Retrax XR, Rhino Rack and 1Up Bike Racks

[More Juice Please]

Sharing my completed bike rack set up. Love the results. It’s certainly heavier than anticipated and while I can get it on and off myself, two people are helpful.

The Rhino Rack mounts are well designed and get great reviews. They are a lot easier to mount and unmount than Thule or Yakima, the mounts with cross bars clock in at $200 less (at least). They carry a 220 lb load too. Note that the 65’’ cross bar is plenty for the bed versus the 71’’ that is usually recommended on etrailer. The 71’s leave a large overhang of basically unusable bar (could be used for other purposes or if a bed-top tent needed a wider foundation). I added a 15mm spacer from Rhino Rack to ensure clearance of the tonneau cover latch under the bars

The 1Up bike carriers are second to none in my opinion. Wheel only touch point and no need to have any arm clamped onto expensive carbon fiber bike frames.

Links to each item:
https://realtruck.com/p/retraxpro-xr-tonneau-cover/?gad_source=1

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Rhino-Rack/RRVA165B-RRRLT600.html

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Rhino-Rack/RRQMVA15.html

https://1up-usa.com/product/roof-rack

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[JerseyMike]

I have the exact same setup minus the 1up carriers (I Have Thule carriers)....those 1ups are nice

I don't have the spacer blocks (didn't know that they sold those) but mine works just fine without them

 

[PreservedSwine]

Thanks for posting. I just installed rhino rack on my retrax, and am still currently searching for the right bike rack to mount. That set-up looks great! Any issues getting the bikes on or off that high? I’m also considering a hitch-mount rack.

 

[More Juice Please]

Thanks for posting. I just installed rhino rack on my retrax, and am still currently searching for the right bike rack to mount. That set-up looks great! Any issues getting the bikes on or off that high? I’m also considering a hitch-mount rack.

Loading and unloading is a bit harder due to height. The outside trays are easiest and for the inside trays I stand on the tailgate and load/unload from there. Inside tray loads first then outside, and reverse on the unload. Works well and prefer this over hitch mount (have one from a previous vehicle).

 

[Realtruck]

That's a nice looking setup. Thanks for sharing this!

 

[njaehner]

@More Juice Please thanks for sharing your setup! We have been looking for a solution to carry our family’s bikes on our Lightning.

I had heard about the Vortex AeroBars but hadn’t seen them installed on a Lightning.

Your post and especially photos pushed me over the edge to pick them up and get them installed.

Only thing left is to find the proper bike racks/holders for two adult e-bikes and two toddler bikes.

Our install photo

 

[More Juice Please]

Nice! See you went with the 65” bars as well. I think they look better and are just as functional as the 71” bars. I’ve been very pleased with the 1Up racks and they just came out with an HD version for heavier loads and also have fat tire adapters. Their site says the racks will work on bikes with tires as small as 16”. They are well built and doesn’t clamp onto the frame (avoids any potential damage to carbon fiber frame) or strap down on to the rims).

 

[PreservedSwine]

Nice! See you went with the 65” bars as well. I think they look better and are just as functional as the 71” bars. I’ve been very pleased with the 1Up racks and they just came out with an HD version for heavier loads and also have fat tire adapters. Their site says the racks will work on bikes with tires as small as 16”. They are well built and doesn’t clamp onto the frame (avoids any potential damage to carbon fiber frame) or strap down on to the rims).

As someone who *thought* they did their research, the only regret I have is not getting the shorter bars. Not that the longer ones are bad, but they do poke out a little bit when I look down my side view mirror.

 

[JerseyMike]

darn, I went with 71"....didn't even realize that 65" would have worked

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Sharing my completed bike rack set up. Love the results. It’s certainly heavier than anticipated and while I can get it on and off myself, two people are helpful.

The Rhino Rack mounts are well designed and get great reviews. They are a lot easier to mount and unmount than Thule or Yakima, the mounts with cross bars clock in at $200 less (at least). They carry a 220 lb load too. Note that the 65’’ cross bar is plenty for the bed versus the 71’’ that is usually recommended on etrailer. The 71’s leave a large overhang of basically unusable bar (could be used for other purposes or if a bed-top tent needed a wider foundation). I added a 15mm spacer from Rhino Rack to ensure clearance of the tonneau cover latch under the bars

The 1Up bike carriers are second to none in my opinion. Wheel only touch point and no need to have any arm clamped onto expensive carbon fiber bike frames.

Links to each item:
https://realtruck.com/p/retraxpro-xr-tonneau-cover/?gad_source=1

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Rhino-Rack/RRVA165B-RRRLT600.html

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Rhino-Rack/RRQMVA15.html

https://1up-usa.com/product/roof-rack

Looks great, Zach! Feel free to share pictures from any future road trips.

 

[More Juice Please]

Update - packed for a 2 week trip. The set up is really helpful for taking lots of gear for camping, various activities, our frozen food and other goods. Enjoy the summer while you can!

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