Yakima Gets Hitched with Premium and Full-featured Hitch Mast Bicycle Carriers

Yakima Products, Inc., the innovation leader in vehicle racks and cargo solutions, is pushing the design envelope for hitch mast bicycle carriers in 2014 with the introduction of the FullSwing, FullTilt, RidgeBack and the fully redesigned SwingDaddy.

Yakima’s line of hitch racks is known for its consumer-friendly designs that make each product quick to install and easy to use. These four new additions to the line raise the bar even higher with groundbreaking design features.

“Hitch racks are the easiest and most popular ways to transport bikes, and we are proud to expand our line with these new premium products,” said Michael Zoormajian, Global Product Manager. “They were designed from the ground up to deliver the best user experience possible. ”

FullSwing & FullTilt

The FullSwing and FullTilt are Yakima’s new line of premium hitch-mounted carriers that bring a host of unique features to the category. They share premium features from top to bottom that make them easy to install and use, while protecting the bike better than ever.

The FullSwing and FullTilt offer an unprecedented innovation: all controls for the arm, fold, and mast tilt are on top of the unit, eliminating the need for the user to bend down.

Also new is the introduction of ZipStrips™ to attach the bikes. The ZipStrips are easy to ratchet into place compared to the more difficult to use rubber straps commonly found on hitch racks.

As part of the premium experience, the FullSwing and FullTilt require minimal set up. They come pre-assembled, so cyclists can simply remove it from the box, unfold the hitch, insert and load their bikes. The hitch AutoPin automatically engages when inserting the mast into the hitch, eliminating the need to crawl under the vehicle.

Visually, the FullSwing and FullTilt are simultaneously sleek and rugged. The mast has an aggressively shaped cross-section and a sleek, almost spine-shaped curvature, preventing the bike from making contact with the vehicle. The arms, which carry the bikes, are fully padded to help protect bikes from being scratched. Bikes can be positioned anywhere along the arms to accommodate many styles of bikes.

Both the FullTilt and FullSwing come loaded with a full SKS (“Same Key System”) lock package, which locks the bikes to the rack and the rack to the vehicle. The icing on the cake is the premium glossy black finish and the retractable stainless steel bottle opener.

FullSwing features:

• SwingAway™ technology allows easy rear-of-vehicle access, even when fully loaded with bikes
• Fully padded arms protect the bikes and provide extra loading options
• TriggerFinger™ technology folds the arm down with the pull of a lever
• Zero-hassle ZipStrips™ secure the bike to the carrier
• Integrated SpeedKnob™ provides tool-free installation
• Fully integrated security system locks bike to rack and rack to vehicle (SKS Lock Cores included)
• Integrated bottle opener
• Carries up to four bikes
• Fits 2” hitch receivers only

MSRP: $499
Available: January 2014

FullTilt features:

• Fully assembled out of the box
• UpperHand™ control lever is positioned on top of the unit for easy tilt-out hatch access
• Fully padded arms protect bikes and provide extra loading options
• TriggerFinger™ technology folds the arm down with the pull of a lever
• Zero-hassle ZipStrips™ secure the bike to the carrier
• Integrated SpeedKnob™ provides tool-free installation
• Fully integrated security system locks bike to rack and rack to vehicle. (SKS Lock Cores included.)
• Tongue folds flat for easier storage
• Integrated bottle opener
• Two models: four- and five-bike capacities
• Fits 1.25” and 2” hitches

MSRP: $399 (four-bike); $429 (five-bike)
Available: January 2014

SwingDaddy

Fully redesigned from the ground up for 2014, the SwingDaddy is an exceptional swing-away hitch mount at a great price.

The new SwingDaddy has premium anti-sway cradles that lovingly protect the bikes plus zero-hassle ZipStrips™ that make securing the bike to the carrier painless.

Preassembled out of the box, the SwingDaddy features the SpeedKnob™ for easy, tool-free installation. Plus, the carrier locks to the hitch for added security.

SwingDaddy features:

• Swings away with bikes mounted to provide ultimate vehicle access
• Unique 3D mast design for improved bike clearance
• Zero-hassle ZipStrips™ secure the bike to the carrier
• Integrated SpeedKnob™ provides tool-free installation
• Optional HandCuff™ locking cable provides bike security
• Integrated bottle opener
• Four-bike capacity
• Fits 2” hitches only

MSRP: $399
Available: January 2014

RidgeBack

The RidgeBack offers many of the same premium features as FullTilt at a price-point that will make family adventurers happy.

Available in two-, four-, and five-bike capacity, the RidgeBack stars the UpperHand™ control lever that tilts the mast to provide easy access to the vehicle hatch. It also features a unique 3-D mast design for improved bike clearance, plus zero-hassle ZipStrips™ and anti-sway cradles.

Fully assembled out of the box, installation of the RidgeBack is a breeze, and it also folds flat for easy storage.

RidgeBack features:

• Fully assembled out of the box
• UpperHand™ control lever is positioned on top of the unit for easy tilt-out hatch access
• TriggerFinger™ technology folds the arm down with the press of a button
• Premium anti-sway cradles protect bikes
• Unique 3-D mast design offers improved bike clearance
• Zero-hassle ZipStrips™ secure the bike to the carrier
• Integrated SpeedKnob™ provides tool-free installation
• Optional HandCuff™ locking cable provides bike security
• Tongue folds flat for easier storage
• Integrated bottle opener
• Three models: two-, four- and five-bike capacities
• Fits 1.25” and 2” hitches out of the box

MSRP: $239 (two-bike); $279 (four-bike); $309 (five-bike)
Available: January 2014

About Yakima
Yakima Products, Inc. is the innovation leader in vehicle racks and cargo solutions for a variety of consumers, from outdoor enthusiasts to car aficionados. The portfolios of brands include: Yakima, Whispbar and Prorack.

Each of the individual brands offer a variety of cargo management products including racks for bikes, boats, ski equipment and other gear, cargo boxes and bags and high performance multi-sport trailers.

The Yakima Products, Inc. global headquarters is in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit www.yakima.com.