4 Top Swing-Away Bike Racks
If you are looking after the best swing-away bike carrier so you can have access to the rear of your SUV but still keep the bicycles secure, you have come to the right place. These swingers are specific to hitch bike racks and present a great advantage to provide access to the hatch or tailgate while not removing bikes. Note that the swing mechanism must be strong and sturdy to support the heavy, loaded hitch rack. That is why you need the upper class of it. So we put together a list which we think, is what you need to make a decision. The Backstage from RockyMounts continues to be one impressive swing-away carrier in 2023, too.
Before anything else, what is a swing-away bike rack?
A swing-away bike rack has the capability to be swinged out of the way so you can have the access to cargo area of your SUV or car, while bikes remain loaded on the rack. Often happens that you need access to the trunk of your car and you don’t want to unload all the bicycles from the carrier. That’s where swing-away option comes to save the day.
4 Great Swing-Away Bike Racks in 2023
1. Best Overall: Backstage Swing Away Platform Hitch Rack from RockyMounts
RockyMounts Backstage is the industry’s first 180 degree swing away platform hitch rack. It is a well built carrier, heavy-duty, durable, functional and can carry everything from the lightest road bike to the fattest bike. The swing away feature allows the rack to be swung out towards the passenger side for enhanced access to the rear of SUV. Based around the Monorail platform, the Backstage carries 2 bikes up to 60 lbs per tray. Tray can be adjusted 2” side-to-side to avoid bike interference. No contact with frame, secures bicycle by front wheel. Carries road tires up to 5. 0” wide fat bike tires, and diameters from 20” to 29”. Compatible with bicycles’ wheelbases from 34” to 49”. Folds flat against the vehicle, and tilts down 30 degrees to allow for hatch access. BackStage is one of the best ebike racks, too, due to its versatility and capability of carrying a variety of bike sizes and styles.
2. FullSwing 4-bike Rack from Yakima
FullSwing is among one of the most revolutionary products from Yakima. It’s an easy to assemble hitch rack that swings away from your car with bikes loaded. Installation is tool-free; all it takes is sliding the rack into the hitch and tightening it by turning on the SpeedKnob- located on the end of the mast. The swing function is a one-touch button, adding to the appeal of an already trusted brand. The rack also comes with ZipStrips for securing the bikes to the rack. For additional security, the straps can only be unfastened by pressing a release button. The FullSwing weighs 56 lbs and can carry up to 4 bikes with a total weight of 150 lbs. During use, the model allows bike protection by incorporating fully paddled arms- which can be folded down when not in use.
3. Ridge Swing-Away Bike Rack from SportRack
SportRack Ridge is a hitch mounted rack that carries up to 4 bikes with a total weight capacity of 140 lbs. The swing function operates with bikes fully loaded allowing easy access to the cargo area. It comes with dual arms for holding bikes with a folding down mechanism for when not in use. To prevent contact between bikes and between bikes and the car, the model has anti-sway cradles that hold each bike in 3 places- 1 by the seat post and the other 2 by the top tubes. The cradles also move along the arms to enable strapping your bikes at proper spacing. The unique placement of arms and cradles can prove disadvantageous for some bikes. Such include small children’s bicycles, alternative frame bikes, and dual-suspension bikes. In such cases you may have to buy a bike adapter bar– sold separately.
4. Apex XT Swing Carrier from Thule
Best Seller from Kuat: Sherpa 2.0

Inspired from Himalayan sherpas who are known for being strong enough to carry everything you need, Sherpa 2.0 can carry any bike with wheelbases up to 47″ and tires as large as 3″. It promotes a lightweight platform rack design as low as 32 lbs being made of aluminum all over the pace. Sherpa 2.0 is available in both 2″ and 1.25″ hitch sizes and can carry up to 2 bikes with up to 40 lbs per bike. It features an increased spacing between bikes to 14″, pivot lever with optional foot assist, bike lock with matching hitch lock, front tire hook design with intuitive release, adjustable ratchet arm.
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