HELP! Ordering the 1UP Hitch Bike Rack with the LONG Draw-Tite (from UHAUL)

[Pancho Kornwallace]

HELP!

I just need validation for what I am doing. And let me know if I have any blind spots in my analysis.

I am getting single 1UP hitch rack PLUS an add on bike tray (so I can hold 2 bikes) with a Draw-Tite LONG hitch (installed from UHAUL, it sticks out about 4 inches under the spare tire). Image of rack shown. Source: https://www.1up-usa.com/product/2in-super-duty-single-bike-rack/. $210 for the hitch plus another $700 for the rack plus add on tray for the second bike.
- I am not expecting to need an extender or swing away for the bike rack even though I have to clear the spare tire
- I expect to be able to open the rear door with the bike off and the rack in the down position.
- It looks more "custom fit" than any other rack with the spare tire that I have seen. Let's face it, I am vain. I think it will look good enough for me to just keep it on in the summer all the time.
- Someone said "buy once, cry once". I am certainly crying over this $900+ expense. Hopefully this saying is true.

Considerations:
- I could have DIYed the Draw-Tite Hitch, but for about $70 more. I am getting installation, no need to buy or rent a torque wrench and UHAUL is giving me a lifetime warranty that includes rust and even if the rack gets hit. Seems worth it, as the install would include finagling bolts and making sure that I can make that torque wrench work with limited clearance. I am already DIY-ing for my pinch seam weld and side steps, so I am "saving" money there.
- I was considering a Kuat double rack at HALF the price of my 1Up set up, but it would be heavier, take up more room and am not sure if it will fold down enough to open the door fully. Plus its capacity per bike is less than 50lbs. Though my two bikes are less than 50lbs, maybe they won't be in the future and also I would rather have something over-engineered that could literally fly off the back of my Bronco.
- The "long hitch" will stick out and maybe I will damage my fragile shin. On the other hand, I do often need to tie my shoes when going for a walk, and this seems like the perfect place to do that.
- I could have saved $60 and got the "Quik" Rack from 1Up. However, it uses an adapter (from the 1.25 inch hitch) and a Velcro strap back up thing that does not inspire confidence with me. Anyone get that one for a Bronco? Would love to know.

What do you think? Did I make the right choice? As a Scorpio, I need validation from others to justify my decisions. I will keep you posted as to how it turns out.

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[ATLBronco75]

You didn't give us enough information. I don't know what your hitch or extender looks like. I have a regular hitch and a 7" hitch extender that I use with my 1up rack. I can open the rear if I drop it down.

 

[Pancho Kornwallace]

You didn't give us enough information. I don't know what your hitch or extender looks like. I have a regular hitch and a 7" hitch extender that I use with my 1up rack. I can open the rear if I drop it down.

I will have NO hitch extender. Here is the Hitch (it extends 4 inches under the stape tire and should be long enough to have no hitch extender and fit perfectly): https://www.trailerjacks.com/traile...NAnthmTltwpqmFFfqtrcgIzoDlPwkITEaAtT0EALw_wcB

 

[ATLBronco75]

Depending on your spare tire size that might not be long enough. I’ll go measure mine.

 

[ATLBronco75]

12 inches from the back crossmember, and it really couldn’t be any shorter and still work.

 

[Ibuprofen3293]

You didn't give us enough information. I don't know what your hitch or extender looks like. I have a regular hitch and a 7" hitch extender that I use with my 1up rack. I can open the rear if I drop it down.

If the extension had a 2" drop, would it let the swing gate open when the rack is in normal "in use" position?

 

[Pancho Kornwallace]

I have ordered the LONG HITCH and will put it in myself. The Local UHAUL installer guy quit.
Got myself a new tool too... a Torque Wrench.
I will let everyone know how it went with the NEW 1up Bike Rack and the new Trek E-Bike.

 

[Pancho Kornwallace]

If the extension had a 2" drop, would it let the swing gate open when the rack is in normal "in use" position?

Not sure. There is some geometry there where the rack goes UP from where it attaches to the hitch. You can special order the plates reversed to make it go down, but that would impact clearance in the back.

 

[Pancho Kornwallace]

12 inches from the back crossmember, and it really couldn’t be any shorter and still work.

Worked here (perhaps it will extend a little further than 4"?
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/draw-tite-hitch-1up-bike-rack.61901/

 

[Lonestar777]

Worked here (perhaps it will extend a little further than 4"?
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/draw-tite-hitch-1up-bike-rack.61901/

I think you'll probably be fine. The 1Up doesn't just have a hole for the hitch pin to go through, it has a slot so you can adjust how far it's extended. The question I have in the thread you linked is whether there is truly enough room to flip the rack when not carrying the bike. The guy in that other thread just said he only had the rack attached when carrying a bike. I think if you stick with the stock base wheels you'd be ok, but if you get a wider spare tire you may need a hitch extension.

 

[Lonestar777]

In the thread you linked look at this diagram. Look at "storage position" and see where the edge of the rack is in relation to the end of the plates. Looks like .4" (3.5" minus 3.1").

Now look at this pic of the rack installed. The edge of the rack plates looks like they are more than .4" under the tire. However, that rack is inserted into the extension as far as possible. With the slot I think there will be just enough flexibility to pull the rack out a bit so you can flip it up when you don't have bikes on it.

 

[mingya]

My 1Up (double w/ two add ons) is on an extender with a drop. Will get a picture later on and post with some rough measurements of extension and drop. Going from my memory only at the moment, extension was needed for me to fold rack up when not in use and clear the spare, and the drop allowed me to open the tailgate and clear the rack when rack is down (no bikes on).

 

[Shane78]

I know you didn’t ask for this at all, and I apologize, but you could just buy a Kuat pivot. Love mine. I think Yakima makes one too.

 

[mingya]

My 1Up (double w/ two add ons) is on an extender with a drop. Will get a picture later on and post with some rough measurements of extension and drop. Going from my memory only at the moment, extension was needed for me to fold rack up when not in use and clear the spare, and the drop allowed me to open the tailgate and clear the rack when rack is down (no bikes on).

Update with pics and some actual measurements. Extension is about 10.5", drop is 6" CTC. tailgate clears by more than an inch I'd say. I remembered on the ride home that this set up was in place on my wrangler pre-bronco and was just carried over, and luckily worked out just fine.

 

[Pancho Kornwallace]

I know you didn’t ask for this at all, and I apologize, but you could just buy a Kuat pivot. Love mine. I think Yakima makes one too.

Like what you got. Looks like a great setup!

It is too much hardware for me. I am looking for an easy on/off piece that I can literally put in the limited space in the back of my Bronco when I am not using it. I just got the 1up boxes (have not opened it yet). BOTH the rack and the add on for a second bike fit in the back with the seats up.

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