Keep your hitch-mounted bike carrier locked down and wobble-free. The Curt 18050 support strap wraps around your vehicle body or bumper and cinches the rack tight, eliminating the flex and sway that can damage bikes and scratch paint on long hauls. At 61 inches, it reaches comfortably across most vehicle styles, and the vinyl-coated hook protects your finish at the anchor point.
Hitch-mounted bike racks are built to tow, but they rely on the hitch receiver alone for their mounting point. On rough roads or at highway speed, that single connection point allows the rack -- and your bikes -- to sway and bounce. Curt designed the 18050 strap to add a second point of contact that transfers rack movement directly to the vehicle body, dramatically reducing that motion.
The strap is nylon webbing for strength and weather resistance, with a hook that is vinyl-coated so it grips your bumper or hatch lip without leaving scratches on the paint. The adjustable length lets you dial in the exact tension needed for your specific rack and vehicle combination.
Creates a second anchor point that dampens fore-and-aft and lateral movement at highway speed, protecting bikes and the vehicle finish.
Vinyl coating on the metal hook cushions contact with painted bumpers, hatch lips, and trim panels so the anchor point stays clean.
Generous length accommodates SUVs, minivans, sedans, and trucks -- enough strap to route around most bumper and hatch configurations.
Recommended for all hitch-mounted bike racks. Required for use with 1-1/4-inch hitch receivers where rack stabilization is critical.
The Curt 18050 is sold individually as a single strap. If your rack or vehicle setup requires more than one support point, order the quantity needed. No additional hardware or mounting brackets are included.
Route the strap from the bike rack frame to a solid anchor point on your vehicle -- typically the lower bumper edge, trailer hitch receiver lip, or hatch latch area. Hook the vinyl-coated end onto the anchor, then take up slack until the rack has minimal play. Do not overtighten to the point of stressing the rack frame.
A bike rack that sways puts cyclic stress on hitch receiver welds, bike frame contact points, and any straps securing the bikes themselves. Over a multi-hour trip, that movement can loosen rack mounting hardware and wear through padded contact pads. The support strap is a simple, low-cost way to protect a significant investment in both bikes and rack hardware.