Vehicle Custom Mount
Vehicle Custom Mount
Yakima DoubleDown 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack Review
The Yakima DoubleDown 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack is a heavy-duty bike rack from Yakima designed to be mounted on the rear of your vehicle. With its capacity to haul up to four bikes and narrow arms which can fit a variety of frames, this rack is ideal for families who want to go biking together on outings or holidays.
Features of the Yakima DoubleDown 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack
- Carries up to four Bikes
- TriggerFingers system allows rack to be folded down easily
- SwitchBlade anti-sway cradles prevent bike-to-bike contact
- Compatible with both 2" and 1 1/4" hitch receivers
- Bottle opener integrated
Installation
Installing the rack is very straightforward as it is with most hitch racks. 3 tools are included for installation; 2 tools for tightening down the hitch bolt plus an Allen wrench. It's convertible between both a 2" and a 1-1/4" hitch receiver. You need to ensure that the bolt is tightened very well so the rack doesn't sway during travel.
Tilt Feature
The Tilt feature and TriggerFingers system incorporated in the DoubleDown, are very handy and convenient. You can tilt back the mast and have easy access to the back of your hatch simply by lifting up a red button, meaning you don't have to remove the rack from your vehicle. You can fold down the arms of the rack by pressing the red button towards you.
Security
Security isn't a strong point of the Yakima DoubleDown. Even if you buy an additional locking cable for the hitch pin and bikes, someone can remove the pivot bolts from the vertical support if they have the correct wrench. There are ways to improve the security though if you are willing to make custom changes to the rack yourself such as using JB Weld to cover the nuts and threads of the pivot bolt to prevent the bolt from being removed.
Loading Bikes
Loading bikes on to the rack is easy, although it takes a while to tighten all the straps. When loading a bike to the rack, you need to ensure you tighten all the straps so the bike is kept firmly in place. You can load bikes of a variety of different frame sizes so the rack is very versatile. The rubber straps which secure the bikes in place are strong and grip the bike frame very well.
Final Thoughts
The Yakima DoubleDown 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack is a good choice if you're looking for a quality rack to haul up to 4 bikes. It's not one of the cheaper bike racks on the market, but this is evident in the durable construction and overall quality of the rack.
The main drawback is the lack of security, so if you want to leave the rack with your bikes unattended you should look for a different bike rack unless you're willing to make the necessary modifications to the rack to increase security.
About the Author
For more information on the Yakima DoubleDown 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack visit Bike Racks Reviews
TN License Plate Placement?
Can anyone tell me where license plates in TN are required to be located on the vehicle? My son has his mounted on top of the bed of his truck, right behind the rear window. It's been this way for almost a year, and no one has had a problem with it until last night. He was pulled over and the cop gave him three days to move it. He has a custom truck and the bumper has been removed, so there is no where to install it. Is there a website that addresses this?
You need to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in Tennessee to inquire about the laws and regulations relating to license plate placement on a vehicle. Since it is a custom vehicle, similar to a collector car, the vehicle may be exempt from certain requirements.
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