Editor’s Note: We’ve completely revamped and updated this list for the 2016-2017 season, with more detailed specs and pricing guides!  The racks listed below are hitch racks only.  Also check out our Fat Bike Roof Rack Buying Guide for roof racks that are compatible with fat bikes.  Also note that this post contains affiliate links.*

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Because fat bikes have wider tires and are usually heavier than your average mountain bike, many mountain bike vehicle racks are not compatible with fat bikes without modification.  Also a lot of frame mount racks like the Thule Apex 4 tend to rub and scratch the paint on your fat bike especially if you have more than one bike on the rack.

With how much a fat bike frame costs, it sucks when you get large scratches or gouges.  Wheel mount racks like the Thule T2 are the preferred rack for many bikers because they secure the bike to the vehicle grabbing only the bike’s wheels.

The problem however is that majority of wheel mount racks have trays with straps that hold the front and rear tires. These trays were not designed to hold 4-5 inch wide tires.  However as fat bikes have become more popular, many vehicle rack companies started selling adapter parts to accommodate fat tire bikes.

If you are in the market to buy a new bike rack for your fat bike, here are some options organized from lowest to highest price point. (Note that prices are subject to change and are accurate as of the date of posting.)

Hollywood Racks Trail Rider: Retail starting at $199.99

Hollywood Racks makes the Trail Rider rack which retails for $199.99 for a two-bike system.  In order to use the Trail Rider with your fat bike, you will also have to purchase the Fat Tire Wheel Holder ($59.95) for each bike.  

The rack fits both 1-¼ inch and 2 inch hitches, and the bikes are secured by a padded top clamp and wheel holders.  The rack does not come with a locking hitch pin or cable, but both can be purchased separately.

Saris Freedom: Retail starting at $259.99

Saris makes the Freedom 2-Bike ($259.99) and the Freedom 4-Bike ($519.99).  The Freedom 2 is compatible with 1 ¼ inch and 2 inch hitch receivers, whereas the Freedom 4 is only compatible with 2 inch.  Note that the Freedom 2-Bike rack comes with a plastic 2 inch hitch adapter, for a weight limit of 35 lbs / bike.  To carry 60 lb bikes, you will need to purchase an aluminum hitch adapter sold separately ($12.99).  

In order to use the Freedom vehicle rack with fat bikes you must purchase the Freedom Fat Tire Wheel Holders ($49.99) for each bike.  One downside of the Freedom rack is that it still mounts to the down tube of the frame rather than just to the wheels.

Buy from Amazon: Saris Freedom 2  or Saris Freedom 4

*Reduced to 35 lbs / bike if using the included plastic hitch adapter on 2 inch hitch receivers.

Watch the video that highlights some of the features of the Saris Freedom rack:

Swagman G10: Retail starting at $297.00

Swagman makes the Swagman G10 which retails for $297.00 for a two bike system.  In order to use the G10 with your fat bike, you will also have to purchase the G10 Fat Bike Wheel Holder ($70.00) for each bike.  The Swagman G10 bike rack is made for 1-¼ inch hitches and can also be made compatible with 2” hitches using an included adapter sleeve.

Ratcheting hooks secure the frames, and wheel cradles slide to accommodate bikes of varying lengths. The rack comes with a hitch lock and cable lock to secure the bikes to the rack and the rack to the vehicle.  Check out this video of the G10’s features at etrailer.com, where you can also purchase both the rack and fat bike wheel holders.

Buy from Amazon: Swagman G10

Yakima TwoTimer & FourTimer: Retail starting at $299

Yakima has created the TwoTimer ($299) that carries 2 bicycles and FourTimer ($499) that carries 4 bicycles.  In order to use the TwoTimer or FourTimer with your fat bike, you will also have to purchase Fat Straps ($10) for each bike.  One downside of the Yakima racks is that they still mount to the frame rather than just to the wheels.

Buy from Amazon:  Yakima TwoTimer or Yakima FourTimer

1UP USA Quik Racks: Retail starting from $299.00

Check out my full review of the 1UP USA Super Duty Quik Rack.

1UP USA vehicle racks are very popular among the fat biking community because of their sturdy design made from quality materials.  1UP USA is a small company in Wisconsin committed to 100% customer satisfaction.  They make a variety of bike carrying solutions with both hitch mount and roof mount racks. 

Their hitch mount racks start at $299 for their Single Bicycle Quik Rack.  All of their racks can be fat bike compatible by including the Fat Tire Spacer Kit ($34) for each bike.  

The Quik Rack and Super Duty Quik Rack come in single-bike and double-bike models that can be expanded with add-ons (sold separately).    

North Shore Racks: Retail starting at $419

The North Shore Rack is the only rack on this list where your bike is mounted a little differently.  Instead of the bikes being mounted horizontally, they are mounted vertically.  In my opinion, if you want to haul more than two bikes on a rack, this is the way to do it.  

Because the mounting mechanism is independent of wheel width, the North Shore Rack works well for fat bikes.  North Shore Rack offers three racks: NSR 2-Bike ($419.99), NSR 4-Bike ($569.00), NSR 6-Bike ($759.99).  The NSR 2-Bike is compatible with both 1 ¼ and 2 inch hitch receivers and the NSR 4 and NSR 6 use 2 inch.  Unfortunately, North Shore Racks are not compatible with road bikes or any bike with a fork mounted fender.

Check out their video on how to load bicycles on North Shore Racks: 

Saris SuperClamp: Retail starting at $429.99

Saris also makes the Freedom SuperClamp rack which retails for $429.99 for a two-bike system or $799.99 for a four-bike system.  In order to use the SuperClamp with your fat bike, you will also have to purchase the Fat Tire Wheel Holder ($49.99) for each bike.  The rack fits both 1-¼ inch and 2 inch hitches and includes a locking hitch pin and integrated locking cable. The no-frame-contact design secures the bikes by the tires only using ratcheting hooks.

Buy from Amazon:  Saris Freedom SuperClamp 2 or Saris Freedom SuperClamp 4

Check out the video:

Thule T2: Retail starting at $449.95

Thule makes the Thule T2 916XTR which retails for $449.95 for a two bike system.  In order to use the T2 with your fat bike, you will also have to purchase the Fat Tire Kit 919 ($49.95) for each bike. You can purchase the Thule T2 that is compatible with either a 1 ¼ inch or a 2 inch hitch adapter.  If you order the 2 inch, you can order the Thule T2 918XTR which upgrades the Thule T2 to hold 4 bikes. The Thule T2 918XTR retails at $329.95.  A very nice feature of the T2 is the Secure Hook integrated locking system with a built in cable lock.

Buy from Amazon: Thule 916XTR T2

Kuat The NV: Retail starting at $549.00

Kuat makes The NV which retails for $549 for a two bike system.  The rack can accommodate up to 4 inch tires, although you’ll also need a Wheel Strap Extension ($15) for each bike. You can purchase the NV rack that is compatible with either a 1-½ inch or a 2 inch hitch adapter. Bikes are mounted with front and rear tire ratchets, and the rack comes with an integrated cable lock and hitch lock.  

One cool feature of the NV is the built-in TRAIL DOC™ repair stand that you can use to fix your bike on the go. The NV can be expanded to hold up to 4 bikes with the NV Add-On (only available for 2” model) that retails for $389.

Check out the video on how to use The NV rack:

ISI Carriers: Contact manufacturer for pricing

If you travel some of the roughest terrain on the way to your fat biking trails and require the absolute strongest vehicle rack, then look no further than the ISI Extreme Duty 4×4 Fat Bike Carrier. The tire support cradle supports and stabilizes the wheel at four contact points without the use of straps or buckles.  The Fat Finger frame support cradle is covered in flexible rubber to keep the frame upright.

This design allows the bike to be loaded or unloaded in 30 sec.  ISI makes all of its vehicle racks in Melbourne, Australia.  For orders outside of Australia, contact the manufacturer for more information and pricing.

*Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the Amazon product links and make a purchase based on my referral, I’ll receive a small commission.  

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Josh

Hi I’m Josh. I grew up in the Twins Cities and as a kid I rode my bike all over the west metro area, in addition to fixing up bikes for myself and others. Through these experiences, I developed a life-long passion for biking. Since then, I received a B.S. in Physics from Bethel University and met my wife Santi. When I was in college, I spent a lot of time building and collecting bikes in our tiny one-bedroom apartment in St. Paul. At one point, we had at least 6 bikes stuffed into the apartment. I’d have a bike build in progress on the floor of the living room and the rest of the bikes hanging on DIY storage racks. I built my first fat bike, a Salsa Mukluk 2, in that apartment. I’m currently working on an Alubooyah Fat Bike build.

Latest posts by Josh (see all)

• Hauling Fat Bikes: Buying Guide to Fat Bike Hitch Racks - January 30, 2017
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