The BEST Swing Away Bike Rack For Vans

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Let’s Get You The Best Swing Away Bike Rack For Your Van

Kuat Pivot 2-2″ Swing Away Extension for Kuat Bike Racks

The Solution To Full Access Of Your Van’s Rear Doors

Being able to easily get in and out of our van’s rear doors is more important than we realized. I first mounted our Kuat bike rack to an extended hitch, hoping I could swing my doors open. No such luck. So I searched for the best swing away back rack for vans. 

Getting in and out of my rear doors with the bikes on was a job for a contortionist. I assumed that with the hitch extender and having the ability to tip the rack to the rear, that i could easily get in and out of the back. Well, after one bike/camping trip to Auburn’s Clementine Lake, it was time to get the best swing away bike rack for vans!

Why Would You Need Your Rear Doors open?

• Loading all your stuff into the garage area.
• Filling your water tanks.
• Showering off the back.
• Accessing the various cubby areas.
• Sweeping out the van floor.
• Accessing your propane tank.
• Sometimes you just want the doors open to enjoy the fresh air and the view.

Features and Construction

 

• • Clearance to open your van’s rear doors.

• • Proprietary FLATLOCK cam system.

• • Double secure swing arm latching.

• • Locking hitch pin included.

• • Lifetime Warranty.

• • Weight 39 pounds.

• • Smoothly swing up to a 4-bike rack to the side.

• • Driverside or passenger side swing option. Must specify when ordering.

Which Side To Swing To?

Well I Googled the hell out of that questions. Which side was going to work the best when parked and unloading the bikes on the side of the road? Which side was going to work best at a campsite? Was there one rear door I needed to open wider than the other since the door doesn’t open all the way when the bikes are swung out.

Well, after You Tube, Google search, Reddit and the like, I went with the passenger side swing. I like the idea of the bikes being in clear view when we are hanging out on the passenger side of the van. When parked on a road, swinging them to the driver side didn’t seem safe for me or the bikes.

I am very happy having chosen the passenger side swing option. There has not been a time when I had wished it swung the other way.

Installation

Installation is easy, but it is a heavy and sturdy piece of metal. They say it weighs 36 pounds, but it feels heavier. Most likely due to its bulky long shape. Once you secure it into your 2″ hitch and slide in the locking pin, your work is done.

Security

Besides the locking hitch pin that comes with the swing arm, You can rest assured that your bikes are completely secured. The dual locking mechanism on the hinge arm is super secure. The first time you latch the arm, you will never have a doubt that arm is staying put. The tension on the lock is adjustable in case it’s too tight from the factory.

Our Bikes

The bikes we carry on our Kuat swing arm and rack are a 50 lb e-bike and a 20 lb mountain bike. As you can see in the pictures, we swing them to the side and never give them a second thought. The powder coated steel tubing and the heavy duty hinge are bullet proof. We feel this truly is the best swing away bike rack for vans.

Our Conclusion

This is one of those purchases that really has a positive impact on your camping experience from the moment you install it. We love having the rear doors open when we are camping in the warm weather months and this allows us to easily do that. 

Without the swing arm I would have to remove the bikes and the bike rack in order to open the doors. The price we paid for this high quality Kuat product is well worth avoiding all the hassle of taking the rack off to open the doors.

 Don’t go another day squeezing between your van doors and bikes to access things from the rear of your van. Get the best swing away bike rack for your van.

Click this Amazon link for current product pricing

If you have any questions or comments about this product, please submit them in the comments section below. 

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