I believe the kuat transfer 2 is $489. And you can get it on rack attack for 440 with code RREWARDS10
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I have always had Rockymounts. One factor to take a look at is weight. it really effects the handling of the car, gas mileage and everything in between. Its the one company that really takes this into account. They just came out with a good sleek one to go up against one up and kuat with anodized blue features, (guide rail) simple look and fast mounting, plus it weighs in at around 50 lbs.
they are rider owned and operated and the customer service is stellar…check them out!
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I am always amazed at how big Rocky Mounts has gotten. I worked at a chain of shops in Boulder / Denver with the guy who started it (Bob Noyes….we called him Bob Maybe. 
).
Most people don’t know that their original product was a bike mount that could work on both Thule and Yakima racks (at the time, Thule cross bars were rectangular and Yakima were round). His clamps could accommodate either bar. He left the shop to go all in in the mounts and I kinda thought he was crazy…but I was still pretty young and was still learning about the business.
From a simple, single concept product to a major player in the car rack business. Pretty cool success story.
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Ah, i was in boulder when he was starting up, Rockymounts did the colored trays, instead fo thule/yak black/silver .i go back to boulder all the time and you still see them on all the cars there…stood the test of time
Sorry, I misread the title. I don’t have any recommendations.
Nobody saying SeaSucker?
They don’t offer hitch mount racks, which seemed the focus per the title.
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Yeah, I see. Just saying, of course they’re not possible for example glass top cars. Personally find them so neat at least for road, gravel and light side of xc bikes. Installation 3 minutes, taking away 30sec, without tools.
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You have to take your front wheel off, and getting the bike on to it is somewhat of a pain. It’s a neat option but only really good for those who have no other option.
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So…funny story…Allegedly, my registration was expired by, oh, I dont know, 16 months? I only realized it when a friend called me out on it. Anywho, I was busy as hell and didnt have time to spend half the day at the DMV so I just kept my rack on the car as long as I could, blocking the view of the plate. Somehow never got pulled!
I’m loving my Saris MHS! I’ve currently got three trays on mine and there is room for a fourth. 
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There are a lot of great racks but 1UP, as well as being a great design, it has zero plastic to degrade in the sun. All aluminum parts, minus the screws I would imagine.
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Only nit with1Up is security. their locks are really more of a casual deterrent.
In Oakland, CA 1Ups get stolen from the trail head all the time because the racks themselves are trivial to steal. You really need to use a heavy chain like an Abus or Kryptonite and lock the rack to a mounting point on the vehicle, then another chain to lock bikes to the rack.
Even with those measures they can still be lighter than the competition.
Yeah I see, I’m so much after car aesthetics that I like the idea of getting rack away from the car surface asap, when transport isn’t actually happening.
Same with rear hook I have in my small family car, that is quick installation/removable model so that rear bumper looks clean visuals every other moment except towing something. Aesthetics so biggie that it overrides all the usability aspects of rear rack setup. And how dirty your bikes get in the back turbulence, when road is wet or moist or dusty and exhaust gas and stuff?..well maybe not with EV. Yeah, there are covers but then the whole package start look like garden grill, hey what an idea btw… 
I saw once a man with Porsche Panamera with a rigid rear hook, that he could tow his boat trailer 500k from the city to his lake cabin and back. I’m not sure the aesthetics, but it is what it is.
But like I said, SS’s are really good for light bikes. I wouldn’t use it, if I had 2-3 dh or enduro bikes, many cars have so low top load limit that it would be probably too much. Not ridden more than 140k an hour in average or bit below average main/country roads like 700-800k dayride, not loosing grip or dropped anything for that matter.
I totally get what you’re saying, but I am SO happy I never got the car aesthetics bug. I see cars as a tool. My father, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. He’ll spend $150 on a chrome bolt for his motorcycle or cars, which he uses like twice a month, but then balk at spending $50 on cycling shorts or an extra $100 on a bicycle that he uses 3 times a week. Not judging, just acknowledging that I totally hear what you’re saying.
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Be thankful you aren’t like me, who spends on all the above
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For better or worse, I still use my 11-year-old Saris CycleOn Pro that I had to get when I bought my 2014 Trek Fuel EX 9 (which I also still ride). When I bought it, I had a 2003 Lancer, so I got the 1-1/4" version. Then it went on a 1997 Bonneville, then 2014 Accord, and now my 2004 Tacoma (so I made a 2" adapter for it). It’s also made trips on my wife’s Rav4 and my dad’s F150-not saying that’s anything special about the rack, but a nice point that hitch racks are easily transferable. I certainly didn’t plan to still be rocking the rack or the bike, but here we are!
I’m trying to justify a new one, so these tips are helpful. I realize I could just be on borrowed time before some catastrophic failure.
Bike racks are like photo tripods. If you cheap out and get something to save money, you’ll end up buying several racks, go through a great deal of hassle, and in the end you will have spent more (in addition to potentially having bikes damaged) than you would have spent on a great rack that fits your needs perfectly and lasts forever.
A really GREAT rack, that does exactly what you need and is of great quality, is almost a one-time purchase: barring surprises or big changes in your life, you can have it for decades. Buy well once, and you’ll live much more happily ever after.
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The only complaint I have to offer on 1up racks is they seem to corrode into the receiver. I have at least 2 friends with their racks permanently attached to their car. I try and grease the receiver any time its off or at least make sure it comes off every so often to make sure its clean.
For customer service, its a toss up between them and Kuat for the best. Both have been amazing with any concerns. Only a week ago, one of the arms wouldnt budge on my 1up. Sent an email and had a detailed fix sent to me in maybe 3 hours with exactly what I needed.
Galvanic corrosion… it doesn’t just bond seat tubes to bike frames
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