Bell Folding Hitchbiker2, Folding Hitchbiker4, Hitchbiker2, Hitchbiker4 Instructions Manual

BELL

Two Bike Hitch Rack

Four Bike Hitch Rack

Folding Hitchbiker2

™

BELL

Folding Hitchbiker4

™

BELL

Hitchbiker2

Two Bike Hitch Rack

BELL

Hitchbiker4

Four Bike Hitch Rack

™

™

Please keep these instructions for future reference.

Guarde estas instrucciones para consulta futura.

Veuillez conserver ces instructions pour usage ultérieur.

IMPORTANT: Remove only by user!

IMPORTANTE: ¡Sólo debe ser retirado por el usuario!

IMPORTANT : À retirer uniquement par l’utilisateur !

Table of Contents

Warnings ......................................................... 1

Mounting Tips ................................................... 3

Installation ...................................................... 5

Using Your Rack ................................................. 6

Advertencias .................................................... 7

Sugerencias para montaje .................................... 9

Instalación ......................................................11

Cómo usar su portabicicletas ................................12

Avertissements ................................................13

Conseils d’installation........................................15

Installation .....................................................17

Utilisation du porte-vélos ...................................18

WARNING

This rack is designed to attach securely to most automobile receiver
hitches. Due to variations in automobile design and manufacturing, we

cannot guarantee that this product will properly fit all cars. It is your
responsibility to ensure the safe and proper use of this product.

Some unique receiver hitches do not permit full insertion of the insert
tube. Do not use the rack if the attachment bolt cannot be threaded

through the hole in the receiver hitch into the threaded insert tube.

Some vehicles cannot safely accept any hitch rack. We recommend that
you check with your receiver hitch manufacturer to ensure that it has
sufficient tongue strength to carry a load of bicycles.

This hitch rack is designed for use on passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs
with appropriate receiver capacity. Do not use this hitch mount on fifth

wheels, RV’s, or tent trailers – these vehicles produce loads that will
exceed the capabilities of the rack and cause it to fail! If you need a rack

for one of these applications, speak to your local RV dealer for advice on
appropriate methods.

Never use any other attachment method than the supplied bolt, butterfly
pin, or cable lock. Using a non-threaded pin or substandard bolt could

result in the loss of your rack and load.
Improper attachment or misuse of this rack may be hazardous and may

result in damage to your bicycles, vehicle, or vehicles driving behind
you as a result of colliding with or trying to avoid the fallen bicycles
and carrier.

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Warnings

IMPORTANT

It is your responsibility to use your best discretion while installing this
rack to ensure that you do not damage your vehicle.

1. Although the rack is designed to hold the bicycles away from the

painted surface of your vehicle, use care when installing and loading
your rack to avoid scratching or denting your car.

2. Empty racks are hard to see even with red cradles and reflective end
caps – If you park your vehicle with an empty rack in a high traffic
area, it’s a good idea to attach a flag or other visible soft item to the
end of the rack.

SAFE AND PROPER USE OF YOUR CARRIER

1. Always secure your bicycles to the rack using the cradles and

straps – preferably with additional cable lock (included with some
models), rope, or additional shock cords. The individual cradles
offer solid mounting, but should be supplemented for safety.

2. NEVER drive off pavement with a loaded carrier.

3. Some hitches are mounted low to the ground – especially when your

vehicle is loaded down with gear and people. Use extra caution when
entering or exiting driveways to avoid damaging the bike wheels.

4. DO NOT let bicycle tires hang near he exhaust pipe. Hot exhaust
will melt and destroy tires.

5. If a strap appears worn or frayed, REPLACE IT! Worn straps are
dangerous. Replacement parts are available from our customer

service department at 1 800 456 BELL.

6. Maximum rack load ranges from two bikes/70lbs. to
four bikes/120lbs.

7. Inspect and check your rack’s straps and attachment bolt before
and after loading – the weight of the bicycles may cause the
straps to loosen.

8. Check Straps at regular intervals during use, more frequently on
bumpy roads, and immediately if the bicycles shift position.

9. Always make sure bicycle frames rest ON the support arms.
Never hang bicycles from below the arms on the cradles.

10. Cleaning bicycle support arms helps give the cradles optimum grip.
Clean with soap and water only and rinse/dry thoroughly. Do not
use solvents as they may weaken straps and cradles.

11. Although it’s possible to do so and will cause no damage to the rack.
We recommend that you fold the rack away from the car only when
it is unloaded. A full load of bikes can be unwieldy to lower and lift –
pinched fingers and scratched bicycle paint often result.

12. Never leave unlocked bikes unattended. Thieves are quick!
Secure your bikes to the hitch using a cable lock or other visible
theft deterrent. BELL offers an excellent range of bicycle locks
that are portable, effective, and durable.

13. When your rack is not in use and not mounted to your car, find a safe
place to store it lying down with the end caps facing up. Do not store
it where it can be tripped over or driven into and damaged.

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3

Mounting Tips

BICYCLE SUPPORT ARMS

1

Support arms should angle upward
from the horizontal. This helps to keep
bicycles secure while traveling and also
away from vehicle surfaces. To obtain
proper angle, hitch-mounting points
on car frame may be adjusted.

SUPPORT ARM ASSEMBLY

2

The support arm assembly is designed
to remain stable once assembled. After
your first trip, check the bolts and snug
them up as needed.

ATTACHMENT BOLT

3

The mounting area for the hitch rack
is under the rear of the vehicle which
makes it a dirty and wet area. Cleaning
and greasing the threads of the bolt
and the insert tube will make for
smoother installation and removal.

RECEIVER INSERT TUBE WITH

4

THREADED NUT AND INSERT C-SHIM

This tube is designed to work well with
both 2" and 11/4" receiver hitches.
Factory and aftermarket hitches can
vary quite a bit within these sizes so
we use a threaded attachment bolt to
reduce the inherent play in this type of
mount to provide more stable transport
of your bikes.

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5

VERTICAL MAST

5

Made from durable powder coated
steel, our mast is the best compromise
of easy loading and safe ground
clearance for fully loaded travel.

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3

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Mounting Tips

1

LOCKING LOOP

6

Our racks include a reinforcing bracket
that doubles as a lock loop for cables – if
you use an aftermarket cable, loop it
through here to anchor the bikes to the
rack.

LOCKING KEY CABLE

7

(INCLUDED WITH SOME MODELS)

This cable is extra long to make securing
all the bikes quick and easy. It offers
two locking options – you may lock it
back to itself using the sliding bayonet
or lock it to the exposed end of the hitch
bolt for full system security. Always lock

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your bike, including short trips close
to home – thieves are quick! The keys
we supply should be readily available
wherever keys are sold – so make some
spares and stash them in each vehicle
‘just in case’.

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TILT PIVOT

8

This simple pivot mechanism will provide
years of quick access to your vehicle
before and after you ride. If play in the
mast develops, simply tighten the bolt
until the wiggle is gone.

LOCKING PIN

9

(Included on Folding Racks ONLY) Pin
allows the user to lower the hitch arms
and stow them when not in use. The pin
is very durable and secure, for peace of
mind while hauling your bikes. It comes
tethered to the mast so it’s hard to lose. It
includes a security pin to keep it in place.

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Installation

1. Wipe or brush out the inside of your receiver hitch so it’s free from road
debris. Figure A.

2. Insert the rack until the threaded hole lines up with the hole in the side

of the receiver tube. To accommodate the 1
remove the insert C-shim screw and C-shim. Figure B.

3. Insert the attachment bolt and tighten. ALWAYS insert the bolt from the
drivers side – this will improve the stability of the rack in the hitch. Using
the vertical mast for leverage wiggle the rack back and forth. Check and
tighten the attachment bolt more if needed. Install the butterfly pin into
the hole on the end of the attachment bolt. Figure C.

4. Install the lower hitch post to the vertical mast. Line up the holes, insert
and attach the lower frame bolts, washers and nuts. Tighten. Figure D.

5. Install the support arm assembly. Line up the holes, insert and attach
the upper frame bolts, washers and nuts. Tighten. Figure E.

6. On level ground, check that the support arms are angled up from the
horizontal. If they are angled down from the horizontal away from the
car, do not load the rack. Your hitch should be adjusted by a hitch mount
professional before the rack can be used safely. Figure F.

7.

(Included on Folding Racks ONLY)
pivot pin and folding the rack away from the car. The rack should move
freely down far enough to clear back hatches and tailgates on most cars.
There should only be a minimal amount of play in the pivot bolt – if there
is substantial play check the pivot bolt and nut for tightness. Make note
of the clearance distance between your vehicle door and the mast. Tilt the
mast back into the vertical position and reinstall the pivot pin and retainer
clip. Figure G, H and I. LOAD BIKES ONTO INDIVIDUAL CRADLES. TIGHTEN ALL
STRAPS TO TOP OR SEAT TUBES, USING THE CRADLES. Figures M, N, and O.

8. To raise the rack arms remove security pin from locking clip. Remove
locking clip from the mast. Raise the rack arms and re-insert locking pin
through the mast and attach security pin. Figure J and K.

9. Load the first bike with your chain side facing away from the vehicle.
Alternating the direction of the bikes makes the carrier easier to load and
prevents the handlebars from getting tangled.

1

/4" receiver hitches simply

Check the tilt pivot by removing the

B

J K LI

6

DCA

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