Securing the rack to the hitch
Assembling and mounting the rack doesn’t take lengthy. I assembled the rack itself in about 20 minutes; there are just a few components to bolt collectively. The 24mm threaded bolt that attaches the hitch rack to the receiver gives a safer match than the fashions with the enlargement bolts. All racks have a little bit of sway as soon as mounted, however my sense was that the Yakima OnRamp LX had lower than most.
Loading bikes
Because of the ramps built-in within the trays, it’s simple to roll an e-bike into place. The larger problem right here is ensuring that the trays are positioned correctly in order that the 2 e-bikes don’t intrude with one another. As soon as that’s dialed, the e-bikes roll into place with ease.
Whereas many hitch racks mount each trays on a central arm that comes off the mount, the OnRamp LX is totally different in that there’s a massive, square-shaped body to which the trays are mounted. What this does is give a extra secure platform for the trays, which cuts down on sway and wiggle. That’s good.
Nevertheless, the trays are bolted into place on one facet, whereas a hand-tightened knob is on the opposite. The facet that’s bolted in determines, partially, each how vast and the way far to the left or proper the tray will sit. We wish this rack slightly higher if there have been knobs on either side, although, in order that it could be simpler to slip the entire tray side-to-side extra simply in addition to adjusting width concurrently.
The rationale why is that the e-bikes must be positioned left-to-right in order that the lobster claws can attain the body or seatpost; as a result of it might probably’t be moved, the bikes should be shifted into place relative to the arm.
After rolling an e-bike up the ramp, the tray should be adjusted to the proper width, which is vast sufficient for the wheel straps to safe every wheel. If the lobster claw can’t attain the body or seatpost, then the e-bike should be eliminated and the tray place should be adjusted. When adjusting the outer tray, it’s a must to be sure that it’s in place to forestall interference between the handlebars, saddles and pedals.
As soon as the e-bikes are secured, the ramp might be eliminated after which hooked up to the rack so that you simply’ve acquired easy accessibility to it whenever you arrive at your vacation spot.
We will’t emphasize sufficient how useful it’s that Yakima gave the OnRamp LX trays that develop to a most width of 54 in. With most of the cargo e-bikes available on the market, there are not any hitch racks that may accommodate them. The OnRamp LX stands out as the solely choice for some cargo e-bikes.
Securing the bikes
The middle mast is fairly simple to regulate, however there are a pair totally different knobs that should be tightened with the intention to safe an e-bike. As a result of the lobster claws that safe the e-bikes can transfer in three dimensions, getting them arrange the primary time could require a little bit of effort, however when you do it the primary time you received’t have to begin from scratch with repeated use.
There’s an order to adjusting the e-bikes within the trays. Roll the e-bike up the ramp and be sure that the tray is adjusted to the right width for the e-bike’s wheelbase. Subsequent, safe the wheels utilizing the ratcheting wheel straps; once more, the tray width could must be adjusted to suit the e-bike. As soon as the wheels are secured, then the lobster claws might be positioned to seize the body or seatpost.
The lobster claws modify in three alternative ways: Their peak might be adjusted. The rotation across the arm might be adjusted, although it’s finest if the lobster claw is as perpendicular to the e-bike as doable. Lastly, the twist of the clamp might be adjusted in an effort to match the angle of the claw to the angle of the highest tube or seatpost. Whereas it might be doable to clamp your e-bike in different places, these two will supply the best stability.
For many individuals, clamping the lobster claw to the highest tube would be the best option to safe the e-bike. That stated, some individuals could also be involved in regards to the chance that the clamp could marr the end of their e-bike (that is very true if there are decals on the highest tube and there’s no clearcoat of paint over them).
In case you rely your self amongst these people, we advocate clamping the lobster claw to the seatpost. Most seatposts have both a silver or black anodized end that’s troublesome to break and it supplies a secure place to safe the e-bike.
Trunk / Tailgate entry
The Yakima OnRamp LX encompasses a lever that can enable the rack to be positioned at three totally different angles. When not in use, it folds up flat, in opposition to the again of the automobile. Pull the lever and it folds out, prepared so that you can load bikes. The lever might be pulled but once more to fold the rack down, in order that when bikes are loaded, it swings them away from the rear of the automobile in order that the automobile’s tailgate, rear hatch or trunk might be accessed.
Some care must be taken when folding the rack down for automobile entry; it would be best to help the burden of the e-bikes on the rack earlier than pulling the lever; we advocate holding the rack itself.
