TESTED: AMB Vertical Bike Rack Group Test

Words: Mike Blewitt and Hayden Wright
Photos: Gerard Lagana

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Vertical bike racks have grown in popularity thanks to how easily they can carry lots of bikes. The need to easily transport more bikes has never been greater, as more people are getting bikes to get out and hit the trails. With vertical bike racks that can carry up to 7 bikes available, a vertical bike rack is one of the most efficient ways to get a bunch of bikes to the trail head, it riding there isn't feasible.

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Not sure what bike rack type suits you and your car? Read our guide to bike racks for your car for some tips.

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Vertical bike racks aren't cheap, and we wouldn't want them to be given they need to carry bikes on them on shuttle roads, or on busy high-speed roads. 

The racks on test

Click through for the review on each rack:

Shingleback Sport 5 bike rack
Single Trail 5UP bike rack
Rola VBR5 bike rack
Velocirax 412 bike rack
Spot X Racks TA-X5 bike rack
Dirty Possum 4 bike rack
Death Rack custom 4 bike rack
RackPRO 5 bike rack

We have also tested the GripSport Versa 1.4 since this group test.

Note: prices were correct at the time of filming, do check in with each brand for any updates, additions to the range or further questions that relate to your intended use of their rack.

Shingleback Off Road Sport 5 bike

Weight: 34.9kg
RRP: $2100
Warranty: 10 years
From: shinglebackoffroad.com.au

All about Shingleback Off Road 

Shingleback Off Road have developed a wide range of vertical bike racks to suit Australian riders. Their Australian made racks include models designed for easier eMTB loading, trailers for school groups and shuttles, their Classic vertical bike racks and the new Sport and Boost. These two new racks add customisation options to suit a wider variety of bikes and vehicles, along with the ability to add mounts for skis or snowboards. All Shingleback Off Road racks are certified and backed with a 10 year guarantee.

Check out our full reviews of other Shingleback Off Road models:

Shingleback Off Road Classic 5 bike rack review
Shingleback Off Road 2B90 2 bike rack review
Shingleback Off Road Sport 4 bike rack review
Shingleback Off Road Boost 4 bike rack review

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How do I get a Shingleback Off Road rack? 

Shingleback Off Road have a number of stockists around the country, or you can buy direct with a flat rate $70 shipping fee. You’ll need to build your rack with allen keys and some sockets or spanners; it took us about 70 minutes to build the 5 bike Sport rack. Most stockists will happily do this for you and fit the rack to your vehicle for a small fee. The Sport design has the hoops staggered fore and aft, and you set this during the build. Along with a base bar that can sit at different heights, this allows lots of customisation for a wide range of bikes. With 30cm between bikes and the customisation, avoiding any shuttle contact shouldn’t be a problem.

Fitting up the Shingleback Sport rack 

The powder coated rack slides into the hitch and is locked in place with your hitch pin and anti-wobble bolt if your hitch has one. Shingleback also supply an anti-wobble bracket to tighten up and a shim if your hitch is getting old. A plate board is included to attach to loaded bikes, and Shingleback also make a light and plate board if you need it. 

The rack can take 30kg per wheel hoop, although the total loaded weight can’t exceed 140kg of bikes. The hoops will fit 20” to 29” wheels and road and gravel bikes, but adaptors from Shingleback are needed for the 20” wheels and road and gravel tyres. 

Loading and unloading 

The Shingleback Sport can lower down to five different positions, which makes loading, unloading and accessing the back of your vehicle a breeze. The Shingleback Sideswing is a worthwhile addition if you want to move the rack out of the way for vans, or easier loading and unloading of SUV storage or similar. There are a couple of fail safes on lowering and the rack is rock solid because of it. Having the rack audibly lock into place once at the upright position is a great touch. Loading left to right was easiest. 

Obviously there’s some extra heft to lift and lower with a loaded rack; but if you are taking other riders’ bikes, there should at least be someone else to help. The gas assist of the Boost model is a highlight if you want to avoid this, as it assists with lowering and raising. Fit the front and rear wheel bungee cords once the rack is vertical, lock off the lowering function and you’re away. 

On the road

With everything secure the rack blurs into the background, so to speak. With the handle that winds up against the release catch, the Shingleback Off Road Sport had no discernible movement on the road. The bikes have a tiny bit of wiggle room, which is the idea of the bungee cords, especially if the rear wheel makes any ground contact on V ditches accessing a car park, a steep driveway, or of course an off-road shuttle road. If you want to secure your bike even more for long trips, Shingleback sells pedal straps as an add on.

Our take

The second generation of Shingleback Off Road racks have added a lot of versatility. Due to the wheel cradles that fit a wider variety of tyres and wheel sizes, there really is something for everyone. With a 10 year guarantee and options to carry skis, snowboards and more, this is a thoroughly designed and certified rack that suits families or friends who love getting outdoors and appreciate versatility in their equipment.

The range of features and ease of use really adds up when you start using the rack – you can even upgrade the size on some of the Sport and Boost models. We think it is well worth the investment given the options available. However, we’d suggest considering the Boost model to get what may be the easiest to use, most versatile rack around. 

Accessories and other models 

Shingleback Boost 5 bike $2600
Shingleback Classic 5 bike $1469
Shingleback Sideswing $899
Shingleback light bar $240
Shingleback Rack Trolley Stand $469
Pedal Strap $25

Single Trail 5UP

Weight: 39.6kg
RRP: $1949
Warranty: 5 years
From: single-trail.com

All about Single Trail 

Single Trail are based in Victoria and all their racks are made here in Australia. They do a range of vertical bike racks for 2-6 bikes, and their design lets you upgrade to a larger capacity model down the track if needed, if your family or riding crew grows. As the wheel hoops bolt on, you can also replace them if they get damaged. Their inbuilt anti wobble hitch, rope fastening system and deep wheel cradles are the same on all their racks.

How do I get a Single Trail rack?

You can buy Single Trail racks directly from their website, or from one of their stockists listed online. Our 5UP test rack took barely 30 minutes to build, thanks to the base V3 hinge unit shipping complete. We only needed a few spanners and the instructional video was easy to follow. The upright section was added before fitting the base and top bar. The wheel cradles have a fixed position and bolt on easily. 16 bolts had the rack together, and that included 2 bolts per wheel hoop! Freight was $93 to Brisbane outer metro. 

Fitting up the Single Trail 5UP

With the anti-wobble hitch, this was one of the fastest and simplest racks to install on the vehicle. There’s just one hole for the hitch pin, then you tighten the anti-wobble hitch on the rack via an included spanner, as it expands inside the hitch. Without the need for an anti-wobble bracket fitting and removing this rack had far less to juggle, tighten and loosen. Or lose. The 5UP suits 24”-29” wheels, or smaller with adaptors, and each hook can carry 25kg each for a total rack capacity of 125kg. The included number plate board attaches via bungee toggles – you can also buy a light board from Single Trail.

Loading and unloading 

The V3 pivot makes the Single Trail 5UP easy to lower down using your foot to toggle the locking mechanism. It can be upright, or slightly in towards the vehicle, plus back for loading. It stops at the lowest position, so cannot slam to the ground. We could open the boot without issues, but the clearance you need may be different. Once it is lowered you simply pop the front wheel into the cradle and get your mates to help lift the rack into place, while the pivot locks into place. Lift the rope over the pedal and pull it tight. We found it a good fit for anything from gravel bikes to 29” XC bikes through to a big enduro bike. The 330mm spacing between bikes really helps, but there isn’t an option to fiddle with the exact hoop position if you still had any rub. 

With the single attachment point on the pedal, the loading and unloading is really fast. It suits left to right loading, and you must ensure the pedal is at the lowest point before pulling the rope tight. The unit locks, and has a 1.7 tonne loading capacity. It’s easy to release once at the trail head via a lever, and the deep wheel cradle stops anything moving side to side. Being able to brace the rack with two hands and use the foot pedal on the hinge to release the rack to lower it is easy – but you’d be best to have two people bracing a full rack.

On the road

The Single Trail rack was fuss free on the road. While there was some concern of only using one secure attachment point per bike, they stayed solidly in place each time we went out. The onus is on the rider here though, as if your pedal isn’t at the lowest point and the rope therefore can’t stay tight, the bike may move. We had a tiny creak develop from the main bolt, but a quick tighten up had nothing more from it. It pays to check the bolts on any rack periodically.

Our take

From ease of building, fitting, loading and unloading, the Single Trail was the fastest rack to get out and start shuttling. The electroplated finish is a bonus for durability, and being able to replace the hoops is handy. While the single attachment point may make some wary, it wouldn’t be hard to attach a strap to the top or lower wheels for long trips. With such fast loading and unloading, this rack really suits fast shuttle turnarounds to maximise runs. For unhindered rear of vehicle access, Single Trail now produce a swing away attachment.

Accessories and other models 

2UP rack $1449
3UP rack $1649
4UP rack $1849
6UP rack  $2099
Garage stand $449
Number Plate Light Board $199

Rola VBR5

Weight: 38kg
RRP: $1250
Warranty: 5 years 
From: rola.com.au

All about Rola

Victorian based company Rola are no rookie when it comes to the world of on vehicle storage accessories. While their VBR (vertical bike rack) range of racks may be their first foray into vertical bike racks, they have over 35 years industry experience giving us confidence that the design quality and product durability of the VBR5.

How do I get a Rola VBR5?

Rola sells via dealers and direct, where all products are shipped to your door. The VBR5 we have here on test was delivered flat packed in a large cardboard box for just $10 to Brisbane metro. Assembly took around an hour and required a socket set, allen keys and a mallet to complete. Given the size and weight of some components which make up this rack, we recommend you solicit the help of a friend to ensure a smooth and expletive free build.

 

Fitting up the Rola VBR5

Included in the VBR5 are various mounting positions for both fore-aft tilt and how far offset the rack is from the rear of your vehicle. This allows you to really dial in the fit to suit your specific needs, including if you have a hatch mounted spare wheel. Rola have also included an auxiliary number plate mount and some Velcro straps to ensure you keep your number plate visible and The Bill happy when you are out punching runs. The single bike capacity is 27kg, with a fully loaded capacity of 135kg. Through our testing we tried a variety of bikes in this rack, including everything from an XS road bike to an XL enduro bike with no issues proving you can hang just about anything with two wheels on the VBR5 within reason.

Loading and unloading

Unloading and loading bikes in and out of the VBR5 was a straightforward affair, with the Rola’s wheel cradles doing a good job at guiding the front wheel into place. Their depth and width provided a universal yet snug fit and left us confident that the exclusion of a front wheel strap was not something to second guess. We found it best to load bikes smallest to largest with regards to stack height, starting on the left-hand side of the rack and moving across.

The front wheel cradles sit 1500mm above the hitch mount which accommodates even the longest of bikes but will make loading up a challenge for shorter riders. Cam buckle straps are used to secure the rear wheel, which use a confidence inspiring nylon tie-down strap providing a bounce-free fit.

On the road

We found the Rola rack to be a fuss free, dependable unit. The inclusion of roof rack tie-back points allowed us to test the rack fully laden with extra reinforcement to minimise any sway, which would provide extra piece of mind during longer road trips over rough terrain. The +10° -40° quick-release tilt system was also easy to use and well thought out, allowing us access to the esky in the boot of our test vehicle for a quick snack break between runs. It would be good to see Rola provide the option to purchase a swinging arm, allowing users of the VBR5 to get it right out of the way if need be. It’s heavy to lower or lift when loaded, so make sure you get help to do so. 

Our take

The Rola VBR5 proved to be a reliable performer within our group, with its main stand out being that it proves to be fantastic value for money while also providing a bounce free strapping system and tool free hinging function. While not proving to be the fastest to build, lightest to carry or most feature laden you would be hard pressed to do much better for under $1250, given the secure bike fitting and solid 27kg per bike load rating.

Accessories and other models

Rola VBR3 – 3 Bike Capacity – $1,150.00

Velocirax 412

Weight: 37.2kg
RRP: $1210
Warranty: 2 years
From: velocirax-aus.com

All about Velocirax  

Velocirax is a US brand that ships out of Melbourne for Australian riders. Their racks use a dampener (not gas strut as Hayden said) for lowering down, and they make racks that carry from 3 to 7 bikes! They also make a few storage options for your garage, and their racks even come with a mount so it can be stored in your garage and used for hanging your bikes when at home. Velocirax are powder coated with outdoor paint for a long product life, and the red stands out from the crowd.

How do I get a Velocirax rack? 

You can purchase a Velocirax rack from their Australian website, which is full of details about the rack and their accessories. You can get a quote for shipping online – it was $155 to AMB HQ in Brisbane’s outer metro area. Coming shipped in three boxes, this rack built up quite quickly, and the video made it simple. We assembled the base, fitted the base bar, the top bar, and then attached the wheel hooks and straps. It took about 35 minutes total. 

Fitting up the Velocirax 412

The Velocirax uses a hitch wedge for stability in the receiver, plus the locking hitch pin, making it fast and fuss free to fit and remove. The wheel hooks have set positions with 30.5cm spacing, which is their widest save for the 3X model at 38.1cm spacing. The hoops fit 20-29” wheels, although you can get fat bike hoops in a twin pack to bolt on.

A number plate holder is not included, so you’ll need to account for this, and potentially a light board depending on the size rack and how it sits on your vehicle. The rack has a weight limit of 105kg for the 4-bike 412 model, with a per bike weight of 25kg on the wheel hooks. Velocirax recommends removing eMTB batteries and this is a good idea for any long trip with heavy bikes.

Loading and unloading 

With the dampener this is a breeze, as you remove the stop pin on the base and set it at one of two positions you want the rack to stop at – although it does stop well before laying flat. You can remove an additional pin to have the rack lay flat and then act as bike parking.

To lower the rack, tug the lever on the vertical bar to lower the rack. It lowers faster with bikes on so you may need to help it down when unloaded – it has a handle for this. Left to right loading is a cinch, the spacing was good for any bikes we put in.

The thick rubberised bands secure both the front and rear wheel, pulling them tight to squeeze a mushroom head into the slot. It is far better to get these really tight, and smaller riders may struggle with that. These straps are available as replacement parts and are UV rated for durability. Velocirax supply wide elastic bands for the brake levers to reduce movement, they recommend using them and it does keep things pretty tight, although it adds time. 

Unloading is easy, toggle the assist system and the bikes lower to the ground. We’d recommend undoing the rear attachment straps first, as it’s easier to get to them while the rack is upright. Of note, the dampener does not lift the bikes up – but it does mean it won’t fall backwards easily as you push it to position. The rack stays vertical, and cannot move inwards to reduce overhang. While it can lay flat if unloaded, there is no swing arm option for more access to the back of your vehicle.

On the road

With the hitch wedge and pin locking the whole unit into place, this is a solid rack on the road.  The four bike rack meant our lights were clearly visible, but you do need to factor in a way to attach your number plate. Velocirax sell a lock that builds into the top bar, which is a nice additional option for security when travelling, or parking up after a ride. The bands on the brake levers did mean bikes moved less, but it would on any rack. We opted to not use them after the first few runs.

Our take

Even if this rack wasn’t one of the cheapest on test, the features were well received – primarily the lowering dampener. It just makes lowering the rack down for loading, unloading, or accessing your boot a lot easier. Some riders may prefer a few more accessory options, like light boards designed to work with the rack, or a mount to allow the rack to swing out. With lots of capacity options this is a really functional brand for families or groups that’s easy to fit, load and unload. Find a light board, load it up and hit the road.

Accessories and other models 

Velocirax 5X $1320
Velocirax 3X $1155
Integrated locking system $137.50
Fat Bike tyre brackets $165 (set of two)
Replacement straps $28 (pack of 6)

 

Spot X Racks TA-X5

Weight: 39.6kg
RRP: $1499
Warranty: 7 years
From: spotxracks.com.au

All about Spot X Racks

Spot X Racks are a Victorian based ‘by riders, for riders’ company, according to their website. They make racks like the TA-X5 shown here, plus shuttle trailers and other custom fabrication items. Their racks range from the 2-bike Runt all the way up to the Top Dog X6 for six bikes. Their new TA series has a more basic top bar and head without built in lights to hit a better price point, but it’s still zinc-plated with a high load rating and solid Made in Australia build.

How do I get a Spot X Rack? 

Spot X Racks ship right out of their home base in Victoria. You need to get on the phone or send them an email to order, at which point you can get a quote on freight. Our rack came on a pallet so we needed to collect it from somewhere with a forklift. The quoted freight cost was $150 to the Brisbane TNT depot near the airport.

This rack comes in one big box with the wheel hoops fitted. You can change the position of the hoops to stagger bikes to avoid any shuttle rub. The build was barely 20 minutes out of the one box. We just fitted the hinge and vertical bar and then bolted on the top and base bar. The hinge is completely welded together and according to the crew at Spot X, it’s not going anywhere.

Fitting up the Spot X Rack TA X5

Fitting it to your vehicle involves using the supplied anti-rattle U-bolt, plus the locking pin and the anti-wobble bolt on your hitch if your car has one. There are two shims supplied if your 50mm hitch has seen better days. There’s a pin to run the rack vertical, a bit inboard or a bit outboard. You can also lower it all the way flat. The wheel hoops are pipe and not bar, with a new design that has reduced the overall weight of the rack a little but increased strength. Each hoop is rated to 30kg, and the rack can take all hoops fully loaded. They’ll carry 24-29” wheels and a gravel bike fit without issues. 

Loading and unloading 

You can bring the rack back a little to load, but the pin is placed to secure the rack, not as a stop – so don’t do this solo on a loaded rack. Spot X Racks have a bungee with an easy to grab ball end on the wheel basket and on the lower cradle.

The pedal straps shown are an optional accessory for a 3rd point of security. Loading left to right was great, and with 32cm between hoops there was lots of room. There’s a plate mount on the rack, and you can get a plate and light board. You can opt to have lights built into the bottom bar ($179), for faster loading and unloading and a neater unit.

On the road

Spot X Racks reckon you’d need to back into a wall to damage this rack, and that sounds about right. It’s a solid build with a quality finish throughout. The extra straps for the pedal tie downs were a good addition, with the bikes not budging at all. The generous spacing between bikes meant we had no contact, and given the base section is welded and not bolted together, there was no wiggle to be seen. There was a small difference in bike movement between using the pedal straps or not, between not much and none at all. Leaving the pedal straps off can allow more movement on rough ground, especially if a wheel touches the ground on steep terrain. That’s your call, but with the pedal straps this was the most secure fit we had on test.

Our take

The build quality on this rack is clearly the result of a bunch of riders who have broken a lot of things in the past. It looks made to last a lifetime. The completely welded base takes all sorts of bolts out of the equation for a long life, and the generous spacing, custom hoop placement and offset head should provide rub free shuttles. We’d like to see a stop option for the pivot movement away from the vehicle, even if it’s another step when unloading. This suits riders who want something built tough with a solid attachment for your car, and bikes.

Accessories and other models 

TA X4 $1399
Top Dog X6 $1999
Pig Dog X5 $1799
Kelpie X4 $1699
Light board $249
Lights built into bottom bar $179
Display Garage Stand $399
Pedal straps $35

 

Dirty Possum 5 bike rack 

Weight: 36.3kg
RRP: $1300
Warranty: 10 years
From: dirtypossum.com.au

All about Dirty Possum 

Born from the needs of a number of mates in manufacturing, design and fabrication, Dirty Possum uses a welded fixed hoop design for their vertical bike racks. Their racks are built in Brisbane, and they also make stands, swing arms, speciality base bars and they do custom work for riders who have specific needs for their racks. Dirty Possum also does frame protection and much more.

How do I get a Dirty Possum rack? 

Dirty Possum are sold via a dealer network, and their stockists are listed on their website. As the hoops are welded in place on the top bar it’s a quick build of about 30 minutes with a few basic spanners on hand to fit up the upright, top bar and base bar. The pedal straps come fitted.

Fitting up the Dirty Possum rack 

The rack comes with an anti-sway U-bolt and a threaded, lockable hitch pin. It’s a few things to get the spanner out for for fitting and removal, but once everything is tightened up its a very solid fitting. You can run the rack inwards a little to keep everything closer to your vehicle, and there are options to mount the base bar higher or lower for different wheelbase needs. There’s no plate holder but Dirty Possum’s light and plate board is incredible value.

Loading and unloading 

The Dirty Possum rack loads best from the left hand side, and you can lower it down to the stop on the base hinge to make it a bit easier – as long as your mates help you lift it back up when it’s full of bikes. The bungee cord for the wheel hoop is easy to attach, and then there’s a strap to hold the pedal into the wheel cradle. Dirty Possum have updated their base bar with a defined cradle, so you can lash across the wheel before then attaching to the pedal. This suits rougher shuttles or more security on longer trips. You can still go straight to the pedal if you prefer, for faster loading and unloading.

Unloading is a simple affair, quickly undoing the lower strap and then reaching for the top bungee before lifting the bike down. You do need a brace for lowering the rack. Each wheel hoop can take 30kg for a total of 150kg for the rack, and it will carry 24-29” wheels. It doesn’t go flat but you can get a swingarm if you need unobstructed rear access.

On the road

The Dirty Possum rack is straightforward to fit, load and get going. Using the new tie down system you can tell how stable the bikes are just via a glance in the rear view mirror. If you prefer to have a little more give in the system, you can opt to lash just to the pedal. Similarly, the rack does come with two sway straps that you can attach to the top bar down to the D-shackles on your hitch. These are a good addition for rough roads and fully loaded shuttles – just to be sure. As with many racks with a pivot there can be a tiny bit of movement, so the straps are a good inclusion for big loads and rough shuttles.

Our take

The Dirty Possum rack is a straight forward design made without shortcuts and backed up with a 10 year warranty. With fully welded hoops there’s not much to go wrong up top, but no scope for easy customisation or damage repair once you have it at home. Dirty Possum are happy to work with you to customise the rack before sending it out if needed, and you could always send the top bar back. The updated base bar and tie down system is a simple update but a smart one, giving riders the options for bombproof or really bombproof security. This rack presents great value with a high load rating and long warranty, and with the option for custom work it might be the perfect fit for many.

Accessories and other models 

Dirty Possum 4 bike $1250
Dirty Possum 6 bike $1400
Lightbar $110
Shed Stand $130
Swing Arm $750

DeathRack by DeathRig 4 bike

Weight: 46.2kg
RRP: $2000
Warranty: 5 years on parts, 3 years on the in-house build
From: deathrig.com

All about Deathrack

Deathracks come from Deathrig fabrications. The idea was to sell all the component parts CNC cut for bike racks that you can take to a certified local fabricator to weld together. This saved on freight, and creates more employment for people. Deathracks are available in 2-6 bike options welded up and ready to go, with options for hinges or even side-swings built in. These are custom built for you and your vehicle, to keep the overhang to an absolute minimum. They also do lightweight 2-bike capacity builds to suit caravans and smaller vehicles. 

How do I get a Deathrack? 

Whether you want a complete rack or a flatpack kit to have welded, orders are via the website and the custom process and measurements start from there. There are options for light boards, garage mounts, and adaptors for 20” wheels to fit in the cradles. Expect a couple week lead time – and your rack will be custom made for your vehicle, including paint options. Freight for this rack was about $150 to Brisbane. A weld together kit would have been $50.

Fitting up the Deathrack

This one came in three boxes, with the top section and hoops all welded up. The hitch tube was generic as we didn’t know what car we would have, otherwise it could sit much closer. The hinge is huge and runs on bearings, with a locking cam and two massive pins holding it. There is zero movement which also means it started off crazy tight to remove the pins. This settled a little, but it’s a rack to wear in, not wear out. The base bar can be set at a few heights to suit enduro rigs to BMX bikes. The Deathrack comes with a locking threaded hitch pin for lateral stability, with an anti wobble clamp to lock it all in vertically.

Loading and unloading 

Lifting and loading was fine but this depends on the height of your vehicle. The pivot can lower to mid way if you move a pin to the stop point, or flat for access to the back of your car. The cradles are bomber and suit left to right loading. They do have a square edge so may not be the best for long haul trips and thin sidewalls. There are bungees on the rear wheel and a place to fit the pedal straps to lock the bike against the base bar.

Deathrack do a classy light and plate board with wireless lights. They stick by a strong magnet and have a transmitter that goes into your 7 pin receiver. They even stick direct to the rack. These would be a good purchase for anyone who needs lights for their (steel) rack!

The hoops take 24-29” wheels and there is a bracket to fit for 20” wheeled bikes, like BMX bikes. Each hoop is rated to 35kg, and the 4 bike rack is rated for 140kg. 

On the road

With 46kg of steel secured to our Isuzu test rig, this thing didn’t go anywhere! The Deathrack is a brute of a rack, which is exactly what they wanted. The bikes stayed nice and stable and there was no movement from the pivot. The pin system and clamp removes load from the pivot when closed, so you can expect it to remain that way this year and beyond.

Our take

The Deathrack has a unique aesthetic – and that’s their look. They’re built tough, big and brutish, and if you want a rack that looks like Tonka Tuff from now until 2035, this is probably it. Amongst the other racks on test it was heavy to fit and remove, and we didn’t have it long enough for the pivot to wear in for easy use. We like that you can work with Deathrack to get it sized to fit your vehicle within the current legal overhang limits. It’s big and it’s heavy, but if you want a fully custom rack for a dedicated shuttle rig that will last whatever apocalypse is awaiting us, this is probably it! 

Accessories and other models 

Rack kit to be welded $400
4 bike rack painted $1400
Integrated swingarm – add $800
Extra bikes hoops – $100
Light and plate board $250

RackPRO 5

Weight: 35kg
RRP: $1,500.00
Warranty: 2 Years
From: rackpro.wixsite.com

All about RackPRO

RackPRO are an Australian owned, designed, and manufactured brand who specialise in vertical bike racks. Their RackPRO line of carriers come in 3 through to 6 bike variations which have unique features such as integrated LED light systems, accessory plate mounts and a mixed material construction of steel and aluminium. RackPRO carriers are ADR compliant, third party certified and come with a two-year warranty.

How do I get a RackPRO?

RackPRO carriers are available exclusively online through their web page. Shipping is a flat rate of $150 within Australia, with the rack arriving in six individual pieces which you then assemble using the provided bolts which are secured with an allen key and socket set. RackPRO’s assembly instructions are some of the best we have seen, with easy to follow step-by-step directions which are accompanied by clear and informative 3D images. The build itself takes place on the back of your car and shouldn’t take longer than half an hour to complete assuming you have the help of a friend. 

Fitting up the RackPRO

The RackPRO 5 tow bar mount comes with multiple holes to allow you to optimise the offset of the rack from the rear of your vehicle within their defined range. Also included is a hitch stabiliser, which does a great job of taking any major wobble out of the hitch interface itself. Integrated LED tail lights and number plate mount are defining features at this price point, and we found having the ability to negate the use of strap on light and number plate boards a real bonus. The tail lights take a standard 7 pin trailer connection commonly found with any towball and did a great job of showing our drivers braking and turning intentions during our testing. Bike capacity is rated at 30kg individually with a maximum combined weight of 120kg which is right on the money for a rack at this price point. The wheel cradles are designed to suit all bikes from 20” through to 29” with standard tyre widths meaning even your local BMX bandit can throw their bike on the RackPRO 5 and catch a shuttle. 

Loading and unloading 

This vertical bike rack has two points of contact per bike which can be found at the front and rear wheels. These are secured with small elastic bungee cords that fix onto small plastic nobs, which when in use offer a snug fit. We found there to be plenty of handlebar and top tube clearance when loading and unloading, with the front wheel hoops doing a great job of guiding the bike into and out of the rack.

The construction on the RackPRO 5 is sturdy to say the least. Where many of the other racks use laser cut plate or bent rod you will find small section SHS members which are seam welded all round. This when combined with M12 bolts, double sided washers and crush tubes gave us just a tad extra piece of mind during our back to back testing, knowing that the RackPRO is engineered to last and certified to be ADR compliant.   

On the road

When loaded up the RackPRO offers little in the way of wobble thanks to the fixed hinge and anti rattle plate which is included in the purchase. Speaking of the hinge, it does have a rearward tilt function built within its tow bar mount, but it is not tool free nor does it have engineered limits to the degree of tilt available. What does this mean? While you can tilt this rack right down to the road if needed, you need to have all bikes unloaded first and also have access to the required allen key and spanner to undo the hardware. This is a downfall when compared to other racks such as the Rola VBR 5 or Single Trail 5UP which offer tool free tilt with a failsafe limit designed into the hinge.

Our take

The RackPRO 5 is one of a variety of units which RackPRO offer from 3 through to 6 bike options. Their inclusion of integrated number plate mounts and LED tail lights are a massive win in our books, and prove to be a standout feature within our test group. While not being the easiest to load for shorter riders or easiest to secure for kids due to the tight elastic bungees, once this unit is full of bikes and in motion to the trailhead it proves to be an extremely sturdy, versatile and good value vertical bike rack. 

Accessories and other models 

RackPRO 3 (3 bike vertical rack) $1,300.00
RackPRO 4 (4 bike vertical rack) $1,400.00
RackPRO 6 (6 bike vertical rack) $1,600.00
RackPRO PivotARM $899.00
RackPRO OffLOAD $499.00