Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The 740RR (MSRP: $400) is a swing-away hitch-mount bike carrier that permits access to the rear of a vehicle without first dismounting the rack or its load of bikes, a convenience that you'll wonder how you ever got along without. The 740RR folding design is unique from other competing swing-away bike carriers, admittedly very cool to see in action though it provides no obvious advantages. An animated video of the 740RR movement is available on the manufacturer's website.
However, the 740RR seems to suffer from a few design flaws that quickly become apparent during typical use, raise concerns about the product's safety, and may eventually render the rack unusable. My observations after using the 740RR:
1) Unnecessarily complicated swing-arm.
The 740RR folding swing-arm requires more component hardware and pivot points than competing single-hinge swing-away carriers. More pivot points mean over a half-dozen lubrication spots, more mechanical points of failure, and several exposed and potentially serious pinch hazards.
2) Swing-arm flex.
The 740RR swing-arm flexes considerably when it is swung out from the vehicle under a full load of bikes. The flex can cause permanent misalignment of the locking mechanisms that hold the rack safely closed. When this happens, the 740RR is unusable.
3) Poorly designed locking and safety mechanism.
The locking mechanism is the most significant problem with the rack. The 740RR clicks closed by use of a spring-pin. However, this pin does not secure the carrier to the vehicle. Instead, the owner must subsequently hand-tighten an ordinary threaded bolt before the rack is safe for transport. Forget to tighten that bolt and the carrier will swing away from the rear of the vehicle at the first bump regardless if the rack is empty or carrying bikes, an unnerving thing to experience.
Note that securing the rack with a threaded bolt appears to be a typical safety feature of most swing-away bike carriers. However, the 740RR's implementation seems poorly applied:
- The long threaded bolt must be tightened from the front of the swing-arm, access to which is difficult and awkward when the rack is loaded with bicycles;
- The bolt threads become stripped under normal use and eventually can no longer be tightened, making the rack unusable;
- Neither the spring-pin or the bolt will engage if the swing-arm is misaligned, again rendering the rack unusable.
4) Significant weight.
The 740RR is heavy and cumbersome to attach/remove from the receiver hitch, and awkward and bulky to move when detached. The carrier does not stand up on its own when not mounted. As an alternative to hefting the thing up onto wall hooks, the manufacturer sells a stand which allows upright storage of the 740RR.
5) Instructions contain errors.
The 740RR design has apparently changed since the instructions were last updated. A few images do not match actual rack components, and some parts are mislabeled.
Great Warranty.
The manufacturer warrants their products as such: "If one of our products fails to function properly due to defect in materials or workmanship over the lifetime of the original purchaser, return the product and we will repair it or replace it free of charge." Indeed, to my satisfaction, the manufacturer replaced my first problematic 740RR (on which this review is based) without any hassle and free of charge including shipping. The replacement rack has lasted longer than its predecessor, but the threaded bolt again shows signs of eminent failure.
Buying a Used 740RR.
It is probably a very bad idea to purchase the 740RR used. The original owner may be unburdening themselves of a rack afflicted with one of the many inherent problems I mentioned above. Also, you would loose the protection of the manufacturer's warranty.
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Allen Deluxe Swing Away 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver)
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