Lolo Racks, launched in the Pacific Northwest in 2016, first caught my attention when I spotted one at a trailhead in Bend, Ore. The innovative vertical hitch bike rack design, capable of carrying four or six bikes, intrigued me.
Since then, I’ve tested various rack styles, both horizontal and vertical, but none seemed to meet all the criteria for our family and team adventures. Just when I was considering giving up on testing racks altogether, Lolo introduced the 6-Bike Rack with Foot-Activated Tilt, and my curiosity got the better of me.
For the past 8 years, Lolo has been crafting durable vertical racks in Portland, Ore., using 100% American materials. These steel racks are meticulously welded and assembled by fellow riders and parents who share a love for taking their families and friends on outdoor excursions.
Impressed by the ongoing reputation of these seemingly bombproof, US-made racks, I decided to give one a try. As my kids grew and their bikes outgrew our car’s storage space, the need for an upgrade became evident. As event organizers, parents, and professional adventure racers who rarely ride alone, the choice became clear and we went for the 6-Bike Rack with Foot-Activated Tilt.
Over the past few months, my family and I have embarked on numerous bike adventures across diverse road conditions, hauling various bike styles on our Lolo rack. It has exceeded my expectations in carrying capacity, bike compatibility, and ease of loading and unloading bikes.
In short: The Lolo 6-Bike Rack with the Foot-Activated Tilt ($1,150) is a robust, 100% USA-made rack capable of effortlessly transporting up to 240 pounds of diverse bikes on the roughest roads — all without you feeling the extra weight while driving to your destination.
- Weight: 76 lbs.
- Number of bikes: 6 (also comes in 4-bike version)
- Carry capacity: 240 lbs. total (roughly 40 lbs. per bike, suitable even for a heavy 55-lb. e-bike positioned in the middle)
- Hitch receiver options: 2"
- Locks: Yes, locking hitch bolt and the option to use your cable and U-lock.
- Type: Vertical, handlebar hang
Pros
- Impressive carrying capacity
- Foot-activated tilt
- Accommodates all types of bikes (and even snowboards and skis!)
- Durable and proudly made in the USA
- Avoids bike compatibility pitfalls of some other vertical racks
Cons
- Does not come with an integrated lock for bikes
- Heavy and requires significant storage space when taken off car
- Expensive
Lolo 6-Bike Rack With Foot-Activated Tilt: Review
Bike Carry System
![Loading the Lolo Rack with mountain bikes, fat bikes, and kids bikes](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/03/Lolo-6-Bike-Rack-Loading.jpeg)
Tips on Attaching Different Kinds of Bikes
- Dual crown/downhill bikes: Lolo sells a separate attachment for these styles of bikes that works well. It can also work for mountain bikes so you can keep it on your rack permanently.
- Kids’ bikes (under 10-16-inch wheels): For smaller kids’ bikes with wheels that are under 20 inches, use a ski strap or bungee to attach the bottom wheel to the rack.
- Fat bikes: The tires fit, but taking the bungee off can be challenging if the tires are fully inflated. I recommend either decreasing the tire pressure or using a ski strap.
- Road and gravel bikes with drop bars: These fit best on the ends of the rack to reduce the chances of interference with mountain bike handlebars.
- E-bikes: For e-bikes over 44 pounds, Lolo recommends attaching them by the support mast in the middle of the rack for better weight balance. You may also have to take off any handlebar computers.
Foot-Activated Tilt
![The Lolo Rack tilts down easily to allow access to the tailgate of a truck](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/03/Lolo-6-Bike-Rack-Tilt.jpeg)
![Pushing the loaded Lolo Rack back up into its vertical position](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/03/Lolo-Racks-Tilt.jpeg)
Security
Variations and Add-Ons
A Year-Round Rack
![Stock image of the Lolo Rack being used in the winter to carry skis and snowboard](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/03/Lolo-Rack-Ski-Carry.jpeg)
Lolo 6-Bike Rack With Foot-Activated Tilt: Conclusion
![Loading up the truck after camping out with the Lolo 6-Bike Rack](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/03/Lolo-Rack-Camping.jpeg)