1up Heavy Duty Bike Rack - tailgate clearance without modification

[Madmarty]

I had been looking to get a hitch rack for my '24 hybrid XLT, so I read a lot of old threads on hitch bike racks and tailgate clearance. Most hitch racks seem to require a hitch extender or height adapter to allow the tailgate to lie flat irrespective of rack position.

With that in mind, I wanted to report on my experience with the 1up Heavy Duty 2" Hitch Rack: https://1up-usa.com/product/2-heavy-duty

This rack will clear the tailgate when it is tilted down as long as you have it either slammed all the way into the receiver or with about 3" of the rack hanging out (this still meets 1up's installation guidance). Note, the tailgate and bike rack will collide if the bike rack is in any other position besides fully tilted down.

• You get 1/8" of clearance with it slammed, and the closest points of contact are the ends of the movable arms against the plastic of the latch handle.
  • You cannot fully lower the tailgate with bikes mounted with this installation.
• You get 1/4"-1/2" clearance with it pulled ~3" out.
  • You can also open the tailgate flat with bikes mounted in this position - this is not possible with the rack installed slammed into the receiver.

https://imgur.com/gallery/1up-heavy-duty-2-on-2024-maverick-hybrid-xlt-JflcmQP

I may still get an extender or height adapter for additional flexibility, but for those who absolutely don't want to deal with that, this rack may be worth considering.

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[tellyouwhat]

that’s good info. Thank you. I remember another person saying they could not fully open tail gate with 1up. Sounds like your experience was different.

 

[CFR68]

Take the bikes off, lower the arms, then the whole rack. Tailgate opens just fine.

 

[AfterTheCalm]

Less work to just add a height adaptor then to have to unscrew the handle lock screw on the 1-UP and then reach underneath to tilt down the arms to a 45 degree angle to get to the tailgate.

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