To accommodate the wide tires of fat bikes, fat tire bike racks have certain features which are not present in all racks. Fat tire bikes usually have wider tires which provide greater stability. These bikes absorb impact so you can ride on bumpy off-road terrains whatever the season.

However, these bikes are not very easy to carry on bike racks. They require bike racks that are capable of accommodating wider tires and higher weights of bikes. Most bike racks have fat tire adapter kits that must be bought separately to load wide tires, but a few are already fat bike ready.

This article will provide a step-by-step guide to selecting the best fat tire bike rack according to your requirements because not all racks are suitable for every rider. We have also shortlisted the best bike racks that are fat bike ready and have discussed why they are among the top. You will also find some fat tire kits to make other racks compatible with fat bikes.

Fat tire bike racks	Best for?	Tire thickness	Rack score
Thule T2 Pro XTR	Highly secure premium rack	5”	9
Hollywood Racks RV Rider	Fat tire bike rack for RV	5”	8.7
RockyMounts BackStage	Best swing-away rack for vans and SUV	5”	8.6
Swagman CURRENT Bike Rack	Best fat tire e-bike rack folds with bikes loaded	5”	8.6
INNO Velo Gripper	Best fat tire truck rack	Any size	8.2

Buyer’s guide for fat tire bike rack

Step 1: Understand how a fat tire bike is different as compared to other bikes.

Fat tire bikes usually have a tire width of 4”-5” or above, unlike other bikes which have tires of 3.5” or less. So, the first step to buying a bike rack suitable for fat tires is to check the width of your bike tires. Once you have that, you can search for racks that can hold this width. Different racks have wheel cradles of varying sizes so it’s better to be sure about the tire width and wheelbase before purchasing the rack. Moreover, these bikes are heavier because of bigger tires which is also a factor to consider while buying the rack.

Step 2: What type of bike racks would work as fat tire bike racks?

Hitch bike racks- These racks work great for fat bikes because they can carry heavy bikes as compared to bike racks with no hitch. Hitch bike racks are of two types, platform, and hanging style. The platform racks have wheel cradles or trays where the bikes are placed and gripped through wheels. Platform-style fat tire hitch bike racks can carry heavier bikes and bikes with 3”-5” tire width. They also have the option to add a fat tire kit to hold wider wheels. Hanging-style platform racks hold bikes through the top tubes, so to fit a fat bike, you just have to ensure your bike has a flat top tube and its weight lies within the load-carrying limit of the rack.

Truck bed bike rack– Truck bed bike racks are quite simple. Some are built as tailgate pads that work for all bike types including fat bikes. Others include racks that hold bikes through wheels or frames. These may or may not be fat bike compatible depending on the allowed tire dimensions. Weight is not an issue for truck bed racks, but you have to check the length of your bikes and compare them with truck bed length to see if it would fit.

Trunk bike racks (car bike rack without hitch)- Trunk bike racks hold bikes through frames which means that wheel or tire size is not an issue but does not have a heavyweight carrying capacity so might not be able to carry your fat bikes on a trunk.

Roof bike racks- These racks mount on the roof which means you have to carry up the bike to load it. This is not easy for fat bikes because of the weight. But still, you can manage with some help. Roof bike racks are mostly wheel or fork mounts and require a fat bike kit for loading fat bikes.

Step 3: What makes a rack suitable for fat bikes?

Once you have decided on the type of rack for your fat bikes, you need to ask yourself the following questions.

• How many fat bikes do you own or want to carry along?
• What vehicle do you own? Can the rack be installed on your vehicle?
• How much do you want to spend on a bike rack?

Bike racks are available in different capacities so you can choose according to your need. For compatibility with a hitch bike rack, make sure you have the required hitch otherwise you will have to get it separately. Moreover, these bikes provide greater stability which lets you ride on sand, snow, mud, or rugged terrain e.g., on the city side. So, you should find a bike rack that is anti-sway and anti-wobble designed for the minimum movement of bikes and noise.

Step 4: Select your fat tire bike rack based on vehicle compatibility and biking requirements

Thule T2 Pro XTR

One of the best 1 1 4 hitch bike racks, Thule T2 Pro XTR is a premium quality rack that is fat bike ready so you will not have to add any fat bike kit or adapters to accommodate your bike. This rack allows fat bikes with 20 – 29″ wheels and up to 5” wide tires to be loaded.

Moreover, it has a high load-carrying capacity which means that the weight of fat tires would not be a problem. You can carry two bikes weighing up to 60 lbs each and that makes the rack suitable for fat bikes, mountain bikes, and even electric bikes.

Whatever the shape your fat bike has, it will not come in contact with the other bikes because there is a 12.5” spacing in between and you can also adjust the sides of bikes to prevent frame contact.

Although Thule T2 is expensive at around $800-$880, it offers great value with the tilt-away feature, easy installation due to the AutoAttach system, and security locks for bikes and the rack. 

RockyMounts BackStage

RockyMounts Backstage is a popular bike rack that is also fat bike ready. So to carry fat bikes, you do not have to buy a fat bike kit separately, and would let you load 2 bikes with tire widths up to 5”.

This fat tire bike rack also has a high load carrying capacity of 60 lbs for each mean and since it is platform style, there is no frame contact with bikes.

This rack is the best option for you if you own a van or SUV and you want to access the hatch or trunk because it has the 180 degrees swing-away feature. You should get it only if your vehicle has a 2” hitch receiver otherwise it won’t fit.

Other than that, make sure the tires of your fat bikes have 20”-29” diameters and the wheelbases are from 34”-49”. You can also take your bikes on an off-road trail thanks to the anti-wobble design of the rack. Backstage costs less than Thule T2 Pro XTR at around $770 with locks included but it will not carry bikes with fenders. 

Comparison Article for Ebike Racks: E-bike Car Rack

Hollywood Racks RV Rider

If you’re an RV or motorhome owner, RV Rider from Hollywood Racks would be the best fit. This fat tire bike rack carries 2 fat bikes with 5” or less tire width. Also, this rack is very sturdy and is able to carry 80 lbs per bike.

This rack can also be installed on the 5th wheel of an RV and has strong wheel holders. It keeps the fat bikes stable thanks to the frame grabbers so your bikes will not experience wobble or swaying. At around $600 RV Rider would let you access the back of the vehicle due to the tilt-away design and you can also fold it when not in use.

Also, you do not have to worry about theft of bikes or the rack because RV Rider comes with security features to lock bikes with rack and rack with the vehicle. Just make sure that your RV has a 2” hitch receiver which is at least class 3.

Check out other bike racks for RV.

INNO Velo Gripper

Having a hard time finding a truck bed fat tire bike rack? INNO Velo Gripper is a great option for carrying bikes with any tire size. This rack does not have wheel holders so there is no limit to the tire width or wheel size.

The only limit is the length of the fat bike. If it is smaller than the truck bed then you can carry it by holding the frame in the Velo Gripper otherwise you would not be able to close the tailgate which is not recommended.

INNO Velo Gripper is available in two versions, one for standard truck rails and the other for C-channel truck rails. You can buy the one that works for your vehicle for only $120.  Overall, it is a great rack that does not require the removal of the front wheel or drilling into the truck bed. 

Read the full review. 

Find other truck bed bike racks for fat tire bikes here. 

Swagman CURRENT Bike Rack

 The Swagman Current fat tire bike rack is a platform hitch rack also approved for e-bikes. This rack would let you carry fat tire bikes with a tire width of not more than 5”. And since it is e-bike approved, you can carry heavy-weight bikes up to 60 lbs.

Once you place the bike wheels into the wheel tray, you will have to adjust the wheel straps on both tires so that your fat bike loads securely. The best feature of this rack is that it lets you tilt away from the trunk for easier access to cargo.

And unlike most tilt-away bike racks, this one lets you tilt even with 2 fat bikes loaded. Swagman Current can be your bike transport solution if your vehicle has at least a class 2 hitch with 1 ½” or 2” receivers. Other than the tilt-away feature, at around $365 it also offers a complete security setup for bikes and the rack. 

Fat tire bike kits to use other racks

Thule 919 T2 Fat Tire Kit

If you have purchased a new fat bike, you do not have to get a new rack for carrying it on the back of your car. The fat tire kit from Thule will let you carry your fat tire and other bikes on the Thule T2 series.

At around $75, you can get a pair of wheel holders, one for the front wheel and one for the rear wheel. These wheel holders can accommodate tires that are 5” wide or less so you can easily carry your fat bikes. The wheel holders are also equipped with a buckle and wheel strap which is long enough for securing the rear wheel.

Even with the kit bolted on the rack, you can mount even the thin tire bikes be it, mountain bikes, road bikes, or gravel bikes. This versatile kit can be adjusted for various tire sizes due to the spacer which makes it one of the most useful Thule bike rack parts.

The only limitation is that it cannot be used with front-wheel fenders because the ratcheting hook has to grip the tire at the place where it comes in contact with the fork. So, if your bike has a front fender, it will come in the way leading to unstable bikes in racks. For better results, we recommend you remove the fender and carry your fat bike safely. 

Pros: Allows you to carry bikes of most sizes

Cons: Straps might need adjustment 

In case you own bike racks that do not fit fat bikes, you can buy the fat tire bike rack kits made for the rack. Some of the popular ones are mentioned below.

Fat tire bike kits	How can you use them?	Price
Kuat Phat Bike Kit	Carry 5″ fat tire bike on Kuat NV 2.0 Family and 4.5″ on Kuat Transfer Family	$18
Swagman Chinook Fat Tire Trays	5” fat tire bike trays for Swagman chinook or quad bike rack	$70
Thule Proride Fat Bike Adapter	Carry 3”-5” fat tire bike on Thule ProRide roof bike rack	$50
Swagman XTC2 Fat Bike Wheel Tray	Carry 5” fat tire bike on Swagman XTC2, XTC2 TILT, XTC4, and XC2	$58

Frequently asked questions about fat tire bike racks

How do you transport fat tire bikes?

Bike racks are the right way to carry bikes on vehicles. For transporting fat tire bikes, you have to find a bike rack that accommodates wider tires and heavy loads. If you’re a minivan, SUV, or van owner, hitch bike racks are recommended while for trucks you should go for truck bed bike racks.

What type of bike rack is best for Ebikes?

E-bikes are heavy with a load of 50 lbs or above. So, for these bikes, you should go for hitch bike racks that are built-in platform style. Platform style hitch bike racks have high weight carrying capacity, e.g., Thule EasyFold XT would let you carry bikes weighing around 65 lbs. Moreover, these racks do not have frame contact so you can transport your expensive e-bikes without any scratches on the frame.

Do you need a special rack for an ebike?

The only special thing about these racks is the high load-carrying capacity. Before purchasing a bike rack for an e-bike, be sure about the weight of the bike and then check the per bike load carrying capacity of the racks.

Can you use a regular bike rack for an ebike?

You can if that rack is able to carry the weight of your e-bike. But because e-bikes have a battery installed, it is hard to load them on trunk bike racks. Thus, platform-style hitch racks are preferred for e-bikes.

Which is the best fat tire electric bike rack?

The Swagman Current bike rack is compatible with e-bikes and can also accommodate fat tires without a fat tire kit. You can load 2 e-bikes 60lbs each on this rack and transport them without frame contact.

Fat tire bike rack for truck bed?

Tailgate pads such as Yakima, Demon, Thule, and Fox tailgate pads can accommodate multiple fat bikes. Apart from that, the Inno Velo Gripper grips a bike through the frame which means you can fit a fat tire bike as long as the length of the truck bed allows.