Tested: Saris Freedom Hitch Rack

Saris Freedom Rack

MSRP: $229

www.saris.com

Review By: Dylan Stucki 

Handmade in the USA, this compact hitch rack from Saris lives true to its name. Out of the box assembly required fifteen to twenty minutes, an adjustable wrench, and a 8mm hex wrench, which is included. The instructions were clear, concise, and if they go missing, you can always scan the Windows Tag barcode on the arm of the rack with your smart phone.

Despite my initial skepticism about the strength and durability of this rack, I was pleasantly surprised once everything was assembled and installed. The freedom rack comes with a 1¼ “ receiver shaft as well as a 2” adapter. Unlike many other racks that use an adapter for the 2” receiver, the Saris rack fit snugly into the hitch and had minimal rocking once installed.

Do you have a variety of bikes including kids and hybrid bikes? Saris has got you covered with the Freedom rack.  With it’s sleek and lightweight build, highly adjustable wheel trays, and adjustable upright holders, this rack makes it easy to carry bikes of all shapes and sizes.

At 21lbs, this rack goes on nice and easy with one person, and doesn’t hurt you gas mileage as much as some of the heavier racks on the market, which makes it a clear choice for the small car owner. The adjustable wheel trays, it is easy to make two bikes fit and avoid damage from your bikes rubbing together. The adjustable upright holders are on separate tracks, which makes it convenient to modify the height of the holder as well as providing a nice place to weave a cable lock for added security. The upright arm folds down when not in use for convenient access to the trunk or tailgate, however with bikes on the rack, there is little to no access to a rear hatch or tailgate.

The protective hold down straps are gentle enough to protect the paint and carbon from damage during travel, however they are somewhat tedious to get undone once you’ve arrived at the trailhead. The freedom rack uses three ratcheting straps per bike, which makes this rack better for the consumer looking for a convenient way to transport their bike, but too time consuming for the consumer looking to do shuttle runs.

All things considered, the Freedom rack from Saris didn’t fail to impress regardless of its seemingly cheap and weak build. Modestly priced, lightweight, and highly adjustable features make this rack a great buy for consumers looking for a solid way to transport bikes on a budget.

Saris Freedom Rack Features: Two Bike Capacity – 1.25” and 2” Receiver Compatible – Foldable Upright Holder – Handmade in the USA – Lifetime Warranty – MSRP $229.99

Images: Lee Paustian