Best Truck Bed Bike Racks: Bring Your Bicycle on Any Journey
Secure your bike all the way to the trails and back with these top truck bed bike racks
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Putting your bike in the bed of your truck may seem fine, but it could be doing more harm to your bike than you think. A high-quality truck bed bike rack will keep your bike and truck safer. Plus, it gives you access to your hitch in case you need to hook up a trailer or camper. Check out the best truck bed bike racks to consider the next time you plan on riding the trails.
Heininger Automotive 2025 Advantage SportsRack BedRack
Inno Truck Bed Bike Mount System
Swagman Pick Up Truck Bike Rack
Summary List
- Best Overall: Heininger Automotive 2025 Advantage SportsRack BedRack
- Best Value: Inno Truck Bed Bike Mount System
- Best for Two Bikes: Swagman Pickup Truck Bike Rack
- Premium Pick: Thule Insta-Gater Pro Truck Bed Bike Rack
- Honorable Mention: MBP Alloy Quick Release Fork Mount Bike Block
- Honorable Mention: Top Line Uni-Grip Truck Bed Bike Rack
- Honorable Mention: EVO Quick Release Fork Mount Truck Bed Bicycle Carrier
- Honorable Mention: Pipeline Racks Truck Bed Bike Rack
- Honorable Mention: RockyMounts LoBall Track Quick-Release Bike Rack Pick Up Truck
- Honorable Mention: Delta Bike Hitch Pro 2 Locking Fork Mount
Best Truck Bed Bike Racks: Reviews & Recommendations
This Heininger rack is strong and easy to assemble—in fact, no tools are required to put it together. The rack fits 54 ½ to 66 ½ inch wide beds and you can extend it to 60 ½ to 72 ½ inches with the spacer (included).
You can haul up to four bikes with it and there’s no need to take the wheels off and then reassemble. It holds your bikes securely without doing that and it has soft pads to protect the finish and parts from damage. A lockable cable is included for added protection and you can use the bike rack as a stand-alone unit off the truck if necessary.
There are reports of some downsides, however. One purchaser said the rack is too wide to use with a bedliner. Another buyer said the rack moved around in his large pickup no matter what he did to secure it. And one user said it damaged his bike’s disc brakes.
This may be the most unique bike rack we’ve come across, but don’t let its design fool you. Instead of placing the bike in the center of the truck bed, this rack stores bikes on the sides. This is a great option for anyone who is looking to save cargo space or bring multiple bikes on a trip. You simply attach the hardware over the side rails and then attach the bike to it.
Out of the box, you get ratcheting holders and two D-ring clamps for the railing. One of the best features is you can leave these fitted to the truck while leaving room for whatever else you need. While it is designed to hold a single bike, you could use one clamp to hold one bike and move the other to the opposite side for a second bike.
However, while it does save space for cargo in the center of the truck bed, you are limited to the number of bikes you can carry. As it is a side mounting kit, you can fit only one bike per side. Also, the rack may not be able to hold smaller children’s bikes or large, robust ones. Plus, the bike may get jostled around a bit during the drive and move a few inches. Make sure it is securely tightened before each trip.
The Swagman Pickup Truck Bike Rack is a two-bike mount for truck beds that fits firmly between the truck bed with an extending arm. You don’t have to drill holes or risk damaging the bed in any way. The soft padding provided by the rubber pads gently rests against the sides of your truck bed without scratching the paint.
Bikes are easy to attach to the bar by removing the front wheel and sliding the forks into the mounting blocks. Then you rotate the 9mm quick-release skewers into place to anchor the bike down. This adjustable truck bed bike rack allows you to freely move the brackets from side to side to position your bike exactly where you want it.
One problem you may encounter with this mount is its locking mechanism. There can be an issue with the pin not fitting properly inside the hole, which is inefficient. While it doesn’t take away from the overall function of the rack itself, it means you won’t want to leave the bike on the rack unattended. The rubber pads may also not be the most durable.
This upright bicycle rack installs into your truck bed. It can hold a single bike that weighs up to 50 pounds. You can fit bicycles with wheels between 20 and 29 inches in diameter and up to 5 inches in width. This style of frame is ideal for fat bikes and carbon frame mountain downhill e-bikes.
What makes this bike rack stand out is that it secures your bike without having any contact with your frame. This reduces the risk of damage. It’s easy and quick to mount your bicycle on the rack. The rack also comes with Thule’s One Key system to lock the rack and secure your bike.
The downside of this rack is that it may not fit in your truck bed. You may also find that the screws in the base can come loose and need occasional tightening.
This fork block can be installed in your truck bed, van, trailer, garage, or anywhere else. The quick-release skewer and handle give you fast access. It’s made from a strong and lightweight alloy. It will fit most bicycles that have a standard 9 x 100 drop out.
What’s nice about this mount is that you can mount it vertically or horizontally. It can also easily install to certain truck’s existing hardware, rails, or other mounting systems.
The downside of this mount is that it only fits forks that fit into the 100mm space. It also doesn’t come with the mounting hardware necessary to install it. The skewer lock isn’t the most secure and can leave your bike feeling slightly unstable. There are also no security features, such as the ability to lock.
This universal bicycle rack is a mount capable of holding two bikes. You can mount the bikes in two minutes for fast and easy storage. You can install this mount in a truck bed that has or doesn’t have a bed liner.
What’s nice about this bike mount is that it comes with a security system. This includes a cable and a lock to secure your bike to your truck. You also don’t have to remove your tire to secure your bicycle in the bed of your truck.
The mount’s downside is that it won’t work in a truck bed with a track system installed. It also isn’t a permanent installation. That means you’ll need a way of storing all of the pieces when it isn’t in use. It also hooks around the middle of your bike’s frame, which could possibly cause damage.
This quick-release bike rack easily installs into the bed of your truck. It fits standard 100mm forks. You can install this mount on any stable and flat surface. It’s made of quick-release alloy construction. This helps the mount to be both durable and lightweight.
What’s nice about this mount is that it’s easy to install and versatile in its installation. You can mount it vertically and horizontally. You can also install it in your truck bed, RV, garage, home, or shed.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to remove your front tire to be able to use this mount. It also only fits universal forks of 100mm. The mount can also bend if you’re too tough on it.
If you need to carry a lot of bikes in the bed of your truck, then this style of rack is ideal. It can hold up to four bicycles. You don’t need to remove the front wheel, and you don’t need to drill holes. The installation is simple and fast. The rack is adjustable to fit bicycle tires that are 0.75 to 2.8 inches in width.
You’ll really like this rack because you don’t have to remove the front tire before you put the bike on the rack. It’s also compatible with a broad range of bikes. The large capacity means you can easily carry several bikes at a time without installing a mount for each bike.
One downside of this rack is that your truck bed needs to be 58.5 inches wide at the cab for it to fit. You’ll also need to assemble the entire rack, which will cause a delay in your ability to use the rack and can be a confusing process.
This locking bike mount can hold 9 x 100mm standard frame forks. It has a quick-release handle for the forks. It has a built-in lock with included keys. This secures your bike to the mount. This mount is compatible with the truck bed channel system that comes in Toyotas, Nissan, Chevy, and GMC.
What’s nice about this mount is that it’s made from CNC machined 6061-T6 aluminum. This helps it to be durable, strong, and lightweight. It also comes with all of the required hardware for installation.
The downside of this mount is that the lock can be finicky in how it works. You’ll need to get the tension just right to be able to lock and unlock it. It also requires a channel system to be able to be installed, so it isn’t compatible with all trucks.
This bike mount fork lock is one of the most secure possibilities out there. It has two holes that you will use to mount the rack to your truck bed or any other flat surface. It also has a 9mm skewer to quickly and easily attach the bike to the mount. At one end, there’s a lockable handle that prevents your bike from getting stolen while in the bed of your truck.
What makes this rack stand out is the special anti-rust treatment. It has a powder-coated finish that keeps the rack looking great and prevents corrosion.
Unfortunately, this rack only works with older styles of bike forks. Newer mountain bikes aren't compatible with this rack. The bolt and nut are not powder-coated or stainless steel. This makes them susceptible to rust.
Our Verdict on the Best Truck Bed Bike Racks
For an easy-to-use truck bed bike rack that holds your bike securely in place, check out the Heininger Automotive 2025 Advantage SportsRack BedRack. Or, if you want to save some cash and still get a high-quality mount, consider the unique Inno Truck Bed Bike Mount System.
Benefits of Truck Bed Bike Racks
- Take your bike anywhere. You don’t have to worry about how you are going to transport your bike. A bicycle rack for pickup truck beds is a great way to haul one or more bikes. This gives you the freedom to load up the bike and hit the road without having to ride all the way to the nearest trail.
- Protect your bike and truck. You could simply set the bike down in the truck bed, but that could damage it during the drive. The force from turns or sudden stops could toss it around or fling it out of the bed itself. It could also scratch or dent the truck’s paint. The best truck bed rack will keep the bike secure and prevent it from falling down or out of the bed.
- Haul other equipment. A bike stand for trucks frees up the trailer hitch, leaving you room to pull a camper, RV, or small trailer. You can also store other equipment and gear in the bed around the bike. Just make sure everything is secure to prevent any damage.
- Use them outside of the truck. Many mountain bike racks for trucks can be used out of the bed as well. If you need to stow your bike in the garage or on the ground, you can place the mount on the floor and simply mount the bike to it. This gives you the ability to service the bike or leave it there for another day.
Types of Truck Bed Bike Racks
Fixed
These racks are quite popular and can be fixed in place to hold the bike. They typically consist of a long metal rod or pole that extends to the width of the truck bed to hold it securely. To lock down the bike, remove the front wheel and insert it into grooves where the tire would go. These racks can also attach directly to the side of the bed to hold the bike frame. The designs can vary, depending on the number of bicycles they are able to hold, and they are simple to set up.
Adjustable
Adjustable mounts come with extendable arms to lock down the bike's tire or frame. With these racks, you shouldn’t have to remove the front tire at all, since it clasps on to the rubber. However, adjustable frames can be trickier to set up and are a bit on the bulky side compared to fixed racks.
Truck Bed Bike Rack Pricing
- Under $100: Here you will find smaller and a more simple selection of truck bed bike mounts. They will typically hold just one bike, but you can find some that accommodate two. You may also have to drill holes into the truck bed to properly connect them.
- $100-$200: This is where you will see the quality of the material increase as well as the number of bikes the racks can carry. They are also equipped with more robust frames and enhanced locking mechanisms to lock them down when the bikes are off.
- $200 and up: In this range, you will find large, durable, and sturdy mounts that are capable of holding a lot of weight. They are also designed to carry larger equipment, such as kayaks, surfboards, and rooftop tents.
Key Features
Bike Mount
Truck bed bike mounts lock your bike down in one of two ways, either by the forks or the wheel. Both offer a secure way to prevent the bike from tipping or swaying during travel. With bed bike racks that are wheel-mounted, you do not have to remove the front wheel. They come with an armbar that clamps to the wheel, holding it in place. Those designed to fit in the fork grooves will require you to take off the front wheel. You can then use straps or a bungee cord to hold down the wheel or place it inside the truck.
Truck Bed Mount
There are multiple ways truck bed bike mounts attach to the vehicle, but not all of them will necessarily work in your truck. Some can be extended from one side of the bed to the other to hold it tightly in place. Others slide into the gap between the bed and the tailgate to prevent them from sliding around. However, you may want to get a lock for your tailgate in order to prevent anyone from lowering it and stealing the rack. You can also find racks that require you to drill holes in the frame of your truck. Many bike mounts will not fit on your truck if you have over-the-rail bedliners.
Other Considerations
- Bike Capacity: Your truck bed is limited to the number of bikes it can hold. The wider and longer the bed, the more it may be able to accommodate. The length and width of the mount are important. Larger ones will take up more space but may hold fewer bikes.
- Additional Accessories. Many mounts offer you the ability to carry more than just bicycles. Certain brands can hold surfboards, tents, and kayaks as well. These tend to be more expensive.
Tips
- Be aware of the weight restrictions on bike racks. While most can carry mountain and road bikes with ease, many won’t be able to hold the weight of recumbents, cargo bikes, or tandem bikes.
- Check the size of your bike’s wheelbase before purchasing a rack. Many can easily fit normal-sized wheels, but anything larger than 29 inches may be too large.
- If you end up having to remove the wheel of a bike, you can store it in the truck. You could also leave it in the bed and use bungee cords or ropes to hold it in place.
- Remove the bike’s seat and pedals to reduce the weight of the bike and decrease the amount of wind noise and resistance during the drive.
- If you feel uncomfortable with the way your bike sits in a rack, you can use extra tie downs or straps to hold it in place.
FAQs
Q: Do bike racks prevent a bike from being stolen?
A: While many do come with a locking mechanism to prevent theft, many do not. You can buy a locking kit for your mount or use a strap to tie around the bike then lock it with a regular lock.
Q: How long does it take to install a bike rack?
A: This depends on the style of the mount you have in mind. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes if all you have to do is extend a bar between the bed or insert it between the tailgate. Larger, more robust racks may need more time and may also require you to drill holes into the truck bed.
Q: Will bike rack mounts fit in a short bed truck?
A: They should fit in any type of truck bed. The problem you may run into is the size and length of the bike in addition to the rack. If you are having issues fitting the bike into the bed, you can try angling the bike while keeping the front wheel in place. As long as the wheel is facing straight, you should be able to fit the bike inside the bed. However, this only works with some racks.
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