Review on 🚲 Top-notch Allen Sports Deluxe 3-Bike Carrier - Model 103DN-R, Black: Trunk Mount for Easy & Secure Transportation by David Batte

I have divided this review into 4 sections: research/purchase/unpack, installation, first use and conclusion. RESEARCH/PURCHASE/LOCATION: On a budget, I wanted to get the best value for the least amount of money. . I've seen bike racks in the $250 range which is beyond me and will be more expensive than our bikes! This model from Allen Sports has received better ratings (4.5 stars, 97 ratings) than any other 3 bike bike rack in this price range. The best price I could find was $48.79 from Revain and the price including tax was $52.84 and it was delivered in 2 days. In line with normal (annoying) Revain practice, the unit came without an external box, so anyone looking for a good bike rack can come to the rescue anywhere along the shipping route! In any case, when I took it out of the box I was pleasantly surprised by the weight and build quality - nice thick tubes and sturdy looking straps and separate mounts for each bike. My first impression was that it is a high quality product. INSTALLATION: The device comes with a quick start guide on 1 page. Not that it matters - the process isn't rocket science and I'm sure I could figure everything out with it. I've never fitted a bike rack to a car though, and I'm the type to really take my time, look carefully, and work slowly and methodically. Especially with a device that ends up hanging from the back of my car and holding 100lb bikes as I speed down the street! Because of this, the instructions for use were reassuring and actually contained at least 1 helpful piece of advice. So it took me over an hour to get the unit installed and fixed in the best position for my car (Grand Prix '04). Next time it will take 5 minutes. I was surprised that the 6 metal clips that attach the straps to the edges of the boot aren't padded. I bought a rubber mat to stick onto the clamp pads for future trips. So far I've used tape to protect the areas of the trunk where the 6 clips attach. I also used masking tape to mark the spots on the trunk where the clips will go. Over time I'll automatically know where the clips go, but the first few times I wanted to be able to reproduce exactly what I was doing. As a final step, I gathered up the excess of each strap and wrapped it in duct tape to keep all those long straps from dangling in the wind, tangling on bikes and distracting me or other riders. FIRST USE: Ladies note: I'm a relatively strong man, but lifting 50-pound mountain bikes and letting them hang while I packed them up wasn't just a picnic. Not having a helper can get you in trouble, unless you have a light road bike that probably weighs a lot less. Our daughter's bike, which is small, fits in the trunk, so far I've only mounted mine and my wife's mountain bikes on the trunk. (Honestly I don't think I would feel safe fitting 3 full size bikes on this rack - I feel like it would be too heavy/tight). The instructions have advice on installing women's frames, which was helpful. For the right balance I built 2 wheels in opposite directions. When placing the pedals of each bicycle, care must be taken to ensure the best possible fit in order to avoid damage to the vehicle. After installation I used bungee cords to tie the 2 front and 2 rear wheels together to keep nothing from turning or moving during transport. Also (IMPORTANT!) - I noticed that when loading the trunk with bikes, the bottom and side straps loosened significantly and had to be tightened again. Please remember to retighten all straps after loading the bikes, no matter what rack you end up purchasing. (Again, it took me at least half an hour to load, lock, and secure the bikes - next time it would take 5 minutes.) So we rode about 7 miles to our destination, including lanes and boulevards. Nothing broke or fell off and everything was still tight when we arrived. Getting off the bikes (and getting back on after our ride) was a little tricky but will no doubt make things easier. On the way back, everything remained tight, and after the final dismantling of the wheels, it was not difficult to remove the trunk from the trunk. The only concern I've had while cycling was that someone might steal the trunk, so I'll figure out a way to attach it to the trunk with a cable, maybe to deter theft. CONCLUSION: Only time will tell how durable this rack is. Based on just 1 short ride it is very stable, durable and well made and I would recommend it. The only issue I have is that the metal clips had to be rubber or plastic coated and it would have been nice to have an anti-theft device. I am also planning to buy 2 heavy duty bungee straps to reinforce the top straps as these straps will take the bulk of the load. Overall I'm happy with it and it opened up a whole new world of family fun by allowing us to take our bikes anywhere. I can add to this review as we continue to use this rack. I give this product 4 stars, a conservative rating based on uncoated clips and an unknown durability factor that only becomes clear over time. If it holds up, this is easily a 4.5-5 star product.