Most manufacturers can and do warrant their products as compliant with Australian Design Rules (ADRs), but compatibility of a rack with a specific vehicle is the owner's responsibility.
Not all combinations of hitch racks and vehicles are illegal on-road. Unfortunately, many hitch racks exceed permissible rear overhang limits when loaded on most domestically available vehicles.
Total rear projection, measured from your vehicle's rear axle centre, must not exceed 60% of your vehicle's wheelbase. This is important for the safety of other road users when your vehicle is maneuvering. It is important to remember that when bikes are loaded in a rack, they often project further rearward than the rack itself and it is the overall rear projection inclusive of the bikes which must be considered. (Read more about this in our blog)
If you already have a hitch rack, the easiest way to check compliance is to load your bikes and measure the total overhang distance from the rear axle centre (this measurement must not exceed 60% of your vehicle's wheelbase).
If you are looking to purchase a new hitch rack and are unable to check dimensions before you buy, we strongly recommend you contact the rack manufacturer in advance and request specific advice as to whether their rack will comply with Australian Design Rule 43/04 - Vehicle Configuration and Dimensions when fitted to your vehicle and carrying your bikes. Be sure to let them know the specific make and model of your vehicle and the types and sizes of bikes you wish to transport so you can receive accurate advice. You will also need to provide measurements of the relative position of your hitch receiver and details of any aftermarket tray/canopy, spare wheel mount or other accessories. We also recommend you contact the manufacturer of your tow hitch to confirm suitability for mounting a hitch rack and any weight or load centre restrictions which may apply.
Our Rolling Racks™ are fully Australian Design Rule (ADR) compliant and are generally compatible with any vehicle fitted with a standard 50mm towball.
The SHRED™ (our heaviest Rolling Rack™) weighs in at 450kg (ATM) when loaded to the maximum 150kg payload and ball weight is approximately 15kg.
As always, we recommend you consult your vehicle manual to confirm your vehicle's un-braked towing capacity to be completely certain of compatibility.
A Blue Dog Rolling Rack™ will accommodate any combination of road, MTB, and BMX bikes.
Due to the geometry of drop bars, road bikes should generally be racked directly adjacent to each other and starting from the left side of the rack to ensure compatibility with other bicycle types.
The SHRED™ is a true 5-bike Rolling Rack™ and can accommodate 5 bikes of any combination up to but not exceeding 30kg per bike.
Blue Dog Rolling Racks™ are suitable for all tyre sizes from 23mm through to 5" without the need for additional attachments or adaptors.
Our wheel brackets are designed to support bikes by their inflated tyres and this is always preferred. But if you've burnt through all your spares, don't stress, you can still get home if your front or rear tyre is flat. Under these circumstances, we recommend you keep the flat tyre fitted on the wheel rim and pack clothing or a towel between the contact points of the rack and your wheel to prevent inadvertent damage to your rim. Always secure the bike as usual before rolling.
Blue Dog Rolling Racks™ are designed to be extremely compact in rack mode so a spare tyre is not permanently fitted to the rack. We can supply you with a spare to carry in the rear of your vehicle.
The Blue Dog Biking SHRED™ 5-Bike Rolling Rack™ is fitted as standard with:
Blue Dog Rolling Racks™ are designed and built by Blue Dog Biking in North Queensland, using quality Australian sourced steel, aluminium and componentry.
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