Review of Maserbuilt Hitch-Haul Triple Bike Rack Accessory

Maserbuilt Hitch-Haul Triple Bike Rack Accessory
Average Rating: 2.0 Total Reviews: 1
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Inadequate as shipped

On: 2006-05-31

If you own a hitch-haul, the bike rack accessory allows you to skip a stand-alone rack and kill two birds with one product. Another advantage is it accepts all bikes equally well, regardless of frame configuration, unlike some "hanging" racks. However, be aware that the rack is NOT SAFE as shipped. The rack openings are too wide to grip firmly any bikes wheels (esp. true of narrow street tires) and the single, light-duty tie-down provided is wholly inadequate to stabilize one, let alone three, bikes. Heres what you need to do: buy two more decent strength tie-downs (I have ones with ratchets to make tightening easier) and use them to pull the bikes frames (or seatposts, etc.) tightly toward the right and left of the hitch-haul. (Plenty of holes provided for this purpose.) This prevents to-and-fro motion of the bikes. Then use the provided light-duty tie-down to attach the bikes firmly to your reciever, bumper, etc. to prevent them from toppling backward on acceleration. Also carefully pad contact points between bikes and tie-downs, bikes themselves, and/or bike-vehicle to prevent paint damage. If you do all this--but only if you do all this--youve got a serviceable and safe product. Believe me, if you follow manufacturers instructions and "secure" your bikes using only their tie down, theyll list badly after a few blocks! Who knows what will happen at highway speeds....

Inadequate as shipped

On: 2006-05-30

If you own a hitch-haul, the bike rack accessory allows you to skip a stand-alone rack and kill two birds with one product. Another advantage is it accepts all bikes equally well, regardless of frame configuration, unlike some "hanging" racks. However, be aware that the rack is NOT SAFE as shipped. The rack openings are too wide to grip firmly any bikes wheels (esp. true of narrow street tires) and the single, light-duty tie-down provided is wholly inadequate to stabilize one, let alone three, bikes. Heres what you need to do: buy two more decent strength tie-downs (I have ones with ratchets to make tightening easier) and use them to pull the bikes frames (or seatposts, etc.) tightly toward the right and left of the hitch-haul. (Plenty of holes provided for this purpose.) This prevents to-and-fro motion of the bikes. Then use the provided light-duty tie-down to attach the bikes firmly to your reciever, bumper, etc. to prevent them from toppling backward on acceleration. Also carefully pad contact points between bikes and tie-downs, bikes themselves, and/or bike-vehicle to prevent paint damage. If you do all this--but only if you do all this--youve got a serviceable and safe product. Believe me, if you follow manufacturers instructions and "secure" your bikes using only their tie down, theyll list badly after a few blocks! Who knows what will happen at highway speeds....