VelociRAX 5X Max Hitch Bike Rack Review

Our trio rolled up to the truck with high-hives, hoots, and hollers after a ripping 4,000-foot descent. After cruising up Friendly Giant to Mount Buchanan’s summit and enjoying lunch, we had descended a glorious 90 minutes, including my initiation on Buckshot and High Commander — a couple of my favorite trails of the summer. We were riding outside of Kaslo, British Columbia, and had a road trip to cap off the evening.

Fortunately, loading and transporting our electric mountain bikes was easier than ever — even after a big alpine ride — with the VelociRAX 5X Max vertical bike hitch rack. After some initial practice, I had the hang of rolling my 55-pound e-mountain bike into the front tire’s basket.

With this well-polished design, loading bikes had become plush.

In short: The updated vertical VelociRAX 5X Max ($1,149) hitch bike rack is great for shuttling lots of bikes and heavier models. The 5X model doubles down on carry capacity, increasing to 100 pounds per basket (up from 55 pounds per basket). With a 300-pound total limit, it’s a better choice for e-mountain bikes and crews. Generous spacing between each basket eases loading. To lower the hitch rack, the release lever saw an overhaul, becoming easier and more ergonomic for bikers to grab and use.

Scope out other dependable hitch racks for your ride in our GearJunkie Hitch Bike Racks buyer’s guide.

VelociRAX 5X Max Hitch Bike Rack Review

High Weight Capacity, Spacing, and Compatible Baskets

There’s hardly a better option for carrying more than four bikes than a vertical hitch rack. And the recently updated VelociRAX 5X Max is the ultimate high-capacity choice for shuttling crews and families.

Today, the 5X Max boasts an industry-leading 100-pound-per-basket weight limit and a massive 300-pound total weight capacity. This massive structural upgrade makes it the premier choice for loading heavy e-mountain bikes. In comparison, the six-bike Lolo Racks ($1,175) design caps out at 39 pounds for the outermost hooks, 50 pounds for the two center hooks, and 220 pounds total.

The VelociRAX is designed around zero frame or handlebar contact. This rack holds bikes vertically by the front tire, accommodating everything from skinny road tires to fat bikes.

Throughout the bike season, I tested this rack on a GMC Sierra 1500 alongside professional athlete and bike park build manager Dane Tudor. Most days, the rack carried one to three e-MTBs. We typically drove on paved and dirt roads, including a 5-hour road trip with three e-MTBs.

To test the max, we loaded nearly 250 pounds of bikes — including three e-MTBs — and found the connection to be rock-solid. There’s a generous 15-inch spacing between the baskets, which makes loading multiple bikes seamless. In contrast, Lolo Racks only has 10.5 inches between the carry hooks. Each basket holds 20-29–inch wheels and a range of widths from 700cc to 3 inches.

Easy Lowering, Trickier Loading

When dealing with a fully loaded rack that can hold hundreds of pounds of gear, managing that weight during loading and unloading is paramount. This is where the VelociRAX stands out as a refined vertical carrier.

The updated, hand-operated release lever works alongside integrated hydraulic dampers. Those enable a slow, controlled lowering, even when the rack is packed to maximum capacity. This hydraulic damping system eliminates the risk of the rack slamming down, protecting riders and their precious cargo.

Pushing the rack up when it’s fully loaded is a different story — there’s no way around the muscle grease needed to return it to a vertical position. We recommend having at least two strong riders on hand for this step if all the baskets are loaded. It helps to push from the bike frame.

Simple Loading Tips

The loading itself is easy with a little technique. Stand the bike up on its back tire, steer it into alignment with a basket, and roll the front tire into the basket — voilà! At 5’5″, I would extend the dropper post and use a knee against the saddle for assistance, but there’s no need to actually lift the bike. I saw children using this method to help load mountain bikes in a vertical VelociRAX while riding the RED Mountain Bike Park.

One workflow tip: You can only load/unload in one direction. If Sally is meeting you at the bike park, be sure to load her bike first so you can grab yours efficiently upon arrival.

Also, if you drive a truck and want full tailgate clearance when the bikes are lowered, VelociRaX offers an aftermarket receiver hitch extender ($124) that adds 4 inches of length. It also lowers the setup by 3.5 inches. The extender includes the brand’s anti-wobble feature. However, only the 2-inch size includes the locking hitch pin. (The 2.5- and 3-inch sizes require standard hitch pins.)

Tenacious Rubber Straps & Secure Locking Hitch Pin

On the road, the rack relies on heavy-duty EPDM rubber straps to secure the tires. Stout and durable, these straps are UV-resistant, remain pliable in freezing temperatures, and wrap securely around a wide range of tire widths.

In the long run, we see these as a standard wear point for the rack. VelociRAX is transparent about this and recommends that riders frequently inspect the tire straps for cracks, stretching, or damage.

To eliminate unwanted movement at the vehicle connection, the rack features an anti-rattle hitch immobilizer that expands inside the receiver to eradicate wobble.

For security, the hitch pin has a keyed lock, securing the rack to the vehicle. However, a lock is not integrated into the rack itself to secure the bikes to the rack. If you prefer, the brand offers an optional Integrated Locking System 2.0 ($115 for the 5X) as an add-on. But that’s also not very much compared to $62,000 worth of Bullits on a 5X rack! Be sure to purchase the after-market lock that’s compatible with your rack size.

Accessories & Beyond

If your family also skis, you can swap out the bike tire baskets for ski and snowboard gear attachments, dubbed SkiRAX ($239). The setup allows carrying six snowboards, six pairs of skis, or a combination of both. Our most economical Ski and Snowboard Rack we’ve tested starts at $230. That’s a roof rack that fits four snowboards or six pairs of skis — less than the SkiRax.

In comparison, it’s a pretty good deal if you haul a lot of bikes and don’t want to deal with winter rack storage.

An additional safety feature add-on is the brand’s LED Light Bar 5X ($145). When five bikes are loaded, the equipment volume can potentially block a vehicle’s brake lights and signals from certain angles. The horizontal light bar mounts to the lower crossbar with self-tappings crews. It mirrors running lights, brake lights, and turn signals.

More unique aids: VelociRAX recently launched the Rack Roller Mini ($79) to help move the rack from your rig to storage. It has rolling wheels and a foot-operated lift system. You can turn the hitch rack into a bike rack floor stand ($295) to hang your bikes from in the winter. This logistically clears up floor space where your bikes would otherwise “hang” out.

If you’re more into wall art, VeloxiRAX has a clean wall rack ($440) with customizable spacing and 100-pound basket capacity. Even better, the baskets conveniently rotate side to side, so you can grab a bike off the wall more easily.

Critiques

Hefty to Move

Our biggest critique of this rack is its sheer weight. It’s challenging for one person to attach it to the hitch on their own. Weighing 94 pounds and awkwardly shaped, it’s ideal if my partner and I attach it together. (In contrast, the six-bike Lolo Racks is lighter at 74 pounds.) That weight and size mean we need a solid storage plan for the winter.

Rack & Bike Flex

Another critique is that the rack has noticeable flex during transit, including on uneven pavement. The brand’s patented anti-rattle hitch pin has an internal mechanism that’s meant to lock the steel shank inside the receiver. But there’s inherently a bit of play at the main folding pivot.

And while the EPDM straps are stout, they’re rubber, so some stretch is inherent under load. If the rack is fully tapped with 250 pounds of bikes, that small flex can look dramatic when you hit a bump.

All said, the bikes are actually secure when strapped in. The only real-world issue we’ve seen with bikes falling off a vertical rack is when the security strap isn’t attached before driving off (i.e., rider error). It’s worth noting that other hitch bike racks we’ve tested have had relative play, as well.

For optional use, the rack includes elastic rubber bands that fit on the bikes’ brake levers (holding them against the handlebars) to hold the rear tires and reduce movement during transport.

We didn’t personally prefer this option. Not only was it an additional step for loading and unloading each bike, but also leaving hydraulic brakes compressed for long periods, especially in changing temperatures, can move air bubbles in the brake lines, creating a spongy brake.

Integrated Bike Lock

We would also like to see the bike rack locks integrated into each rack rather than requiring an aftermarket purchase.

VelociRAX 5X Max Hitch Bike Rack: Who It’s For

If you need a hitch bike rack to carry more than three bikes, look no further than this vertical rack design — especially if you need to transport a family of heavier downhill or electric bikes.

Ultimately, the VelociRAX 5X Max sets a benchmark for high weight capacity per basket, as well as a high cumulative haul weight limit. The design offers superior spacing for safekeeping and very easy loading, including tire baskets that let you roll bikes in smoothly. Plus, the baskets are highly compatible across wheel and tire sizes.

Ergonomic and easy to actuate, the release lever and hydraulic dampers let riders lower the rack safely and easily, even when it’s fully loaded. As long as you have two sets of hands for sliding it into the hitch, sizable winter storage space, and don’t mind a bit of visual play during transit, this VeloxiRAX is a solid choice — there’s a reason why the brand has boomed in popularity.

If you’re transporting heavier bikes, electric mountain bikes, and bikes for large groups of four or more bikes, we highly recommend the VelociRAX 5X Max.