The new Swagman Summit upright bike rack is their first vertical rack, and it’s purpose built for getting mountain bikes to any trailhead, no matter how rough the access road.
The base model comes with four oversized tire trays that fit up to 5″ tires, holding bikes up to 60lbs each. That covers most modern eMTBs, too, which means very few limitations on the type of MTB you can carry.
An expander kit lets you add two more bikes for a total of six, but maximum per bike weight is reduced to 45lbs each.
The minimum tire size is 1.9″, and it’s designed to carry 26″ to 29″ wheels. It is designed specifically for mountain bikes, but some gravel bikes with tires bulging wider than the rims may work. They’re working on trays for 24″ kids bikes, too.
Ratchet straps hold the tires in the cradles, and ratchet straps hold the rear wheel to the cross bar.
Additional bungie straps hook the pedal spindles to keep each bike steady and prevent pedals from knocking into adjacent bikes. All with no frame or fork contact at all.
The Summit tilts down even when fully loaded, giving you easy access to your tailgate or rear doors. A gas-assist shock makes it easy to raise and lower when loaded. Or just lower it to load the bikes more easily, then lift it up and strap the rear wheels into place.
Swagman Summit pricing & specs
The base rack retails for $899 and weighs 70.9lbs. The two-bike extension kit is $229, and a heavy-duty assist shock upgrade is $27.50.
The Swagman Summit requires a 2″ hitch with Class 3 rating and includes an anti-wobble bolt to keep it steady. A locking hitch pin keeps it securely on your vehicle in rough neighborhoods, and cable loops let you lock your bikes to the rack, too. There’s even a bottle opener.
Be the first to comment