This is a great rack if you need access to the rear tailgate. I considered pretty much every rack out there. All of them have trade-offs. I didn’t want to remove a wheel then climb on the roof to mount each bike. I also didn’t want to have the bikes in the way when I needed to get something out of the trunk (that happens quite a bit with kids on a road trip). I looked at the models that fold down. That’s a great idea, unless you have the rack loaded. 4 bikes can be 120 – 140 lbs. That’s a little much for some folks to lift up. Besides, just lowering the rack doesn’t give great access to the rear since you still have to step around the rack.
On to the Revolver, which is almost perfect. My mountain bike has the cables running under the main tube. That means that I have to put a protective cloth between the cables and the tube or the cables would rub the paint. Obviously that’s not Thule’s fault. That’s it though as far as negatives. It’s the best rack I’ve seen (the Swing Daddy by Yakima seems to be a clone, but it has some issues). The Thule Revolver does everything! It includes the anti sway cages that lock the bikes in place really well. It includes a lock that secures the frame (someone could still steal the wheels so a second lock could be used. It includes an anti-sway hitch pin w/ lock that snugs the mount to the hitch. The swing-away works so easily anyone can use it.
If I didn’t need to get into my trunk, if I wanted to remove wheels and mount to the roof, if I wanted my bikes banged up I’d have gone with something else.
Product Features
- New Improved swing away design for rear vehicle access
- Hitch Switch quick-release lever for fast storage of bike carrier arms
- Carries up to 4 bikes- 2″ hitch only
- Integrated locking cable stores conveniently in carrier
- No Sway Cage prevents bike to bike contact
What’s in the box
- 964 Revolver hitch mount bike rack
- All necessary mounting hardware and securing straps
- STL2 hitch lock
- Locking cable
- Lock keys
- Instruction guide