ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Please note before you start: Use caution. This is a heavy duty bike rack and some parts are heavy. Ask for assistance if necessary.
Hardware comes with nuts, washers and lock washers on corresponding hardware.
1. The easiest way to assemble the bike rack is to place bottom hinge bracket (3) into vehicle hitch and secure with hitch pin.
2. Place vertical bar (1) into hinge aligning bottom hole in vertical bar with bottom hole in hinge bracket (3). Make sure top angle will face away from vehicle when raised to vertical position. Insert shoulder bolt (allen head bolt) through bottom hole and secure with lock washer and nut.
3. Raise vertical bar and lock in place with small wire clip pin.
4. Align bottom bar (2) on vertical bar (1) at pre-drilled holes (3 positions available depending on average wheel base length of bicycles being carried) and secure with hex bolt, lock washer and nut.
5. Pull pin from hinge and lower vertical bar placing a support under vertical bar to keep top of vertical bar (1) at an accessible height.
6. Insert top bar (4) into top angle of vertical bar (1) with rubber strip up and secure with hex bolt, lock washer and nut.
7. Install eye bolts with washers lock washer and nuts into bottom bar with loops facing away from vehicle.
8. Install u-bolt in vertical bar above bottom bar for attaching to vehicle with ratchet strap. U-bolt will accept a 1” ratchet strap secured to vehicle. The rack comes with two (2) ratchet straps to secure the bikes to the rack and the rack to the vehicle.
9. Raise bike rack to full upright position and re-insert pin.
10. Bike rack is ready for use.
USE INSTRUCTIONS
Please READ all of the instructions and follow instructions closely as not to damage bikes or your vehicle and insure tight and secure rack.
1. When the rack is empty it can be folded down for access to the rear doors or lift gate of the vehicle. Remember do not attempt to fold the bike rack down after bikes are installed.
2. With bike rack installed and locked in upright position on vehicle place the first bikes’ front wheel on the top bar making sure top bar goes between the spokes at the widest space and the rear tire rests on the bottom bar. Prior to hanging bikes on rack be sure axle nuts are tight on each bike.
3. Move first bike as close to the center of rack as possible.
4. Place the next bike on the opposite side of the rack hanging it from the rear wheel.
5. Continue hanging bikes alternating sides and alternating front and rear wheels on top bar. Rotate pedal crank on each additional bike to fit between bike frame of previous bike.
6. After loading bikes, secure them to the bottom bar with ratchet strap to keep them from swinging and possibly coming off of the rack.
7. Important information to minimize sway of bike rack. If receiver hitch is well used and rack fits loose in receiver use optional u-bolt and ratchet strap (not included) to secure the rack to vehicle to minimize sway. If you decide to attach the rack to a roof rack be sure to attach the ends of the strap to the roof rack corner mounts not the cross bar.
Note: If you have a rear mounted spare tire, the rack can be mounted farther away from the rear of the vehicle by choosing the appropriate hole in the receiver bar.