Tricycle Rack for Car: Best Hitch Racks for Trikes
Most “tricycle racks” sold for cars are hitch-mounted platform carriers built for adult delta trikes and fat-tire electric trikes, not toy-sized kids’ tricycles.
These racks bolt into your vehicle’s 2-inch receiver hitch and hold 200 to 500 pounds on a flat platform, using ratchet straps instead of the frame clamps a standard bike rack relies on. A small child’s tricycle is usually light and compact enough to skip that hardware entirely: fold the rear seats down, lay the trike flat on a blanket, and loop one strap across the frame so it can’t slide under braking.
If your “trike” is actually a full-size adult trike or e-trike, match the rack’s weight rating to the vehicle’s real weight, and check whether the rack uses straps or frame clamps first — a bike-style hitch rack with wheel hoops and clamp arms often can’t grip a wide delta-trike frame the way it grips a two-wheeled bike. The picks below mix a true trike-specific platform rack with two general-purpose bike hitch racks, so read the fit note under each one before you buy. If you’re weighing a roof-mounted option instead of a hitch rack, see what roof rack cross bars add to a car, or check how to carry a kayak on a car safely for another look at strapping oversized cargo to a hitch platform.
1. Hollywood Racks Sport Rider 2" Hitch Bike Rack, Carries 2 Bikes up to 80 lbs Each for Standard, Fat Tire and Electric Bicycles – Heavy Duty, Foldable Ebike Rack for Car, Truck, and SUV
- Category: Hitch-Mount 2-Bike Platform Rack
This platform rack was designed for heavy loads: its hitch-mounted tray carries two electric or standard bikes weighing up to 80 lbs each, with locking arms that keep both wheels steady over rough roads. It is a two-bike rack rather than a dedicated trike carrier, so it works best if your tricycle is small and light enough to sit flat across the tray, secured by the platform straps instead of the frame clamps.
Advantages
- Effective Security Features for Safe Bike Transport: Our hitch mount bike rack features locking frame clamps and a wobble-free hitch-tightening system. This eliminates rattling and keeps two bikes steady even on rough roads.
- Suitable for a Variety of Bike Sizes and Frames: This bike rack hitch mount with universal wheel holders accommodates tires up to 5 inches wide. Designed to fit most adult and kids’ bike frames, though its clamp-style arms are built around a bike’s narrow top tube, not a trike’s wider wheelbase.
Our Recommendations
The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider is a solid pick if you already own a 2-inch hitch and want a rack that can double as a regular two-bike carrier when you are not hauling the trike. Confirm your trike’s frame width fits the wheel trays before you buy, since this rack was built for bicycles first.
2. Hitch Rack for Electric Trike Foldable Steel Alloy Trailer Tricycle Hitch Rack Carrier, 500 lb. Capacity
- Brand: EMOJO
- Manufacturer: EMOJO
- Color: black
- Dimensions: Height: 2.0 inches Width: 35.0 inches Length: 66.0 inches Weight: 34.0 pounds `
Discover the perfect solution for transporting your electric trike with ease. This foldable steel alloy hitch rack carrier offers durability and strength. With a 500 lb. capacity, it safely holds your tricycle during travel. Its compact design ensures easy storage and handling. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your trike is secure on every adventure.
Advantages
- The foldable steel hitch rack transports trikes easily, with a strong, durable frame that holds up to 500 lbs and suits both electric trikes and trailer tricycles.
- The space-saving, foldable design stores tidily against a garage wall when it is not in use, which matters if your garage is already tight on room.
- Secure attachment keeps the trike from shifting during transport, so there is no need to stop and re-check straps mid-trip.
- Installation takes just a few simple steps, so you can get the trike loaded and on the road without wasting time.
- Broad compatibility means it adapts to a range of electric trike and trailer tricycle models, not just one manufacturer’s frame.
Our Recommendations
Of the three racks here, this EMOJO carrier is the only one actually engineered for a trike’s wider footprint rather than a bike’s narrow frame. The steel alloy platform is rated for up to 500 lbs, folds flat for storage, and mounts to a standard vehicle hitch without any drilling or permanent modification. For anyone hauling a full-size electric trike or trailer tricycle, this is the safer, purpose-built choice over a repurposed bike rack.
3. Eco Pro Upgraded 200lbs EBike Rack with Ramp for 2 E-Bikes, Hitch EBike Rack for Cars SUVs Trucks, Foldable Tilting Bike Rack Platform for Tow Hitch 2″ Receiver, E-Bike Carrier Fits up to 5″ Fat Tire
- Brand: IRON DEER
- Manufacturer: IRON DEER
- Color: Black
The Eco Pro Upgraded EBike Rack was built for two e-bikes rather than a trike, but its wide, flat 200-lb platform and built-in loading ramp make it one of the more forgiving bike racks to adapt if your tricycle is compact enough to sit across the tray. It mounts to any 2-inch hitch receiver, tilts down for trunk access without unloading the cargo, and its wheel channels fit tires up to 5 inches wide.
Advantages
- The built-in ramp lets you roll cargo straight up onto the platform instead of lifting it, which matters if the load is heavier than one person can easily hoist.
- The foldable design tucks the platform flat against the bumper for convenient storage between trips.
- Wheel channels securely fit tires up to 5 inches wide, which covers most standard, fat-tire, and electric bike wheels.
- The tilting feature swings the loaded platform down and away from the bumper for quick trunk access without unloading anything.
- Sturdy steel construction supports up to 200 lbs across two e-bikes, which is enough headroom for one lighter tricycle if it fits the tray dimensions.
Our Recommendations
This rack earns its spot on the list for the ramp alone: it is the only one of the three that lets you roll a load up instead of lifting it, which matters most if you are hauling a heavier electric trike solo. The tradeoff is the same as with the Hollywood Racks pick above, its wheel channels and tilting frame were engineered around bikes, so measure your tricycle’s wheelbase against the tray width before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Tricycle Rack For A Car?
A tricycle rack for a car is a hitch-mounted platform carrier that bolts into a 2-inch receiver and holds an adult trike, delta trike, or e-trike upright with straps instead of the frame clamps a bike rack uses. Most hold 200 to 500 pounds.
How Do You Install A Tricycle Rack On A Car?
Slide the rack’s shank into your vehicle’s receiver hitch and lock it with the included hitch pin, then unfold the platform, roll the trike’s wheels onto the tray, and cinch the ratchet straps over the frame and wheels so nothing shifts in transit.
Can A Tricycle Rack Fit All Car Models?
Only if your vehicle already has a 1.25-inch or 2-inch receiver hitch installed; most sedans need one added before a hitch rack will fit at all. Always check the rack’s listed hitch size and tongue weight rating against your vehicle’s tow capacity before buying.
Is A Tricycle Rack Safe For Long Trips?
Yes, as long as the trike is strapped tightly at both the frame and the wheels. Re-check every strap after the first 15 to 20 minutes on the road, since straps can loosen slightly once the load settles.
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Tricycle Rack for Your Car
Choosing the right rack comes down to matching its hardware to your actual trike, or skipping hardware altogether if you’re hauling a small kid’s tricycle. Here’s what to check before you buy:
1. Confirm your vehicle has a receiver hitch
Check your make and model for a 1.25-inch or 2-inch receiver hitch. Most SUVs and trucks have one; many sedans do not, and need one installed before any hitch rack will fit.
2. Decide between a trike-specific rack and a bike rack
Hitch-mounted platform racks are the most stable option for a full-size trike. Trunk-mounted straps or roof racks work for lighter loads. A bike rack with frame clamps can carry a trike only if the wheelbase fits the wheel trays and the load stays under the clamp’s rated width.
3. Match the load capacity to your trike’s real weight
Weigh the trike, not just the rider capacity, and add a safety margin. Overloading a rack strains both the hardware and your hitch receiver, and most manufacturers list a maximum weight for exactly this reason.
4. Check how much assembly it needs
Some racks bolt together with tools on first setup; others fold out tool-free every time. If you’ll be loading and unloading often, a tool-free rack saves real time over a season.
5. Look for a locking hitch pin and frame lock
A locking hitch pin keeps the rack itself from being lifted off the receiver, and a separate frame lock keeps the trike from being lifted off the rack. Both matter if the vehicle will be parked unattended.
6. Check the material and weather resistance
Steel and steel-alloy platforms hold up under repeated loading; look for a rust-resistant powder coat if the rack will live outdoors year-round.
7. Consider how it stores when it’s empty
A folding platform that tucks flat against the bumper, or comes off the hitch entirely, is easier to store in a garage than a rack that stays rigid.
8. Read real owner reviews for your specific trike type
Reviews from delta-trike or fat-tire e-trike owners are more useful here than general bike-rack reviews, since fit problems usually show up with wider or heavier loads.
9. Compare price against weight rating, not just features
Set a budget, then compare racks at that price point by their actual load rating and hitch size first, since a cheaper rack rated well below your trike’s weight is not a real option.
10. Check the warranty and return policy
A warranty against defects and a return window that lets you test-fit the rack on your own vehicle protect you if the trike doesn’t sit the way the listing photos suggest.
Conclusion
The right choice here depends entirely on what you’re actually hauling. A full-size adult trike or e-trike needs a purpose-built platform rack like the EMOJO pick above, rated for its real weight and gripping the frame with straps rather than clamps. A small child’s tricycle rarely needs any of this hardware at all; a folded-down back seat, a blanket, and one tie-down strap will get it there just as safely.
If you do go with a hitch rack, confirm your vehicle has the right receiver size, weigh the trike before comparing capacity ratings, and choose a rack with a locking hitch pin if it will ever sit outside unattended. Get that fit right once, and loading up for a weekend trip becomes a five-minute job instead of a puzzle.
