Top Rated E-Bike Hitch Rack Carriers for 2024 (Everything You NEED to know)

Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular with cyclists. They are a great form of transportation that are efficient and environmentally friendly. It can be a challenge though, to find a bike rack that is capable of carrying your e bike around safely since ebikes are so much heavier than a traditional bike. And having an ebike is a lot more fun if you can take it with you for an adventure on the road.

We acknowledge the challenge and decided to make it our mission to find the best bike racks out there for carrying ebikes. Only 5 made it on our list. Read on to see our top pick, as well as 4 other great contenders.

Our Top 3 Choices

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS

  • Features: Foldable loading ramp with smart foot pedal tilt carries 2 bikes up to 65 lbs. each.
  • Benefits: Easy to load bikes and access cargo. It’s simply the best hitch bike rack for electric bikes.
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  • Features: Fully assembled with universal adapter and rubber cradles and straps.
  • Benefits: Ability to haul around heavy bike in a variety of sizes.
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  • Features: 2 bike capacity up to 60 lbs. per bike with ratcheting straps for security.
  • Benefits: Solid value from a lightweight, adjustable rack
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The Thule Easy Fold XT takes the top spot in our list of bike racks for ebikes. We appreciate the fact that it’s incredibly easy to use and has some unique features like the foldable loading ramp. Because who doesn’t want the process of loading and unloading bikes to be easier?! It also has great security features for your ebikes while going down the road and can accommodate a wide variety of bike sizes. It’s easy to see why this bike is a favorite amongst cyclists with ebikes.


Best Electric Bike Rack In 2023

1. Thule EasyFold XT – Best hitch bike rack for electric bikes

There’s a whole lot to love with this Thule bike rack. With a high load capacity and great usability, the Thule EasyFold XT is our top pick electric bike rack. You can easily install the rack to your car without needing to use any tools. The foldable ramp helps make loading bikes onto the rack a breeze, and is integrated into the rack for easy storage.

Once you have loaded your bikes onto the platform rack, you can secure it with torque limiting knobs and ratcheting wheel straps clamp system that is rubberized so you won’t scratch the paint on your bike. After your e bikes are all secure in place, you can use the key that is provided to lock the knob for safety and theft protection.

Another feature that we love about this Thule bike rack is the smart foot pedal tilt. This unique tilting function makes cargo access to get what you need out of your car trunk very easy. The entire bike rack is fully foldable, designed for convenient storage and comes with wheels and a carry handle, too. The Thule rack will fit both a 1.25 inch and 2 inch hitch receiver. It’s light weight at 45 lbs., but the platform rack can carry two bikes up to 65 lbs. per bike, which makes it ideal for carrying e bikes and mountain bikes. Although it can be a more expensive choice, the features and quality that come with this bike rack are worth it.

Features:

2 bike capacity up to 65 lbs. per bike, loading ramp, smart foot pedal tilt

Pros

  • No tools required for install
  • Entire rack is foldable
  • Easy to load and unload bikes with ramp
  • Easy cargo access with tilting function

Cons

  • Expensive


2. Kuat Bike Rack – Most Versatile

The Kuat NV 2 .0 is another great option for transporting your ebikes when you’re headed out for an adventure. This platform rack can handle two bikes with a weight capacity of 60 lbs per e bike. The hand tight hitch cam system makes for an easy install that requires no tools. The pivot system has been redesigned that now has a foot assist that allows you to lower the hitch rack without needing to lean your bike up against anything.

Another feature that makes this such a versatile bike carrier is the adjustable front tire cradle system that allows you to carry bikes with wheelbases up to 48 inches and tires as large as 4.8 inches. The ratchet arms provide stability once your bikes are loaded onto the rack, and bike cable locks are fully integrated to make sure your ebikes stay safe and secure. The rear tire strap has a co-molded strap to protect wheels from damage. If you need to do some repair work while on the road or trail, you can use the Trail Doc workstand to easily assist. The NV 2.0 weight 52 lbs., which is a bit more than the Thule above. A hitch lock is included.

Features:

2 bike capacity up to 60 lbs. per bike, ratchet arms, foot assist, Trail Doc workstand

Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Workstand makes repair work on the road easier
  • Carries wide range of bike sizes

Cons

  • Heavy


3. Saris Superclamp – Best Lightweight

The Saris SuperClamp is an incredibly lightweight bike rack at just 35 lbs., but its light weight does not mean it’s not heavy duty. It can carry up to two ebikes, up to 60 lbs per bike. With dual wheel-clamping hooks, you are ensured a secure journey with your bikes on the rack, and one in which there is no frame contact.

The SuperClamp also has a tilting feature that allows you to tilt the rack down and access the back of your car, even if the rack is fully loaded with bikes. When you aren’t using it, you can simply fold it up. We like the integrated locks that come with this bike rack and the reflectors that make driving at night a safer experience. Made in the USA, this bike rack is available in a 2 bike and 4 bike carrying option.

Features:

Carries bikes up to 60 lbs., dual wheel-clamping hooks, integrated locks, reflectors

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Easy cargo access
  • Available in 2 or 4 bike option

Cons

  • ???


4. Hollywood Racks Sport Rider – Best Heavy Duty

The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider is high weight capacity hitch rack. Its heavy duty wheel holders allow it to carry heavy loads. It can carry two e bikes up to 80 lbs. per bike. That is a higher weight capacity than any of the other racks we researched. The universal wheel holders will fit any e bike with up to 5 inch tires. Installation of the Hollywood Racks Sport Rider is pretty simple with this bike rack since it utilizes a patented no wobble-no tools hitch tightening system.

It’s important that we point out that it only fits a 2 inch hitch receiver, so if you don’t have a 2 inch hitch, then the Hollywood Racks Sport Rider just isn’t the rack for you. Cushioned hooks keep your bike’s frame fastened securely to the rack and won’t scratch the paint. The hooks also lock to help prevent theft. A locking hitch pin is also included.

When you aren’t using the Hollywood Racks Sport Rider, it folds flat against the vehicle and can also tilt down when you need cargo access. As a heavy duty bike rack, it’s also just heavy. It weights 50 lbs. and is constructed of steel, which is something to keep in mind when considering this rack for your e bike.

Features:

Carries 2 bikes up to 80 lbs. per bike, universal wheel holders, cushioned hooks

Pros

  • Heavy duty
  • Carries wide range of bike sizes
  • Folds flat

Cons

  • Heavy


5. Saris Freedom Bike Rack – Best Budget Option

Another bike rack from Saris, the Saris Freedom is a high quality hitch bike rack offered at a budget friendly price. A hitch mounted rack, the Saris Freedom hitch rack can carry two bikes, weighing up to 60 lbs. each. It’s also adjustable to fit varying e bike frame sizes and wheelbases up to 48 inches. For bikes with longer wheel bases, you can purchase the long wheelbase bar.

Ratcheting straps on the Saris Freedom rack will keep your e bike secure during transport. A push lever makes it easy for one person to tilt the rack for cargo access, regardless of whether the rack is empty of fully loaded with bikes. It’s also a pretty lightweight rack, at just 27 lbs. This bike rack is made in the USA and has a universal hitch to fit 1 1/4 inch and 2 inch hitches.

Features:

Carries 2 bikes up to 60 lbs. each, ratcheting straps, push lever for cargo access

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Adjustable for various frame sizes
  • Easy cargo access

Cons

  • Will need to purchase long wheelbase bar for bikes with longer wheel bases


Electric Bike Rack Buyers Guide

When you are thinking about carrying your ebikes on your car and searching for the perfect hitch bike rack to do so, you should consider several different things, all things that we’ve considered when selecting our 5 best bike racks. There’s several criteria that we think you should base your decision on including: type of rack, ebike size and weight, and budget.

Type of Rack

There are two types of hitch racks for carrying around your electric bikes: platform racks and hanging racks. A platform rack is a rack where the bike is secured by the wheels as they sit on the bike rack. A hanging rack is a rack where the bike is secured from the frame as it is attached to the bike rack.

E bikes are heavier than a standard bike, so generally, the best racks for carrier electric bikes are platform racks. Another big advantage of the hitch mounted platform rack for ebikes is that they are much easier to load the bikes onto since they are lower to the ground. And since ebikes tend to be pretty heavy, not lifting them up onto the back of your vehicle is a big plus. Additionally, we like that with platform racks, the ebike is secured by the wheel rather than the frame, which means that there is no frame contact and less likelihood for the paint to get chipped or damaged.

E Bike Size and Weight

It’s important to know how big your electric bike is when you are selecting a hitch rack for carrying it around. Or, if you plan to carry two bikes that are not the same, you will need to plan to accommodate for the largest ebike. Some bike racks can be adjusted to fit longer or wider bikes, while others cannot.

Since e bikes are heavier than road bikes, typically weighing between 55 and 65 lbs., you will want to make sure the hitch rack that you select can handle the weight of your electric bikes. If your e bikes are on the heavier side, you will want to consider one of the more heavy duty racks in our list. Otherwise, they generally can handle about 60 lbs. per ebike.

Budget

The racks that we have selected as the best bike racks for e bikes range in price from expensive to budget friendly. When you are considering which rack to purchase, you will want to think about how often you will be using the rack and make sure that you purchase one that is durable enough to endure frequent use. All of the bike racks in our list are high quality and will do a great job carrying around your ebikes. It’s really more of a matter of how many additional features you want and how much you are willing to spend.


FAQ

Can you put an electric bike on a bike rack?

Yes, you can put an electric bike on a bike rack. Due to the weight of electric bikes, platform style racks are the best option.

What is the best bike rack for electric bikes?

The best bike rack for electric bikes is the Thule EasyFold XT since it can handle the weight of e bikes and is very easy to use with its ability to load the bikes onto a ramp.

Why you should not transport your e bike on a standard bicycle trunk rack?

You shouldn’t transport your e bike on a standard bicycle trunk rack because they aren’t designed to carry the weight of an e bike. This can be very dangerous when driving down the road.

How do you transport eBikes?

You can transport an ebike on your car using a bike rack designed for e bikes. Any of the bike racks in our list are great options for safely and securely transporting your ebike.


Final Thoughts

Our list above includes the 5 best bike racks on the market for hauling around ebikes. And while we think they are all great options, the Thule EasyFold XT is the best hitch bike rack for electric bikes. Thule has a longstanding reputation for producing high quality products and the EasyFold XT is loaded with features that set it apart from the competition, often justifying the price for its many users. There’s a lot we like about this e bike rack, but the loading ramp is really our favorite feature.

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS

  • Features: Foldable loading ramp with smart foot pedal tilt carries 2 bikes up to 65 lbs. each.
  • Benefits: Easy to load bikes and access cargo.
Check Latest Price

  • Features: Fully assembled with universal adapter and rubber cradles and straps.
  • Benefits: Ability to haul around heavy bike in a variety of sizes.
Check Latest Price

  • Features: 2 bike capacity up to 60 lbs. per bike with ratcheting straps for security.
  • Benefits: Solid value from a lightweight, adjustable rack
Check Latest Price

You may also like: Hitch Carriers for Dirt Bikes and Motorcycles

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Austin Mills

Austin Mills in an outdoor enthusiast. He's been featured on some of the top outdoor & fitness blogs sharing his expertise in order to help others. In his free time, he likes spending time with his dogs enjoying the outdoors.