Trail Review: 1UP USA Quik Rack Single

1UP USA Quik Rack Bicycle Rack Review on Toyota 4Runner: Easy Access, Modularity, Toughness, and Style

Mountain bikes and 4×4’s go together like Toyotas and 10mm sockets. Sometimes the bike is an accessory to the 4×4, sometimes it’s the other way around.

Regardless of the situation, there is an important interface between the two that often goes unnoticed.

The bike rack. I had some specific requirements for my future bike rack, so I did some research that ultimately landed me with the 1UP USA Quik Rack Single.

I put my rack through the paces both on the road and on the trail to transport my bike to and from the riding location. When researching which rack to use, I needed a few criteria covered. It needed to provide easy access, allowing for the tailgate to open while in the stowed position.

It needed to be modular and able to expand from one to two bikes easily. It needed to be tough and trail worthy so that my mountain bike doesn’t become an obstacle for the vehicle behind me. And it needed to compliment the overall look of the 4Runner.

Simple function

Putting a bike onto the rack couldn’t be simpler.

Open the rack into the flat position using the single pull bar underneath.

Open the wheel clamps on either side by pulling up on the red ratcheting lever.

Place the bike in the tray.

Clamp down the front wheel first, then the rear. The ratcheting levers automatically lock in tension.

To remove, reverse the process by lifting up the ratcheting levers and releasing tension on the wheels. This two part wheel clamp system firmly holds the bike in place without any contact with the frame or other vital components. Because all of the pressure is placed directly on the tires from both sides, the bike is much less likely to move or wobble off-road, acting “as one” with the rack itself.

Easy access

Most of my rides are either solo, or me meeting up with other people who have their own mode of transportation. This means that I can get away with a single tray the majority of the time.

Thanks to the 1UP’s single bike option, it folds into a very compact package allowing me to keep the rack on the 4Runner pretty much constantly. With the rack in the upright position, the tailgate can still be opened with ease and with room to spare.

This plus is something that any other 2+ bike rack wouldn’t be able to do.

The rack also allows for a 45º drop, giving access to the rear cargo area with bikes on the rack.

Another fun tip is that the rack and bike can be brought back to the flat position when the hatch is open, allowing for night work on the bike after a day of riding using the lights in the hatch.

Modularity

This bike rack is part Swiss Army knife. This rack expands from 1 to 3 bikes using add-on trays that attach using 2 bolts each. The larger double racks allow for up to 4 bikes.

By loosening the outer 2 bolts, sliding on the add-on tray and tightening, you can add another bike in a matter of minutes.

When not in use, the rack and any additional trays can be folded up making it easy to stow or transport them in the trunk or the garage.

The racks can be altered to allow for tires between 16” and 29”, and up to a 3.1” width with the stock hardware and 3.1” to 4.9” with their additional Fat Tire Spacer Kit. This allows for you to use the same rack from your road bike to your trail bike, the fatty, and the kid’s Batman bike. That’s some serious versatility.

Toughness

I have started bringing my mountain bike on more of my trips in the mountains. Both for the ability to ride some of the nearby trails, and as a backup mode of transportation if the 4Runner gets stuck or is immobile. This means that the 1UP needs to be trail ready. And in short, it is.

It uses a stainless steel ball to wedge the rack into the receiver via the bolt at the end of the shank. This keeps the rack very stable over rough terrain including rock gardens and miles of washboards. I do check the rack’s tightness whenever I stop for good measure and rarely find it needing an adjustment. They do supply a tether that will keep the rack in the receiver in the event that it does loosen.

On the trail, the last thing you need is something hanging out over the back decreasing an already low departure angle. Thankfully, ground clearance is maximized with the 1UP Rack as it angles upwards with the individual trays staying flat.

This allows for a better departure angle, and an easier bike loading procedure as each bike is slightly staggered height-wise.

Quality and maintenance

I personally counted 3 pieces on the rack that aren’t either aluminum or stainless steel (not including the nylon bushings on moving parts). This means the rack itself is very well built with extreme attention to detail and longevity. Less plastic means less parts that are subject to UV degeneration and failure. More aluminum and stainless steel means a stronger overall frame, and a resistance to corrosion and UV exposure more prevalent in mountain areas.

I have pulled this rack apart to clean and maintain, and after 3 and a half years of use, I was amazed at how tight the tolerances still were. It never seizes or jams, and is still in perfect working order. If something were to break, 1UP’s lifetime warranty will back you up with the parts needed to fix it and get you back on the trail. I haven’t needed to replace anything yet, but knowing that it an easy option makes me feel good about the investment.

Curb appeal

It’s tough work to make a bike rack look good. But with the combination of high-quality materials and it’s modular design, it’s a real head turner.

I get comments and questions all of the time when it’s on the 4Runner, with or without the bike. It’s not a huge plus, but not having a bulky plastic-looking rack is definitely still worth something when purchasing.

The 1UP USA Quik Rack Single (https://www.1up-usa.com/product/quik-rack-single/) as shown in black will set you back $349.99 (+tax), and the raw aluminum silver $299.99 (+tax). Each add-on tray (https://www.1up-usa.com/product/rack-add-on/) is an additional $249.99 (+tax) for black, and $199.99 (+tax) in silver.

The price is slightly more than others in the market, but the quality of materials and function make this rack a no-brainer for the additional cost. I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase again and plan to get many more years of hard use out of the one that I have.