Having a truck has a lot of perks, and it would be a waste not to use it to its full potential. Aside from being a comfortable daily drive option and a working vehicle, it can be used for off-road and camping adventures.
To make this possible, there are numerous accessories you can find that are specifically made for each activity. One of these accessories is a truck bed bike rack that will allow you to bring your bicycles with you safely.
In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about truck bed bike racks, and which are the best ones out there. If you enjoy riding your bike and you enjoy exploring different trails, having a truck bed bike rack is an ideal addition to your truck.
What Are Truck Bed Bike Racks?
A truck bed bike rack is a truck accessory specifically made for carrying one or more bicycles on the truck bed. It’s usually made from a sturdy material such as aluminum or stainless steel, and is fastened to the bed or the sides.
The main goal of a truck bed bike rack is to keep the bicycle fastened to the truck and prevent it from falling off the truck while saving as much room as possible on the truck bed. These bike racks come in different shapes and sizes, depending on your needs and preferences.
What are Truck Bed Bike Rack Advantages?
Unless you’re often out looking for new trails to tackle with your bicycle, you won’t benefit from having a truck bed bike rack, but if you are, it will be one of the best things you can have on your truck.
One of the main pros of having a bike rack in your truck is that you can take your bike anywhere your truck can take you, and you can do it safely, no matter how uneven the road is.
Another advantage of having a bike rack is that you’ll protect both your bicycle and truck from damage. Most bicycles can fit inside the truck bed, but the fact is that they will slide from one side to another. All this sliding can lead to damage to both the bicycle and the truck.
Aside from protection, hauling bikes using a bike rack will allow you to use much more space in the truck bed, and tow a trailer as well.
Lastly, most bike racks can be used outside the truck too. This means you’ll be able to use it to store your bicycles in your home or garage which is a win-win situation.
In the following part of this article, you can find the list of the best truck bed bike racks with the best value for money.
BikeGear Truck Bed Bike Rack
The BikeGear truck bed bike rack is used for storing and carrying a single bicycle securely fastened to the side of your truck. Fitting this bike rack to a truck doesn’t require any special tools, and it doesn’t require any type of drilling.
The great thing about the BikeGear truck bed bike rack is that is places the bicycle as close to the side of the truck bed as possible, and you also don’t need to remove the front wheel from the bicycle.
Heininger Advantage SportsRack
The next on the list is the Heininger Automotive 2025 Advantage SportsRack. This particular bike rack is made for fastening up to 4 bicycles at a time. The great thing about this rack is that there’s no need for removing the wheels.
The width of the rack is adjustable, making this bike rack a universal fit for almost every truck. The rack can be extended from 54.5” up to 66.5” with a spacer. Another advantage of this particular bike rack model is that it can be used outside of the truck as well.
Transit Xpress Truck Rack
The Transit Xpress truck rack is an ideal option for pickup trucks with a shorter bed. This particular model is made for 2 bicycles, and the installation doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes. The downside to this rack is that it requires removing the bike’s wheels. The advantage is that additional bike mounts can be purchased and used.
Truck Bed 3 Bike Rack
The 3 bike rack from Pipeline Racks is one of the most discreet accessories compatible with almost every type of bicycle. This was made possible by adding adjustable bicycle mounts to the rack.
This rack is lightweight and made from aluminum, which means that you can easily lift it up to your truck bed, but also leave it there without worrying about rust. The rack is adjustable, so you can easily fit bicycles with wheel sizes between 20” and 29”, as well as a tire width between 0.75” and 2.8”. Aside from using it on a truck bed, this bike rack can also be used for storing your bicycles in the garage.
Nelson Truck Bed Mount
The Nelson truck bed mount is one of the truck bed racks that can carry most bikes. It’s designed for carrying two bicycles of any size, but it’s expandable and can carry up to 6 bikes. The rack is assembled easily, and it doesn’t require tools or any type of modification to the truck bed.
Compared to other truck bed bike racks on our list, this one is the heaviest, but also provides the most stability and features out of all the competitors.
This rack also isn’t universal like other products on our list, and it fits most Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge trucks. Unlike other racks, the bikes are actually mounted above the bed itself, leaving a lot of room for other cargo that can be fitted underneath the bicycles.
Conclusion
A truck bed bike rack is an essential accessory for all bike-riding enthusiasts that enjoy riding on different trails every week. Not only is this accessory great for securely strapping and transporting your bikes, but you can use them outside the truck too. There are many options to choose from, and it’s up to you to get the one that will satisfy all your needs.