Bike rack certainly built well. The rack weighs in at 70 lbs and the 2 bike addition weighs nearly 50 so you need to be able to lift 115-120 lbs to place into hitch. Took a bit to assemble as it really needs 2 people due to weight and awkward attachment but looks to be built as a long term investment.
I replaced an older Yakima hitch rack that was a workhorse but not built for fat bikes. Given its age, I decided to move to the Mercedes of racks, the Kuat NV 2.0 rack.
From the initial unboxing, I noted the quality build of this rack. It is very solid and all metal surfaces are covered with a thick paint that should hold up to corrosion from rain or NY salted winter roads.
The features are excellent as well, from the built-in cable lock (that would only be used to lock the bikes for quick stops while transporting, not for overnight or otherwise lengthy stops), to the fat tire compatibility and the sliding rear tire strap that adjusts to the bicycle's length. There is even a ball bearing on the bar that slides into the hitch, making installation and removal much easier.
My Yakima had to be screwed into the hitch very tightly with its included hitch bolt in order to prevent the rack from wobbling. The Kuat provides a dial on the outside of that bar that you simply hand tighten to prevent rack wobble. So much easier.
You definitely get what you pay for with this rack.
I use it with both my wife's car and my truck to carry our bikes when we go to the trail or travel to races. I love the fact I can add one or two more bike carriers so when my daughter's bike outgrows the back of the car it can go on the bike add on section. Very easy to assemble, the instructions were clear and the the product is very well designed and manufactured. I highly recommend it.
I bought this rack to support transporting expensive bikes on family vacations. Knowing that a vacation is ruined if the rack breaks cost was not a factor in decision. That said this rack is amazing! Fast to load, easy to use, sturdy, looks great, and most important, securely hold the prized bikes you love. In 5 months we've driven from Wisconsin to Michigan 4x, Colorado 1x, & Florida 2x. Never an issue or concern. It's a heavy rack to lift by yourself, but that helps with solid feel/stability. I must say that it looks better in person than online. I am much happier than I thought I would be with the look/quality. Other racks are masses of plastic and this has a more purposeful thought through appearance. I also like the receiver tensioner to take out the wiggle caused by tolerances in truck receivers. Would buy again in a heartbeat!!!
I love how fast it is to get one or two bikes loaded in and out of this rack. The peace of mind after loading them up is great too. I don't have to worry about bike sway or the stability of the rack when I'm driving.
A couple of things that could be better: I don't like how the release lever is next to the inside bike. When you have more than one bike racked up it becomes more difficult to raise and lower the rack (this becomes more difficult with the Kuat bike extensions). Another problem that I have is with the supplied bike lock. It isn't long enough to wrap around a wheel, frame, and the wheel of the neighboring bike. So you can only lock up the frame and one wheel from each bike. I also presume that a quick pinch with bolt cutters will free up these bikes pretty quickly if a thief decides to try it out.
Before getting this product I search the internet for the feedback of this bikerack and it turns out this Kuat NV 2.0 Bike Hitch Rack is the best. From the assembly to the mounting and dismounting from your vehicle so easy to use and the glossy finished makes it perfect. Definitely would recommend this to anyone who needs a bike rack. Besides I got a very good deal from Westernbike Works. Thanks again.
After having my new bike fall off of and old hanging rack onto the turnpike I was determined to find the best platform rack on the market. After exhaustive research the Kuat NV 2.0 is my rack and it performs perfectly!
I've owned a number of racks over the years and this is by far the easiest to use, the least stressful on the bikes, and the most flexible with respect to frame style, wheel size, etc. I was easily able to fit a fat bike and full suspension MTB bike together.
The rack also has a cool built-in bike repair stand which has come in useful on more than one occasion.
The only problem I've had with it was when my wife ran the car through the car wash the day before we were leaving for a cycling trip and the temperature overnight was well below freezing. I had to get out a hair dryer to warm up the front wheel clamps so they would extend.
I use this product to make some nice trips with my 10 years old daughter to different bike paths around the Washington, D.C., area. It is a safe practical and easy to use product that fits my car perfectly! I like everything about it. I rated this very good product with 4 stars because it is a bit heavy and it was not easy to assemble. For the rest, it is a very good product!
Well built and easy load and unload the bikes. Wish it was just a bit lighter for removal from the receiver and lugging it into the garage. Easily accommodates my gravel bike and my mountain bike. Integrated cable lock is clever. Definitely better built than other bike racks I have owned over the years.
This rack carries both my mountain and road with ease. The extras included, I.e, fat tire strap, work station bar, built in locks, are a real plus. Best rack on the market, and a real value when purchased on a WBW sale.
We love this rack! It is a nice height for loading and unloading, even with our wagon which is lower than most vehicles. It fits all of our different bikes: road, commuter, mountain (with 2.8+ tires), and the kids' bikes. Adjustments for handlebar clearance are easy with the wrench stored inside the rack. The tilt lever is easy to reach and the pivot is smooth, light, and quiet. The locks are sleekly integrated with the rack and stow away magnetically when not in use. The Trail Doc is a sweet feature that I haven't used yet. I have owned several racks and I frequently use many other bike hitch racks at my work. This is one is superior.
I love this rack. I was worried about the weight based on reviews but it's navigable by myself. Also building it was (mostly) a breeze by utilizing the box it came in to help hold things in place. I did get the rack on a reallllly good sale (hence my value rating), but I would have still gotten it even without the deeper discount. The ability to fit pretty much any bike, add capability for 2x more later if needed, plus repair stand are tip top for me.
If you are looking for a hitch mount tray bike rack, look no further then the Kuat NV 2.0. This is by far the most innovative feature rich rack out there. You can save some money and get the NV, you then lose the stand but otherwise the same rack. Also if you won't have a need to add +1/2 you can go with the Sherpa. I bought this one as I needed to get the +2.
As far as assembly, installation and use, its a breeze. I went from a hanging frame mount rack and this one just blows it away as far getting the bike on and secure, no matter frame dimensions.
Pros: Bomb-proof; extremely easy to use; built-in locks for hitch, and both bike racks; built-in bike stand; holds bikes extremely well; once assembled that's it.
Cons: heavy; some assembly required and the install guide is not great (so pull up a youtube video to assist and have a helper ready)
