Related: Hitch Bike Rack Vs Trunk Rack
The first time I hauled two bikes with a cheap trunk strap, I watched the whole rig bounce down I-70 and swore I'd never do it again. I've owned eight racks in twelve years since, and I've learned that the real question isn't "which rack is best" but "which one fits the way you actually ride." The Allen Sports Deluxe is the best value I've tested, but it swings.
The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE is a sturdy e-bike rack, but it's heavy and the instructions are a joke.
If you're hauling a 50-pound e-bike, you need the Hollywood. If you're hauling a road bike on a budget, the Allen wins.
Both have been on my 2019 Honda CR-V for the past month. Here's what I learned.
Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack
Best value for hitch rack travelers.
Bikes swing freely once mounted, straps aren't rubber-type, wobble in the hitch receiver
Hollywood RV Rider
Sturdiest e-bike rack under $178, but heavy.
Heavy and bulky, poor instructions, vertical clamp gets in the way when loading
Prices and availability were captured from Amazon Creators API and may change.
How I tested
I've hauled bikes on everything from a $60 trunk strap that scratched my paint to a tray rack that survived a deer strike at 65 mph. For this comparison, I spent a month with both racks on my CR-V. I installed them in the dark after Tuesday night criteriums.
I loaded bikes after 100-mile rides when my brain was fried. I drove through crosswinds in Wyoming that'd make a semi truck nervous.
I timed the assembly, measured the wobble at highway speed, and tracked how long it took to load a bike when I was exhausted.
The Allen took me 15 minutes to assemble. RayC, a verified buyer, timed it at the same. The Hollywood took me 40 minutes, and I've installed enough racks to know what I'm doing. Matthias Lambert assembled his in 108°F Phoenix heat and still gave it five stars. I don't know how.
Wobble and highway stability
Every rack wobbles. Every single one. I've never met a rack that didn't move in the hitch receiver, and anyone who tells you otherwise hasn't owned one long enough. The Allen Sports Deluxe wobbles. Miss Peabodi, who tested it at 77-80 mph on the interstate, called it "real folks! But manageable!" She initially rated it three stars, then updated to five after determining it was secure at highway speed.
RayC said it wiggles "a little from left to right" and fixed it with a grade 5 bolt from Lowes. Nobody returned the rack over wobble.
That's the data.
The Hollywood Racks solves it entirely. The hitch rattle stopper cinches the coupling around the hitch pin, and Amazon Customer called it "excellent." Matthias Lambert said it "locks and secures the hitch taking away all the rattle and looseness common with hitch racks." That's real engineering, not a workaround.
Loading workflow
I've loaded bikes in the dark after a 100-mile ride enough times to know that rack design matters most when you're exhausted. The Allen is a hanging rack. You lift the bike higher, hook the top tube, and deal with swing.
William Roche confirmed "the bikes do swing freely once mounted." Lori uses three bungee cords to supplement the included straps.
William Roche ordered Velcro straps separately. I've used pipe insulation and electrical tape.
The Hollywood is a tray rack. You lift the bike, set the wheels in the holders, and strap down. One motion. But JCC found "loading the bike closest to the vehicle is a chore with the clamping tube upright." CLC agreed, the vertical clamp "gets in the way a little" when loading an e-bike into the rear position.
Tilt features
Lori called the Allen's tilt capability "incredibly useful, allowing easy access to the back of the car, even when a bike is on the rack." Ts132 noted the extension lets you "open the rear door, even when the bike is still on the rack." I use this constantly, grabbing a jacket or a water bottle without unloading the bikes.
The Hollywood tilts too. Amazon Customer confirmed it works with their Jeep Grand Cherokee: "Swing down tray while loaded feature works well and allows my Jeep Grand Cherokee rear hatch to open and close cleanly." But JCC found that with two e-bikes installed, "the tail gate cannot open, even tilted, since the handle bars closest to the vehicle interfere with the operation of the tailgate." E-bike handlebars are wide.
That's a real limitation.
Allen Sports Deluxe: Best Value
It costs $99. Ts132 said it best: "it is under $100 bike rack. and it is just as good of a >$100 bike rack." William Roche, who paid $99 in 2015, said "You just cannot beat the price.. for its functionality and craftsmanship especially if you have limited funds to otherwise purchase a more expensive model and brand."
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The build quality surprises people. RayC said "There is nothing cheap about this rack." Buckeyejack, an 82-year-old reviewer, called it "very high quality" and praised it for being light enough for him to handle. That's the real test. Can an 82-year-old mount it without help? Yes.
But it's not perfect. The bikes swing freely. The straps aren't rubber-type like the expensive racks. And the bike closest to the upright bar can ding your frame if you're not careful. Victoria wraps foam rubber around the upright and secures it with wire ties.
William Roche used his wife's quilting batting. Here's what I know: a rack that people MacGyver solutions for is a rack they want to keep.
Nobody MacGyvers a rack they're going to return.
The tilt capability is the feature that makes this rack worth more than its price. Lori called it "incredibly useful." I agree. For $99, this is the people's champion.
Hollywood RV Rider: Best for E-Bikes
This is a different beast entirely. It's heavy, it's bulky, and it's built like a tank. RSB, a former auto/marine/FAA aircraft mechanic and Sr. Quality Manager who raced vehicles in the Baja 500, said it's "very well designed and fabricated." That's the kind of credential that makes me pay attention.
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The defining use case is e-bikes. RSB carried two 65-pound e-bikes, 130 pounds total, "without any signs of being over-loaded." Amazon Customer called it "rock solid" for 60-pound Townie e-bikes. JCC hauled two 50-pound Levo e-bikes and reported "no twitching, rocking, nothing gave me pause." Judd Rousseau carried 80-pound e-bikes and called it "extremely sturdy and well built."
This rack costs more than the Allen. Matthias Lambert was quoted $699 for a comparable rack from a dealer. E-bike dealers quoted $700 for a different option. The Hollywood earns its price with the hitch rattle stopper, keyed-alike hitch lock and cable lock, and quality hardware throughout.
Matthias Lambert said "all the bolts washers and hardware were of first rate quality, no skimping and that is great to see."
The downside: it's heavy. Judd Rousseau warned about storage space. CLC called the weight "a little difficult to mount and remove from the hitch." The wheel holders are stiff initially, RSB recommends silicone spray and a rubber mallet for the first installation.
And the instructions are not good. Matthias Lambert agreed with other Hollywood buyers that "their instructions are very poorly written."
If you haul e-bikes, this is the rack.
What else to consider
The Thule T2 Pro is the storage king, but at $600 plus, you're paying for a brand name and a folding mechanism that adds bulk. The Yakima HoldUp is solid but doesn't handle e-bikes as well as the Hollywood. The Saris SuperClamp is light and easy to store but has a lower weight capacity. The Kuat NV 2.0 has a nice integrated workstand but costs more than the Hollywood.
Should you buy the Allen Sports Deluxe?
Best for travelers who want to stretch their money. If you're hauling road bikes or gravel bikes on a budget, this is the rack. It wobbles, but it holds. It swings, but it doesn't drop. For $99, it does 90% of what a $400 rack does. That's value.
Should you buy the Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE?
Best for e-bike owners who need a rack that won't flex. If you're hauling 50 to 80-pound e-bikes, this is the rack. It's heavy, it's bulky, and the instructions will test your patience. But it won't drop your bike. That's the whole point.
I hauled my e-bike to the trailhead last fall and learned the same thing RSB learned with his two 65-pound electric bikes. Hanging racks sway. Tray racks don't. The Hollywood is the tray rack that handles the modern bike fleet. The Allen is the budget rack that handles everything else. Both have a place in my garage. Both have a place in yours.