Plastic rims are just cheap, and more likely to warp and to provide a less smooth experience over time. It offers simplicity and convenience, while also being able to fit onto nearly any vehicle. As a result, we found the Deluxe experienced much less movement between the bikes (forward and back while on the rack), when the bike was loaded to its maximum capacity. If muscling things is not your forte, the Premier might be worth the upgrade. To allow for ventilation as well as prevent fogging up during rainy rides, the sides of the trailer windows have small oval openings near the top of the trailer. They made a little bit of noise compared to my high-end trailer, but these arent $900 trailers. The deluxe bike trailer/stroller exceeded my expectations. This is another step that decreases ease of use while increasing the contact points and the likelihood your bikes could be damaged in transport. There is no fool-proof way to know whether your bike will fit on a specific trunk rack or not. It was very easy to assemble and attach to the car. All Allen joggers, strollers, and trailers pass the required ASTM safety standards. Bikes in the house, bikes in the garage bikes are everywhere and it's the best way of life. It is easy to assemble and you can easily carry up to two bikes. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. While nothing has torn for us yet, just be aware that when youre only paying $100 $150 for a trailer, there are limitations to its longevity. Its a bit heavy but not too bad. Regards. Variation Of The Allen Sports Premier Locking Tray Bike Racks. Hitch Racks. The Premier makes it easy by allowing you to simply squeeze the red locking tabs, move the cross support into position, and then release. The wheel size of the Allen T2 (trailer only) is 16, while the S2 (trailer and stroller) is 20. View our. Our Verdict. If youdosee a pin that looks bad, just request a new one. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. or another design. We earn an affiliate commission when you buy through our links. Edit for clarity: For some reason at time of purchase on Amazon UK, the super tinker and deluxe were only separated by 1 or so, so it seemed rude to get the super. Moreover, the after-sale service of the brand is remarkable. There is a lot to consider when buying a bike rack! View our Terms of Use. At $120, the Allen Deluxe 4 is the cheapest hitch mount rack we tested, and it's sometimes priced at much less than that. The rubber cradles on the arms are where the bike frame rests, with straps that secure over the frame to keep that bike from sliding around. Stay in the loop to be the first to hear about special deals, giveaways and more. 176. So for me, this isnt a problem. 3+ day shipping. Got feedback? Because this is a budget trailer, the covers material is thin and likely to wear or tear faster over time than a more expensive trailer, such as the Burley Bee ($350). Inexpensive. (2) Adaptor Bars and Vertical Clearance: Adapter bars are often needed on hanging racks in order to carry bikes without a long, straight top tube (such as bikes with step-though frames or small kids bikes). There is a lot to consider when buying a bike rack! 3+ day shipping. BEST FOR: Smaller bikes (including 16 bikes!) Enter your cars information below to find out if this product is compatible, Note: This product should only be used on vehicles where it can be properly installed as described in the item's instructions. Two attached wire struts must be inserted into pre-drilled holes on the upper support arm, and then the model is ready for use. If you're on a tight budget, the Allen Deluxe 2-Bike is a basic but functional option to consider. It looks as if this rack has been tweaked slightly. Important installation note: never use on trailers. (for the Deluxe Locking 4 Bike Carrier) the rack easily secures to the hitch receiver in under a minute. Accommodates a wide range of bicycle frame designs. While more expensive Burley or Thule trailers are better for true cycling families, Allen trailers are a great option for casual biking families who want to bring the little ones along for occasional neighborhood and paved trail rides. Due to the placement of the upper straps and/or the top padded base, trunk racks typically are not compatible with cars with fenders. by Allen. This is one very common feature of inexpensive trailers and is pretty unavoidable unless you want to spend a few extra hundred bucks. It isn't ideal for carrying full-suspension bikes or bikes with funky frame shapes. How many bikes do you want to carry? Deluxe Child Bike Trailer & Stroller. For the size of kids that are realistically going to fit in these trailers width-wise, there is a comfortable amount of headroom and legroom in both trailers. Top 6 Best Allen Sports Bikes Rack in Review. Check out the products below to see how the deluxe and premium models compare. This very inexpensive model is quite basic compared to the higher end competition, but it can carry 2 bikes and fit on a wide range of sedans, station wagons, and SUVs. No tools needed to install rack to the vehicle. With a 13 support bar spacing, the Ultra-Compact is wider than the 11 Deluxe but narrower than the 14.5 Premier. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. Allen offers locking hitches and non-locking hitches in both Premier and Deluxe models. Welp, I sure was surprised because these little trailers are pretty good, and considering the price point, they were kinda great. Simply design (axels, fittings, etc.) While I cant say definitively what would happen if you used a pin like this, I was not comfortable carrying my baby in the trailer this way and requested that a new pin be sent. Locking hitch insert fits either 1 1/4" or 2" receiver hitches (2 and 3 bikemodels) or 2" receiver hitches (4 and 5 bike models). Do you plan on carrying kids bikes with 20 or 16 wheels OR do you have a bike with an odd frame design (aka not the standard triangle tubing)? Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Additionally, larger wheels are going to make for a more comfortable ride for the child rider if you encounter any bumps or obstacles in the road. Check with your vehicle manufacturer to see what receiver hitch options are available. When not in use, its rolled up and secured at the top of the trailer with an elastic loop. **Features shown may not be included with all Premier and Deluxe models. Mark M. 7/10/2022. This article will compare InSTEP Take 2, InSTEP Quick-N-EZ and Allen Sports AST2 bicycle trailers. Allens hammock seat is thickly padded and is sewn into the frame separately from, and above, the bottom of the trailer. $44.83. Racks should never be used on any type of trailer or the front of vehicle. Theres also two small nylon pockets on the outside of the storage area. For about $50 more, the S2 gives you the option of converting to a stroller, has a higher maximum MPH, and also offers more headroom and legroom for kids as they grow. Easy-to-use 5-point harness system with continuously adjustable height settings, Hammock-style seat is thick and padded, sagging less than other trailers, Single stroller wheel in front tucks in closer to the trailer than other brands, Swapping between trailer and stroller functions requires you to remove kids from trailer, Less durable over time than higher-end trailers. Allen Sports 4-Bike Trunk Mount Rack - Black (QR545) (1) Total Ratings 1. The front cover of the Allen S2 and T2 consists of a mesh door with canvas sides that stay in place via velcro. The Allen S2 trailer & stroller has a few additional inches of headroom and legroom compared to the T2 trailer only. The vehicle will require a professionally installed receiver hitch. Allen Sports 3-Bike Hitch Mount Rack. The S2 is mostly featured in the images below and is the yellow trailer. It has a couple of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Allen Sports Premier QR545 or Allen Sports Premier QR525 . The Allen Sports Locking Quick Release Hitch Rack delivers all of the features to safely and securely get you and your bikes out for adventures. Video covers proper placement and hook. The bit driver and bits honestly look amazingly useful. Allen Sports Easy Load Deluxe XR200 is $250.93 less expensive than an average car bike rack ($386.93). The quick install makes that so much easier. These three bicycle trailers were not just the most popular among Amazon customers at the time this article was written, but they had also received excellent reviews from most Amazon buyers (an average of 4.5 stars each out of 5 stars!). As a certified secondary science teacher, she loves digging deep into the why and how of kids biking. For added security (and as is standard in any safe trailer), theres a nylon strap you wrap around the frame of your bike for back-up in the event the retaining pin came loose. This product absolutely needs a RUBBER FRONT WHEEL!!! I have the two seater it is fantastic. but decent quality. The rack is impressively lightweight at just 7 lbs and 9 oz, and it folds up very small for storage. The Allen Sports Deluxe 4 bike rack is just that. Two side straps deliver exceptional lateral stability on your vehicle. Its funny how a small thing like a mesh cup holder can be soooo hard for some trailer companies to figure out! They are easily swapped out. The system is easy to use and gives the trailer a taut, sleek look. In both trailer and stroller mode, the Allen bike trailers perform impressively for their price point. 3+ day shipping. Access to the rear vehicle compartment is not possible when the rack is mounted to the vehicle, but this is the case with all of the trunk-mount racks we tested. While not challenging or time-consuming, it does take some muscle and if not careful, you could accidentally pinch a finger while doing so. While Allen Sports racks arent as high-end as racks like the Saris Bones, Yakima HalfBack, or Thule Passage, Allens racks offer stand-out performance for a very affordable price point. Product details. One thing I did not like or anticipate is this rack uses fabric/nylon straps instead of rubber straps like my rack for 4 bikes. Check out the products below to see how the deluxe and premium models compare. Tire mount vs my roof mount system. Quick install locking hitch insert fits 2 in. From a rider comfort standpoint, we recommend using the Allen trailers for about a 60 70 lb. If you are hauling standard-size bikes, it all depends on your budget. Our experts test thousands of products each year. This is one of the key differentiators between budget and higher-end trailers. The Allen Sports Deluxe Bike Trailer is designed to carry a max load of 100lbs. The Allen Deluxe 2 is an economical trunk mount rack that uses the bicycle frame as the primary point of attachment. bike max weight), the Premier is absolutely worth the upgrade, especially if you are driving longer distances. The Allen bike trailers also dont offer a sunshade for the front cover. receiver hitches; includes 2 keys. The wider bars also provide a wider base for larger bikes to rest on. Installed and used yesterdaypiece of cake! The commonality between them is sine wave tremolo and spring reverb. With wider set supporting bars (14.5 as compared to the Deluxes 11), the Premier is better able to distribute the weight of larger, heavier bikes. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Assembly of the trailers isnt very difficult, but the instruction manuals pictures and instructions are confusing. Carry up to three bicycles on road trips or camping excursions with the Allen three-bike carrier hitch. The height of the harness straps is easily adjusted for a precise fit based on the height of your riders. There is a parking brake located in front of each wheel of the S2 Trailer & Stroller, but not on the T2 Trailer. Roughly the same time they changed to the red logo Lace Sensor for the bridge pickup they went to a trem with a snap-in trem arm. After using it a few times this is what I like: well built and sturdy, assembles easily and bolts directly to your cars hitch, two hinge areas are easy to use and it holds 4 bikes well. Not as versatile as platform-style hitch mount racks like the Thule T2 Classic or the Kuat NV, it ranges from difficult to impossible to attach many full suspension frames or frames with unique front triangle configurations on the Allen Deluxe. Your bikes are held in place with the patented tie-down cradle system. (5) Narrow Support Bars: The Allen Deluxe and Ultra-Compact models have narrow-set support bars that allow smaller bikes, and some bikes with odd-shaped frames to fit without adapter bars. Once we figured that out, setting up the T2 trailer was a breeze! (2) Measure Your Bike: Starting at the upper corner of your bikes triangle, measure the distance of your bikes top tube. weight limit. Locking Hitch Racks. Powder-coated steel construction. *Features shown may not be included with all Premier and Deluxe models. Categories: ALLEN SPORTS Clear filters Products Accessories . . Hopefully this video will help you make up your mind. In the bike trailer world, Allen Sports is known for affordable but quality trailers. It is also important to point out that all three racks have a different frame design. Simply depress the hitch spring pin and insert the hitch into the receiver. It was more cumbersome to shift her weight around as I adjusted the straps for the first time. In the end, the Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack is an excellent mounted bike rack. If it is less than your rack supporting bar width + 1 (to factor in the diameter of the bars), then your bike may not fit. Directions are clear, but we had difficulty getting some of the bolts to line up due to poor manufacturing tolerances, and a hammer and some manipulation were required. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too! I honestly didnt notice much of a difference between the S2 with 20 wheels and the T2 with 16 wheels in trailer mode. They are NOT the same rack with additional upgrades added to the more expensive models. Quick-fold carry arms drop out of the way when not in use. of kid into the trailer. Allen Sports premier locking tray bike rack is available in sizes to handles between one to three bikes. Best Bicycle Car Racks based on Build Quality, Convenience, Customer Support, Easy to Install, Giftable, Overall Satisfaction, Size, Value for Money and Pros & Cons. All trademarks property of their respective owners Allen Sports S-102 is a very popular option at the bottom of the price range. No roof rack, no problem with the Allen Sports Trunk Racks. We learned in real life that 4 can make a BIG difference when doing something as simple as pulling out of a driveway! Quick Set-Up/Fold design; Quick Secure Cradle Straps; Rapid Tilt Away; Padded Spine Shield; 2, 3, 4 & 5-Bike Capacity; Fits 1 1/4" & 2" Hitch* Powder Coating (If you read closely, some trailers, like the Bee, actually state that rider weight capacity is 80 lbs. 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