Rhino-Rack Hybrid Review Review

November 8, 2017
Rhino-Rack Hybrid Review
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Rhino-Rack Hybrid Review Rhino-Rack2 Rhino-Rack3 Rhino-Rack4 Rhino-Rack6 Rhino-Rack8 Rhino-Rack9
GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS
87
Setup
7
Stability
8
Ease of Use
7
Versatility
7
Features
8

The Good

  • Easy to install
  • Universal – fits most roof racks
  • Easy bike loading

The Bad

  • No cushion between mount & crossbar on back plate
  • Wheel strap components require extra adjustment
  • Difficult arm switch-out
THE VERDICT
The ratchet arm on the Rhino-Rack Hybrid Bike Carrier is solid and doesn’t move around once it’s set in place. The wheel chock adds stability for the front wheel placement while loading the bike. Cushioning between mount and crossbar on back plate would’ve been nice to prevent wear on crossbars.
FULL REVIEW

Setup

Setup was fairly simple for the Rhino-Rack Hybrid taking about 15 minutes with a Phillips screwdriver and the included 5 mm hex wrench. It was more involved than the Yakima HighSpeed rack considering the need to add on the wheel tray, wheel tie downs, end caps and arm cover. While other carriers might leave cramped space to tighten screws, the Hybrid left plenty of surrounding space to secure the carrier.

Stability

The stability of the Rhino-Rack Hybrid Bike Carrier is solid once all components are in place and tightened. The already installed wheel chock is sturdy and doesn’t wiggle around once it’s put up. The ratchet arm may need to be loosened just a bit as moving it up and down isn’t extremely smooth and felt like it had to be forced into position, but it also gives the feeling of sturdiness once it’s ratcheted it into place on the front tire. The bike had minimal movement at freeway speeds when secured on the carrier. Driving over rocky terrain didn’t affect stability in any way either.

Ease of Use

Loading a bike onto the Hybrid rack was pretty easy. Just make sure the wheel chock is up before loading. This caught us off guard a few times while testing but will certainly be easy for a regular user to remember. When swinging the ratchet arm over the front tire, keep in mind that the arm needs to rest up against the front fork of the bike and then press the arm hard onto the wheel to secure. The only qualm about the wheel straps are that the strap and latching system are two separate pieces so it requires moving both pieces and aligning on each side in order to get the strap secure in the right place.

Versatility

The Hybrid has the option of switching out the arm to the opposite side if needed. It does take a bit of disassembling and reassembling certain parts in order for it to work properly. The instructions have pictures and clear direction on how to do switch the arm position. The carrier holds bikes from 20 inches to 29 inches. A fat bike adapter is sold separately.

Features

The Rhino-Rack Hybrid is loaded with features designed to ensure that the bike is secure. It has three methods of security in place with the ergonomic handle on the ratchet arm, along with the release trigger and locking system, providing a nice piece of mind. The Hybrid uses premium aluminum in addition to a tough non-corrosive plastic construction to resist inclement weather. It is also MasterKey compatible meaning you can match the keys with your other Rhino-Rack products.

USER REVIEWS

No reviews have been posted for this product.

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