If you own a bike, chances are you need a way to transport it to that sweet trail/mountain/brewery that you want ride. Rocky Mounts WestSlope Three Bike Hitch Rack ($300) is one of the best bang-for-the-buck options on the market for doing just that. Best of all, it does it without causing the sharp intake of air when the price is revealed.
Rocky Mounts is a premium, rack manufacturer headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. The company, founded in 1993, offers a comprehensive line of bike, ski and cargo racks, as well as a number of options for securing your precious ride. A recent addition to that line is the WestSlope Hitch Rack – available in a two or three bike version. The WestSlope is marketed as a “wallet friendly” option. However, do not be fooled into thinking it is low quality – this is an excellent rack system and very worthy of consideration.
What I Liked
Packaged with Care. The WestSlope Rack was delivered in a box that was so beaten up by the shipping company that it looked like it had lost a boxing match. With a lion. However, I am pleased to report that the rack itself was very well protected, and (shockingly) completely undamaged. They do such a great job of packaging that ordering an item direct from the Rocky Mounts is a safe option. It is obvious that they have put a lot of thought into getting their racks delivered in good condition.
Easy Assembly. I found assembling the WestSlope 3 to be very easy. The kit came with all the tools needed. I was actually a bit surprised by their quality. Most flat-pack items arrive with junky, throw-away tools that find their way to the bin immediately. In fact, after the rack was together, I put all of the tools into my bike repair kit – which I have never done with these types of tools before! The four-page manual is thoughtfully illustrated and instructions exceptionally clear – one of the best that I have come across. I found one minor issue. The page labeled “Loading Bikes” was in between the first and second pages of assembly instructions for some reason. However, the manual is short and concise and, since I always read through the instructions before I begin, the misordering was not a problem. Each piece of the rack is labelled with a color that corresponds precisely with the illustrations in the manual. The instructions and tools provided allowed me to get the rack ready to use in under an hour. I had a small problem with the threads on one of the bolt-holes that slowed me down a bit. Plus, I prefer to take my time when putting something together and was taking photos. That said, I expect that it would not take more than 25-30 minutes for even the least mechanically-inclined person to tackle.
Robust Materials. The metal parts of the WestSlope 3 are heavy gauge steel and the powder coating appears to be thick and well applied. This is a good sign that this rack will have a long life. In fact, with regular maintenance, I fully expect to get decades of use out of it. The plastic parts are well designed and very robust. All of the other hardware (nuts, bolts, washers, etc.) are either coated or anodized and can be expected to weather very well. All told, the quality of the parts is nowhere close what I would expect on a “wallet friendly” rack. I do not think that you will find this degree of quality in the market without paying substantially more.
Straightforward Installation. Mounting the rack onto a vehicle is straightforward. However, it is not a lightweight item (43lbs/19.5kg) so having a bit of help from a mate getting it mated is a good idea. Once the rack is slid into the receiver, there is a bolt-style pin that holds the rack very securely. This anti-rattle design completely eliminates the need to use a hitch-tightener to keep the bikes from bouncing about during transit. That is a small feature with a big impact that I really appreciate.
Capacity. It is designed to fit a wide range of bikes with wheelbases from 34” to 48” and to accommodate tires up to 3.0” wide and diameters from 20” to 29”. A smaller groove in the center of the rear tray secures narrower tires. The maximum weight of 40lbs/18kg for a total of 120lbs/54kg (on the three bike model) is more than adequate. The instructions indicate that the heaviest bike should be closest to the vehicle – good advice.
Easy Loading. Getting bikes on the rack is very easy – perhaps the best reason to purchase this style of rack. The rear tire mates to a tray which pivots to cradle the wheel and fastened down with a strap that ratchets as it tightens. The front tire is then secured by raising the lever and ratcheting down a hook to the top of the wheel (It is imperative that the hook sits behind the center of the wheel.) That is it! No need to remove any tires, nothing attached and rubbing paint off the frames, no worrying about that precious paint getting scratched because the bikes are on top of each other, and not the least worry that a bike will come off (yes, that did happen with another rack and I have not heard the end of it…). The bikes are locked down in moments and then I just get in and go. Unloading the bikes is the reverse and is just as easy. Needless to say, I am never going back to any other style of rack!
Features. One design feature that I really appreciate is that the rack angles upward away from the rear of the vehicle. That creates a lot of ground clearance for driving up an incline and also means that each bike sits progressively higher giving them more clearance which keeps the bars off the other bikes.
When loaded, the WestSlope 3 extends 51 inches to the rear of a vehicle However, when not in use, it pivots and is secured in an upward position and only takes up 16 inches of space. (The WestSlope 2 extends 40 inches when in use and 13 inches when stowed.)
It also pivots downward to allow a rear hatch to open. However, that feature is one that I find tricky to use with three bikes loaded. The blue, release handle is located at the front, center of the rack near the point at which it pivots. My bikes are fairly lightweight, but when combined with the moving portion of the rack it gets fairly awkward to use. That is generally not an issue as, when I am moving three bikes, I likely have a riding partner to help. I do wish that design was a bit more user friendly.
Add ons. One item that I opted to get was the WestSlope Lock Kit. There is no way that I am going to risk thousands of dollars worth of bikes to save tens of dollars on locks. While no lock system is completely fool-proof and perfectly secure, the lock kit gives me the reassurance that any scumbag thief will at least have to work for it and might decide that it is not worth the effort. The kit comes with a cable, two lock pods, two lock cores, and two keys. They are all high quality and I cannot imagine Rocky Mounts is making much on them because they are sold at a very reasonable price. I quite appreciate it when I get to choose whether I want an option instead of them just lumping it in and jacking up the price.
What I didn’t Like/What could be Better
The minor misordering of the instructions. (Note: I checked online and it appears that the instructions have been updated – or perhaps the printer they used simply made a mistake. Either way, it was not a big deal.)
The release for the rack is difficult to use if there are three bikes loaded and I am alone. A better design would allow the rack to be lowered safely without all the gymnastics or pleas for assistance. Fortunately, that situation is unusual and has not been a huge problem.
Final Thoughts
This rack is seriously impressive. It is heavy duty and well designed at a price point that should make its competition more than a little nervous. It makes moving bikes a breeze and has been a delight to use. I never hesitate to quickly load up my bikes and drive off without a care – meaning I spend more time riding, less time loading, and no time worrying = win, win, win. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a robust solution for transporting their rides. It is a rare opportunity to save a few dollars without sacrificing any functionality.
