Sprinter Solutions: Your Complete Guide to Sprinter Van Bike Racks

TL;DR: A vertical hitch bike rack is a flexible way to carry 1-7 bikes on a Sprinter van, but it can limit rear door access, especially with a spare tire, cargo box, or ladder in the way. This guide compares swing arms, hitch extenders, and the AXIS hitch adaptor so you can find the right balance of access, stability, and clearance for your setup.

• Learn why a vertical hitch rack is a great fit for vans, with higher capacity, roll-in loading, and easy removal.
• Discover how spare tires, cargo boxes, and ladders can affect rack clearance and what to check before you buy.
• Explore the pros and cons of swing arms, hitch extenders, and the AXIS hitch adaptor, including why swing arms aren't recommended for vertical racks or e-bikes.
• See how the AXIS adaptor keeps your rack close and stable while still allowing it to pivot for practical rear access.
• Get answers to common questions about compatibility, weight ratings, and when you actually need an adaptor.

 

Why a Vertical Hitch Bike Rack?

If a vertical hitch mounted bike rack can make it harder to gain full rear access on a van, why choose that kind of rack in the first place? There are several reasons, but flexibility is one of the biggest. While door mounted racks generally carry only 1-2 bikes, vertical racks can carry anywhere from 1-7 bikes all within the same footprint. They also offer additional features such as garage storage, roll in loading, easy removal, and higher than average ground clearance.

That said, using a vertical hitch bike rack on your Sprinter van comes with a few extra considerations. One is any other rear door accessory currently in use. Many Sprinter vans will carry a cargo box, spare tire or ladder on the back door and it is important to verify that these accessories won't interfere with your bikes. While individual circumstances vary, generally a spare tire or cargo box that extends out more than 13”-15” from the vehicle will prevent the rack from being fully inserted and operated. A ladder is a bit more complex, but typically the rack can be inserted and used, with ladder interference affecting only one or two bike slots on larger rack sizes (5+ bikes). Since this can vary by brand, we recommend reaching out to the dealer for specific product compatibility with your setup.

Rear Access Accessories: Swingarms, Extenders, and Adapters

To add additional clearance between the hitch bike rack and your van, most users prefer to use a swing away, hitch extender or hitch adaptor. Each can gain a few extra inches of clearance for a spare tire or cargo box in addition to making full rear access far more accessible. However, each type comes with its own tradeoffs as well. 

 

Swingarms

Swing arms are among the most popular solutions for van owners because they’re intuitive, simple to use and free up a lot of space. With this setup, the rack is inserted along the end of a rotatable arm that swings out of the way so your rear doors can be fully opened. This provides excellent rear access, unmatched by almost any other type of accessory, but it does come with a few large downsides as well.

The largest downside is that the swingarm's capacity to move out of the way also increases the rack’s ability to shake and rattle during transport, even when the swing arm is fully closed. On smaller racks this may not cause too much of a problem, but on a vertical rack, a small amount of movement near the hitch receiver translates to a lot of movement at the top of the rack, generally leading to a damaged vehicle, bikes or rack. Though they can work well with light loads, for vertical racks or e-bikes use of a swing arm is not recommended. 

 

Hitch Extender

A hitch extender is essentially a metal tube or sleeve that increases the distance your hitch extends towards the rear of the vehicle. Often built with an integrated anti-rattle system, these extenders provide the increased distance of the swing arm without the shake. This keeps your rack and bikes much more stable, but it does make the rear of your vehicle harder to access. In most situations with this setup an individual will only be able to open one door part way. 

However, some brands of vertical hitch bike racks offer unique capabilities that can be useful for vans. For example VelociRAX offers a “camp mode” when bikes are fully unloaded the rack can be lowered all of the way to the ground. Paired with the hitch adaptor this can provide enough clearance to open both doors fully though it can be somewhat of a hassle to load and unload bikes to get to that position.

Access our Camp Mode Video here.

 

Hitch Adaptor

Hitch adapters vary by design, but they can be a great middle-ground solution for van owners. The AXIS hitch adaptor, for example, is a newer solution that keeps your rack close to your vehicle while still allowing it to pivot when fully loaded. This combines the closer carrying position and stability of the hitch extender with the mobility and improved rear access of a swing arm. Thanks to its close proximity the AXIS hitch adaptor can also carry the full weight capacity of your rack without increasing the risk of damage. 

While a swing arm will still grant the most rear access of the three options, the AXIS hitch adaptor offers a great balance of accessibility and security. Not only will your bikes be stable and secure you will also have practical access to your vehicle.

Interested in learning more? Check out the AXIS adaptor product page here

 

Overall Comparisons

FAQs

How do I know if the AXIS hitch adaptor will work for my vehicle?

The AXIS hitch adaptor will work for almost any standard vehicle. However, if a spare tire or cargo box comes within 4” of the top of your hitch receiver and extends more than 5” out from the center of the hitch pin hole it will interfere with full adaptor insertion. Additionally if the hitch is recessed under the vehicle by 6 or more inches (measured from the center of the hitch pin hole to the edge of the vehicles bumper this will also prevent full insertion.

Will a ladder or cargo box interfere with my bike rack?

Generally, a spare tire or cargo box that extends more than 13"-15" from the hitch pin hole of your vehicle will prevent the rack from being fully inserted. Ladder interference is minimal as it is usually limited to one or two bike slots on larger racks (5+ bikes) if a hitch adapter or extender is not used. Compatibility can vary by brand, so it's best to confirm your specific setup with the dealer.

What is the weight rating on the AXIS hitch adaptor?

The AXIS hitch adaptor is rated for 500 lbs of vertical tongue weight matching the needed hitch capacity to use a VelociRAX Max bike rack. However, despite the high strength of the AXIS hitch adaptor it is designed for vertical loads and should not be used with a tow ball to haul trailers, tow bars, boats or any other items.

Can I use my AXIS hitch adaptor to haul other things?

No. The AXIS hitch adaptor is designed to carry vertical bike racks and was specifically tested for compatibility with the VelociRAX Max vertical racks. It is not compatible with carrying other loads.

Can I use the AXIS adaptor to raise my rack?

No. The AXIS hitch adaptor is designed to pivot one's rack to the side by engaging a U shaped silver lever. Inverting the hitch adaptor causes this lever to be pulled by gravity allowing for movement during transport. Additionally raising the rack can prevent rear doors from opening due to the increased height. In short the AXIS hitch adaptor cannot be safely used to raise your rack.

Can I use the rack on a Sprinter Van without the AXIS adaptor? When do I need one?

A vertical hitch bike rack can be used on the sprinter van without an adaptor or hitch extender. This will still allow for bikes to be transported safely though rear access to your vehicle will be quite limited. If you are interested in easy access to your vehicle but still want stable and secure bike transport that is when you should be considering an AXIS adaptor.

Can previous models of the AXIS adaptor be updated to the new style?

No. The AXIS hitch adaptor has been redesigned to increase its durability and stability by including slight adjustments to pins and other sections of the steel frame. As a result the adaptor is more stable and will last longer but older models are not compatible with the current updates.

How does the AXIS adaptor compare to a swing away?

A swing arm allows more rear door access since it fully rotates out of the way, but it also introduces more shake and rattle, a risk for vertical racks and e-bikes. The AXIS adapter sacrifices a bit of that access in exchange for a more stable, secure ride, while still improving on the limited access of a standard hitch extender.