Softride - HD 4 Bike Rack

Description

• Unique Patented Parallelogram Design
• QuietRide™ Anti-Rattle Technology
• Accommodates Children & Adult Bicycles

The Softride HD 4-Bike Rack features a powder-coated steel construction for the best in strength and corrosion resistance. A unique patented parallelogram design operated by a spring loaded pull pin release allows for easy up and down maneuverability and superior rear vehicle access.

QuietRide™ Locking & Tightening Anti-Rattle Technology and padded anti-sway cradles with rubber straps keeps your bicycles solidly and quietly mounted to your vehicle. Rack arms are removable and stow out of the way. Comes equipped with a cable lock and a super reinforced top plate.

Rack load specifications:
• Holds Four Bikes or 160 lbs
• For Class II or higher receivers
• Weighs 39 lbs

Patent # 5,181,822 / Patent Pending
Designed in Bellingham, Washington

Softride's Patented Paralellogram Design

 

Product Reviews

Customer Reviews

Customer Rating:  4.8 stars based on 4 reviews

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Customer Rating: Worth the wait... By - Works just like advertised. Shipping was alittle slow but it was free. Should be a good rack for many years. It is very heavy duty. Customer Rating: Very nice rack! By D. Mckenney Took this to Colorado for some mountain biking and it was excellent. A little work to get it mounted on the SUV, but when it is on, it is on. Bikes felt very secure and the best design I have found if you want to get to your stuff without taking the bikes off. You don't have to lift the bikes so high when you load them either. Very good purchase. Customer Rating: Decent rack if you have patience and modify it a bit By D. Hook After comparing this product with Thule racks, I was persuaded to purchase the Softride mainly because of how it opens parallel to the ground for easy bike loading. I opted for the HD version for extra durability. Pros: The rack does lower to a level where it the bike does not have to be lifted above shoulder-height for most adults, and since the arms stay parallel to the ground, the bike stays perpendicular to the ground the entire time. While driving, I do not hear any rattling, and the rack only quietly vibrates back and forth from the movement of the vehicle. This rack gets the job done and gets easier with practice. It does take a bit of strength to raise and lower though. Cons: The plastic tie down straps that help secure the bike frame to the rack arms are terribly difficult to use. Either the holes need to be larger or the straps more pliable as it is very frustrating to try to attach them to the arms each time the bike is loaded and unloaded. I did not realize that the other version of this rack (the non heavy duty version) comes equipped with anti-sway cradles - my own fault (FYI - this HD rack is supposedly being phased out). To compensate, I use a bungee cord to strap the lower bike frame to the vertical part of the rack so the bike does not sway forward and backward with vehicle movements. To prevent the bike frame from scratching, I padded the vertical bike rack bar with black foam pipe insulation strapped on with plastic tie-downs. The locking pin that secures the rack to the vehicle's hitch is not long enough to go through both sides of my 2" hitch. I ended up purchasing a longer locking hitch from WalMart for around $22. As with most racks, women's and children's bikes may need a top adapter bar so they can attach to the bike rack. I purchased a Softride adapter bar, and it is very difficult to open (has a tiny button that is very hard to push in) - would not recommend it. Summary: I would recommend the non HD (not heavy duty) Access Dura Softride bike rack since it has anti-sway cradles (though I do not know how well these work). I like the parallel design and sturdy construction, but the tie down straps are difficult to handle. Customer Rating: Great Bike Rack! By S. A. Amman I looked at competing products from Yakima and Thule but really liked the parallelogram design of the Soft Ride. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a retailer in my area to get an idea of just how solid the rack was. I took a chance and ordered it. It is truely a solid unit and I like the fact that I can tilt it down keeping the bikes parallel to the ground. The included hitch lock and bike lock cable (must supply your own padlock) are an added bonus. I highly recommend this product. 1-4 of 4

Compare Softride Racks

Softride Hitch Bike Rack Comparison Guide

Feature	Weight	Hitch-Size	Capacity	Folding	Bike Locking Cable*	Anti Sway Cradle	Hitch Lock
*Pad lock not included with locking cable. **See image below for Feature descriptions.
Access Element	30 lbs	Universal	4
HD	39 lbs	1.25" or 2"	4
Access Dura	39 lbs	1.25" or 2"	4
Access Elite	39 lbs	1.25" or 2"	4

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