Home > Event Coverage > Frostbike

New Kuat Transfer Tray Style Hitch Rack Carries Bikes for Less

24 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

kuat transfer hitch rack (4)

Ultimately if you want to carry your bikes safely, a quality tray style hitch rack is hard to beat. The no frame contact designs rely on your tires and wheels to keep the bike in place, and the staggered trays keep the bikes from banging into each other.

While racks like the Kuat NV are generally considered superior, they’re also quite expensive. That’s where the motivation for Kuat’s latest rack came from – the desire to offer an affordable hitch rack that still made bicycle transportation as simple as possible. Unlike most “entry level” tray style racks, the new Transfer from Kuat still offers secure hold without touching the frame. It also fits an impressive range of bikes all for less than $300 for a 2 bike rack…

kuat transfer hitch rack (3)

kuat transfer hitch rack (1) kuat transfer hitch rack (2)
The key to the affordable design is the use of a u-shaped frame instead of the traditional trays. The wheel trays and arms are positioned on the two arms, and the rack folds up like most tray style racks.

kuat transfer hitch rack (9) kuat transfer hitch rack (10)

However, the Transfer has a clever foot pedal release that keeps you from having to bend over when folding the rack. The foot pedal allows the rack to fold up when not in use, or to fold down to access the tailgate of the vehicle.

kuat transfer hitch rack (7) kuat transfer hitch rack (8)

kuat transfer hitch rack (6) kuat transfer hitch rack (5)

The stepped wheel trays and design of the arms allow the Tranfer to fit all bike from 20″ wheel bmx and Kid’so bikes up to 4.5″ fat bike tires. In order to allow for different shaped bikes the trays are adjustable side to side. The ratcheting wheel supports are very similar to their other racks with a push button release. Sold without any sort of locking devices, Kuat will soon have a locking upgrade kit available separately with arms for the locks and hitch. Kuat just informed us that the weight of the rack for the two bike version is 35 lbs, which is pretty impressive for a tray style hitch rack and it carries a maximum wheelbase of 47″.

Out of the box the Transfer will fit both 2″ and 1 1/4″ hitches and will be available in separate 2 or 3 bike versions. Available around April of this year, the racks will retail for $289 for the 2 bike and $389 for the 3 bike racks.

kuatracks.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

24 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
phil
phil
9 years ago

fit all bikes from 20 mm* to 4.5″?

Doug
Doug
8 years ago
Reply to  phil

no, 20″ diameter, like a BMX bike or a kids bike.

pfs
pfs
9 years ago

Does it for 29+? It’s less about tire width and more about tire diameter I’ve found.

Roy
Roy
9 years ago

Just when I thought that Kuat racks were as clean and simple as possible, they come up with even cooler stuff!

What is the claimed weight Zach? Looks very light (simple) nice for the little cars

Jason
Jason
9 years ago

Is there a hitch mounted rack that addresses that problems of exhaust melting carbon wheels?

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

Really like the Kuat products. I was all in for the Vagabond X since it looks great and doubles as a cargo rack. Hitch mounts just seem to make more sense, and it this price its right in competition with Yakima and Thule. Cheaper bike rack = more money for a new bike!

Roy
Roy
9 years ago

In all my years ive never seen a tire popped or rim hurt on a hitch mounted rack, it is usually impossible with these designs as they step UP from the hitch centre so they don’t drag. exhaust pipes are below bumper and usually no higher than a receiver. It is the crap hatch racks that hold the bike by top tubes and fake top tubes snapped in that allow a wheel to drop down below the bumper in direct line with pipe causing bbq’d parts! Pretty funny sometimes watching a customer who is SURE the new tire we put on was faulty and ‘blew up’ end up being right behind the pipe. DOH! Can I buy another sir….

Kovas
9 years ago

What is the max wheelbase for the Transfer?

Dave B
Dave B
9 years ago

Like Roy, I’ve driven many, many miles with hitch racks and never had a tire or rim damaged in the least.

Blair
Blair
9 years ago

That Foundry is sweet! O ya, the Kuat rack is nice too!

rileymartin
rileymartin
9 years ago

I’ve had two different vehicles in the last 14 years and both had hitch racks, the old school thule docking station setup, then the T2, and now the Kuat. many bikes too….all fancy carbon frame like with carbon 29er tubeless setups to road bikes with carbon wheels…never, never, never ever have I had melted wheels and popped tires as a result being too close to the exhaust……..from memory and many years in the business it is the lower price point racks where bikes hang from top tube or the simulated top tube add piece…bikes on that rack do hang precariously close to exhaust pipes (car makes and models/ rack makes and models depending)……KUAT your stuff rocks!!!!! Foundry Too!!!

Ck
Ck
9 years ago

Any info on how the trays adjust side to side? It kinda looks like it requires an allen key to do it. I’m hoping it doesn’t require a tool.

CW
CW
9 years ago

They need to show two bikes on the rack at once. I have a saris thelma which is a similar design and you can’t carry two similar sized bikes on it due to the handlebars and seats hitting. If your riding partner rides a bike 3 or 4 sizes smaller then yours it may work, but otherwise its just an overpriced one bike rack. The Thelma is nice because it’s about 25 lbs but I’m looking for something more functional and this has some nice features aside from the likely interference problem.

CTM
CTM
9 years ago

On the Kuat website the claimed weight of the Sherpa is 29lbs. The u-frame of the Transfer must be heavy duty if the rack weight really is 35lbs. Was hoping for something even lighter than the Sherpa.

Shawn
Shawn
9 years ago

any idea what the weight is?

Shawn
Shawn
9 years ago

35lbs…duh.

DCT
DCT
9 years ago

35lbs is awesome compared to the Thule T2, which weighs about 60lbs. In the 1 1/4 config, that is ridiculous.

pfs
pfs
9 years ago

@roy and rileymartin – I’ve seen wheels and tires that were destroyed on a kuat rack. I personally saw (not over the internet) the bikes on the rack and they were directly behind the exhaust. Now, the owner should have seen that it might be an issue but the problem can still exist.

rileymartin
rileymartin
9 years ago

@pfs….fair enough…..lots of miles driven with bikes on a tray mount….one vehicle was a jeep Cherokee and the current is lexus. both seem to have plenty of space so this is not an issue…..but like anything else… anything is possible

Adam
Adam
9 years ago

Too much plastic! It’s 1UP or nothing for me.

Dan
Dan
9 years ago

Hey guys any specs to give re: rise from reciever mount, width of support arms, and how far she sticks out? Looking for a rack to stick in between my car/teardrop trailer that still mounts by the wheels and this thing looks close to perfect!

Gixxer
Gixxer
9 years ago

How do you adjust the wheelbase?

Steepcreeker
Steepcreeker
8 years ago

Just bought one from lbs. Transfer 3. Could not assemble. The bolt holes for the front wheel trays are out of alignment with the holes drilled in the u frame steel. Took it back, they opened all their stock, both 3 and 2 bike options and all are defective. They ended up giving me a Yakima holdup for 20 bucks more. Be careful with mail order on this. If go to lbs for one incase you get a defect you can take it right back instead of dealing with the shipping issues.

Ilovemtnbiking
Ilovemtnbiking
8 years ago

I just bought the Transfer 2 and found the factory welding will not allow the rack to lock in the upright position. VERY close, but not quite. It appears there is a welded bumper that is off by less than a 1/16 of an inch that is keeping it from operating. Quite a shame.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.