Yakima Locking TreadHead Bike Carrier

Price Paid:  $50.00 from used..craigslist

Year / Model Reviewed:
1995 TreadHead Yakima Bike rack

Summary:
SOLID as a rock. Easiest system to pop a bike on and off.

Similar Products Used:
several

Price Paid:  $189.00

Strengths:
Great dual locking system that prevents theft of bikes and theft of unit. Also great stabilization bars prevent any movement or shifting.

Weaknesses:
The long bolt used to secure it to vehicle will will corrode and prevent removal from the vehicle. Due to the bolts location in the handle, access to the bolt is impossible and you must destroy the handle to get to the bolt. The good news, a replacement handle is about $16.

Summary:
Overall the product is the best I have found. I would recommend Yakima redesigns the bolt in the handle to make it accessible and easier to replace if necessary. It's going to be a drag if I have to destroy one every few years to remove the bike rack to get to the spare tire.

I recommend the rack, but beware of the handle and keep it well lubed! Good luck.

Similar Products Used:
Thule spare tire mount. Not as secure in strong wind. Bikes shifted to easily and needed additional tie downs.

Year / Model Reviewed:
 1994

Strengths:
Durable, easy removal and installation, carries firmly and securely. Can carry things other than bikes (no other carrier does that very well).

Weaknesses:
The foam coating on the bars began to disentegrate after 5 years, lock only works with rims with large centers (jeep rim wouldn't allow the handle to fold far enough to lock).

Summary:
Strongly recommend. My jeep was stolen last month, and it was recovered without the radio, my CD's, and the bike rack. Hmm. I'll buy another, and figure out how to make the lock work this time.

Similar Products Used:
Best way to carry, but requires a spare tire. Holds more securely and out of the wind than the roof rack and hitch mount I tried.