Thule's Rambler 4 Bike Hitch Mount

    Thule's 914sp Rambler 4 Bike Hitch Mounted Bicycle Rack is a full-featured bike rack with stripped down price. The Rambler shares its basic design with the Thule RoadWay series-a solid, utilitarian frame with folding bike arms to simplify parking in tight spaces. Both the folding arms and the tilting base utilize Thule's Hitch Switch quick release mechanism, so getting in and out of your hatch is quick and easy. The Rambler also offers complete locking security for your bicycles with the included Snug Tite locking hitch pin and integrated bike cable lock. You may want to add the Thule 955 No Sway Cage Accessory for greater stability and reduced bike-to-bike contact

Having trouble with an install? If at first you don't succeed...

   

    We installed a Whispbar roof rack on a 2012 Nissan Rogue yesterday. It turned out to be a very solid fit, but it did give us some trouble at the beginning. Every once in a while, a roof rack install doesn't go quite as smoothly as you'd hoped. Maybe you dropped a bolt  on the ground and it ran and hid in a deep, dark corner of your garage. Maybe you measured in centimeters instead of inches (don't laugh-it's only funny until YOU do it). Maybe you missed a step in the instructions. Or maybe your rack just needs a little fine tuning.
    If you've installed as many roof racks as we have here at The Rack Warehouse you know that sometimes the measurements really do need a little tweak. You won't that fact written in any installation instructions-after all, these roof racks are designed by very competent engineers, and their specs are usually perfect.
    So back to our 2012 Nissan Rogue install-the front bar just wouldn't clamp down (the clips kept "popping" up over the edge of the roof). So we re-checked everything-we disassembled the front bar and started over. We re-checked the distance between the towers on the bar and the placement of the towers on the roof. We carefully tightened both clips in unison. Still no luck. So we started making small adjustments at about 1/8" at a time-and it worked! turns out we needed to move the towers further apart on the front bar, and then it fit like a glove. The rear bar went on fine without any adjustment at all. This surprised us a bit, but it just proves that you should always try an installation "by the book" first and only make small adjustments when necessary. Whispbar, Yakima, and Thule all allow for slight adjustment in their roof racks when necessary. Generally an adjustment up to 1/4 inch is acceptable in any measurement when necessary. If you're installing your roof rack and feel that you need to make adjustments that are more than 1/4 inch, please either call the manufacturer, or call us at 1-800-272-5362 for assistance.

Thule Apex 4 Bike Swing Away Bicycle Rack

    Thule's new 9027 Apex 4 Bike Swing Away hitch mounted bicycle racks combine sleek new styling with a built in swing away arm that allows easy access to your vehicle's rear cargo area. The Swing Away arm allows you to conveniently swing the rack out 180 degrees, providing full access to the rear hatch area with the bikes still loaded. To use this feature, simply loosen the large tightening knob, pull the spring-loaded retention pin and swing away. The Thule Apex Swing Away Bike Rack is compatible with 2" receivers only. (It is technically possible to mount this to a 1 1/4" receiver, but this is not recommended and would void your warranty-very few 1 1/4" receivers can handle the torque involved).
    Loading and unloading your bicycles is also easier on the new Apex Swing-the bike carrying arms are longer and lower set. Combined with the new arc-shaped design this not only eases loading and unloading, it also  helps eliminate frame contact between your bikes. Thule's new Hold Fast anti-sway cradles with Road Dampening Technology (RDT) make sure your bikes get the First Class treatment they deserve. The RDT cradle with SoftTouch Anti-Sway Cages is equipped with TPE (thermoplastic elastomer-essentially an improved form of rubber) making the Apex cradle design unique. TPE offers a flexible soft texture that gently, but firmly, secures your bike frame and enables the cradles to absorb road shock and greatly reduce vibration. The new SoftTouch cradles allow the Apex Swing to carry nearly any bike frame type including carbon fiber frames (which was not recommended on other racks that hold the bike by the frame-it is possible to crack a carbon fiber frame if it's not properly supported). The bike arms also fold down when not in use via the new and improved quick release Hitch Switch, which makes an audible click to reassure you that the arms are securely locked in position. We've tested the new fold down mechanism in our store and were quite impressed-the Apex Swing is quite a bit more stable than other hitch mount bicycle racks. Thule has also included and integrated cable lock and Snug-Tite locking receiver pin to keep your bikes and your new bike rack safe and secure.

TracRac Cantilever Extension - Now Approved For Clamp-On Racks

    TracRac has just announced that they officially approve the use of their cantilever extension on the TracRac T-Rac G2 and TracONE Clamp on truck rack systems. The cantilever extension adds increased stability for longer loads, but its use was previously limited to the full TracRac Sliding Truck Rack System. Unless you didn't mind voiding your warranty, that is. But TracRac's engineers have finished a new round of performance testing on the newer G2 designs, and they've given the green light to mounting the TracRac Cantilever Extension on the clamp-on truck racks. You'll still want to keep your loads evenly balanced front-to-back (and don't exceed your rack's or truck's weight rating), but it's nice to know you can carry all the ladders and lumber you need without sacrificing your warranty.

Thule Vertex 2, 4, and 5 Bike Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks

   

 

    Thule's Vertex hitch mounted bike racks are a new product line that's anything but "standard". They replace the Thule RoadWay series, sharing many features with their high-end Apex product line while sporting much lower prices. The 2 bike and 4 bike hitch racks are compatible with both 1 1/4" and 2" receiver hitches by simply using the included adapter sleeve converter. (The 5 bike model is compatible with 2" receivers only.) The redesigned Hold Fast anti-sway cradles include reinforced rubber straps to secure bikes in place, while the No Sway Cage anti-sway mechanism helps prevent bike to bike contact. New grooved cushion cradles easily accommodate bikes with cables on the underside of the top tube and offer superior bike protection for nearly any frame design.
     The Vertex bicycle rack makes loading and unloading your bikes easier as well. The sleek, arched mast and bike carrying arms make the whole process easier, with increased clearance from the ground and rear bumper. The longer bike arms allow the bikes to sit further apart and at varying heights-not only making loading easier, but also keeping your frames, handlebars, and pedals from contacting one another while loading, unloading and transporting your bikes.
    The Vertex includes a new and improved quick release Hitch Switch, allowing you to fold the bike arms down and tilt the rack away from the vehicle to access the rear of your vehicle when not you're not carrying bikes. The Hitch Switch mechanism has an audible click to reassure you that the arms and mast are securely locked in position. A Thule TSTL2 SnugTite Hitch Lock (sold separately) is recommended to lock your Vertex rack to your vehicle.

New Thule Apex 4 and 5 Bike Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks

   

    Thule's new Apex 4 and 5 bike hitch mounted bicycle racks combine sleek new styling with innovative new features that make transporting your bikes easier and safer than ever before. Unlike most other bike racks, the Apex comes fully assembled, so setup is quick and easy. The new EasyMount System with integrated Snug-Tite Stinger makes installation tool-free. To install the rack, simply push the bike rack into your receiver hitch until the integrated auto-hitch-pin snaps into place or engages with your hitch, then turn the tightening knob to activate the anti-rattle mechanism. This helps eliminate vertical and horizontal movement of the rack by delivering 4 walls of fastening contact within your receiver for the most stable fit possible. The Thule 9025 Apex 4 Bike Rack is compatible with both 1.25" and 2" receivers, while the Thule 9026 Apex 5 Bike Rack is compatible with 2" receivers only.
    The innovation didn't stop at installation-the bike carrying arms are longer, set lower, and arc-shaped, making loading and unloading your bicycles easier and helping eliminate frame contact between bikes. Thule's new Hold Fast anti-sway cradles with Road Dampening Technology (RDT) make sure your bikes get the First Class treatment they deserve. The RDT cradle with SoftTouch Anti-Sway Cages is equipped with thermoplastic elastomer (TPE, basically a greatly improved form of rubber) making the Apex cradle design unique. TPE offers a flexible soft texture that gently, but firmly, secures your bike frame and enables the cradles to absorb road shock and greatly reduce vibration, allowing it to carry nearly any bike frame type including carbon fiber frames (unlike most other bike racks). The integrated cable lock and Snug-Tite Stinger locking receiver pin round out the Apex's features, making sure your bikes are kept as secure as they are stable.

New From Thule - AeroBlade Aerodynamic Crossbars

    You asked for quieter roof racks, and Thule listened to you-so now you won't have to listen to your rack!Thule's new AeroBlade load bars are compatible with their Rapid Aero tower systems and accessories, making them available for nearly any vehicle on the road. This new design provides all the strength and versatility we've come to expect from Thule in a stunning new look that will get your gear where you're going while giving you a quiet, peaceful drive (providing your kids like to nap while you drive).
    The new Thule AeroBlade crossbars are available in 43", 47", 53", and 60" lengths to accommodate all current Thule vehicle fits. New SwingBlade swing-out endcaps are included, and allow full access to the Thule T-slot without having to remove the cap. The WindDiffuser T-slot cover's specially designed shape helps reduce wind noise not only by covering the T-slot, but also by re-shaping the oncoming air flow. In short, Thule's outdone themselves once again. The Thule AeroBlade will be available in stores mid-September.