Yakima HookUp
Analysis:
Weight:
The 1 1/4″ version of the HookUp rack weighed in at 43lbs via our Ultimate Support hanging scale.
Dimensions:
- Height when deployed - 2.5″ (measured from the receiver arm to tray deck level)
- Length when deployed - 31″ (how far behind your car the rack sticks out)
- Width when stowed - 56″ (arms fully retracted)
- Distance between hitch pin and front wheel hoor when stowed - 5″ (bumper clearance)
Adjustability:
Due to the design of the HookUp rack it makes it very versatile to use with different bikes. The front wheel tray has different levels of indentations in order to secure a road wheel just as well as a knobby downhill tire. The pivoting arm assembly can be adjusted to fit any size wheel from 20†to 29†and ratchets down tight in order to secure the bike to the rack. The rear wheel tray pivots on a central axis allowing the tray to accept shorter wheelbase bikes such as 20″er’s as well as longer wheelbase 26″ downhill rigs. The rack adds extra versatility by allowing you to run a single tray if you so desire. Some people may not care about this feature but it is available for those that want to lighten up their rack system.
Construction quality:
The construction quality on the Yakima was top notch. The trays are cast as one piece of aluminum which is solid with no flex. The construction hardware was all of adequate size and quality. Once mounted the rack did not have much play and when loaded there was no excess hopping or bobbing while driving. The pivoting arms as well as the main support structure of the rack is all made of large tubing in order support loads without having to worry about excess flex during driving.
Form and Function:
As I mentioned before the HookUp is a compact rack. It sports a shorter width than the Saris we reviewed earlier and folds up tightly against the vehicle to stay out of the way when it’s stowed. The HookUp is very easy to use and operate. The front wheel arm works like a charm. Simply rotate it into the correct position and push the hook down onto the tire. It ratchets securely into place. I find wheel straps to be a bit awkward to insert into the latch but they do ratchet securely and the cushioned rim pad is a nice touch to keep you rims from getting scratched.
The receiver hitch articulation mechanism of the HookUp is constructed nicely with a simple pin to change between the up and down positions. During installation of the receiver the hitch pin was easier to install with a ratchet versus using a standard open ended wrench. Even though the hitch bolt takes slightly longer to install than a slide in pin, it is very secure and stiffens up the rack considerably.
Price:
$369.00 MSRP
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