, and the ratcheting clamps are fantastic. The anti-wobble hitch pin works, but you'll need to carry your 19mm socket/wrench if you want to remove this at your cycling site (but it's quick and easy to fold and throw in the trunk).
LOCKING: It's been mentioned before over several reviews, but to consolidate points: One small lock will fit through the hitch pin nicely, but you need larger locks to keep the center arms from being removable. One reviewer enlarged his with a drill to make his next size larger lock fit, but I won't do the same to mine for fear of removing the finish, possibly making a weak point for rust to form. Locking the arms with the correct size lock is a great feature and a great selling point (actually, that was what finally got me to pick this one over the similar model by Hollywood Racks), but it would have been absolutely fantastic if the hitch pin and arm clamps took the same size lock so you could get a matching set that uses one key. Alternatively, I would have gladly paid a couple bucks more to have appropriate locks included.
Absolutely recommended.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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I'd give it more than the 5 stars, if possible., June 10, 2010
By John W (SAINT CLAIR, MI, US)
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I love it, love it, love it . . . what else can I say. Cheaper than the bigger name bike racks and very nice. I have two Sun recumbent bikes, an EZ-1 and a EZ Sport AX. The Sun Sport has a wheel base of 62" and this Swagman XTC 2 will hold up to a 66" wheel base, this is just what I needed. Loading the XTC 2 doesn't get any easier either, put the wheels into the hoops, ratchet the hook down on the frame and secure the wheels to the hoops with the strap. Your bike is in the rack and solid . . it does not move. My son and I have ridden together a couple of times since buying this rack. My son has a small BMX style bike and my Sport AX both fit on the rack with no problem. Believe me when I say this rack will transport some different style bikes!!!
I have also bought locks for this rack, I bought a 4 pack Masterlock (Model 131Q). You can use the 131 lock to lock the anti-sway pin/bolt as well, just replace the cotter pin with the lock (it does fit), actually locking the rack to the car. Very simple way of locking up the bikes to the rack and the rack to the vehicle.
All of the other reviews seem to sum up this rack very well. I really wanted to include the locking of the anti-sway pin and that it will accommodate a long wheel base recumbent. I will also post some pictures in the image gallery with the bikes loaded and locked. Do not hesitate to buy this rack, you will like it.
A follow up review after using it more:
OK, I've now used the Swagman XTC 2 quite a few times and I am completely satisfied. I wouldn't change a thing on this rack. It does wobble a little bit, but what would you expect when attached to a single 1 1/4" receiver? The anti-sway pin does its job and takes a lot of the sway out. As for the construction of the rack, again, I wouldn't change a thing. If it were made any stronger it would be overkill and weigh more (it weighs about 27 lbs.). When the bikes are locked in . . . they aren't going anywhere, secure, rock solid with absolutely no rubbing. I have used the hanging type racks before and have always worried about rubbing, banging and how secure they are on the rack. With this Swagman, I load the bikes and forget about them. I don't even check them in the rear view mirror any more. No worries at all!!! The best rack I have used, heck . . . the best rack I have ever seen for that matter, and I looked at a lot of racks before I bought this one. NO DISAPPOINTMENTS!!!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Easy To Use - Inconvenient to Store, May 13, 2011
By ejt (Marion, IA United States)
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Pros:
Easy to Secure Bike
Holds Bike Securely
Cons:
Requires 19mm socket to remove rack from car
In the way when not in use
Poor Instructions (but easy enough to figure out)
Bottom Line:
The rack is a good value and works well for holding two bikes. It is sturdy enough for the job, but it does sway in the wind/bumps when driving.
Review:
A bike only takes seconds to place in the rack, drop the ratcheting arm down on the frame, and secure the tire straps. The inner bike on the bumper side might require you to position the pedals to not scratch the rear bumper. The fit is secure.
The downsides are the instructions are not good, they neglect to mention (or illustrate in diagrams) that you need to put the two lock washers on the securing bolts. I noticed them in the parts bag after attaching the bolts, which have threadlock on them that is only good the first time you insert the bolt. Be sure to put the lock washers on first!
Secondly, these two securing bolts cannot be adequately torqued with the included short handle wrench. I used an 8mm hex socket to torque them down to a suitable tightness (25 ft-lbs or so).
Thirdly, they include an 8mm hex wrench to install the two securing bolts, but if you want to use the hitch with a 1 1/4" receiver you have to remove a 6mm hex bolt from the 2" receiver adapter that came pre-fitted and there was no included wrench for this (luckily I have several).
The rack takes up a lot of room on the back of the car when not in use. You can fold the vertical beam down, or the horizontal beams up, but with the beams up you might not be able to get into the hatch, and with the beams down they are a tripping hazard, so you can remove the rack from the car, which leads me to the next issue.
To remove the rack, you need a 19mm socket wrench to loosen/tighten the locking pin in. Since this is threaded on the bike rack, you can't use the standard receiver locking pin as it won't fit. Then you have to find a place to store the rack, which doesn't fold compactly due to the S-Bar that goes into the receiver protruding out. I folded the beams up and hung it from the hook that grabs the bike frame.
To conclude, the rack is a good rack, but has some minor issues that are fairly easy to deal with, so I do recommend it. I mention the issues so people are aware of them.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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 Good quality, bad quality control, July 18, 2011
By gian8676
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The rack is what other raters say: sturdy and well built. My unit arrived double-boxed with two straps to help lift the box. There was no apparent damage. Unfortunately things did not look the same once I opened the box. Some of the parts had chips or defects on the paint. Three out of the four bike rests had paint defects: particles adhered to the paint while it was fresh or it was bubbled. All three bike rests were chipped. The chips ranged in size from about 1/4" to long scuff-like marks which extended for almost an inch. I also noticed significant scuff marks (down to the bare metal) on the tongue (the part that connects to the receiver hitch). None of these issues could have been caused by rough handling during shipping since all the loose parts were wrapped in bubble wrap and they were undamaged. It was obvious that they were packaged that way. I contacted Amazon and they immediately sent me a replacement unit at no charge and provided me with a prepaid return label to return the bad unit (Great job Amazon!!!) Once I received the replacement unit, I was once again disappointed to find that the bike rests on the new unit had similar defects. I picked the best out of the two and returned one. I decided to keep the rack since the overall quality is excellent, but I am very disappointed with their quality control. Swagman should do a better job at checking the quality of the finish since this will ultimately affect how long the product lasts, particularly if the rack gets rained on or wet while it is being used.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Get the correct locking pin!!, July 12, 2011
By Brent
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The XTC2 will fit a 1 1/4 or 2 inch receiver. You need to know that the hole for the hitch pin on this unit is 1/2 inch, not 5/8ths. Amazon lists 5/8 hitch pins as accessories for this rack but they will not work. The correct Swagman locking pin, according to the Swagman company, for the XTC2 is S64029 and is 1/2 inch. I give the unit 4 stars as it is well made and is wide enough even to carry many recumbent bicycles. Just make sure to get the correct hitch pin.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Easy To Use - Inconvenient to Store, May 13, 2011
By ejt (Marion, IA United States)
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Pros:
Easy to Secure Bike
Holds Bike Securely
Cons:
Requires 19mm socket to remove rack from car
In the way when not in use
Poor Instructions (but easy enough to figure out)
Bottom Line:
The rack is a good value and works well for holding two bikes. It is sturdy enough for the job, but it does sway in the wind/bumps when driving.
Review:
A bike only takes seconds to place in the rack, drop the ratcheting arm down on the frame, and secure the tire straps. The inner bike on the bumper side might require you to position the pedals to not scratch the rear bumper. The fit is secure.
The downsides are the instructions are not good, they neglect to mention (or illustrate in diagrams) that you need to put the two lock washers on the securing bolts. I noticed them in the parts bag after attaching the bolts, which have threadlock on them that is only good the first time you insert the bolt. Be sure to put the lock washers on first!
Secondly, these two securing bolts cannot be adequately torqued with the included short handle wrench. I used an 8mm hex socket to torque them down to a suitable tightness (25 ft-lbs or so).
Thirdly, they include an 8mm hex wrench to install the two securing bolts, but if you want to use the hitch with a 1 1/4" receiver you have to remove a 6mm hex bolt from the 2" receiver adapter that came pre-fitted and there was no included wrench for this (luckily I have several).
The rack takes up a lot of room on the back of the car when not in use. You can fold the vertical beam down, or the horizontal beams up, but with the beams up you might not be able to get into the hatch, and with the beams down they are a tripping hazard, so you can remove the rack from the car, which leads me to the next issue.
To remove the rack, you need a 19mm socket wrench to loosen/tighten the locking pin in. Since this is threaded on the bike rack, you can't use the standard receiver locking pin as it won't fit. Then you have to find a place to store the rack, which doesn't fold compactly due to the S-Bar that goes into the receiver protruding out. I folded the beams up and hung it from the hook that grabs the bike frame.
To conclude, the rack is a good rack, but has some minor issues that are fairly easy to deal with, so I do recommend it. I mention the issues so people are aware of them.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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About the Swagman..., May 4, 2011
By CW
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I feel that the Swagman is a good product. I have enjoyed using mine on trips. I like how it folds up and I can hang it in my garage.
There are a couple of idiosyncrasies to the product, but all in all it is good. One side of the bar is hard to put the pin into. Also, in order to bolt the device into my hitch I need to carry a wrench to bolt and unbolt it. That is a little annoying, but it does have a hole in the end of the bolt to attach a lock. You can also attach bolts to both curved carrier bars to keep them from being stolen.
I like how high it is above your bumper. A couple of times I've been in challenging terrain and was concerned it would bottom out, but that was no issue.
The bikes bounce around a little, back and forth, but even on dirt roads or high speed highway driving they are secure. All in all I am pleased with my purchase. It is much better than the kind that hangs from the frame.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Bike Rack, March 29, 2011
By TDS
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Took a few minutes to put together and mount. Used it the next day, to hold at 63CM road bike on highway and back roads, no issues. One question, I bought the 3/16 lock that other described and bought, but I can still remove the hook that holds the bike, the shackle does not have the girth to stop the handle from being depressed enough to slide the hook off, am I missing something??
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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a little pricey but a great rack!, March 6, 2011
By Halberto (Ft Myers, Florida)
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The manufacturer quality of this rack is outstanding. It was very easy to assembly and it came complete and well thought out. I would change the reciever bolt assembly that would allow a little large lock to prevent someone from unbolting the assembly from the hitch and stealing it, but the lock I got at Ace hardware worked fine. This rack is very sturdy with 2 bikes on it, it doesn't wobble at all when I drive with it installed on my wifes 2010 Honda CRV with 2 Diamondback bikes mounted. Other then it come from China, great product. Why don't we make this here in the good old red/white/blue? Hal
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Light, does the job, September 24, 2010
By Marie (New England)
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I got this bike carrier before going on a trip to the Cape with my sister. She has a mountain bike, while I have a road hybrid bike. The carrier is built so that it can be adjusted to different size bikes, as in this case. Since I am a senior citizen, I was interested in a light weight carrier that I could put in the hitch by myself. This was ideal at just about 32 pounds. Some people complain about the hitch pin being a screw in type of pin, but I found that it helped to keep the carrier's shaft in the hitch nice and tight. I liked the adjustable arms on the carrier, too. It was pretty easy to assemble the carrier (my husband was amazed that I did it myself) and I gave it a road test on bumpy roads before going on the highway. The only thing that was not ideal is that due to its lightness, the bike seemed to bounce a little bit. However, it did not move off the carrier one bit, and when my sister's bike was mounted, the carrier did a fine job on the highway at 70 mph. No problem. After the trip, it was easy to take off and then easily store. One thing that I would recommend is that you get a ratchet wrench to tighten the hitch screw pin (I forget the size you need). And I keep the wrench and pin in the back of my SUV in a box of bike stuff. Oh, one other KEY thing: I have a Rav 4 with a tire mounted on the back. You do NOT need a hitch extender. This carrier had enough clearance so that you can position the pedals so that they do not scratch your vehicle if you have a rear mounted tire. If you are concerned put a couple of socks around the pedals for insurance. I got this through Amazon and it arrived pretty quickly.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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swagman XTC bike carrier, September 15, 2010
By UtilityA
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Bought a hanger style bike carrier from a big box store...what a pain...returned it. ordered the swagman XTC..very simple to use..straight forward...well made!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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BUY this one!, September 8, 2009
By Wayne Thornton (Sacramento CA)
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This is an awesome rack. Bikes are loaded in less than 1 minute! I could not be happier.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great bike for the money, March 20, 2011
By Juan C. Nunez (Atlanta, GA)
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Great bike rack for its price, very stable and easy to set up.
Did not give 5 stars, as it does not have any security features to secure rack to the hitch nor the bike to the rack.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Bike Rack with Security Issues, December 10, 2011
By Sissynoid (Austin, TX)
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Pros:
-The receiver bar tightens nicely into the hitch (1.25") so there isn't any clanking/rattling as you drive over bumps. The threaded hitch-pin gets the credit for this awesome feature.
-Folds up and fits in your trunk when not in use. (see cons)
-Well-made. All of the weld seams are nicely done and it looks like a professional product.
-It was decently packed in the box it came in. There were other reviews that had issues with damage during shipping but mine came in perfect condition with everything wrapped nicely.
Cons:
-Security: I wasn't expecting Fort Knox - but a functioning locking mechanism would have been nice. The hooks that hold your bike in place have a hole where you can fit padlocks. Problem is, this is only visual. With the locks in place (the same locks recommended by other reviewers) you can still push the lever down enough to lift the hook and release the bike. This is the case with both hooks that came with the rack.
-The threaded hitch-pin makes this a less-than-quick release. You'll want to keep a ratchet and socket in your trunk if you think you will be adding/removing this from your car on a regular basis.
-Vehicle Clearance (2010 Mazda3): I only have one bike (for the moment) to lug around so I only put on two of the wheel mounts - it's great having this flexibility. However, putting the bike on the inside of the rack makes it so my pedals will chew up my bumper so I had to move the bike to the outside of the rack. When it comes time to fill both sides of the rack I will need to buy (or have made) a receiver bar that is ~6" longer.
Overall, it still seams like a nice bike rack for the money but it has its fair share of issues. 5-stars for build quality, 1-star for security.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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The one to buy, October 14, 2011
By Gary
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I purchased this unit after reading about it online and could not be happier with my purchase. I put the unit on my RV to carry two
trek bicycles and it worked flawlessly for 3700 miles. I don't think you could purchase a better unit at any price. Removal and replacement of the bicycles is easy and they are held securely while traveling. Locking the bikes on the unit is also very easy with the ratcheting system. The ratcheting system is the way to go!
Gary
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Very nice bike rack.., August 21, 2011
By RjLombardi
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I looked a several bike racks before making a purchase. My wife has a womans bike which has the lower riser bar.
Several popular bike racks will not accommadate this type of bike with out adding an extra support bar for use.
The last thing I wanted was more parts to lose. This rack was easy to assemble, and very easy to use.
GREAT PRODUCT>>>>
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Well built, June 16, 2011
By Critical
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This thing is great. Well built, good quality, I've had it for about a year now and there is no rust, all the parts are as good as the first day I got it. Very easy to use, just put the bike on, lower the bar and go!
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Swagman Bike Rack, April 20, 2011
By alan j. schultz (watertown, wi United States)
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The Swagman bike rack is a high quality product and has been adapted to fit my 98 Toyota RAV 4 with rear mounted spare tire. How you might ask? I removed the spare tire and placed in the vehicle. I found that the rack interferes with the swing-out rear door so reworked the tubing that fits into the vehicle hitch to lower it 2". It now clears the Swagman to allow the rear door to swing open about 18".
I am fully confident that the Swagman will serve my wife and I for many years of biking trips.
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Hey, Nice Rack!!!, April 15, 2011
By D. Martin
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I love this rack. I bought one so I could carry a custom bike I built (a chopper-style bike with a very curved top tube. Since my bike is a little heavier than most aluminum bikes, this platform rack makes it easy to carry since I only have to lift the bike up high enough to fit the wheels in the hoops. The rack also fit perfectly on my 1.25" receiver and I can still open the trunk on my 2009 Mazda 3 easily.
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Pretty nice, but have one question, April 5, 2011
By j higbee
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I just got it, and like it. It was easy to set up as all the reviews say. It worked easily once mounted. I'm buying some locks that have not arrived yet, for the unit-to-hitch and sliding hooks on the hitch. In the meantime, when I used it, I took the unit off and put in my trunk before I went on my bike ride. This was also easy to do.
But, I want to get to the point where I feel safe leaving the rack on or occasionally even leaving the bike and rack on the car for a while.
Here is the question: even after I get my locks and secure the rack and bike on my car, could someone just use a wrench on the nuts on the part of the rack that holds the wheel bracket bars anf vertical bars on, and get the bike off of the rack? What needs to be done to avoid that?
I gave it 4 stars because how to secure this is less than obvious, and although easy to use, the instructions were poor. Go to youtube to get the lowdown - much better than their instructions.
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Easy to Mount and Use, March 28, 2011
By William Phillips (SAN DIEGO, CA, US)
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My wife and I took maybe 15 minutes to put the rack together, and used it the next day. It is well made, has easy-to-follow instructions, and carried the two bikes without a problem. Just be sure to get the correct locking bolt for the receiver.
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My Research Paid Off!, March 16, 2011
By NikiRoo (Webster, NY United States)
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I spent a lot of time online researching different bike racks for our trip home from Florida. My husband and I had bought a pair of bikes while in the Keys, and now we needed to get them home - all the way to upstate NY. We wanted a rack that would give the bikes the most support, not loosen up during long days on the road and would be easy to load/unload. I'm happy to report that the Swagman XTC filled the bill perfectly!
The rack was not difficult to put on, and came off easily when we arrived home.
The rack doesn't tip down out of the way like others do for trunk access, but with careful planning, I was able to put stuff like large suitcases deep in the trunk, knowing that I would not need to take them out for the trip home. Even so, there were some times when I needed to get at small things in the front of the trunk, and I found that the trunk opened & shut easily without hitting the bikes, so I was able to access the trunk easily from either side, even with both bikes onboard.
The wheel supports held them firmly and the clamp-down holders were good & tight. We took Route 95 most of the way home, and there was just minimum wobble from the bikes at the 75mph+ speeds.
Going through the Poconos in a blizzard was the most gnarly part of our trip, and I'm happy to say that the Swagman carried both bikes smoothly all the way, even covered with ice & snow. Definitely a couple of happy campers here!
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Excellent Bike Hitch, January 5, 2011
By Gertie (Visalia,CA. USA)
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I purchased this bike hitch as a Christmas gift for my hubby. He actually researched & gave me a clue that he would like to have. So simple to use, and very well made. Makes it effortless to load a couple of bikes and go, and hubby is happy!
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Great bike rack, November 29, 2010
By Bavaria
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I love it... it is so easy to put bikes on and to take them off gain. It takes about 2 minutes to put the bikes on or to take them off. Rack looks a little flimsy but after one season I gotta say it isn't. Even on the Interstate the bikes don't move. Highly recommended.
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swagman xtc 2 bike hitch, October 17, 2010
By Mike
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A no-nonsense rack....... someone actually thought of how to transport bicycles.......Out of the box and onto the vehicle. Fantastic! What a great product. And a very short delivery time.
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Worth every penny. Don't go cheap., September 30, 2010
By Kevin Jett (Nashville, TN, US)
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After having my bike for only two weeks, I bought a cheaper bike rake that holds the bike from the frame. DO NOT BUY Allen deluxe four bike carrier (http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Deluxe-4-Bike-2-Inch-Receiver/dp/B001PLG7UK/ref=sr_1_6?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285862751&sr=8-6). I was driving about 20mph and the sway down pin came out and one bike went in the road and it cracked my new carbon bike frame. I was so upset. So after spending another $800 just for a replacement frame I decided to get a better rack.
I did a lot of research and I ended up getting this rack. It has been awesome. I have been using it constantly for 3 months now and it has never failed me. It moves the weight of the bike to the tires where it should be. The slide then comes down and holds it in place.
If you have a road bike or delicate bike and a hitch, I would suggest getting a rack like this. I have been using it with a 2in hitch and it is very sturdy. You really need to use the screw pin that comes with the rack to attach to your hitch to hold it in place.
For security, I got a loop combination lock ([...]) and have it wrapped around my hitch on the truck then wrap it around the bike frame so I don't have to worry about someone detaching the rack because the bike is locked to the truck. It is the perfect solution for all security concerns.
Overall, perfect rack for me and very good to my bike!
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Great bike rack!!!!!!, August 20, 2010
By Smelly
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I will spell it out for you BUY THIS BIKE RACK!!!!! Easy assembly, fantastic design and easy to install on vehicle!!!!!! I did alot of research to make sure I was buying the right bike rack for me and found the bike rack for me. Fits both 2" & 1 1/4" receiver end and no more scratches or hassle putting my bike on my vehicle. No more worries about driving with bikes behind me, no sway, no worries!!!!
Only thing I will tell you is the rack comes with two tiny screws and it does not tell you in the directions but they go on the ends where your bike tires go so the holders don't slide off..
Completely satisfied!!!!!!!!
Now go buy it you will not be disappointed!!!!
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An excellent bike rack, June 2, 2010
By music lover (New York)
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I agree with all the reviews that the Swagman is an excellent bike rack; however, I would like to add some cautionary advice.
First of all make sure you chose the XTC model with the wheel tethers. Make sure the bike wheels are sitting completely in the wheel well. This is extremely important. If it isn,t there is a chance the bike can fall off. As an added precaution I would get a rubber strap and tie the bikes together to be super sure. One mishap on the road could prove disastrous.
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Great Rack!, May 25, 2010
By Mike Conyngham (New Kent, Virginia, USA)
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I bought this rack to use on two vehicles. I have a full size Ford van and there are no problems with that installation. My other vehicle is a 2006 Jeep Liberty with a spare tire mounted on the back. I had to order a 12in extension for the 2in reciever and this adds another $50 to the cost. I could not find an extension locally. I think that the seller should caution about this need on some vehicles. Other reviews and pictures led me to believe that I would not need an extension. For me, it is not so much that it adds to the cost, but rather the inconvienence of not being able to use the rack until I ordered the extension.
Assembly was simple, no parts were missing, and the rack is sturdy enough with minimal vibration on most roads. I have two Schwinn Comfort bikes that I am using with this rack and its a bit tricky to get the configuration right the first time.
I agree with other comments on here that there is room for improvement to the reciever bolt. This design makes it impossible to effectively lock the bolt and prevent theft. Does anyone have a solution to this problem? I guess I will still have to take my bikes in the elevator at the hotel and lock them in my room while I go to the bar!
Overall, I give this rack a high rating. It is constructed of heavy enough materials to last many years. I like having the weight distributed down through the wheels and balanced better than those racks that I see than just have the bikes hanging from the center bar. If you have very light weight racing bikes, perhaps it does not matter, but with heavier comfort bikes and packs, I would choose this one.
Thanks for reading my review and I hope this helps you make a wise choice.
See you down the road!
Mike C.
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A rugged piece of equipment, well worth the price..., April 22, 2010
By Charles Glendening (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
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Having researched platform-style bicycle carriers thoroughly, I went for the Swagman XTC 2 carrier because it appeared to be well-constructed and thought-out... and I have been very satisfied in all respects! It carries two cruisers with minimal shifting around, has good ground clearance and the ratcheting rubberized arms really secure the bikes well. Recommend you visit the Swagman website for their videos.
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Swagman Very nice, April 8, 2010
By Darrell Chrisinger
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Well built product. I like the security and adjustability that is built into this product. I would recommend this product to a friend.
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What the other reviewers stated, March 24, 2010
By Garret S Meyer (Blue Springs Mo)
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There were several other reviews I had read and most people gave it pretty good ratings. I completely agree. I have only used it a couple times but it assembled easily in 5 minutes. I went out and bought three padlocks one for each of the ratcheting clamps and one to replace the clip that ensures that the hitch pin screw doesn't come all the way out. That way it can't be completely removed and it seems to work well. The only complaints I see so far are that the ratchets that hold the bikes on seem to get stuck a little if you really clamp it in. Its hard to get them undone sometimes. And it sways from side to side quite a bit more than my last bike rack but not excessively. I'm just going to keep an eye on it more for a while to make sure that its plenty strong. I am very happy with the ease of mounting bikes to it and love that it will fold up for storage or I can fold the main bar down to open my rear gate. I have a 98 Grand Cherokee and I can still open the rear window if the clamps are far enough down with the middle bar in the upright position. I would definitely buy again.
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great rack, August 28, 2011
By J baltimore
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i've been using this rack for a couple weeks now. I love it i did buy a lock to lock my bike to the hitch. i really like how the rack hold bikes by the wheels. most other racks let the bike dangle there rocking back and forth. with this one the bikes don't move
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Best rack for the money, December 19, 2011
By Leakyreef
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Despite its minimalist appearance, I have found this rack to be as sturdy and supportive as other more expensive racks my friends have purchased. It's not at rattly or as heavy as those other racks. Easy to put together, easy to remove and put on the hitch(weighs less). Putting the bikes on and off the racks is as easy as it can be. At the price I paid ($186), this is by far the best value out there in hitch mount racks
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Works for me, October 28, 2011
By R. Hodge (Columbia, MO)
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I reviewed bike racks for quite awhile before ordering this one. I wanted a 2 bike rack with wheel wells to make it easier for me and my spouse to load. I appreciate all of the customer reviews and particularly the images showing how the rack looked as well as how to secure it with a cable. I like the cable secure way best as it would be possible for someone to loosen the set screws and take the rack and bikes with just a receiver lock. Also, I wouldn't have known what to do with those two screws left over if it hadn't been for the reviews. I am completely satisfied with this rack seeing no significant downsides.
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Great Rack, a little of sway, but nothing unacceptable, October 17, 2011
By Jorge Flores (Atlanta, GA)
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For the price this rack is great, I use it to transport a 26er and a 29er bikes, both seat very nicely and I feel secure with this rack, used to have a rack where you hang the bike on, but I got tire of it because bikes would swing like pendulums and at speed, that was a problem.
This Rack feels sturdy and solid, I still can't say anything about durability, but for the price, it is a great rack.
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Best rack ever, October 9, 2011
By john
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This rack has been a great purchase! It only took about 10 mins to install on my car. It folds up in a couple positions to make it easier to get in the trunk. I have been impressed with how my bike seccures to the rack. My bike is completely safe from falling off during transit. I have to say after seeing other bike racks my friends use that do exactly what my rack does they spent way to much. So, this rack is a great rack and you can't beat the price!
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Swagger like Jagger, September 30, 2011
By bpeters (Iowa)
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I bought the Swagman XTC about a week ago. I've been very satisfied with the purchase. I researched bike racks for a long time before deciding on this one, reading lots of reviews, etc.
Assembly: Easy
Construction: Solid
It's built very solidly. The parts are tight fitting. The engineering is ergonomic. The wheelholders are truly the best and most stable way to transport bikes. The ratcheting arms hold the bikes down securely. The center arm folds either way sideways when there are no bikes on the rack. The two side-arms fold up for compact storage. The wheel-fastener belts hold the wheels securely. I have not had any problems with wobble on the hitch, although this was my main concern before I purchased this product. The hitch screw bolt is solid and I have not had to replace the provided washer as some had suggested, although it's only been a week and I've only transported the bikes once. I will update this review if I need to replace the washer.
Logistics: Trial and error
One thing to consider is the LOWEST POINT on the top bar of your particular bikes. If you have 2 bikes with very different heights for the top bars, the ratcheting arms will work BETTER because there will not be any overlap in their height on the center bar. However, if you have 2 bikes which require similar ratchet arm heights, you will need to LATERALLY stagger the bikes more or find a different point on which to lower the ratchet arm on one of your bikes.
I have a 2008 Toyota Highlander with a 2 inch receiver. The hitch has been stable after driving on gravel roads as well as highways. The tailgate WINDOW will not clear the bike handle when I have a bike in the position closer to the vehicle. This is a small issue, but something you should take into consideration if you have an SUV tailgate window.
I've been using a piece of cloth under the ratchet arms to avoid any paint damage to my bikes. It does take a bit of trial and error to find the positions that will work for your pair of bikes.
Ease of use: Cake
Once you have determined the optimal way to position your bikes, it's as easy and load the bikes, lower the ratchet arms, secure the wheel straps, and you're done. Takes 2 minutes.
Security: Buy locks
I bought the recommended Master lock 4 pack and use one lock on the hitch, one per bike, and keep one as a spare. They work great, because of their perfect narrow width which will thread through the ratchet arm holes and the hitch bolt hole.
Value: Excellent
This rack is THE best value out there, after comparing everything available on the market. The rack arrived 2 days after I ordered it, was in good condition, except for a couple of scrapes in transit.
Bottom line: Buy it, you'll be satisfied.
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Bike rack for 5th Wheels or Travel Trailers, September 4, 2011
By Runners2
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Was looking for a hitch mount bike rack for our 5th wheel. Tough to do because most are not rated for trailers and 5th wheels. Anyway went the safe route and found one that claimed it was rated for 5th wheel trailers. Swagman XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack. It is absolutely awesome. Used it twice on the 5th Wheel (About 1000 miles) and swap it over to our truck for use. Quick and EZ to swap between vehicles and store. Bikes load in about 5 minutes and are secure. One complaint I read in other reviews: owners didn't like the lack of a locking function. I use a cable bike lock to secure rack to my vehicle. Not too much of a hassle. Highly recommend!
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