As far as hitch racks go, the functionality of the Hollywood Racks 4 Bike Rack is impressive. It has a few quirks here and there, but nothing major. However, for potential buyers, these quirks and even the positives of the device could make or break their experience with the rack. As such, a Hollywood Racks 4 Bike Rack review may be necessary to determine whether purchasing the bike carrier is a good idea.
If you want to know what the Hollywood Racks 4 Bike Rack has to offer or doesn’t, here’s the full review.
The Hollywood Racks HR1400 hitch mount rack is designed with heavy-duty use in mind. As such, it features thick steel construction and a 2-bike default design. However, a 2-bike add-on is also included making the device capable of holding four bikes.
It’s designed to work with 2” only hitches, and as such, you may have to install one on your vehicle. After that, you can make full use of the no wobble, no tools hitch tightening system to attach the rack to your car.
Notably, while you may not need to use tools to attach the rack to your car, you may need to use them elsewhere during the initial setup. There are also some security features for your bikes. They include a cable lock, and since it needs a key, the locking hitch pin also qualifies.
The rack is upwards and downwards tiltable. You can use this functionality to tilt it upwards when it’s not carrying any bicycles, or you can tilt it downwards to get better access to your trunk without detaching the rack. More details on the functionality, design, and features below.
We mentioned above that the Hollywood racks HR1400 Sport Rider SE 4 bike rack is designed to only work with 2” hitches. It makes sense that the rack doesn’t take smaller hitches, given the weight that the device will have to handle. Additionally, the rack itself is fairly heavy, especially in its 4-bike setup.
Mounting the rack to the hitch, of course, is one of the easiest parts of using the device since there’s no need for tools.
As far as the weight capacity goes, the Hollywood racks HR1400 Sport Rider SE 4 bike rack is impressive, although it’s more or less expected given the thick steel construction. The rack can handle four bikes, each weighing 50 lbs or less. As such, the total weight capacity is about 200 lbs.
When it comes to which bikes fit the mold of the Hollywood Racks 4 Bike Rack, the simple answer is most of them. The rack supports a 60” maximum wheelbase. Given that most mountain bikes have a 50” wheelbase or lower, you’ll find that they’re likely compatible with the rack.
Additionally, the 4 bike rack accepts any wheels that are 3” or thinner. You just place your two-wheeler on the wheel tray provided and adjust it to fit the wheel size. Notably, this is one of the more complicated parts of the initial setup, but you’ll only have to deal with it once. That said, multiple bike models come with 4” bike tires, and if you have one or more of these, the rack may not be for you.
In terms of vehicle compatibility, the rack will go onto just about any vehicle so long as the correct hitch size is attached. It could be a sedan, a truck, a hatchback, a van, or an SUV. However, the type of vehicle you attach it to will determine the ground clearance for the rack.
If you have a smaller car, it could be problematic when you encounter steep inclines as then the rack will be dragged on the ground. This is especially true if it’s in the 4-bike setup rather than the 2-bike alternative.
The durability of the rack is guaranteed, given the heavy-duty construction of the vehicle attachment. Furthermore, the metal is powder-coated. According to Products Finishing Trusted Source The Powder Coating Process | Products Finishing To understand the powder coating process you should start with the fundamentals. Then, dig deeper to increase your knowledge. www.pfonline.com , powder coating offers excellent corrosion protection, is safe, and is one of the most durable industrial manufactured product finishes available.
The accessories you get with the initial purchase of the Hollywood Racks 4-bike hitch rack include the 2-bike add-on kit, the locking hitch pin, and key, and lastly, the 9” cable lock.
Nevertheless, there are additional accessories you can get to improve the functionality and the suitability to your needs. They include a trike adapter kit and even a cargo basket if you want to carry extra gear as you go cycling.
The locking hitch pin and the locking hooks that hold the bikes in place also add a bit of security to the rack. According to CBS News Trusted Source Bike thefts spike across U.S. as cycling becomes more popular - CBS News A rise in thefts of two-wheelers has experts recommending multiple locks to prevent thieves from stealing bikes. www.cbsnews.com , bike theft is a big issue, with 3,283 bikes stolen in 2019 just in Colorado. As such, the security measures included should give you some peace of mind if you leave your car and bikes outside the store while you do some shopping.
Nevertheless, the security measures are not foolproof, and you should add some extra measures of your own or be careful not to leave your rack and bikes unattended for too long.
You do get a limited lifetime warranty on any manufacturing defects the rack may have. However, for normal wear and tear or if you damage the device, you’re on your own.
Some of the extra features not mentioned above include the foam on the support hooks and the Velcro components for strapping in your bike wheels. Both parts keep your bikes stable during transit and protect some components, such as the top tubes.
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Except for the incompatibility with a few vehicle setups, the heavy construction, and the initial setup being somewhat problematic, everything else about the rack is positive and impressive, as shown by the Hollywood Racks 4 Bike Rack review above. As such, if you want a rack for transporting your family’s bikes, the Hollywood Racks 4 Bike Rack is a pretty sweet deal.
