I'm currently using a 1UPUSA heavy duty rack on my 2017 RRSport. I usually keep the rack tilted at 45 degrees when not in use, which allows me to open tailgate. But, when bikes are loaded, the rear cargo area cannot be accessed.

For the 24MY Defender 110 I have ordered, I was looking at some options. I may upgrade to a Kuat Piston Pro-X bike rack for ease of use / safety of brake lights on rack. Because the D110 has a rear mounted spare tire as well as a side-opening rear door, I was thinking about adding a swing-away hitch rack like the Kuat Pivot v2 or the 1UPUSA RakAttach 2.0. Has anyone had experience with a swing-away hitch rack for the Defender? Does it work better swinging to driver side or passenger side? Any real world experience with either Pivot v2, RakAttach 2.0, or another alternative?

 

I use the RakAttach with the 1UP rack. It works really well. I set it up to swing the same way as the door, which is to the passenger side in the US. It swings far enough to open the door fully.

 

Do you leave the entire assembly (RakAttach and 1UP rack) on the car? Or do you often take the rack on / off the car. Most of the swing-away racks seem super bulky / heavy and I was wondering how hard it was to lift / install / remove.

On my current RRSport, I keep the 1UpUSA rack installed most of the time. The exceptions are for ski / board trips and when I need to transport my dogs in the back (it's a pain to lift big dogs over the bike rack into the car).

 

It's relatively easy to install to install the RakAttach. It's quite heavy but well enough balanced that it is not a difficult lift for one person. Sometimes I'll leave it on for weeks - it just depends on how much I'm transporting bikes. I have the luxury of many high-quality mountain bike trails accessible without driving. I take it off for ski season.

 

Also using a RakAttach plus 1Up bike rack. Works great! Mine swings the opposite of the rear door since I also use the RakAttach with a cargo tray to carry stuff onto the beach. Easy access to the rear cargo area with the cargo tray swinging the opposite of the rear door. Wet, sand covered yellow lab rides in the rear cargo area. But I think the new RakAttach version can be installed either way so that it swings in either direction. Great if you ever need to park on a street and unload near the curb.

 

I have a 2023 D110 and I use a Küat pivot and bike rack. It works great. I prefer pivoting to the driver's side (US).

Your observation about the weight is correct, they are heavy buggers. But I remove mine when not in use to keep it out of the weather and because pivoting everything out of the way when you want to access the back is a PITA.

Good luck,

Myron

 

Is the swing-away rack by itself enough extension to clear the spare tire with the rack folded up? Or do I need an extension in addition to the swing-away rack?

 

Yes, the pivot provides sufficient clearance to fold the Küat rack up when bikes are not on it. My rack is the Sherpa 2.0.

 

I use this guy here. I have it swing the same way as my awning so the bikes are covered when the awning is out. Don't have any issues with the bikes getting in the way of the door. When I am not using the rack I just pull the rack off the swing away and have no problems using the trunk. I had the thule but recently switched to the 1up.

 

Check out the EXO swing base by Yakima. I love mine and they have a bike rack option as well as interchangeable options for travel (camping, storage, skiing etc) see my post about it.
https://landroverforums.com/forum/20...0-pics-112404/