Thule Apex Swing 4-Bike Hitch Rack
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The Thule Apex Swing 4-bike hitch rack carries 4 bikes and is easy to load and unload, thanks to a unique arc design that provides better ground clearance and creates greater distance between bikes.
Shop similar products- Increased mast height improves ground clearance and a unique arc design in mast and arms offers easy bike loading and carrying
- Swing-away design allows a fully loaded hitch rack to swing away from vehicle providing access to rear of vehicle
- Tilt-down design with Hitch Switchâ„¢ quick-release lever allows arms to fold down when not in use
- Included Snug-Titeâ„¢ Stinger receiver lock secures your rack to the car receiver; 4 walls of fastening contact within receiver eliminate vertical and horizontal movement
- New Hold Fast Cradles are shaped to cushion bike frames and feature Thermal Plastic Elastomer (TPE) road damping pads that absorb road forces and vibrations to protect bikes
- Anti-Sway Cages with integrated soft-touch TPE strips protect bike frame finishes and prevent bike-to-bike and bike-to-vehicle contact; reinforced rubber cradle straps
- Thule Apex Swing 4 accommodates 2 in. receiver hitches
- Integrated locking cable secures bikes and stores conveniently in the rack's support arms
- Easy mounting of hitch rack requires no tools; push rack into receiver until auto-pin engages, tighten knob and lock the hood of the housing
- Not intended for tandem or recumbent bikes; carrying bikes with step-through frames requires the purchase of an adapter (sold separately)
Made in USA.
| Best Use | Cycling |
|---|---|
| Number of Bikes | 4-bike |
| Max Weight Per Bike (lbs) | 35 pounds |
| Hitch Receiver (in.) | Fits 2 inches |
| Integrated Lock | Yes |
| Weight | 56 pounds |
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Nice Rack!!!
My son and I compete in triathlons and this rack is perfect for our bikes. It was easy to install, however, pay very close attention to the directions if adding the conversion piece for the larger 2.5" hitch. I put it on wrong the first time and had to re-assemble. Not hard, but time consuming. 3 bikes will fit perfect but 4, depending on type and size, will take some creative aligning. Our first road trip was to the coast and there was no wobble or instability and same for recent shorter trips to competition. The locking cable feature is nice for added security if you have to leave the bike(s) racked and unattended for a period of time.
Mostly great.
I can easily fit three of our four bikes on this rack. The smallest bike is not long enough for the two support bars to fit through the frame. I believe there is some adapter that can be purchased separately, but I might just continue to put the small bike in the trunk. I'm using this on an Outback. I would buy it again if I needed another. It is very sturdy. The swinging feature is very convenient, especially at a rest stop when we need something out of the trunk. The cable lock is a great security feature. Only four stars because I wasn't expecting that the small bike wouldn't fit. At least she'll outgrow it in a few years.
Very impressed!
I bought this bike rack before a week vacation on Cape Cod. This vacation we decided to bring the bikes and both of our 100 lb. labs that normally get loaded in the back of the van. Found this to be the perfect solution! I was able to fit three bikes on that were boy's bikes. The fourth bike was a girls mountain bike that I just coudldn't seem to fit on. I talked to the sales rep at REI after my vacation and he sold me an adapter for the girls bike made by Thule for about $36.00. I haven't used the adapter yet but he said it goes on the girls bike from the handlebar shaft to the seat tube to simulate a bar stright across. Hopefully this will help! Very satisfied.
Defective parts
Was all excited to get the rack home and put it together. After I had everything unpacked and started on the first step, swing arm assembly, I discovered the 5.5" bolt would not go through the needed hole. The hole on the top of the pivot point side of the swing arm assembly is just a fraction too small, see attached picture. If I had a drill press I could probably fix it myself, but since it is new I would prefer it work properly from the manufacturer. Thule just recommended that I exchange the rack at REI and hope that the new one was manufactured correctly.
Great!
Thanks to the one who returned their rack to REI. I bought mine at the REI Garage Sale for a bargain. Just carried 4 bikes on a 4 hour trip (each way) on our Highlander. Worked great. You do have to take care when going over bumps, but that's true with any bike carrier. Carried 2 adult mountain bikes, one women's hybrid with an adapter and one 24" kids mountain bike. The 24" was tricky to load because there's not enough clearance between the bars on the bike. An adapter didn't help. I was able to make it work by putting one of the rack bars between the rear tire and vertical bar. Not perfect, but it held. No bikes shifted during transit. The swing mechanism worked great for loading other stuff through the rear door.
Love This Rack
Bought this rack to haul my tri-bike on the back of my Expedition on a trip through Wyoming and South Dakota. I absolutely LOVE the stability of this rack. The design allows you to expand the hitch slide so it fits like a glove and is extremely stable. The extra lock cable doesn't to a whole lot, but the other tie downs for the bike are very tight, but won't harm the bike itself. I got the 4 bike one so I can take my kids' bikes on trips and it holds them with no problem. The swing out works great and I can lift the entire liftgate of my Expedition without having to remove the hitch. Great product.
Perfect for family of 4
Alright, it's tricky to get 4 bikes on, but once you have that Jenga figured out, the rack is fantastic. It does have a little bounce when driving over bumps and initially made us a little nervous, but the rack itself is extremely sturdy and the bikes themselves did not budge. If for some reason (and I'm sure this is not recommended) you have to open the rack with the bikes on it, it can be difficult to get the pin back in. It took both my husband and I to get it so it is possible, just a pain. Overall, excellent bike rack.
Love the swing!
I purchased the swing after spending about 2 months contemplating between the swing and the hinge. I couldn't be happier with my choice. I was concerned about the weight, but after caring both to my car (long story) it really isn't that much different. The big difference is the ease of moving the hitch out of the way so I can access my back end. I just got this a week ago, and while I haven't been riding yet, I had the rack on my car from REI to my house and for a few days. While running errands it was so easy to get in and out of the car. I'm hoping to go riding this weekend. I know I made the right choice and would highly recommend this product to anyone.
Almost perfect
Thule makes fantastic, rock solid products. I've used them for years and was excited to upgrade my Ridgeline 4 rack to this one for the swing away access. It's perfect in every way but one and I will be returning it because of it. The cable lock is not functional if your bike requires the use of a frame adapter. Unlike the older Thule racks, which had cables on the front and rear of the rack that extend out, this one only extends from the rear and attaches to a fixed point on the front. This works great when attaching the bike directly to the rack, since you automatically get the frame in the loop. But with frame adapters, you have to go down and circle the frame below the rack bars and there is not enough cable to come back up and secure it to the rack. Otherwise it is great.
Solid Mount, Great Construction
I bought this hitch rack to transport 2-3 bikes. I chose it for the access to the hatch gate without removing bikes and because it included all the locks: hitch and a bike cable. The assembly was pretty simple and the expanding hitch mount doesn't allow any play, no wobbling. The cable lock is a good idea and stows away nicely but I wouldn't expect to leave bikes unattended too long. Of course, anyone could steal the wheels, seat and accessories regardless. My only suggestions for improvement are adjustable width for the support arms and more pliable rubber straps. Mountain bikes with any suspension are a problem to fit and the straps are hard to stretch on to the posts. I found a way to get my full-suspension bike on but it's a chore. This rack is pricey but with all the features it is the most complete and access-easy choice.