Best car and roof racks for e-bikes: hitch, roof, trunk

You've got a 55 lb e-bike, a car with factory roof rails, and a plan to hoist the bike up there. The numbers on the rack's page are the first thing to read, before the price.

Hitch, roof or trunk

Thule's roof page says outright to "ensure that the roof bike rack can handle the heavier weight of your bike," and adds that lifting an e-bike onto a roof is harder because of the weight. It lists no e-bike capacity above the 44 lb figure. The maker-listed weights on our own bike pages run from about 60 lb to 86 lb, so most of the bikes we track exceed every roof and trunk limit above.

Why the hitch wins

• You lift less. A platform rack means you roll or lift the bike a short way instead of overhead. Some come with a ramp.
• The ratings are higher. Hitch racks are where makers publish e-bike limits.
• Weight is spread on the vehicle's hitch, not on roof rails, so check the hitch rating for your vehicle.

The trade-off is that a hitch rack itself is heavy (Thule lists 38.1 lb for the Epos) and needs a receiver on your vehicle. Hitch limits also drop on bigger racks: the 1UP Heavy Duty Double lists 65 lb per tray for the first two bikes and 45 lb for the third and fourth, and Kuat lists lower per-bike limits for add-ons and for RV mounts.

Hitch picks

Thule Epos 2-bike

• Why: A foldable hitch rack marketed for e-bikes.
• Key spec: Thule lists 75 lb per bike, 140 lb total, a 38.1 lb rack weight and tires up to 3.2 inches (up to 5 inches with separately sold XXL Fatbike Wheel Straps). It's approved for RV travel at a reduced load, with a 40% reduction in the fitting instructions.
• Check: The page didn't state the hitch size. Confirm that with Thule.
• Source: Thule.

Kuat Transfer v2

• Why: A hitch rack that Kuat says "can safely transport bikes and electric bikes."
• Key spec: Kuat lists 60 lb per bike on the 2 inch 2-bike version (40 lb with the add-on), 40 lb per bike on the 1.25 inch 2-bike version, and 40 lb on an RV chassis hitch.
• Check: Kuat's page gives conflicting figures in its summary and specification sections for the 1-bike rack. Ask Kuat. It is a hitch rack only.
• Source: Kuat.

1UP USA Heavy Duty

• Why: A made-for-heavier-bikes platform rack, with a higher tier for very heavy ones.
• Key spec: 1UP's page says up to 65 lb per tray and "heavy e-bikes up to 65 lbs per tray," for 2 inch and 2.5 inch receivers. The Double lists 65 lb for spots 1 and 2 and 45 lb for spots 3 and 4. It points to its Super Duty (up to 100 lb per tray) and Xtreme Duty (up to 150 lb per tray) for heavier bikes.
• Check: The page's 225 lb total for the Double doesn't match its own per-spot limits (220 lb). Confirm with 1UP.
• Source: 1UP USA.

For more hitch options, including Saris's Cycle-On (70 lb per bike) and Kuat's Piston ION (100 lb), see our hitch racks for heavy e-bikes page.

Roof and trunk: when they might work

If your e-bike is light enough, a roof rack can work, but only inside the maker's number. Yakima's FrontLoader lists one bike up to 40 lb on crossbars with a 16 to 42 inch spread. Yakima's HoldUp EVO hitch rack says e-bikes "under 50 lbs." If the bike is over a rack's limit, the answer is a different rack, not a gentler loading.

Before you buy

1. Weigh or look up the bike. Use the maker's spec page, and add anything left on the bike.
2. Compare to the rack's per-bike limit. Take the lowest limit on the page for your configuration (1.25 inch hitch, RV, add-on tray).
3. Check your vehicle. Your vehicle's manual sets the hitch tongue-weight limit, and that number wins over the rack's.
4. Check tire width against the rack's tray limits.
5. Plan the lift. If you can't lift the bike, choose a ramp.

FAQ

Can I put an e-bike on a roof rack? Only if its weight is within the rack's published limit. Thule's roof racks list 40 to 44 lb, so many e-bikes exceed it.

Do trunk racks work for e-bikes? Thule's Passage lists 35 lb per bike. Check the limit on any trunk rack you're considering.

What's the best car rack for an e-bike? For most, a platform hitch rack rated above your bike's weight.

Can I use a hitch rack on an RV? Maker pages cut the limit: Thule's Epos by 40%, and Kuat's 40 lb limit for chassis-mounted RV hitches. Read the instructions.

Do I need a ramp? Not required, but with a heavy bike a ramp is easier than lifting.