Yakima HoldUp Review

The Yakima Holdup is a functional, relatively affordable hitch mount rack, packing many of the same features as other hitch mount racks in our test. It stands apart from other hitch mount racks with a compact design, due to the trays being hinged on the clamp end. When not in use, the wheel trays can be folded in towards the center of the rack, making it more compact for storage.

Performance Comparison

The Yakima HoldUp is a versatile hitch mount rack.

Photo: Curtis Smith

Ease of Everyday Use

The HoldUp is very functional, but the design is less refined than other higher scoring hitch racks we have tested. The rack tilts up and down by pulling a spring-loaded pin located back near the hinge of the rack, putting the user in a position of poor leverage to resist the load when lowering the rack when loaded with bikes. Also, the pin can be hard to release when under load. An additional safety pin is attached to the rack via a small plastic plug, which frequently fell out due to poor attachment. We much prefer the user-friendly tilt release handles on racks like the RockyMounts MonoRail or the Thule T2 Pro XT.

The ratcheting arm on the Yakima HoldUp is released by pressing the red button.

Photo: Curtis Smith

Loading bikes onto the rack is a similar process for all of the hitch mount tray racks we tested. The HoldUp requires an additional step because the front wheel trays fold up when not in use. The folding wheel trays give the rack a smaller footprint when not in use; if you have limited storage space, this is a welcome feature when the rack is off the vehicle being stored. However, the rack still weighs in at 49lbs, so taking it on and off is still rather labor-intensive. The HoldUp has less clearance off the back of the vehicle than the class-leading Thule T2 Pro, so if you run wide bars, this is something to think about. The reduced clearance could limit your ability to access the rear compartment of your vehicle.

The HoldUp folds down smaller than most hitch mount racks when not in use.

Photo: Curtis Smith

Ease of Removal and Storage

The rack attaches to the hitch receiver using a threaded hitch pin with a lock on one end to eliminate wobble in the receiver arm. While this design is tried and proven, it is more complicated and labor-intensive than racks that use an external knob that tensions an internal cam to eliminate wobble. The HoldUp is also hampered by an excessively long and wide wrench (included with the rack) that makes tightening the threaded hitch pin difficult.

Off the vehicle, the HoldUp weighs 49 lbs and it can be somewhat cumbersome to move around. It does, however, fold down a fair amount smaller than most hitch-mount tray racks. This makes it slightly easier to store when not in use.

Versatility

By nature, hitch-mounted tray mount racks are very versatile; because they clamp the bike at the front wheel, they have fewer inherent fit issues due to frame design and axle spacing. That said, the trend towards wider tires has limited the carrying capacity of some of the older tray mount rack designs; this model falls into this category. The wheel trays are narrower than those found on many other racks. Yakima claims it works with 20-27.5-inch diameter wheels and tires up to 3-inches wide. It also works with 29-inch tires, although tire width is reduced to 2.5-inches. One of our testers complained that getting the wheel clamp over his 29" x 2.5" mountain bike tires was doable but a bit of a squeeze. Yakima claims a weight limit of 60 lbs per bike and compatibility with wheelbases up to 48-inches long.

Ease of Assembly

The HoldUp falls a bit short of some of other contenders we tested when it comes to assembly. The directions are thorough and accurate, but this rack is not easy to assemble. The trays come fully assembled, which is convenient, but attaching them to the main support mast is a chore. The tray brackets are connected to the underside of the main mast, so the easiest way to attach them is with the rack in the upright position attached to a vehicle. The trays must be balanced in the bracket while the bolts are threaded through the bracket and into the tray. The trays are also cumbersome and awkward since the balance point is nowhere near the attachment point. To avoid frustration, this job is best approached with two people.

Short cable locks extend out of the top of the ratcheting arm to lock each bike and a hitch pin lock secures the rack to the vehicle.

Photo: Curtis Smith

Security

This bike rack uses a locking hitch pin to secure the rack to your vehicle. While not the most convenient design, it is sturdy and would require a saw or angle grinder to remove the rack from the vehicle. Bikes are secured to the rack using short cables that deploy from the ratcheting arms that hold the front wheel. The cables are rather short, so it may be difficult to loop the cable through the frame, especially on downhill and enduro bikes. While the integrated cable locks are a nice feature, they serve as little more than a theft deterrent. You will not be able to lock the wheels, so if this is a concern, then adding an additional cable lock is highly recommended for maximum security. The HoldUp does come with lock cores for the cables as well as the locking hitch pin, that all share a common key.

A locking, threaded hitch pin secures the Yakima HoldUp to the hitch receiver and eliminates wobble.

Photo: Curtis Smith

Durability

This contender proved to be a reliable rack during testing. We had some reservations about the folding wheel trays, but they proved to be more than up to the task of dealing with our abuse. We had no issues with durability other than the painted finish of the rack being prone to scratching and abrasion. We did have some frustration with the weak retention wire anchor for the stability pin, but as long as the pin is in position during transport, you should not have any issues. If you forget to put the pin in before leaving the trailhead, then all bets are off, and you might be short a pin when you arrive at your destination.

Value

At its retail price, the HoldUp is less expensive than most other quality hitch-mount racks of the same style. It is, however, a much less refined product. If you are on a budget, the HoldUp will get the job done — unless you are hauling fat bikes. We still consider it to be a good value despite some of its shortcomings and limited versatility.

The Yakima HoldUp is a good rack, although it is somewhat less user-friendly than some and has tire size limitations.

Photo: Curtis Smith

Conclusion