Bike racks come in handy when you need to go somewhere and take your bike with you. The majority of these bike racks are however not compatible with the wider tires of fat bikes and may require modification of the bike rack in order to accommodate your bike. Luckily, fat bikes have become so popular nowadays and many bike rack companies sell spare or adapter parts to accommodate fat bike tires.
According to Wikipedia, a fat bike (also called fat-tire bike) is an off-road bicycle with oversized tires, typically 3.8″ or larger and rims 2.16″ or wider, designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on unstable terrain, like sand, snow, bogs, mud and traditional mountain biking trails.
Are you shopping for bike racks for fat bikes? We have prepared what you need to know beforehand and present you 10 fat tire bike racks being the best in the market.
Best fat tire bike rack reviews
…2020 UPDATE:
If you own an electric fat bike (or eBike) and you want to keep it safe from any damage while transporting, you should look at the right bike carriers that will do the job – Hollywood Racks Sport Rider (for Electric Bikes) and BUZZ Rack Hitch Rack (e-Bike Compatible).
#1. Hollywood Racks Sport Rider for Electric Bikes
#2. BUZZ RACK Approach 2-Bike Platform Hitch Rack, E-Bike Compatible
Now, let’s have a look at the best bike carriers for fat bicycles in 2019 (and still in 2020):
#3. Thule T2 Pro + Fat Tire Kit
#4. Hollywood Racks Fat Tire Holder
#5.Hollywood Racks HR1400 Sport Rider SE 4-Bike Platform Style Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver)
#6. RockyMounts Backstage Swing Away Platform Hitch Rack
#7. Overdrive Sport 2-Bike Hitch Mounted Rack for Standard, Fat Tire, and Electric Bicycles
#8. Saris Freedom 2-Bike Hitch Car Rack Tray (for Fat Bikes)
#9. Swagman Chinook Hitch Bike Rack for Car (1-1/4" and 2" Receiver)
#10. INNO Tire Hold Hitch Mount Platform Rack (E-Bike Compatible up to 60lbs per Bike)
Why we recommend hitch racks for fat bikes
As many bike enthusiasts will attest, hitch racks are among the best carriers for any bike, fat tires or otherwise. Why is this? To start with, hitch racks are easy to install and offer faster offloading of your bike compared to other racks. They are also stable and most of them can be adjusted to fit different hitch sizes; meaning you won’t be limited on which vehicle to use. Lastly, hitch racks are quite sturdy and durable.
Factors to consider when choosing a fat bike rack
There are two types of hitch type racks for fat bikes namely:
- Platform Racks – Platform racks are compatible with a wide variety of different bike styles. They are stable and sit lower to the ground for easy loading and unloading. They strap the front and rear tires or frames to prevent wobbling while driving and don’t come into contact with the painted frame. They are however bulky and more expensive.
- Hanging Racks – They are cheaper compared to the platform racks but are also quite firm and compact. The downside, however, is the fact that they strap the bike around the frame which can lead to scrapping. The bikes are also held very close to one another which can lead to swaying while driving or the bikes rubbing against one another.
Load Capacity
Generally, platform racks carry from 1-4 fat bikes whereas hanging racks hold from 2-5 bikes. Load capacity should depend on the number of bikes you are likely to carry.
Add-ons can be used to increase load capacity. Some bike racks (Recon Racks Gen2 R6) can carry up to six bikes. The quality of materials used to make the rack is also important; some racks are stronger than others.
Add-ons/Accessories
Add-ons also called extensions are a way to increase the load capacity of bike racks to be able to carry more bikes. These add-ons or accessories are easy to attach and remove. Some add-Ons may cost as much as the racks themselves.
Wrap up
With the above information, landing on a fat bike rack that suits your needs shouldn’t be a problem. Now you can take your fat bike along for your trips without worrying about its security or damage while on transit. Whether you want to haul one or more bikes, there’s always an option that works for you.
