I bought this bike rack for my 2013 Honda CRV (LX). I had gone to the Allen Sports website to verify that it would fit and it seemed like a great value and something that would work perfectly for me. I debated whether to purchase a one or two bike rack as I am the only one that rides, but I ended up opting for the two bike rack hopipng that my spouse would (at some point) become interested in riding as well. I will try to give some tips that will hopefully help you decide if this is a good fit for you, and also some tips on how to best use it:
1. Check the Allen Sports website to see if it will fit your particular vehicle. DO NOT take it at face value when reviewers on here say it DOES or DOES NOT fit a certain vehicle. They may not know how to install it, or they may be installing it incorrectly (i.e. unsafely) in order to ‘make’ it work.
2. The instructions for mounting the rack are fairly good but you really have to read them closely - ESPECIALLY when it comes to the bottom hook. The top and side hooks are fairly logical and self-explanatory… although make sure you use the correct hooks for top and side. The top hooks are bigger/wider than the side hooks, and the side hooks are also labeled.
3. KEY for certain vehicles - this is the issue that ALMOST made me think that this wouldn’t work for me (even though Allen Sports said it would). The bottom hook has several ways to be utilized, depending on your vehicle. The main issue is whether you have something metal to clip the hook to. Today many bumpers, and even the bottom of cargo doors are a hardened plastic, OR they have no ‘lip’ over which to clip the hook. This was the case for me… and even though I read the alternate ways to solidly connect the bottom hook, it wasn’t apparent to me at first. Ultimately, you don’t really connect that bottom hook TO anything, but instead open the trunk/cargo door slightly and put the hook inside and close the trunk/cargo door back, which secures the hook inside the vehicle and you just tighten the strap.
4. Depending on your car, and on your risk tolerance, you may want to consider using electrical tape around the hooks (some or all, depending on your vehicle) to help cushion and protect any paint. Since my vehicle is a 2013 it wasn’t an issue I was particularly concerned with but I did go ahead and opt to do it - figured it was easy to do and certainly wouldn’t hurt anything by doing it.
5. Definitely do something to secure the tires, to keep them from spinning, and inthe case of the front tire, to keep it from swiveling and hitting the vehicle. You can use the excess on the tie down straps, or just use a bungee cord.
The rack works perfectly on my Honda CRV and is actually even more steady/firm than I was expecting. Overall I could not be more pleased and am ready to hit the road!
| Manufacturer | Allen Sports |
|---|---|
| Brand | Allen |
| Model | 104DB-R |
| Item Weight | 6.4 ounces |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | 104DB-R |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 104DB-R |
| Special Features | Foldable |
