Tips for Loading a Heavy Ebike Onto a Car Rack

[@bertfarin8755]

Thanks Cort. Pop a wheelie...never saw that before. I usually just man-handled it up there. I gotta try your technique. Thanks for the video.

[@sixdust]

Good tip on the suspension lockout. The other thing I do is put the cable locks on to add addition security and remove any items off the bike like front fenders or lights that can blow off especially if you are driving something smaller than an rv.

[@dennisshoffner5201]

That demonstration was well done! Thanks for sharing.

[@WeOutHere]

Nice technique, I didn’t think of locking the suspension before.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Me neither, my Dad noticed that the rear wheel was sliding a lot during his long trip. I think it’s mainly an issue with heavier bikes like his fat tire models or motorcycles ;)

[@lostmykeysagain]

Thanks for the video. Wow, so much easier now using your technique.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Yay! Happy it helped you :D

[@EJGentleman]

Thank you for the great tip and loading of e-bikes. Especially the lock out. I just got 2 e-bikes (me and the misses) and while not super heavy (50lbs each), this will be a big help.

[@PQV-8898]

Great advise. Thanks Court.

[@andrewway3404]

One word - Ramp! I've loaded my son's dirt bike many times over the years in my truck and strap it down. Now I use the same method for my rad rover plus and it doesn't weigh as much as the dirt bike!

[@DrDarylGreen]

Helpful tips! I just purchased a car bike rack.

[@jbwjr54]

Good demo. It’s all about technique. Saw your other video with your dad, and it was informative. Us older guys do have a challenge, as these new eBikes are quite heavy and cumbersome. Thanks for the info and technique.👍

[@thevorias]

i got one for my 70th and am a female and am trying to figure out how to drive down to calif from portland in march..and its going to cost almost 800$ to attach a hitch etc.

[@Epiha]

I velcro my tire for max securing, also the fender on my radrover bike (exactly like the one here) is incredibly durable and tough, I rachet right at the fork over the top of this particular fender design. Been doing this method since 2020 with no problems at all on my KUAT rack. PLUS. I don't know why people don't reach down and grab the incredibly strong chainstay when loading their bikes. If you grab from this position and stand the bike wheel is already above you knee and at hip heighth and almost zero shoulder or rotator cup involvment on the lift.

[@pajakbartek]

Thanks man, you probably saved my back from breaking :)

[@Lampropeltis]

Your a mover and shaker in the bike world. A common concern now with the popularity of heavier Ebikes and folks being a bit older is the difficulty in loading as you e pointed out. Any chance you can bring the need for ramp adapters to the attention of manufacturers and/or do some reviews on ramp adapters? Thanks.

[@7mandymay7]

Locking the front suspension was appreciated

[@rj-gd3pc]

if batteries removed, what will happen to the connectors that are exposed? aren't they prone to get wet if rain and covered by dust?

[@do-ineedtosay723]

I hope you get a chance to review the Saris Door County electric bike rack!

[@KeeKeeTheDog]

3:15 important correction to your video: the arm of the Thule T2 really needs to be placed all the way up by the fork. Where you have it placed now, vibration of traveling, can loosen that arm and make it slip right down off of the tire. Then you have nothing holding your bike onto the rack, except for a strap in the back, and you can easily end up, dragging your bike, or even losing it. the arm needs to Grab the tire way up by the fork. This is why people take their front fenders off when they have this rack.

[@mayankgarg1258]

Great helpful video! Thanks.

[@shawnbartley7541]

great video!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@diggingforgold4150]

Hey thanks for the video just a quick question does the rack still in good condition because i really like that bike rack but is rated to carry 120 lbs or 60 lbs for each tray and those ebike together are 180 lbs please let me know how it goes so i can try it, thanks.

[@goodnluckyone4447]

Thank you for another good and helpful video. I wish you had shown us how you got that first bike on the rack because that hook bar effectively interferes with using the method you demonstrated with the second bike.

[@똠양꿍-r8b]

Muy contento con el producto, funciona perfectamente e incluso tiene mas potencia de la que pensaba que podria tener.

[@cappyjobe]

Hello. I order a few things from your video about your dad’s Ebike and motor home. Particularly the Thule T2 Pro bike carrier. Do you know if he is using a particular lock to keep it secured to the motor home hitch? Is there a particular brand or model of hitch lock you recommend? Thank you.

[@pauldershem]

We have the Thule EZfold, and two RADCity step-thrus. Works great, with no top bar needed.

[@LegacyFarmandHomestead]

I'm a semi truck driver and I'm trying to decide between a radrunner plus and mount it on my trucks catwalk or a radmini that I take inside the truck.

[@EPSTomcat11]

Good little tips! Would this rack type work for those long banana seat type ebikes/emopeds like the Super 73, Bandit, Hyperscorpion, the Rize Blade, etc.. ? These weigh upwards of 70lbs and tend to have a longer wheelbase, right?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Good question, some of those have longer wheelbase, which means part of the bike can hang odd the rack. I usually list the wheelbase in my reviews to help figure this out. My immediate thoughts are that yes, most of the bikes you mentioned would work as Ling as it’s the inside bike and ideally you’d remove the battery to lighten the load ;)

[@EPSTomcat11]

@@ElectricBikeReview - thanks for the quick response, and also for listing the wheelbase specs on your site - will take a look.

[@shawnrobson513]

Just a question? Why wouldn't you tilt the Thule T2 Pro XTR down so you don't have to life so high. Also I was thinking you could use the walk feature and drive it up into the tire basket?

[@DelfinFoto]

Simple technique yet so effective. Thanks!

[@missioncreekstyle3814]

Any ideas for getting an electric bike onto a commuter train with high steps, etc. a la San Francisco's aging CalTrain?

[@Im1234and5]

Some busses only allow skinny bike wheels to fit on the bus rack.What's the names of the bus racks that can fit fat tire bikes and skinny bike wheels.But how can I put a fat tire bike on the bus if it don't fit.It should be something that can tie it down secure ?

[@ivanh3]

I would not use that hitch riser. That add leverage to the mounting point of the hitch and decreases the weight capacity of the hitch.

[@mrinmoyhossain1825]

Review Sondors Madmods.

[@plevine1]

What can people that lease their vehicle or the vehicle doesn't support a hitch use to transport their ebike?

[@oscaspunkja]

That's a good advise, just one thing remember to lift most of the weight with your legs and not with your abdomen

[@Gary_Daytona]

Dumb question probably but besides the load weight of a 50 lb. bike farther from the hitch, why would you want to move the 1st bike OVER the top of the outside bike holder and put it on the inside toward the car? From a loading standpoint, it seems to double the amount of lifting and adjusting if you have a single bike. Any advantage to that on short trips? TIA

[@DrCory48]

Good video

[@hahafalseflag5090]

you gotta talk your parents into getting e-trikes.. there's no balancing or anything.. just riding a recliner and living the dream.

[@michaelstueben2880]

That is NOT it. You MUST secure the arm-with-hook to the bike either with a bungee cord (my preference), or the built-in cable (too short). I failed to do this and the arm fell down and my bike dragged on the pavement. This advice is vital.

[@johnwilson7809]

The $170 Harbor Freight motorcycle car rack has a ramp. These $600 and $700 racks don't. Hmmmm, which to buy?

[@dianeluciano2468]

I thought that type of rack couldn’t be used with the rad city step through bikes because of the fenders.

[@billsstudio2528]

I just got the Thule T2 Pro XTR and I have a Vado 4.0 and a Rad City 3. Both fit easily. Manual says front tire clamp should not be greater than 1" from forks, but I haven't had an issue yet. You can always take off fender, but mine is pretty secure. I'll probably add an extra tie down at first.

[@davidmandle317]

I have a Saris Superclamp HD with Specialized Vado/Como M/S and the bikes tend to creep ever so slightly (despite the wheel straps) when the tire grabber hooks are located at the front fender top. Better to remove those front fenders, especially for a long trip. I also need to position seat-to-seat/bar-to-bar in order to be able to optimally locate the grabbers on that front tire (different bike lengths). I also use two strips of plastic upholstery sponge 12x2” approx 1.5” thick positioned over and under each rear fender at the grabber to protect the fender and better support the bikes.

[@BLUEKNlFE]

@@davidmandle317 great idea about using the sponge. if I understood correctly, by doing so you don't need to remove the front fender right? what about the front light mounted of top of front fender ?. thanks!

[@DYNABIKE1]

Did You forget how easy it is to pop that heavy suspension seat and post off the bike ???

[@KubotaManDan]

You spoke about how heavy our ebikes are but no mention about a 65 pound weight for the rack and how the hell an old guy without a garage is supposed to manage it, please add this needed information in your videos

[@PebblesPages]

Why didn't you show yourself loading the first bike?

[@jpalmer1967]

I'm NOT removing fenders and lights to load my bike for travel. Get real. LOL!

[@davidwillett53]

Awesome

[@sonerila6987]

You're still lifting a heavy load. I keep looking for a way to buy an e-bike, but I either have to have the Thule rack live on my car or not buy a bike. I can't lift the Thule rack. The ramps that come with the Thule & a few other racks, are the perfect answer, but unfortunately, the rack is way too heavy for me to handle. I need a lighter weight rack with ramps. Don't think they exist, but they should. There are far too many cyclists who are older and/or have issues with lifting.

[@randyjones7251]

Why not show how to load the first bike?

[@do-ineedtosay723]

I wanted to see you load the first bike that's closest to the vehicle. Until there is a bike rack that's made for "grandma and grandpa" like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boi3dJluaJp5qM0 people will just have to have a strong friend nearby.

[@woundedtiger7547]

Nice feature. Wash those bikes. 😆lol.

[@michaelaronhalt5877]

That rake is not rated to carry those bikes. It has a 120 lb limit.

[@SarasotaTim]

$700 bike rack!? You can’t hide money ha ha. They are nice but I bought something very similar from Walmart called a fultyme RV for $120 fits up to 5 inch wide tires. 😎

[@butchie2752]

Nice bike rack, but…$800?

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

I hate to say.. But you can't cover the plate on a vehicle. So you must move the plate.

[@kenswireart88]

bro reviews a lot of $5000 and up ebikes. im assuming that rad,.that's just a dessert.

[@pricetag30]

Workout!

[@gurupurkha]

Tip: Lift weights at the gym.

[@davidmurphy291]

Unfortunately, it seems that from the owners manual for that particular rack, you have loaded the bike improperly. The hook arm over the front tire must be within 1” of the top of the forks…. I.e. the front wheel fender MUST be removed. Many ebike ‘platform’ racks are NOT compatible with bike fenders. Some are (like the “center hook” that you mention). To anyone watching….. make sure to follow your owners manual …..

[@NicChristie]

is it absolutely necessary to have it so close to the hitch, if other straps are used in addition?

[@417cycleguy]

What a joke presentation You should have shown BOTH MOUNTS as well as DISMOUNTS

[@user-vn9js9yn1j]

So the tip is spend 1000 dollars for the hitch and the rack. Thanks

[@sixdust]

How is it this channels fault it costs $650 for a rack and $125 for a hitch?

[@readyplayer2]

Or, keep an eye out for used racks. I bought our Thule platform rack on Craigslist last fall for about 50% off.

[@thevorias]

i know im just inquiring because i want to drive from portland to bay area for a month and have my ebike...wondering if its worth it...hmmmmm.single mature female...