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Thule
Apex XT Swing Away Bike Rack - 4 Bike

3.40625 out of 5 stars
32 Reviews
$699.95
Color:Black

Size:

Quantity


Why We Like The Apex XT Swing Away Bike Rack

Thule's racks are trusted the world over, but the Apex XT Swing Away Four-Bike Rack is even awesomer than the company's numerous other offerings. Sure, it has the same Soft Touch anti-sway bike cages, Thule Road Dampening Technology, and integrated locking cable as many other Thule racks, but those aren't what set it apart. The real moneymaker is the Swing-Away hinge, which lets us tilt the rack away from the hatch—even when it's fully loaded—so you can reach in and pull out our favorite post-ride snacks and beverages.


The Apex is easy to use, for sure, but it's also bombproof. Thule's EasyMount system and Locking Receiver Knob secures it solidly onto any two-inch hitch receiver, and the reinforced cradle straps are 25% stronger than past iterations, so you don't have to worry about your bikes breaking free. There's also a Hitch-Switch, so you can fold down both the arms and the rack body to keep it out of the way when it's unloaded, and an integrated handle at the back that makes the Apex easy to move when you're taking it on and off the car.


Details

  • Hanging hitch rack with top-tier protection and easy accessibility
  • Hitch-Switch folding design lets you access trunk easily
  • EasyMount hitch-mount system makes installation a breeze
  • Locking Receiver Knob prevents theft during pit stops
  • Soft Touch anti-sway bike cages prevents bike contact
  • Thule Road Dampening Technology makes for a smooth trip
  • Reinforced cradle straps bolster security
  • Integrated locking cable further protects against theft
  • Item #THU008V
Bike Capacity
4
Compatibility
2in hitch
Locks Included
yes
Part Number
9027XT
Claimed Weight
42lb
Manufacturer Warranty
limited lifetime

Overall Rating

3.5 based on 32 ratings

Review Summary

1 Stars - 6 reviews
2 Stars - 6 reviews
3 Stars - 2 reviews
4 Stars - 5 reviews
5 Stars - 13 reviews

What do you think about this product?

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2 out of 5 stars

March 19, 2024

Could have been so much better

We wanted to love this rack, but there's just too much to dislike about it. It's a pain to have to squoosh between the bikes and the car to unscrew the locking mechanism every time you need to swing the bikes out to open the tailgate. Surely some sort of locking quick release like on other brands could have been designed. You're also advised to unlock the hitxh lock and tighten the knob every couple of hundred km. Does not inspire confidence. The biggest pain is that the tailpiece sticks out so far from the hitch receiver, that you will keep grinding the back end of the rack into the pavement every time you go up or down a steep driveway entrance, unless your receiver is particularly high. On our Forester, which is quite high, we were forced to install a hitch lifter in the middle of a 10,000 mile road trip after numerous bashes. So we used it for the one trip, and are now going to sell it. Great ideas, very poor execution.

ndgbob
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer

5 out of 5 stars

October 10, 2023

Worth every penny!

This bike rack is amazing! Very easy to mount/unmount, stabilizes bikes and looks great too. The added feature of the swing allows is so convenient to be able to access the trunk.

ELynne
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer

5 out of 5 stars

August 10, 2023

Repeat Thule customer

Easy to install and use right out of the box. Very sturdy. First major trip was 4 bikes (2 adults, 2 kids) and no issues. My old hitch rack (from ~90's) would bounce and seemed unsteady. Not the case with the new Apex....rack seemed very stout. The swing feature was very helpful for still accessing the bed of my 2019 Tundra.

Sean H
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer

3 out of 5 stars

July 12, 2023

Manual Lacking Instructions

Great product but the manual is lacking important details, like instructing you to use the 'blank' key to install the lock bolt into the bike rack. There is a major lack of copy in the manual and just a little direction would have made the entire installation process smoother.

jboyz
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer

5 out of 5 stars

June 25, 2023

Love this rack!

Straight forward installation, sturdy with quality built even fully loaded.

ToMoDim
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer

4 out of 5 stars

March 22, 2023

Great rack and awesome customer service…

We bought this rack and were excited to set it up and use it. When we opened it to set it up the wrong bolt package was in the box. And, a small plastic cover had popped off… We phoned Thule and received awesome help. They sent us a new rack right away. When we opened this box same problem - wrong bolts. We went to a local auto parts store and were given the bolt we need finished set up and all is again good. Thanks for the help Thule. Would have been 5 stars if we received the right bolt!

Dadstorm
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer

4 out of 5 stars

August 30, 2022

Great quality & easy to assemble

Excited to finally not have to take tires off & squish bikes into my trunk with kids + gear. Very happy with the ease of assembly & use of this bike rack .

Adventuremom
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer

4 out of 5 stars

August 26, 2022

Great bike rack

Took our bikes from bc to Alberta. Bikes rode well all the way there and back. Gave us access to the back with the swing feature. Pretty easy to set up and install. Only issue we faced was getting the straps out when we arrived. We didn’t want anyone to take them.

Doubleh
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer

1 out of 5 stars

August 8, 2022

Good idea, terrible design

We purchased this bike rack last winter with the intent of using it this summer on the family trip. We assembled and tested everything when we received the rack - it seemed to work. However, when the bikes were loaded, it was impossible to lock the rack back into place after we had swung it open to access the hatchback of our car. The locking screw has a lot of wiggle to it and does not align properly with the receiving end. It will not engage and lock into place. We made several attempts, but ultimately had to unload the bicycles and remove the rack to get it to function properly. We did not bring the bikes on our trip. We are very disappointed with this bike rack and are looking for a replacement. I would not recommend this product.

Cam
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer

5 out of 5 stars

July 17, 2022

Family of 3

Its easy to remove and put on. The three bikes dont sway too much when off roading.

Frank
manufacturer

Originally reviewed on manufacturer