Instep Bike Trailer: Thule T2 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased the 2", 2-bike T2 last year for use on our 2001 Honda Odyssey.Over the years I have had all forms of bike carriers and must admit that the T2 is my favorite one to date.

Here's why:

1) quick and easy to assemble
2) hitch mounted = less wind drag/noise and better fuel economy than roof-mounted alternatives
3) no front wheel removal
4) <30-second bike mount/dismount
5) no finagling to makes bikes fit on rack so as not to scratch adjacent bikes
6) no swaying/banging of bikes against one another
7) accomodates all types of frames without additional adapters
8) "lockable" (with a caveat - see below)
9) once mounted, loaded, and travelling down the road, the entire rack is ROCK-SOLID; it does not rattle nor sway and the overall build quality is sturdy yet relatively lightweight
10) unloaded rack easily swings up and out of the way with the push of a lever.I often leave the rack on the van - if I had the Snug Tite lock, I would probably never remove it!
11) expandable from 2 to 4 bikes

The T2 is not perfect though:

1) the locking front wheel arm is not very secure.Why?All you need to do is deflate the front tire and swing the arm over the wheel or remove the front skewer and lift the fork off and voila - stolen bike! In essence, the lock on the wheel arm is a DETERRENT rather than an effective security device.Instead of buying the lock cores, go out and do what I did - buy 2 cable locks to secure the bikes to the rack.At least with the cable you can secure both wheels and the bike frame to the rack.
2) since this rack does not swing-away to either side (it does swing downward, but only by a few inches), opening the rear hatch is not possible once bikes are mounted.You must first unload the bikes to access anything in the rear storage area (remember I have a van, this may not apply to other vehicle applications).

So, in summary, if you're looking for a sturdy, easy to use, and versatile hitch-mounted rack, I would highly recommend the T2.I just hope Thule resolves issues 1&2 in future generations of the T2 - doing so would make the T2 a nearly perfect bike carrier!

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Product Description:
Quick bike loading in secondsAccommodates most bikes regardless of frame design, suspension or wheel size

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