Hitch Rack Recommendations Needed - 2011 Sportwagen

We have finally reached the point of no return for our roof rack and our bikes - we have Yakima vipers and bikes with hooded fork drop outs. It's a miserable combination and very difficult to secure, and this weekend it resulted in a bike fork hitting the roof. We could go back to upright bike carriers - but have found those frustrating in the past (due to bike types). We would also like to be able to carry the kayaks on the roof at the same time. So...we are looking at putting a hitch on the car (2011 Jetta Sportwagen).

I'm having trouble finding good data on what might work for our bikes (I know there have been other threads - but not with the odd assortment of bikes we have) - so I'm (of course!) asking here.

Requirements:
Easy to load (the current rack has become such a pain we dread loading it) - I am thinking we prefer a tray for stability and ease of loading (we had a top tube hitch rack years ago and hated it)
Must be able to deal with fendered touring bikes
Must be able to deal with disc brakes (on my bike wish list)
Ideally could deal with a Bike Friday (20" wheels, low mono tube) - they can go in the car because they fold, but sometimes there isn't room
Would like light - but this isn't a deal killer

Ideas?

Well, I had a Saris Thelma and it met all of your requirements, except I am not sure about the fenders. If I could use it by myself, it's easy.
Any Saris rack is good. DH has the huge platform one with an extender for 4 bikes and it has held up for 10 years.

I had the Thule T2 hitch mounted tray rack and MUCH preferred it to my Saris rack. While this is expensive, it is well worth it. It isn't light, but it is very stable, very easy to use, perfect for mountain bikes. Due to the tray design fenders just aren't a problem. There is an arm that comes down over the front wheel, but it doesn't have to come down far and I never had an issue with my fender with either the LHT or my Gunnar. This model has a hinge that allows you to "bend" the rack down when it is loaded to have easier access to your trunk or rear of your car. Of course it also folds up when it isn't in use. They have both a 1.25 and 2.0 hitch receiver version. You can adjust the wheel trays individually for different bike sizes.

I just sold mine not that long ago to someone locally, it got snapped up quickly.

One Up would be my first choice and it's made in the US. I would recommend the Kuat, but I'm not sure how it'd work with fenders.

Hmmm....the Thelma looks like a really cool rack, but the website says it only goes down to 26" wheels. I have an email in to Saris to clarify that and another question I had.

Catrin- That rack looks really nice, but I found somewhere in my research that it doesn't work well with fenders. Odd since you didn't have an issue. What Saris did you have a bad experience with? Would like to avoid those...

thekarens - One up looks really nice, but they are all out of stock?! I did look at the Kuat, but it won't work with fenders (and I know better to think I will take them off to transport the bike - won't happen!).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blueberry

Catrin- That rack looks really nice, but I found somewhere in my research that it doesn't work well with fenders. Odd since you didn't have an issue. What Saris did you have a bad experience with? Would like to avoid those...

---

Blueberry - since the arm locks in place it doesn't have to be TIGHT on the wheel, it just has to hold it in place, it never marred my fender and it never seemed unstable. I know that Thule has an even more expensive rack that fits "E-Bikes", unsure what that actually means...

I forget which Saris I had, but it was the trunk rack version, I found the Thule to be much more stable - at least it looked/felt that way. I was always concerned that my Saris was going to have a problem but that doesn't actually mean there was a problem with it, I just never quite trusted the rack - I had the Saris Bones 3.

Catrin-

That makes sense! I'm looking at their hitch racks in all cases - we never loved trunk racks (and now the issues with roof racks...sign...expensive stuff). There is someone (ironically) selling the Thule sort of locally.... Lots to think about!

I love my 1Up USA rack. I think it would be worth contacting them and finding out when they'll be back in stock--that rack is amazing. I was a little worried about how it would work with our fendered bikes, but went ahead and bought it, as well as the fender cushions they sell. (Which you could easily make yourself, but I was busy and it was more hassle than I wanted to deal with at the time). An 18 hour total road trip later, and our fenders were in great shape. I love the ease of use and the solidity of the rack--it's really fabulous.

We have that Saris hitch rack and it has been VERY difficult to use with fenders. I hate to say this because I love the rack, but DH's steel Gunnar broke the wheel holder and almost came out on a very busy road. We had to pull over very quickly. It works "ok" with my fendered bike, but it is really not ideal and after the experience with the Gunnar I don't trust it. It also does not work with out MTBs at all. The only other drawback is the rack does not lock. We have to use a U-lock and cable which is not ideal.

I do like that the rack does not touch the frame/paint at all.