NathanAre you the type of biker who loves to bring a bicycle along with those of your family members or friends for a countryside or camping trip? Do you find transporting your bikes difficult? Then the Heininger Automotive 2025 Advantage bike rack could be the solution you’re looking for. This rugged, easy-to-use, and stable truck bed bike rack which could be a great addition to your garage.
If you’ve always wondered how to bring your bike for your next road trip, you should be happy to learn that there are several ways of transporting bikes safely and legally. You can opt to partly dismantle your bike by removing parts like the wheels and then placing it on the trunk. This should work if you are to transport a small bike and your car has enough boot space.
But what if you are bringing your family on a camping trip and you want to take your bike along with those of your kids? Let’s say you’re looking at 3 to 4 bikes. Obviously, you need a bigger vehicle like a truck. Moreover, you would have to use a bike rack like the Heininger Automotive 2025.
In this review, we will take a closer look at this truck bike rack so that you can determine if this is the right rack for you.
Heininger Automotive 2025 Specifications
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Dimensions: 31 x 27 x 6 inches
- Holds up to four bikes of different wheel/rim size
- Designed for most pick up trucks
- Extends from 54.5 inches to 66.5 inches sans a spacer
- Extends from 60.5 inches to 72.5 inches using the included full-size spacer
- Includes 72-inch cable lock
Heininger Automotive 2025 Assembly and Installation
Ease of assembly and installation is one of the biggest strengths of the Heininger Automotive 2025. There is no need for tools at all for assembly of this bike rack. In fact, all you need are your bare hands in fitting and locking parts of the bike rack. It’s practically ready to use once you have unboxed it.
Designed to fit the bed of most trucks, the bike rack can fit truck beds measuring from 54.55 inches up to 66.5 inches. In case you have a full-size pickup, then don’t worry as this bike rack includes a spacer that will allow it to fit in truck beds up to 72.5 inches wide.
It also has adjustable and rubberized lateral stabilizers that secure it along the walls of the truck bed. Those stabilizers come with wingnut type screws, twisting them into place in the process. Again, no drilling or special tools are needed for you to install this rack into your truck.
You can watch this video so that you will have a better idea on how to install this rack:
Heininger Automotive 2025 Design
Once you have installed the rack, the next order of business would be to secure the bikes into it. There are four slots about 2.5 inches wide where you can roll the rear wheels into. The slots also come with padding designed to prevent damage to the wheel and rim. On top of the slots are securing bars that can be adjusted vertically and hold the wheel in place. Speaking of the rim, this rack can secure bikes with a rim size of up to 28 inches.
After rolling in the wheels into the slots and tightening the securing bar, you can then turn to the 72-inch cable that the manufacturer throws into further secure your bikes and the rack itself. This cable also comes in handy in preventing the bikes from moving while the vehicle is in transit.
You’ll also appreciate the design of the Advantage BedRack truck bike rack when you are outdoors. With it, there is no need to remove the tires of your bike. Once you have rolled the rear tire and secured it with the securing bar, you are ready to go. While most of the bikes these days have wheels that snap on and off quickly, you would likely agree that removing wheels can be quite a hassle especially if you are in a hurry.
The bottom of this bike rack is also made of non-slip material, keeping it stable while protecting the truck bed. You can use this bike rack with or without a bed liner.
And once you are done with your road trip, this bike rack can still be useful because it can serve as a floor rack. You can turn to this bike rack in holding your precious two-wheeled transport in your garage.
You won’t also have to worry about this bike rack adding extra weight to your vehicle as it weighs just 8 ounces. It is one of the lightest bike racks you’ll see on the market today.
Heininger Automotive 2025 Pros and Cons
After learning the specs, design, and assembly requirements of this bike rack, you have likely realized the many advantages of the Heininger Automotive 2025. It is easy to assemble, compact and lightweight and fits most truck beds. Moreover, it is versatile enough to be used as a standalone bike rack. It is really an excellent choice for a practical biker.
But there are also chinks in the armor of this bike rack, so to speak. While the padding on the four slots is substantial, there is a tendency for it to occasionally fall off. Also, the slots may not be able to accommodate bikes with wide fenders especially if these are wider than the tire itself. Finally, this bike rack is not compatible with a few trucks such as a Ford Ranger, which has a narrow bed for the Heininger Automotive 2025 to fit in.
Conclusion
Still, the Heininger Automotive 2025 is an easy to assemble, well-designed, reasonably priced, and a compact bike rack that you should consider if you are looking for a piece of equipment to transport your bikes. It may also be a good alternative if you can’t find a good permanent bike rack for use in your garage.
Willem Grobler
