Ultimate Review of the Swagman XC Cross-Country 2-bike Hitch Mount Rack

We all want to carry as many items, toys, and gadgets while traveling. Almost every single time the car will be loaded with all of the items we need. This also means that there is no enough place for your bicycles. But, most parents and families want to transport them as well. So how you can do this? The first option is to rent a trailer which is expensive and annoying. The second method is to use a bike rack. There are a lot of options on the market but we discovered that the Swagman XC Cross-Country 2 is an excellent product. And now we will review it.

What is Swagman XC Cross-Country 2?

The product in question is a rack that will be placed on the rear of your car on a hitch and it can be used with all 1 ¼ and 2 inches receivers. The rack is well-made and comes with a modern design. It is constructions from sold materials that will keep your bicycles safe and should though your trip. This particular model is designed for transporting 2 bicycles which is an advantage on its own. As such it is a popular model for families and couples and it has massive positive feedback from the current owners.

The Swagman XC Cross-Country 2 is a bit more complicated than this. That’s why we decided to test it in real life and real situations and to present you a detailed review of the model. There are a lot of facts you will need to know and all of them will be mentioned below.

Compatibility of the Swagman XC Cross-Country 2

In the lack of a better word, we must say that this system is extremely compatible. You can use it for 2 bikes or any kind. The system supports BMX, downhill, cruiser and children bikes. Of course, all adult bicycles are compatible as well. The best thing here is the fact the system comes with a wheel-in feature. This allows you to keep the front wheel on the bike while transporting it. You don’t have to remove the wheel in order to use the rack.

The next thing we liked is the price. This is an affordable model that comes with all the features and all the elements you will need. In addition, it is commonly available in a discount which makes the deal so much better.

Assembly process

There is no such thing here. You will receive the rack in a box and all you have to do is to unfold it and attach it to the hitch. You will literally need 2 seconds and we had a great time attaching the unit to the hitch for the first time. The manufacturer claims that an average person will need 2 seconds to start using this product and we agree with the claim.

Despite the fact there is no assembly requires the rack is durable, strong and safe. You can use it for all kinds of bicycles and you don’t need to make any adjustments. We liked this benefit a lot and we believe it is one of the main advantages that need to be considered and mentioned by us.

Stability

All we can say here is that the product is stable and it will keep your bikes stable and safe regardless of the terrain where you drive. This is possible due to the fact there is a massive clamp that will keep the wheels in place. Once you place the bikes, the clamp will catch the wheel and make sure it stays there at all times. Even if you drive on rough terrain bikes won’t fail or anything like that.

When looking for a new bike rack, always consider this factor. It is the main advantage you will need to remember and it can make a massive difference. Products that are safe are usually high-end offers and they are preferable by users who need a rack that will keep the bikes in place and that won’t fail to keep them at some point. The last thing you want is to lose the bike or to damage it.

Construction

One of the many reasons why this rack is so popular is the construction. All the main components are made from metal and they are extremely strong yet lightweight. We believe that this advantage will have a huge effect on most of you and drivers will enjoy knowing that their rack is a wise investment.

The construction is then coated with a type of paint that is softer than usual. This is done deliberately in order to make the rack safer and to eliminate the risk of getting your bike scratched. It actually works and you will appreciate this as soon as you start using the rack.

Other than this we should add that the rack is made from strong materials completely. The bolts, hinges and etc. are all durable and can withstand heavy-duty usage. The quality is exceptional and you will notice this the first time you see the rack. As such we must deduce that the Swagman XC Cross-Country 2 is an excellent investment and can be used for a long period of time without having to repair to or replace it.

Accessories available

Some products of this kind come with the accessories available. It may look like that the Swagman XC Cross-Country 2 isn’t compatible with the accessories but this isn’t the case. As a matter of fact, you can get an accessory that allows you to attach 2 additional bikes to the hitch. It is an impressive accessory that is affordable and sold separately.

The accessory we mentioned is reserved for people who have a need to transport 4 bicycles at the same time. It targets larger families and those who are addicted to bikes. There is no assembly needed wither. The accessory can be easily attached to the main system and you are ready to use it immediately.

Advantages Swagman XC Cross-Country 2 offers

There are a lot of benefits and advantages we will need to explain at this point. The first one is the overall simplicity. It is easy to install the rack and use it on all cars. There is no need to assembly the product or to adjust it. Simply install it and you are ready to start using it. There is no need to read the user manual.

The safety of your bikes is very important. The Swagman XC Cross-Country 2 will make sure that both the bikes are safe and held in place at all times. There is no need to worry about the terrain where you are driving or anything similar. The scratches are not something that will happen ever.

When not in the use you can remove the rack within seconds and store it anywhere you like. This process requires just a few seconds of your time and it is another benefit we liked a lot. Because the system uses advanced attachment feature there are no screws or bolts you have to worry about.

The rack can be used for any bike with the wheels of 20-29 inches in diameter. As we did mention, in the beginning, the rack is compatible with all bikes including ones for children and adults. Yes, all types of bikes are supported as well.

A trailer for the same purpose might look like a better option but it isn’t. First of all, it needs a lot of places, it is expensive and it won’t keep your bikes safe. They can wobble inside and get damaged.

Drawbacks

There are no lot of drawbacks this product has. As usual, we were able to find one drawback that has to be explained. There is no element protection present. This means that your bikes will be wet if it rains and you cannot do anything about it. The only thing we find possible is to use a tarp or similar material to cover them. Make sure to tie it down to stay in the place and you are done. There is no need to add that there won’t be any problems because your bikes end up wet. They are made to be used in all-weather situations.

The final word

The bottom line here is should you get the Swagman XC Cross-Country 2? We believe yes and we will highly recommend this model. First and foremost it is well-made, strong and durable. It is affordable as well so you can get it on a tight budget. Your bicycles will be safe and sound at all times and you will enjoy advanced practicality as long as needed. If or when you have a need to boost the capacity all you should do is order the accessory install it and you can transport 4 bikes at the same time. In addition, we liked the fact you don’t have to remove the front wheel of the bike to transport it. See more about garage storage here.