Often when you hear of a rack that can carry four bikes, you automatically assume it’s a hitch rack. This is because most trunk racks don’t have the structural strength to handle four two-wheelers. Also, with four bikes loaded, it becomes easier to damage both the bikes and the rear side of your car due to the extra weight and instability. Consequently, most manufacturers max out at a capacity of three bikes for their trunk racks.
Hollywood racks, on the other hand, has decided to push the limits by creating the F4. This makes the Hollywood Racks F4 review necessary as potential buyers would like to know how well it performs in areas where not many other manufacturers have ventured. Having done the review, here are our thoughts on the trunk rack.
The capacity to carry four bikes on a trunk rack is both rare and impressive. However, it’s not all there is to the Hollywood racks f4 heavy duty 4-bike trunk mount rack. There are aspects like the overall design, vehicle compatibility, mount design, and more. All of these components need to be looked at in detail and reviewed, especially by potential buyers. That said, rather than looking for all the information on these aspects and rack features, you can find a quick summary of what you need to know below.
Design and functionality-wise, there’s not much separating the Hollywood Racks F4 from other high-end 3-bike trunk racks from different manufacturers except that it can hold four bikes. It installs fairly easily, comes fully assembled with only a few minor tweaks needed before you can put it on the car. This is, of course, an impressive feat as it needs more structural support to carry the bikes and handle the extra instability.
Additionally, handling the extra load without damaging the car is not easy to pull off. There are even some extra inclusions that you don’t find in other trunk racks, such as motorcycle tie-down buckles and the additional side straps. Nevertheless, the rack is still disappointing in some areas, such as security.
Among the key selling points for the Hollywood Racks F4 heavy-duty 4-bike trunk mount rack is the way it mounts onto the trunk of your car. It features a dual-positioning system that rests on your bumper, therefore, taking most of the weight off the car’s rear windshield. Consequently, even with SUVs, you don’t have to worry about damaging the glass at the back of your vehicle.
Also, it attaches to the top, bottom, and sides of the trunk lid. As such, the mount and installation process is just as simple as it is on lower capacity alternatives from other manufacturers.
The F4 rack can carry four bikes, each weighing 35 lbs. Consequently, the rack’s total load capacity is 140 lbs.
You’re advised against mounting Ebikes on the rack. According to Explain That Stuff Trusted Source How do electric bicycles work? - Explain that Stuff An easy-to-understand explanation of electric bicycles, powered by powerful hub motors and super-efficient rechargeable batteries. www.explainthatstuff.com , Ebikes come with both a motor and a large battery to power the bicycle when you’re tired of cycling. However, these electronic components add some weight that can push them past the 35 lbs limit per bike.
Additionally, these components can also get damaged if you mount the bikes the wrong way, so it’s better not to. Nevertheless, it should be possible to mount most road and mountain bikes on the rack, including those for women and children. That said, women’s and children’s bikes will likely require a top-tube adapter not included in the initial rack purchase.
The F4 rack is designed to work with SUVs and not smaller cars like sedans and hatchbacks. This makes sense as smaller cars may not have the structural integrity to have four bikes strapped onto their trunks.
There’s also the matter of the small ground clearance on smaller cars which would make it easier to damage the mounted bikes. However, this means the rack won’t work for many cycling enthusiasts who only own small cars.
Nevertheless, research by the New York Times Trusted Source Rise of S.U.V.s: Leaving Cars in Their Dust, With No Signs of Slowing Sport utility vehicles outsold sedans two to one in 2019, just four years after surpassing them for the first time. This shift shows little sign of stopping. www.nytimes.com shows there has been a considerable increase in SUV purchases for the last few years. Consequently, there is still a large market for the rack.
Durability-wise, the rack can’t afford flimsy construction, especially with the load it has to carry. Thankfully it’s not an area where it disappoints. It features a mixture of aluminum and alloy steel construction and, consequently, can achieve a lightweight design while still being exceptionally sturdy.
After feeling the steel tubing in their hands, not many people will remain skeptical about leaving their bikes mounted on the rack while on the road.
A few accessories are included with the purchase to increase the stability of the bikes during transit. They include integrated tie-down straps with motorcycle tie-down straps, and these do a good job holding the bikes down when on the road. There’s also a day glow safety flag to increase the visibility of your car on the road.
Unfortunately, as good as the Hollywood racks f4 heavy duty 4-bike trunk mount rack is, the lack of a warranty is worrying. You’ll be taking a risk with the purchase and may not get compensated if there are manufacturing defects.
The fact that it can carry more bikes, is structurally sound, and won’t damage your car is more than enough for most people. As a side bonus, it folds, and if you need to carry it in your trunk, it’ll fit quite easily.
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Our Hollywood Racks F4 review has shown that the device is simple yet impressive. The only significant caveats are its incompatibility with smaller cars and the lack of a warranty. That said, we would still classify the rack as a steal for users looking to carry up to 4 bikes without having to get a hitch installed on their vehicles.
