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Bike Racks for Fat Bikes for Winter 2016-2017

  2016-11-18 at 16:20 pm

Good news fat bike fans! More and more carriers are coming out all the time to haul fat bikes on your vehicle. At Racks For Cars, we carry the most extensive selection of hitch bike racks and roof bike racks to carry your fat bike. We have roof mount fat bike racks from Kuat and Rockymounts and hitch mount fat bike racks from Thule, Kuat, Yakima, Hollywood, Swagman, and Saris. We stock and display all of our fat bike rack options at both of our Edmonton Store Locations and also offer free shipping across Canada to cities such as Calgary, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and more.

Hitch Mount Fat Bike Carriers

Hitch bike racks for fat bikes are increasingly popular, with more manufacturers making fat bike compatible models all the time. Adapters are available separately to convert many existing platform style hitch bike carriers to fat bike compatible units to carry wheels up to 5 inches wide.

At Racks For Cars we sell and install fat bike hitch racks from Thule, Yakima, Kuat, Hollywood, Swagman, and Saris. Some hitch mount bike racks will carry fat bikes right out of the box, while others will use a fat bike adapter combined with an existing hitch mount bike rack. Check out our most popular hitch bike racks for fat bikes below:

Top 7 hitch mount racks for fat bikes

#1 - Thule 9034 T2 Pro

Thule 9034 T2 Pro fat bike hitch rack

The Thule 9034 T2 Pro 2" hitch rack is Thule's premier bike carrier, designed and tested for use in all driving conditions. It holds nearly any bicycle on the market by holding clamping against the front tire with its oversized ratcheting hook arm. The front tire trays on the T2 Pro are designed to hold all types of tires: fat bike tires up to 5" wide, skinny road bike tires, and almost anything in between. The T2 Pro titls away from the vehicle to give you rear access easier than any other rack thanks to a release handle located at the back of the rack instead of further up on the base.

  • Fits up to 5" wide tires
  • Wheel mount style, no frame contact
  • Includes locking hitch pin and built in cable locks
  • Tilts away from your vehicle for rear hatch access using a release handle at the back of the rack
  • Folds up against your vehicle when not in use
  • Expandable to 4 bikes with purchase of the Thule 9036 T2 Pro Add-On (2" model only)
  • For vehicles with 1.25" hitches, use the Thule 9035 T2 Pro 1.25" hitch rack

#2 - Kuat NV 2.0 with Kuat APBK Phat Bike Kit

Kuat NV 2.0 hitch bike rack with Kuat APBK Phat Bike Kit

The second generation Kuat NV 2.0 hitch bike rack 2" is a staff and customer favorite for its premium good looks, easy of use, and integrated TrailDoc repair stand. Out of the box, the NV will carry wide mountain bike wheels, but it is recommended to add the Kuat APBK Phat Bike Kit (a plastic ratchet strap extension and velcro front wheel strap) for use with wide fat bikes tires up to 4.8".

#3 - Thule 9044 T2 Classic

Thule 9044 T2 Classic fat bike hitch rack

The Thule 9044 T2 Classic 2" hitch bike rack comes out of the box with the ability to carry fat bikes with tires up to 5" wide. The T2 Classic uses a bolted style locking hitch pin to secure the rack to the vehicle, though it lacks the locking cables from the full featured T2 Pro. Instead, consider adding a Thule 512 2 Pack of Lock Cores to lock the release triggers on the ratcheting hook arms that hold the bike by the front wheel.

#4 - Kuat Transfer with Phat Bike Kit

Kuat Transfer 2 bike hitch rack with Kuat APBK Phat Bike Kit

The Kuat Transfer features a unique U-shaped steel design, foot pedal folding lever, and lower price point than many competing fat bike compatible racks. By combining the Transfer with the Kuat APBK Phat Bike Kit, you can carry fat bikes with up to 4.5" wide tires. Here are some of the key features of the Kuat Transfer with APBK Phat Bike Kit:

  • Fits up to 4.5" wide tires
  • Wheel mount style, no frame contact
  • Tilts away from your vehicle for rear hatch access
  • Folds up against your vehicle when not in use
  • Locking hitch pin and cable lock sold separately
  • Available in a 2 bike or 3 bike model
  • Fits both 1.25" and 2" hitch sizes out of the box (Class 2 - 1.25" hitch or greater required for the 3 bike model)
  • If you need to carry 3 bikes use the Kuat Transfer 3 Bike and Kuat APBK Phat Bike Kit
  • If you need to carry 2 bikes use the Kuat Transfer 2 Bike and Kuat APBK Phat Bike Kit

#5 - Yakima TwoTimer or FourTimer with Yakima Fat Straps

Yakima TwoTimer hitch bike rack with Fat Straps

The Yakima TwoTimer and FourTimer are great entry-level platform hitch bike racks that can be made to carry fat bikes with the use of Yakima Fat Straps. The TwoTimer is used to carry 2 bikes and the FourTimer is used to carry 4 bikes, as you may have guessed! Both options are platform frame mounts which support your bike's wheels from below as an arm clamps down over the top tube of your bike. By combining the Yakima Two Timer or Yakima FourTimer with the Yakima Fat Straps you can carry up to 4.5" wide tires. Here are some of the key features of the Yakima TwoTimer, FourTimer and Yakima Fat Strap:

  • Fits up to 4.5" wide tires
  • Tilts away from your vehicle for rear hatch access
  • Folds up against your vehicle when not in use
  • Platform design has trays for your tires to rest in and a clamp over the crossbar of your bike
  • Available in a 2 bike or 4 bike model
  • Locking hitch pin included, cable locks sold separately (see the Yakima LockUp or Yakima 9 Foot SKS Cable)
  • If you need to carry 2 bikes use the Yakima TwoTimer and Yakima Fat Strap
  • If you need to carry 4 bikes use the Yakima FourTimer and Yakima Fat Strap

#6 - Swagman 64682 G10 with Swagman 64679 G10 Fat Tire Trays

Swagman 64682 G10 with 64679 Fat Tire Trays

The Swagman 64682 G10 when combined with the Swagman 64679 Fat Tire Trays is a great option for carrying your fat bike on a budget. The G10 is a platform style bike rack that has trays which your tires rest in and an arm that clamps down over the top tube of your bike. When the G10 is combined with the Fat Tire Trays it can carry up to 5" wide tires. Here are some of the key features of the Swagman G10 and G10 Fat Tire Trays:

  • Fits up to 5" wide tires
  • Tilts away from your vehicle for rear hatch access
  • Folds up against your vehicle when not in use
  • Platform design has trays for your tires to rest in and a clamp over the top tube of your bike
  • Locking release triggers and hitch pin included
  • Here are the items you need: Swagman 64682 G10 2 bike rack and Swagman 64679 G10 Fat Tire Trays

#7 - Hollywood HR200 Trail Rider with Hollywood Fat Bike Adapter

Hollywood HR200 Trail Rider hitch bike rack with Fat Bike Adapter

The Hollywood HR200 Trail Rider combined with the Hollywood Fat Bike Adapter is another wallet friendly option for carrying your fat bike. The Hollywood HR200 Trail Rider is a platform style bike rack which has trays which your tires rest in and an arm that clamps down on the top tube of your bike. When combined with the Hollywood Fat Bike Adapter it can carry up to 5" wide tires. Here are some of the key features of the Hollywood HR200 Trail Rider and Fat Bike Adapters:

  • Fits up to 5" wide tires
  • Platform design has trays for your tires to rest in and a clamp over the crossbar of your bike
  • Locking hitch pin and cable lock included
  • Center mast tilts to the side for rear hatch access when your bikes are removed
  • Here are the items you need: Hollywood HR200 Trail Rider 2 Bike and Hollywood Trail Rider Fat Bike Kit

Roof Mount Fat Bike Carriers

Roof mounted bike racks allow you to carry bikes on your vehicle's roof rack crossbars. Standard roof bike racks are designed for conventional road and mountain bikes, and most will not fit fat bikes. At the moment, fat bike roof mounts are available from specialty bike rack manufacturers like Kuat and RockyMounts. The Kuat Trio is a fork mount fat bike carrier, meaning you will need to remove your front wheel, while the RockyMounts BrassKnuckles and the new RockyMounts TomaHawk are wheel mount fat bike carriers, meaning you can leave both wheels on your bike and clamp on the front wheel.

RockyMounts BrassKnuckles with Fattie Fat Bike Adapter

RockyMounts BrassKnuckles with Fattie Fat Bike Adapter

The RockyMounts BrassKnuckles is a wheel mount roof bike rack, meaning both wheels can stay on your bike and the rack makes no contact to your bike's frame. This is the most universal style of roof bike rack, as it can carry bikes with wheel sizes ranging from 20" to 29". If you use the BrassKnuckles with the RockyMounts Fattie fat bike adapter it is capable of carrying bike tires up to 5" wide. Here are some of the key features of the RockyMounts BrassKnuckles and RockyMounts Fattie.

  • Fits up to 5" wide tires
  • Wheel mount design just holds your bikes wheels, no contact to your frame
  • Universal mounting hardware fits square, round, aero, and most factory installed cross bar systems
  • Easy to use mounting hardware
  • Fits bike wheels from 20-29"
  • Available in Black, Red, and White
  • Add a RockyMounts Fattie fat bike adapter to carry fat bikes with wheels up to 5" wide

RockyMounts TomaHawk

RockyMounts TomaHawk fat bike roof rack

New for 2016, the RockyMounts TomaHawk fits fat bikes right out of the box at a great budget price. The TomaHawk is a simpler version of the RockyMounts BrassKnuckles, with a chunkier design that compliments fat bikes nicely. Wheel sizes from 20"-29" and up to 5" wide will fit into the TomaHawk. Conventional road and mountain bikes will still work in the rack. Here are the main features of the TomaHawk.

  • Great budget price
  • Fits up to 5" wide tires right out of the box, no adapter needed
  • Wheel mount design just holds your bikes wheels, no contact to your frame
  • Universal mounting hardware fits square, round, aero, and most factory installed cross bar systems
  • Easy to use mounting hardware
  • Fits bike wheels from 20-29"

Kuat Trio with Kuat Trio Phat Bike Adapter

Kuat Trio roof mount bike rack with Phat Bike Adapter

The Kuat Trio roof bike rack is the currently the only fork mount bike rack on the market capable of carrying fat bikes, and thankfully it is an awesome rack! The Trio already fits 9mm drop outs as well as 15mm and 20mm thru-axles out of the box for standard mountain and road bike forks. With the addition of a Phat Bike Adapter you can carry fat bikes with 9mm x 135mm drop outs, fat bikes with 15mm x 110mm thru-axles, fat bikes with 15mm x 142mm thru-axles, or fat bikes with 15mm x 150mm thru-axles. Wheel strap extensions are included with Phat Bike Adapters that allow them to secure up to a 5" wide rear wheel down to the tray. Here are some of the key features of the Kuat Trio and the available Phat Bike Adapters:

Truck Box Mount Fat Bike Carriers

Kuat Dirtbag truck box mount for fat bikes

Kuat Dirtbags are simple front axle fat bike mounts that are available for pick-up truck beds or similar installations. While these mounts are extremely simple and inexpensive, they do require drilling for installation. Our customers like these mounts for use in the truck box, on to the bed rail, or to a 2x4 piece of wood (or similar) which you can customize to fit into the box of your truck. Cheap and dirty! Below are the options available for fat bike truck box mounts:

Have questions? Need some advice?

If you have any questions about rack systems for carrying fat bikes or need any advice on which system will work best for your needs, feel free to contact us for assistance.

At Racks For Cars we offer free shipping on orders over $150 across Canada. We also have two store locations in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with many of these options on display. Come visit us today!

By Tyler Krys