Thule Apex XT Swing 4 Bike Rack

I spent 7,000 miles over three months cruising with this rack on the back of my pickup. Swing was necessary for the ability to open the tailgate flat and I mostly carried one mountain bike, sometimes two.PROS:Sturdy factor is pretty good. The little buckles stay secure, the lock remained easy to maneuver. If I used the swing arm, the bike sat really nicely on the side of my truck bed.CONS:The screw to unhitch the swing portion is in a little bit of an annoying location (long arms might have an easier time) and often gave me a grease spot right above my knee. Not the worst thing in the world.BIKE FIT:I had a 2017 Specialized Women's Pitch racked on this and the top tube was just a little too wide/square to sit perfectly in it's nest on the rack. It never ... MoreI spent 7,000 miles over three months cruising with this rack on the back of my pickup. Swing was necessary for the ability to open the tailgate flat and I mostly carried one mountain bike, sometimes two.PROS:Sturdy factor is pretty good. The little buckles stay secure, the lock remained easy to maneuver. If I used the swing arm, the bike sat really nicely on the side of my truck bed.CONS:The screw to unhitch the swing portion is in a little bit of an annoying location (long arms might have an easier time) and often gave me a grease spot right above my knee. Not the worst thing in the world.BIKE FIT:I had a 2017 Specialized Women's Pitch racked on this and the top tube was just a little too wide/square to sit perfectly in it's nest on the rack. It never slipped out (even on some very bumpy roads) but I could see it being a rubbing issue between bike frame and strap if you have a really square or oversized top tube.

I've owned this rack for over four years now without any significant issues. Following the instructions carefully is important. I'll agree that getting it together is a bit time consuming, but for us it works perfectly as advertised. We own several bikes and do many road camping/riding trips with 4 adult road,mountain.and/or gravel bikes loaded. To do so without scratching a frame requires some creativity with various sizes of velcro straps to secure the front wheel to the frame. Frame stabilizers are provided with the rack and work well. Again, read the instructions thoroughly and search for YouTube videos. While on a recent road trip, I was rear ended by another vehicle with the rack in place with only my Salsa Journeyman aboard. The bike and rack were terminally ... MoreI've owned this rack for over four years now without any significant issues. Following the instructions carefully is important. I'll agree that getting it together is a bit time consuming, but for us it works perfectly as advertised. We own several bikes and do many road camping/riding trips with 4 adult road,mountain.and/or gravel bikes loaded. To do so without scratching a frame requires some creativity with various sizes of velcro straps to secure the front wheel to the frame. Frame stabilizers are provided with the rack and work well. Again, read the instructions thoroughly and search for YouTube videos. While on a recent road trip, I was rear ended by another vehicle with the rack in place with only my Salsa Journeyman aboard. The bike and rack were terminally damaged, but I was impressed by how well the rack held up. The part that secures the rack to the hitch receiver came out undamaged, speaking to the strength of the rack to carry a load. I'm replacing it because the impact bent it up against my tailgate and cannot be repaired. For our travelling system, the Thule Apex XT Swing is indispensable. It's unfortunate that some rate this rack very low. It's a solid 5 star for us!!!

I bought this rack in April 2020. There were four of us in lockdown, we all had bikes, and we needed a way to transport them if we wanted a change of scenery. The rack has been a mainstay ever since. Works just like advertised. The swing function is great. Installation is straightforward. Love the locking cable for added security when out and about with the bike on the rack. I read through many of the 1 star reviews as I am recommending this to a neighbor who asked me for the model. The only conclusions I can come up with for the poor reviews are (in order of decreasing likelihood): 1. User error 2. Newer ones are not made as well 3. I lucked out and got a peach instead of a lemon. Obviously, my vote is user error. It does take some effort to lock the stem into the ... MoreI bought this rack in April 2020. There were four of us in lockdown, we all had bikes, and we needed a way to transport them if we wanted a change of scenery. The rack has been a mainstay ever since. Works just like advertised. The swing function is great. Installation is straightforward. Love the locking cable for added security when out and about with the bike on the rack. I read through many of the 1 star reviews as I am recommending this to a neighbor who asked me for the model. The only conclusions I can come up with for the poor reviews are (in order of decreasing likelihood): 1. User error 2. Newer ones are not made as well 3. I lucked out and got a peach instead of a lemon. Obviously, my vote is user error. It does take some effort to lock the stem into the trailer hitch but it is solid for me. Make sure you buy the correct sized product for your hitch. You do have to turn a couple of handle bars 90 degrees when loading up 4 adult mountain bikes. Have never had a problem with the straps. They are easy to use and keep the bike secure. Bottom line: my expectations were exceeded and I have over two years of regular usage with the utmost satisfaction.