Best Trunk Mount Bike Rack – Top 8 Rated In 2021 Review

Taking your bicycles with you for an adventure is great fun. However, most of us don’t have enough room in our vehicle to put our bikes on the inside. This means that as much as we love our bikes, they’re going to have to be transported by being stored on the outside of our vehicle.

There are various ways of fixing racks to your car, SUV, or minivan. Hitch receiver racks are very popular, but not everyone has or wants to use one. An excellent alternative, which requires no additional installation or tools, is a trunk-mounted rack.

We’ve compiled a list of eight racks, which hopefully includes the best trunk mount bike rack for your needs and budget.

So, let’s get on with it and take a closer look…

Top 8 Best Trunk Mount Bike Racks On The Market Reviews

1 Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack, Model 102DN-R – Easiest to Attach Trunk Mount Bike Rack

The Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack will fit easily on to sedans, SUVs, and minivans. The cool thing is it’s so simple to install that you can have it on your vehicle and be ready to go in just over a minute.

It has four strong straps, including two that help to improve lateral support. This means that when you are on the move, you won’t get any side-to-side movement or wobbling.

Highly extendable…

The claws on the end of the straps are designed not to damage the paintwork on your vehicle. There are four pads located on the main body of the rack that helps secure it to your trunk. Like the claws on the end of the straps, they are also made to not cause damage to your paintwork.

The two arms of the rack extend out 12 inches. There are twp cradles on each arm. Each of these can accommodate any style or size of bikes. The total capacity of the trunk rack is 70lbs. We think this is a little low, although it should be sufficient in most circumstances.

Safe and secure…

The cradles use a loop and buckle nylon strap system to keep the bikes in place. No Velcro or silicone is in sight anywhere. We give the straps full-marks for strength and durability.

Once the bikes are on-board, the frames don’t move around. However, there’s nothing to stop the front wheels from bouncing about. We recommend you get a couple of pieces of webbing to tie the front wheels to the frame. That effectively sorts out the problem.

2 Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack, Model 102DB, Black/ Silver – Most Versatile Trunk Mount Bike Rack

Like the previous model, the 102DB trunk-mount rack can also be used on sedans, minivans, and SUVs. The rack is even easier to install, as it uses just two rather than four straps. It’s not unrealistic to have the rack-mounted in mere seconds.

The two straps are secured to the trunk above and below the rack. Unfortunately, this means that you don’t get the same lateral support as you do with the 102DN-R we just reviewed. On the move, happily, there’s still minimal wobble even with two bikes loaded. This is despite the reduced lateral support,

Well-padded and supported…

Four pads help to support the frame. They are well-padded and won’t damage your paintwork. The claws that fit on the end of the straps also won’t scratch your paintwork. However, if you’re worried, you can always tape the ends to be extra sure.

The rack carries two bikes of any make or size. This includes women’s and children’s bikes. When loading the rack, it’s always best to load the heaviest bike first. We also recommend taking something to secure the front wheels to the frames to stop them from moving around during your journey.

The cradles on the arms use a buckle and nylon strap. This holds the frames in the cradles. It’s a strong and durable system. The only criticism we have is that there’s no lock for security purposes.

3 Saris Bones 2 Bike Trunk Rack, Black – Most Robust Trunk Mount Bike Rack

This is a US-designed and quality-made product.

The arms and legs are injection molded and curved. The good news is that the curved shape means the rack can even be used on sedans that have a spoiler. It’s one of the only trunk-mounted bike racks able to do this. It will also fit easily on SUVs and minivans.

The materials and design make this rack one of the strongest on the market. It advertises a limit of just 70lbs for two bikes. We strongly suggest you follow this maximum load capacity. Although, frankly, we suspect this is very much within its limits.

Super sturdy construction…

The company was founded on the mindful philosophy of not causing damage to your bike or car. This is while being able to carry your bikes safely. There’s no doubt that the engineers have achieved all of these aims.

The bikes are secured to the cradles using a sturdy ratchet mechanism. The ratchet exerts plenty of force on the bikes. Plus, the underside of the strap has a special coating. This avoids causing damage to your bike.

No scratches, nor lateral movement…

The bike rack’s frame is secured to the vehicle using six straps that have a coating on the points of contact. This is to prevent scratching. The rubber feet are also safe when they come into contact with your car.

Once the six straps are in place, there is no lateral movement of the rack. To further ensure things stay put, there are additional anti-sway straps. These can be attached to secure the front wheels to the bike’s frame.

Now that’s an idea we like.

4 Allen Sports Premier Trunk Mounted Bike Rack – Best Trunk Mount Bike Rack for Any Bike

The Allen Sports Premier Trunk Mounted Bike Rack has a few upgrades to the basic Allen trunk mount bike racks. Plus, you still, of course, get plenty of the good stuff that you can find across the entire range of available racks.

The Premier rack can be fitted to any sedan, SUV, or minivan. It has a similar fixing system as the Deluxe 102DN-R. This means you get four straps to keep the rack in-place on your vehicle. The two additional side straps help to give it extra lateral support and keep wobbling down to an absolute minimum.

Extra strapping means extra security…

Where the Premier bike rack differs from the Deluxe 102DN-R version is that there are an extra two integrated straps that can be used to secure the bikes. This includes securing the front wheels to the frame in order to prevent them from moving during transit.

One of our main criticisms of the two more basic Allen racks is that the front wheels are untethered and, therefore, free to move around. It’s good to see that the Deluxe version has sorted this out.

Accommodates any bike size…

The Premier trunk mount bike rack has a 12-inch arm that can accommodate any size or make of bike. If you need to carry more than two bikes, there are three and 4-bike versions available.

The fastening system on the cradles is another difference compared to the Deluxe models. It uses a rubber open-holed belt that you simply pull over the knob on the cradle. On the plus side, there’s no doubt that it’s quicker than using a buckle and strap.

However, we doubt that it’s likely to have the same kind of durability. Consequently, we favor the slightly slower to use but more hard-wearing system.

Safe and secure…

One last upgrade for the Premier rack is the dual-compound rubber pads that help seat the frame. We like these. They feel more secure and also make it slightly easier to fit the rack onto the trunk.

5 Allen Sports Ultra Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack – Best Compact Trunk Mount Bike Rack

This is an ultra-compact bike rack to the likes we’ve never seen before.

Check this out. One of the key features is that it can be folded away into such a small space that it will fit in a backpack! It’s hard to believe until you see this, but it’s true. The unique patented design really can do this. It comes with a backpack included, just in case you have any doubts.

This opens up a wide range of possibilities, not just for saving space, but for meeting up with friends whilst carrying your potential transport solution with you.

It’s a brilliant idea…

The Allen Sports Ultra Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack secures to the rear of your vehicle using just three pads. These are the same dual-compound high-quality pads you find on the Premier model.

The rack has just three straps and hooks to secure it into place. One strap and hook fits below the rack. The other two straps and hooks angle out above the rack.

Used for a single-bike setup…

This strap setup is for use on a single-bike option. Although there are no extra straps for lateral support, this is a non-issue for a single bike. This is because lateral movement, when hauling just one bike, is minimal.

If you opt for the 2-bike rack, which you can still carry in a backpack, extra lateral supports are also included.

Sits nicely positioned in your vehicle…

The single-bike option is unusual and does have one interesting benefit. It keeps everything very close to the rear of your sedan, SUV, or minivan. This means that, when you’re on the move, it makes for a better driving experience.

It uses a strap and buckles to secure the bike to the cradles. Whilst some might see this as a little old-fashioned, we like it. It’s tried and tested and is unlikely to ever let you down.

The rear of the frame has a T-shaped plate that prevents the bike from making contact with the rear of your vehicle, which is another neat piece of design. The only thing we can criticize it for is that there’s nothing to prevent the front wheel from moving around.

Why no integrated tie-down?

Oh well! It looks like a trip down to the hardware store for a piece of webbing or tie of some sort. No big deal, as with since it has so many great features, it’s not a deal-breaker.

6 Hollywood Racks Over-The-Top Trunk Mounted Bike Rack – Best Versatile Trunk Mount Bike Rack

Hollywood is one of the big players in the bike rack market. They are one of the oldest and most established companies in the business. This US-based company makes high-quality and well-designed products.

The rack is designed to fit all sedans, SUVs, and minivans. Commonly, bike racks have problems with vehicles fitted with spoilers. But this is not so with the Hollywood Over-The-Top Trunk Mounted Bike Rack. This model works with any vehicle and all without the rack ever coming into contact with your spoiler.

Offers many options…

The rack has several different attachment options, depending on the kind of vehicle. You have to change how and where you use the straps according to each vehicle type. There are excellent video instructions to help you if you’re unsure of the best option and how to proceed.

It’s great to have such versatility. But frankly, it’s all a little complicated and confusing. Most bike racks are fairly intuitive. Not so with Hollywood rack. It will take a bit of head-scratching and a few attempts before you get the hang of it.

Multiple bikes and also a weight range…

Thankfully, once it’s in place, there’s plenty to like. It can fit any two bikes of any shape weighing 35lbs each, to a total weight of 70lbs. If you need to haul two bikes, they have a rack for that too. The weight limit for each bike is also 35lbs.

The cradles are secured with rubber straps that can be fixed using just one hand. They’re quick and easy to use. Once the bikes are on the cradle, there are additional straps to hold the bike frames to the rack. This helps minimize movement and potential swaying.

Rock-solid…

The bike rack, once secured, is rock solid and keeps your bikes in place with zero movement.

7 Tyger Auto TG-RK3B203S Deluxe 3-Bike Trunk Mount Bicycle Rack – Easiest to Operate Trunk Mount Bike Rack

The Tyger Auto TG-RK3B203S Deluxe bike rack is easy to use and suitable for most vehicles. The only vehicles it can’t be used with are RVs, trailers, and campervans.

The frame is sturdy and coated with an anti-rust preparation to ensure longevity. The frame sits on the car, using four well-cushioned pads. It’s then held firmly in place with six straps — two above, two below, and one to each side. The two straps are located at the side help to stop any lateral movement.

Your bike is surely protected from scratches…

All the straps have protective coated claws fixed to the ends. The claws are easy to hook under the doors and hinges. The special coating on the end of the claws ensures that they don’t damage your paintwork.

One of the great features of the rack is that it’s ready to use, right out of the box, and without needing to be assembled. Also, it’s intuitive to attach without the need for instructions. This is although they are still provided should you need them. Happily, it’s undoubtedly a lot easier to attach than the Hollywood Over-The-Top Trunk Mounted Bike Rack.

Easy operation…

The cradles use the popular rubber strap system that can be operated with just one hand. It’s hard to argue against given its simplicity. However, we still feel the older-style buckle and straps have a lot to offer.

The weight limit for each bike is just 33lbs, compared to 35lbs with most racks. It’ not a big difference. But there are plenty of mountain bikes, cruisers, and fat bikes that are likely to fall foul of this limit. It’s worth keeping in mind.

An extra layer of security…

Once all the bikes are secured on the cradles, which won’t take long, there is one final strap that needs to be fastened around all the bikes. It’s integrated into the frame, and it’s red. So it’s impossible to get mixed up with any of the other straps. This final red strap serves to hold the bikes, and yes, the front wheels, too, from being able to make any kind of small movements.

We’re happy to see this last securing strap and don’t understand why more racks don’t have one.

8 YAKIMA, Fullback Premium Trunk Bike Strap Rack – Most Durable Trunk Mount Bike Rack

This is a well-made, elegant, and rather costly trunk-mounted bike rack. It has a lot of unique design features and a lot to differentiate itself from the opposition. The question is, does it offer enough to get you reaching for your wallet?

Let’s take a closer look…

The first thing you’ll notice is that the frame is very wide. The bottom of the frame measures two feet across. The big benefit is that it creates a much more stable platform. This translates to no lateral movement, even though there are only four straps, rather than six, to hold the frame in place.

Something else we like is the ratchet zip strips that hold the bike frames onto the cradles. It’s the only bike rack to use them. And we think they’re the best of all the three systems we’ve reviewed. They’re easy to fix with just one hand. Using very little force, they’re also super-secure. And, importantly, they’re highly durable.

Ratcheting up the security and versatility…

The final feature that’s also unique is that the frame has an integrated SKS security package. The SKS locks work to both secure the rack to your vehicle as well as secure the bike to the frame. This is a huge plus for us and makes this the Most Secure Truck Mount Bike Rack you can buy.

The only negatives are the cost and also the maximum weight limit for an individual bike.

For lightweights…

With a weight limit of just 30lbs, this is the lowest of all the trunk-mounted bikes we’ve reviewed. It also got us running to the scales. And we were a bit perturbed to see that one of our Trek Fx 7.3 runarounds sits perilously close to this. Considering the build quality and price of the rack, we do not know why the limit is so low.

Best Trunk Mount Bike Rack Buying Guide

Cradle Attachment

The eight trunk-mounted bike racks reviewed above encompass three different cradle attachment methods. They all do a great job of holding the bikes firmly in place. However, they each have advantages and disadvantages.

The first method uses a buckle and strap. It’s a 2-hands operation and is the most basic of the three options. Although it takes a little longer to put in place than the other two, it has excellent durability and can easily be replaced if it needs to be.

Both of the…

Allen Sports Deluxe models

…use this form of cradle attachment.

The second method uses a rubber strap with large holes that can be attached with one hand. They’re very easy to use. However, they are more prone to wear and are more difficult to replace than the other two locking systems.

The…

Tyger Auto TG-RK3B203S Deluxe

…has the best quality rubber holed cradle attachment system.

The final method, and our favorite, use ratchet zip strips. These have the benefits of being the easiest to use and also being equally hard-wearing as a buckle and strap.

The…

YAKIMA Fullback Premium Trunk Bike Strap Rack

…is hard to beat on this score.

Installation

Most bike racks are easy to fix to your vehicle, except for the Hollywood rack. This seemed to have straps coming from everywhere and a different mounting option for every vehicle ever made. In its defense, after mounting it a couple of times, it wasn’t too bad. Plus, there’s a good video to help you out. But frankly, it just feels over-complicated.

On the other hand, the…

Allen Sports Ultra Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

…is a dream to fix to your car. It’s got very few straps and is super-intuitive to fit regardless of what vehicle you are driving. It gets our vote every time.

Weight Limit

The weight limit on most trunk-mounted bike racks is relatively low. The typical maximum weight limit for an individual bike is 35lbs. This can easily preclude the rack from being suitable for cruiser bikes, fat bikes, and some mountain bikes.

The bike rack with the lowest weight limit, of just 30lbs per bike, is the…

YAKIMA, Fullback Premium Trunk Bike Strap Rack

Considering its build quality and the high price, it’s quite honestly rather surprising.

If you’re regularly hauling heavy bikes, we recommend that you don’t use a trunk-mounted bike rack. Take a look at a hitch mounted bikes rack instead. These are specifically designed hitch receivers, which can take twice the normal maximum weight limit. This is compared to a trunk-mounted bike rack, if that’s what you need.

Security

Sadly, only one of the bike racks offers any kind of security. If your bikes are left alone and out of view on your vehicle, they are very vulnerable to theft. If the rack you buy doesn’t have an integrated security system, you should consider buying your own.

For those who want in-built security, the best trunk mount bike rack is the…

YAKIMA, Fullback Premium Trunk Bike Strap Rack

This has good quality SKS locks that secure the bikes to your rack and the rack to your vehicle.

It’s good enough to deter most opportunist thieves.

Legal Considerations

Whatever bike rack you decide to use, it’s important to comply with the law. When you have bikes loaded onto the rack, they can often obscure your license plate. This is illegal just about everywhere and is likely to get you a ticket.

Make sure you have an extra plate that can be secured on the back of the rack if need be. Also, make sure you comply with any regulations concerning brake lights if these are also obscured.

In addition to a rack, how about some other great bike accessories?

Check out our reviews of the Best Bike Rollers, the Best Truck Bed Bike Racks, the Best Bike Lights, our Best Bike Racks review, our Best Bike Chains review, our Best Bicycle Seat review, or the Best Bike Mirrors you can buy.

Then for your motoring needs, don’t miss our reviews of the Best Car Battery Charger, the Best Car Scratch Remover, the Best Remote Start System, the Best Double Din Head Units, the Best Bluetooth Headsets For Drivers, and the Best Car Compasses on the market in 2021.

Right, back to bike racks…

So, what is the Best Trunk Mount Bike Rack?

There you have it. A selection of bike racks that can be used to haul up to four bikes. Regardless of what vehicle your driving, what kind of bikes your hauling, or how big your budget, there is hopefully something on our list that’s suitable for you and your bikes.

All these racks are solid choices. However, our top pick is the…

YAKIMA, Fullback Premium Trunk Bike Strap Rack

There’s plenty to like about this bike rack and plenty to differentiate it from the competition. We appreciate how easy the ratchet zip strips make loading the bikes into the cradle. And we love the fact that the width of the rack provides excellent stability and eliminates lateral movement. We also value the dual integrated SKS security system.

Although it’s the most expensive option on our list, these features and its undoubted build quality still make it a great choice, good value, and the best bike rack for truck mounting out there.

Enjoy your bikes, and enjoy your rides.