Kuat NV 2.0 Base Hitch Bike Rack Feels Tailor Made for the R1S

[SkiDad8]

Just brought home an R1S (Preorder 10/2019, Launch Green, Black Mountain, 21”) a few days ago. Had done quite a bit of research on hitch mounted bike racks and ultimately settled on the Kuat NV 2.0 Base in black. The right combination of features and ease of install (integrated locks, no tool install, high weight capacity, ability to add extra bikes). Saw a picture of the rack in another thread, but after putting it on and taking it for a spin the first time I am amazed at how feel it fits. With the rack in the stored position it adds very little length to the vehicle and I’m still able to fit it in the garage. When in the standard load position or in the tilted down position both the hatch and tailgate can open without touching. With the bikes loaded and tilted down the hatch and tailgate were able to open without touching. Initial impressions are very favorable.

FYI- Found it on ascentoutdoors.com for less than anywhere else.

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[Guy]

Looks good as an option. Hopefully you will get that rear tailgate alignment sorted out, amazed that got passed QC.

 

[NineElectrics]

I have one of these (4x). It’s the best bike rack I’ve ever used.

 

[BeanEW]

I have the same setup.

 

[Sully151]

Does the backup camera still work? Or is it blocked?

 

[MountainBikeDude]

Just brought home an R1S (Preorder 10/2019, Launch Green, Black Mountain, 21”) a few days ago. Had done quite a bit of research on hitch mounted bike racks and ultimately settled on the Kuat NV 2.0 Base in black. The right combination of features and ease of install (integrated locks, no tool install, high weight capacity, ability to add extra bikes). Saw a picture of the rack in another thread, but after putting it on and taking it for a spin the first time I am amazed at how feel it fits. With the rack in the stored position it adds very little length to the vehicle and I’m still able to fit it in the garage. When in the standard load position or in the tilted down position both the hatch and tailgate can open without touching. With the bikes loaded and tilted down the hatch and tailgate were able to open without touching. Initial impressions are very favorable.

FYI- Found it on ascentoutdoors.com for less than anywhere else.

Kuat makes a great, solid rack. Bikes barely budge while you're driving. Unfortunately the same can't be said for other brands which leave you with the feeling a bike is moments away from falling off, or worse, the entire rack itself.

On their customer service, it's ?! I had someone "liberate" a mountain bike off the rack, they cut the cable, the rear tire ratchet strap (cause they're dumb and couldn't figure out the release) and bent the arm securing the front wheel (again, not the brightest of thieves) and made off with the bike. While dealing with the recovery of the bike, I contacted Kuat and let them know what happened and asked if it was possible to buy replacement parts. They looked at the damage in the photos, and shipped all the necessary parts directly to me free of charge.

The downside is it doesn't work fully with the R1T

 

[Mtbaddict]

Kuat makes a great rack. Although the 1Up USA rack is still my favorite. So fast, easy and solid, and no need to adjust tray heights to accommodate awkward fitting bikes… although the integrated lock is kinda janky.

 

[SkiDad8]

Does the backup camera still work? Or is it blocked?

yes, the backup camera still works. It’s largely obstructed by the bikes (or when the rack is up by the rack, but between the reverse camera and the 369 view you can make out reasonably well.

There is a setting to shunt off the rear parking sensor, however, so you will lose that functionality.

 

[DTown3011]

Kuat makes a great, solid rack. Bikes barely budge while you're driving. Unfortunately the same can't be said for other brands which leave you with the feeling a bike is moments away from falling off, or worse, the entire rack itself.

On their customer service, it's ?! I had someone "liberate" a mountain bike off the rack, they cut the cable, the rear tire ratchet strap (cause they're dumb and couldn't figure out the release) and bent the arm securing the front wheel (again, not the brightest of thieves) and made off with the bike. While dealing with the recovery of the bike, I contacted Kuat and let them know what happened and asked if it was possible to buy replacement parts. They looked at the damage in the photos, and shipped all the necessary parts directly to me free of charge.

The downside is it doesn't work fully with the R1T

Agree here, customer service is the best in the industry. Kuat has shipped me replacement parts for no charge on MULTIPLE occasions. It’s the best looking rack on the market as well.

Curious why it doesn’t work fully with the R1T or what is needed in order to get mine to work? I plan on using a tailgate pad most of the time, but for longer trips I would like to have this option on my upcoming T.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

Agree here, customer service is the best in the industry. Kuat has shipped me replacement parts for no charge on MULTIPLE occasions. It’s the best looking rack on the market as well.

Curious why it doesn’t work fully with the R1T or what is needed in order to get mine to work? I plan on using a tailgate pad most of the time, but for longer trips I would like to have this option on my upcoming T.

The rack doesn't flip down enough to allow the R1T's tailgate to come down fully, that is unless youre okay with a huge dent in it ?

The only solution to it is the swing arm assembly, which isn't cheap, but does make the entire bed of the T more accessible. The 1-up is a better solution in this case for a one and done.

Couldn't find the original post Rivian Dad had done on this, but I currently own the Kuat as well and will pick up the kuat pivot once I get the rivian. It's been such a solid rack even on bumpy dirt roads.

I use a 1-Up hitch rack. I prefer the lower height. Though, it does block the license plate area from view when bikes are loaded or the rack is folded up when not transporting a bike(s). Also, I have to fold it down if I want to open the tailgate.

Just received the Kuat Pivot. It's a tight fit between the bumper but after tightening into the hitch there's very little flex and movement. I can force it to touch the bumper by pushing hard on it so I guess will need to be careful if driving on bumpy roads.

When you pivot it out enough for the tailgate to clear, there's about 3 inches of clearance when the tailgate is lowered.

There's 21 inches from the tailgate to the center of the first bike position on the Kuat NV 2.0, so plenty of room for the pedals. On my Cannondale I have about 12" from the tailgate to the pedal.

It turns out working very well, backswing has enough clearance with tailgate in closed position (Kuat pivot is too close, on the millimeters level)

 

[eDad_R1S]

Has anyone tried the Quikr Mach 2 rack? I have been leaning towards buying this for my R1S…when it eventually arrives.

 

[Dave711]

Just brought home an R1S (Preorder 10/2019, Launch Green, Black Mountain, 21”) a few days ago. Had done quite a bit of research on hitch mounted bike racks and ultimately settled on the Kuat NV 2.0 Base in black. The right combination of features and ease of install (integrated locks, no tool install, high weight capacity, ability to add extra bikes). Saw a picture of the rack in another thread, but after putting it on and taking it for a spin the first time I am amazed at how feel it fits. With the rack in the stored position it adds very little length to the vehicle and I’m still able to fit it in the garage. When in the standard load position or in the tilted down position both the hatch and tailgate can open without touching. With the bikes loaded and tilted down the hatch and tailgate were able to open without touching. Initial impressions are very favorable.

FYI- Found it on ascentoutdoors.com for less than anywhere else.

I have the following bike rack. It looks like I will not be able to open the top hatch with bikes or maybe even open the bottom hatch with the hitch attached.
Yakima HoldUp 2-Bike Hitch Rack

 

[DTown3011]

The rack doesn't flip down enough to allow the R1T's tailgate to come down fully, that is unless youre okay with a huge dent in it ?

The only solution to it is the swing arm assembly, which isn't cheap, but does make the entire bed of the T more accessible. The 1-up is a better solution in this case for a one and done.

Interesting - what about a hitch adaptor? Like this? Feel like $400 for a swing arm is a ridiculously unnecessary purchase.

MAXXHAUL 50397 Trailer Hitch Riser for 2 Inch Receivers with 4 Inch Rise/Drop https://a.co/d/fsKTO6q

 

[NineElectrics]

I’d really love the ability for Rivian to “zero out” the static echoes of my bike rack, such that the ultrasonic parking sensors still worked with the rack hitched. That’s totally doable if the processing is in infotainment, not possible if it’s off the shelf (baked into some embedded chip with closed firmware). Finally, a good use for all of that CPU!

 

[Dave711]

Interesting - what about a hitch adaptor? Like this? Feel like $400 for a swing arm is a ridiculously unnecessary purchase.

MAXXHAUL 50397 Trailer Hitch Riser for 2 Inch Receivers with 4 Inch Rise/Drop https://a.co/d/fsKTO6q

Good idea. I looked at a few hitch extenders. Something might work. Thanks.

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