The best spot to ride a bike isn’t always right outside your front door. The local roadways where I live are dangerous for cyclists, with dirt shoulders and high-speed restrictions, and no dedicated bicycle lanes. It’s excellent for vehicles, but when it comes to riding, I’d rather load my bike into the bed of my Ford F-150 and drive to a safe starting location.
Thousands of dollars have been invested in the bikes of serious road and mountain cyclists, so the idea of simply throwing them into a pickup bed is revolting. This is where a truck bed bike rack comes into play.
On the route to and from your riding destination, a well-engineered truck bed bike rack can secure, stabilize, and protect your bicycle (or several bicycles).
There are a vast range of options available, from low and basic to pricey and complex, as with everything in the cycling and car world.
The best Bike Rack For Truck Bed or truck bed bike rack for you will be determined by your budget, truck, bicycle style, number of bikes to transport at once, and desired level of protection and security.
Refer to our table of contents for additional information on the finest truck bed bike racks.
Is a Truck Bed Bike Rack Really Necessary?
It’s a good idea to acquire a truck bed rack if you plan to move your bike with your pickup truck. To begin with, a well-designed rack will safeguard your bike while you move it, as well as your truck from harm caused by an unattended bike.
Not only that, but in the event of an accident, a rack can help secure your bike in your truck bed. In the event of a collision, an unlocked bike might become a lethal projectile, hurting you, your passengers, or even bystanders.
Aside from safety and security, a decent rack will be simple to use and will make loading and unloading a bike from your truck bed easier.
When I’ve hauled many bikes in my truck bed without a rack, the bikes have inevitably been intertwined. It’s inconvenient, and it could even do harm—especially if you’re irritable and try to make inanimate objects obey your commands.
Cabin roof racks and hitch mount racks, for example, are alternatives to truck bed bike racks. There are arguments for both, but the negatives keep me leaning toward truck bed bike racks.
Cabin roof racks are difficult to use since you must manhandle the bike onto the roof of the cabin to attach it, and then you must be mindful of your truck’s increased clearance height with a bicycle.
If you’re not careful, a low-hanging tree branch could swipe your bike right off the truck. Hitch mounts don’t have this issue, but they do expose your bike to a rear-end collision and prevent the tailgate from being opened and closed.
Truck bed bike racks can give your bike the most security, the safest installation, and the most convenient transportation. Choose the one that best fits your truck, bicycle, money, and requirements.
07 Best Bike Rack For Truck Bed
1. LEETPIC Tailgate Bike Pads for Pickup Truck Tailgate
A tailgate pickup pad, such as this one from LEETPIC, is one of the simplest ways to carry up to five bicycles at once. It employs the truck’s tailgate as a bike rack, with the front wheel suspended over the back bumper and the bike’s frame supported on the closed tailgate.
If you only need to transfer bikes on occasion and don’t want a permanently placed solution, this style of rack is ideal. It only takes a few minutes to connect to the tailgate, and when not in use, it can be stowed in your garage or behind your seat.
It’s composed of dual-coated PVC tarpaulin with micro brushed inner lining, 1.5 cm thick foam cushioning with heavy-duty webbing and four straps with buckles that loop around the tailgate to keep it secure, and mounting spots for up to five bicycles side-by-side.
- Pros – It is lightweight, affordable, requires no equipment for installation or use, is easy to store, and can transport up to five bikes at once.
- Cons – Does not lock or secure bikes against theft; takes strength and height to pull bikes over tailgate; may scratch or damage tailgate if not used properly.
2. Swagman PICKUP Fork Mount Bike Rack
Another simple and stylish truck bed bike rack design is the Swagman Pickup Fork Mount Bike Rack. It’s a telescopic stainless steel bar with rubber end pads that grips the bed rails of your truck.
With 9mm quick-release skewers, two bike fork mount blocks are spaced along the bar. Simply remove your front wheel, attach the fork to the bar block, and your bike is ready to go. If desired, the fork blocks can be adjusted to allow for the addition of a third accessory block.
It’s a basic solution that requires no tools and only a little time and effort on your part to set up. This truck bed bike rack is lightweight and small, making it easy to stow when not in use.
This rack can hold up to 35 pounds per block, which is plenty for most bicycles.
- Pros – Easy to install without tools, affordable and lightweight, compact size for storage when not in use, secures front fork, preventing damage during transportation.
- Cons – Requires the removal of the front wheel, does not lock or give security, and pressure-fit mounting may degrade over time.
3. Delta Cycle & Home Truck Bed Bike Mount
Delta’s Bike Hitch Pro mounts to any flat surface, making it the most versatile transportation and storage solution for your bike. Create an easy-to-transport bike mount for your van or truck bed in seconds.
The fast-release mounts have a revolutionary cam lever mechanism that allows you to secure any standard 9 x 100mm dropout bike with the accompanying padlock for increased security whether moving or storing your bike.
High-Quality Design: With a steel 9mm skewer axle and a sturdy, heat-treated, and anti-rust aluminium body, you can move your bicycle safely and securely.
Delta is the industry leader and a brand name you can trust, with over 400,000 Bike Hitch units sold and a limited lifetime warranty on your adaptable truck bed bike attachment system.
- Pros – Long-term installation, keyed locking security, low profile and tiny size, a variety of mounting options, and long-lasting build quality.
- Cons – Fork mounting requires removal of the front wheel, numerous devices for multi-bike mounting will have different keys, installation can be thwarted with simple tools, and certain installation choices may involve drilling into your truck bed.
4. Heininger Automotive 2025 Advantage SportsRack
The Heininger Automotive 2025 Advantage SportsRack BedRack is another drop-in truck bed bike rack that I enjoy. It not only has a four-bike capacity, but it also looks like the bike racks I’m used to seeing at government buildings. It secures the bike’s front or back wheel between two angled metal bars and includes a lockable wire to fasten the bike to the rack.
The rack is attached between the pickup truck’s bed walls with finger-tightened wingnuts, and no tools are necessary for installation.
When you’re not lugging your bikes, the same BedRack may be utilized as a standing bike rack on your garage floor at home, or the rack can be swiftly disassembled and stowed.
If you need to carry four or fewer bikes, it’s a versatile choice that also provides reasonable theft protection. However, it does take up a lot of room in your truck bed, so keep that in mind if you don’t plan on utilizing a bike rack very often.
- Pros – Smart, simple design, tool-free installation, space for four bicycles, decent security.
- Cons – Security is dependent on a locking cable, the rack is not permanently installed, and when not in use, it takes up a lot of room in the bed.
5. Thule Insta-Gater Pro Truck Bed Bike Rack
Thule offers some of the best car and truck racks on the market, and the Insta-Gater Pro Truck Bed Bike Rack is no exception. It is not only elegantly styled and made to a high level, but it is also a creative design that makes advantage of the unique attributes of a pickup truck bed—a flat cargo floor and a bottom-hinged tailgate.
When the tailgate is open, the Insta-clips Gater’s slide into the gap between the tailgate and the bed floor, locking in place when the tailgate is closed. You use webbing to bind them, and you’ve got a secure mount.
The front wheel of the bike slips into a chock at the bottom of the rack and is attached to the rack with a ratcheting grip that captures the top of the tire, preventing frame contact or friction. To attach the bike to the rack, a Thule One-Key system lock is included.
Your bike is now safely secured in your truck bed if you have a locking tailgate. In a full-size pickup truck bed, two to three Insta-Gater racks can be stacked side by side. one of the best Bike Rack For Truck Bed.
- Pros – Elegant and simple appearance and function, great build quality, tool-free installation, locked security.
- Cons – Security is limited to vehicles with locking tailgates, and it’s a little pricy when compared to other choices, especially if you have numerous bikes.
6. Allen Sports Premier Locking Tray Rack
Allen locking tray racks on your vehicle’s receiver hitch are an excellent way to transport a variety of bicycle sizes and designs safely. The powder-coated steel and aluminium construction ensures safety and durability while being lightweight.
Wheel trays that are easy to load and comfortable adjustable upper frame straps that secure your bicycles in position. Makes it Best Bike Rack For Truck Bed in the segment.
You can secure your bike during transit with an included locking hitch insert and locking bicycle arm(s). You’ll be out on the road in no time, enjoying your next journey, thanks to the easy assembly!
- Pros – Elegant, simple form, and operation, outstanding build quality, no need to remove the front tire to mount a bike, locked security.
- Cons – it’s a little pricy when compared to other options, especially when renting many bikes.
7. Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks for 2 in. Hitch
A sturdy, easy-to-use rack for transporting your bikes safely. With the Allen four-bike carrier hitch, you may transport up to four bicycles on road vacations or camping trips.
The hitch insert, which fits 2-inch receiver hitches, is simple to use and keeps your motorcycles safe. Simply attach it to your trailer, then utilize the tie-down cradle system to secure and protect each bike individually.
The rack tilts back for convenient lift-gate access and folds out of the way completely when not in use, so you don’t have to remove your bikes to get to the rear of your vehicle or SUV.
The four-bike carrier is finished in a black powder-coated finish and includes a no-wobble bolt to protect the rack from shifting inside the hitch.
- Pros – No need to remove the front wheel to install a bike; Permanent installation, keyed locking security, low profile and tiny size, flexible mounting options, and long-lasting construction, four bicycle capacity.
- Cons – it’s a little pricy when compared to other options, especially when renting many bikes.
FAQ’s About Bike Rack For Truck Bed
Are truck bike racks safe?
To avoid theft, many hitches and roof racks can be locked to the vehicle. Many higher-priced racks also include a built-in locking system to keep bikes secure on the rack. The most vulnerable are trunk racks, which are secured to a car merely by straps that may be cut very easily.
How many bikes can fit in a truck bed?
A basic wood frame that holds the front or rear tyre steady is the most typical DIY Truck bed rack. With this DIY option, you can put 2-3 bikes in the bed of your truck.
Are bike racks easy to steal?
It does happen, but it isn't common. Bike racks are not universal because they are made to accommodate specific model automobiles. They also include security measures including locks, wires, brackets, and hitches. However, nothing is impenetrable to theft, and people have discovered ways to remove bike racks with and without bikes.
How do you store a bike in the back of a truck?
Bungee cords or soft straps are the cheapest and most dependable way to secure a bike in the bed of a truck. Ratchet straps should be avoided at all costs since they make finding the right tension to hold the bike down difficult.
How do you transport a bike without a rack?
By strapping a bike to the roof, you may transport it without using a rack. You must, however, avoid scratching the paint on the roof. Strapping your bike to the roof of your car is a quick and easy way to get your bike to your favourite cycling spot.
