Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
Biking, especially MTBing, is a special activity and fitness regime of the Fit Fathers staff so it is no wonder that we spent almost every weekend this summer on single tracks. Now that an East Coast autumn is upon us there is probably no place more special than in the woods ripping trails while absorbing pure air and observing Mother Nature’s picturesque panoramas at high speeds. Refreshing, tranquilizing, and energizing is the equation I am always looking for when it’s time to hitch up and roll out. But of course you need a trusted rack to transport your precious cargo from A to B which in our case came in the form of the Thule T2 Pro XT premium, platform hitch bike rack.
The T2 Pro XT holds two bikes up to 60 pounds each (120 pound load capacity total), comes in either a Black or Silver hue, and retails for $579.95. To haul four bikes you need to purchase Thule’s $419.95 T2 Pro XT accessory to add to the T2 Pro XT. The frame is ultra sturdy and highlights two locking mechanisms to allow for lunch at your favorite café or run a few errands after the bike ride without the thought of theft. See, the rack can be installed without tools using the AutoAttach system which locks to the hitch using the lock knob. Additionally, the frame-free ratcheting arm keeps the front tire in place — after it is set in the wheel basket — as well as locks the bike to the rack with its integrated locking cable. The rear wheel is secured by a plastic wheel strap ratchet. However, it never hurts to carry a separate lock for added protection.
Thule says the T2 Pro XT is well suited for carbon frames, mountain, downhill, and fat bikes and fits 20 – 29” wheels and up to 5” tires without the need for adapters. During our three months of testing we enjoyed the T2 Pro XT on several new SUVs and trucks the team was evaluating including a 2018 VW Atlas V6 SEL Premium with 4 Motion, a 2017 Nissan Titan XD, and a 2018 Range Rover Sport Diesel which all came with factory 2” hitches. It was also used on our 2012 Audi Q7 TDI with a U-Haul installed hitch. The bike rack fit perfectly on each without any qualms. Using the HitchSwitch lever the rack can fold up when not in use or tilt down when bikes are in place so you can access the rear of SUVs by opening the tailgate.
The only issue I experienced was configuring the 52-pound bike rack since the instructions were pictographs with no text instructions. I am well-versed with building and installing various sorts of gadgets and devices but was a bit stumped at first until I went to YouTube. Other than that every else was a cinch. Loading and unloading my bikes required only a few minutes and simplified the typical and sometimes lengthy preparation process before a weekend ride experience.
Thule’s T2 Pro XT is a great new option for a platform focused, hitch mounted bike rack if you have the budget for it. The security features alone are enough reasons for a purchase. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. For more details visit https://www.thule.com.
