For those of you going with the Rakattach, here is another dilemma...which swing direction. I originally ordered the passenger side swing thinking that I don't want to swing the bikes into the travel lane if pulled over on the side of a road and need to open the rear door. For example, if I got a flat tire and need to get at the jack and tool kit.

Then today I decided to switch my Rakattach order to the driver side swing. It will be easier to have the bike rack swing one way and the rear door swing the other way. I certainly hope I'm swinging the bike rack and door to go bike riding more often than changing a flat tire on a highway.

 

thought I would post pics. This is the 1up double rack with a 7” extension. Works great.

 

Looks great! Question for both you and crewcabrob.

When the rack is in the vertical position (no bikes), and if you had only one tray mounted, would the spare tire clear so you could fully open and close the rear door? Or would you have to drop the rack to the 45-degree or horizontal position?

 

Correct - It will open all the way with the rack in the 45 degree down from the horizontal position.

 

Thanks for the reply Rob. BTW, nice taste in bikes. That S-Works Epic looks sweet with the wireless AXS dropper. I've got a Scott Spark RC 900 SL and planning to add the dropper. My Scott is grey and black and would match perfectly with your Defender!

 

But it would not clear if the rack is in the vertical position? Again I'm assuming a scenario where only one bike tray is mounted on the 1UP. Thanks.

 

Sweet set up Rob!
Any movement on the road with the RackAttach? Are you able to fold up the 1Up rack and still clear the spare?
BTW - Nice choices on MTB's! I've got a StumpJumper Comp, 2 Levo's (my wife and I) a Vado (mine) and Como (hers) - the e-assist bikes are as much fun I've had on a bike since I was 12 years old...

 

Aside from the bike rack, I can see other ways the Rakattach will be useful. We have a large hitch mounted cargo tray that we use to carry beach chairs, kid's boogie boards and a small grill to a drive-on beach. It will be great to swing the tray out to one side to open the Defender rear door and let our dog out. She's a yellow lab and loves swimming in the ocean.

 

Hey Folks,
First post here. Nice forum!
I picked up a Kuat Pivot 2 for my 1Up single and double racks. The swinging door on the Defender makes an arm attachment a close to "must have". Overall I've got to say I'm really impressed with the Pivot 2. Its locking mechanism (Pivot 2 itself to the hitch mount itself ) is very similar to the 1Up design so it locks in VERY securely. I drove some very rough roads with the single rack on the Pivot 2 (with my bike on it) and there was essentially zero shake, wobble, clang or bang, etc. Its a very nice solution. It looks to be very similar to the Rack Attach. The big difference is that I was able to get it from REI in a few days vs a month from Rack Attach. Cost is essentially the same between the two.
The Pivot 2 opens 90 and 120 degrees with a positive stop at 90. I'm not sure how this differs from the Rack Attach. Its also available in drivers or passenger swing. For what its worth I decided to go with the passenger side option. If you get the drivers side option you may want to be on rather friendly terms with any friend you share the space between the door and rack with. I just get the idea that it could be rather close quarters. Thats my $0.02 so TIFWIW. Sharing that space with my teenaged son would be very tight. I swear I blinked and he went from a skinny weed to a giant of a kid (almost adult).
Here are some pictures showing what you'll end up with. (Please excuse the dirty Defender and the post ride bike)


Pedal clearance open at 90deg (This is mounted as close into the Defender as possible - You could give the setup more room if you wanted to)

Open at 120deg. No sag and very stable. There is no positive stop at 120deg

Single rack folded up

Double rack open

Double rack folded up

 

Hi all,

For those that want a bit more clarification on the Rack Attach and how much room/clearance you get with it, I took the following pictures today before we headed out for a ride at one of the local MTB trails.

I would also say, I'm really happy I chose the direction I did. It gives me room to load stuff from the one side without hindrance. My wife can bring stuff over from the side and help load, otherwise only one person can really be back there to load up cargo.

Thanks guys for the kind words about the bikes. I love to have nice equipment. It makes up for my lack of talent most of the time.

Rob