Mountain Bike Rack

[KelceeBailey]

I received my 2025 Maverick on January 2nd and I intend on using it to haul mountain bikes around due to me being a Nica Coach. (Mountain biking coach for 5th-12th grade) I have a 2 bike Kuat rack currently but I expect I will have to carry at least 4 sometime throughout the season. Has anyone tried a 4 bike VelociRax or bigger with the Maverick? If so how did it do? Did it suffer a lot in fuel economy? Did you feel like you were being blown off the road? It's 4+ hours to Bentonville from me and I know I'll be going there several times this year to ride.

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[tom_tucker]

Sounds like you're just looking for a shout-out. Get stoked!!! Yeah, I'm sure you'll have no problems with power or capacity, 400 lb tongue on directly installed accessories. Since I haul just 1-2 bikes I use a 10" straight hitch extender which cuts it to 200. With 1 bike I can still open and walk behind the tailgate, the bike is way back there.

That's a nice rack too if you can invest in it. I looked into the swing-away extenders but they're like $350-$1000 and knock it down to 200 lbs including the rack, of course. Weigh your bikes, rack and budget. VelociRax is 89 lbs, leaving only 111 lbs for 4 bikes with any extender.

https://www.vdm.ford.com/content/da...f/2025_Ford_Maverick_Towing_Info_fnl-Dec5.pdf

 

[KelceeBailey]

Sounds like you're just looking for a shout-out. Get stoked!!! Yeah, I'm sure you'll have no problems with power or capacity, 400 lb tongue on directly installed accessories. Since I haul just 1-2 bikes I use a 10" straight hitch extender which cuts it to 200. With 1 bike I can still open and walk behind the tailgate, the bike is way back there.

That's a nice rack too if you can invest in it. I looked into the swing-away extenders but they're like $350-$1000 and knock it down to 200 lbs including the rack, of course. Weigh your bikes, rack and budget. VelociRax is 89 lbs, leaving only 111 lbs for 4 bikes with any extender.

https://www.vdm.ford.com/content/da...f/2025_Ford_Maverick_Towing_Info_fnl-Dec5.pdf

I honestly had no idea that there was a 400lb limit for the tongue weight. Thank you for pointing that out. I wouldn't need an extension though I don't think. My Kuat rack works perfectly fine I just need more room for more bikes and I need th bed space for other things I may haul is why I didn't look into a tailgate pad. My current two bikes that I ride and my extra just in case aren't that heavy one is 19lbs and the other is 32lbs. Not looking for a shout out honestly just looking for advice because I can't find it anywhere else online. I'm also terrible with the Internet as well though.

 

[sebxb]

Not sure if that can help but I have the Elevate t-slot tracks and I made a rack out of aluminum extrusions to hold 4 bikes. Used the hitch for the cooler and other stuff.

MPG not afffected. Heavy face winds made MPG much worst than any cargo on that particular trip.

 

[Dave O]

Not sure if that can help but I have the Elevate t-slot tracks and I made a rack out of aluminum extrusions to hold 4 bikes. Used the hitch for the cooler and other stuff.

MPG not afffected. Heavy face winds made MPG much worst than any cargo on that particular trip.

Wow impressive - I plan to use the receiver to carry my two electric mountain bikes when I flat tow the Maverick behind my RV

 

[tkammen270]

I haven't hauled more than two bikes but I use a 1UP Heavy Duty and I just ordered a Rig'd RambleSwing to make my life easier opening the tailgate. If I was carrying bikes often I would look into a bed rack option. The velocirax looks like a good option though.

 

[KelceeBailey]

Not sure if that can help but I have the Elevate t-slot tracks and I made a rack out of aluminum extrusions to hold 4 bikes. Used the hitch for the cooler and other stuff.

MPG not afffected. Heavy face winds made MPG much worst than any cargo on that particular trip.

That looks awesome man! May look into something like this.

 

[KelceeBailey]

I haven't hauled more than two bikes but I use a 1UP Heavy Duty and I just ordered a Rig'd RambleSwing to make my life easier opening the tailgate. If I was carrying bikes often I would look into a bed rack option. The velocirax looks like a good option though.

I'll be carrying a bike around 4 days a week every week from this weekend until the beginning November. So I will definitely be carrying them around a lot back and forth to practices and races.

 

[sebxb]

That looks awesome man! May look into something like this.

Thanks!

Ordered the extrusions at the proper lenght with hardware and just assembled. No cutting required. I used rectangular 15 series (1.5 inches x 3 inches) but it is overkill as I was comtemplating putting a roof top tent on the bars.

If I had to do it again for bikes only, I'd go to a square 10 series (1" x 1")... would be much cheaper and lighter.

All bike specific hardware available on Amazon (fork holder, rear wheel holder and I velcro straps to hold the front wheels to the rear wheels):

 

[bullcitymav]

Im also a NICA coach. I put bikes in the bed with the fork over the gate just like any pick-up. I also have a Kuat rack that holds our cyclocross bikes (carbon), but the mountain bikes just hang over the gate (like any other pick-up).

 

[KelceeBailey]

Im also a NICA coach. You can put bikes in the bed with the fork over the gate just like any pick-up. I also have a Kuat rack that holds our cyclocross bikes (carbon), but the mountain bikes just hang over the gate (like any other pick-up).

Awesome to see another coach on here. This will be my 3rd year doing it. I'm really enjoying it. I can't wait until both of my daughters can join.
I actually just ordered a Yakima tailgate pad with my Ford points from buying my truck. I'll see how that goes I guess and go from there.

 

[bullcitymav]

Im also a NICA coach. I put bikes in the bed with the fork over the gate just like any pick-up. I also have a Kuat rack that holds our cyclocross bikes (carbon), but the mountain bikes just hang over the gate (like any other pick-up).

I should be getting the napier tent in the mail this afternoon and will be trying it out at a race next week. I'm hoping it isn't too snug for my son and myself... we shall see

 

[KelceeBailey]

I should be getting the napier tent in the mail this afternoon and will be trying it out at a race next week. I'm hoping it isn't too snug for my son and myself... we shall see

Let me know on that tent if you don't mind. I've been looking at it as well

 

[JLB]

Consider using a trailer. A U-Haul 4x7 trailer is only $15 per day, has ample room for 4 bikes, and leaves the bed available for all the other stuff 4 riders will be needing.

 

[Drjep1953]

I use a Hollywood Rack along with a Yakima swing arm and have carried 4 MTB bikes, 2 of which we were which e-bikes all the way across country with no problems

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