Yakima DrTray Rack

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Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Testing the Ultra-Convenient Yakima Dr.Tray Hitch Rack
Claimed to be the lightest in its class, this rack is super adjustable to help keep your bikes from getting scratched.
Rating:
Vital Review
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There is no shortage of options when it comes to hauling your precious rig to the trail: roof racks, cheap, strap-on trunk racks, hitch racks, and even those wild suction-cup racks. Each style of rack has its own advantage, whether it be ease of securing your bike, staying out of the way of your trunk/tailgate/hatch, or simply meeting your budget. Hitch racks are a common option. They are often secure and convenient, don’t destroy your gas mileage as much as a roof rack, you don’t run the risk of forgetting your bike is on the roof when pulling into the garage or low overhang, and in general, they’re easier to load and unload than a roof or trunk rack.

Yakima has been one of the major players in the rack game for quite a long time. Recently they released a new tray-style hitch rack dubbed Dr.Tray (Get it? Dr. Dre...). The Dr.Tray rack aims to solve many common issues with racks: It's easy to move around at just 34-pounds (15.4kg) for the 2-inch receiver version; it features easily movable trays to prevent bar-on-seatpost, bar-on-saddle, or bar-on-bar interference; it's also designed to make it simple to access the trunk or hatch of your vehicle. Curious to see if the Dr.Tray rack would pull through on its promises and last for the long haul, we’ve been road tripping and back-road rallying with it for the better part of the past year.

Dr.Tray Highlights

  • Two-bike capacity
  • Move up to three-bike capacity with optional EZ+1 add-on tray, sold separately at $229
  • Securely carries 26 to 29-inch wheels and tires up to 5-inches wide
  • Adjustable spacing between bikes (up to 18-inches)
  • QuickChange lever provides tool-free adjustment while bikes are loaded, minimizing the potential for bike-to-bike contact
  • RemoteControl tilt lever and lightweight, aluminum design to aid in raising and lowering the rack
  • Tool-free locking SpeedKnob
  • Three SKS cable locks to secure wheels and frames
  • Integrated bottle opener
  • 40-pound (18.1kg) weight limit per bike // 80-pounds total (36.3kg)
  • Available in 1.25-inch and 2-inch hitch sizes
  • 1.25-inch version weighs 41-pounds (18.6kg) // 2-inch weighs 34-pounds (15.4kg)
  • Dimensions: L 16" x W 54" x H 11.5"
  • MSRP: $579 USD





Initial Impressions

Assembling the tray is straightforward and made even easier thanks to Yakima's install video.

Despite its burly appearance, the Dr.Tray rack is quite light. It was notably lighter than the comparable 1.25-inch, two-tray Thule T2 rack it replaced. Thanks to the low weight, the struggle to line up the hitch rack with the receiver during installation was made quite a bit easier. Once the rack is in position, a retaining clip snaps into the receiver/rack interface. The rack is then secured using Yakima’s SpeedKnob, which requires no tools to tighten the wedge that holds the rack in place. The SpeedKnob system includes a lock and key which disables the use of the knob in an effort to prevent a thief from nabbing the rack.

Provided the bikes are securely held and the rack is easy to use, the bulky looks are a minor aesthetic trade-off we’re willing to accept.

While raising and lowering the rack the first few times, we noted how it took quite a bit of effort to squeeze the RemoteControl tilt lever. Time would tell if this could improve.

On The Hitch

As most of you can attest, loading multiple bikes on a single rack can be a pain when unwanted contact between the bikes occurs. This often leads to brake levers wearing holes in saddles, nasty scratches in fork legs from wide dropouts, and many other unfortunate injuries to your two-wheel friends. One of this rack's standout features is on-the-fly adjustable spacing between bikes. This is made possible by the grey-colored QuickChange levers that allow you to easily slide the racks fore and aft or side to side.

There is no premature wear to the arm padding, the rack itself still feels structurally stable, all nuts and bolts have remained snug, and the often-used QuickChange levers continue to hold the trays in place as securely as day one.

What’s The Bottom Line?

High-end racks will always be an investment, but if the rack does its job by keeping your bikes secure and damage-free for years to come, it’s money well spent. At $579 USD there are definitely more affordable racks than Yakima’s Dr.Tray, but it has performed well, prevented more dinged up forks, doesn't bounce wildly on bumpy roads, and (most importantly) it has an integrated bottle opener for post-ride refreshments. Aside from covering these bases, we were impressed by the level of adjustability and ease of use provided by the Dr.Tray rack and feel that’s what sets it apart from the competition.

Visit www.yakima.com for more information.


About The Reviewer

Fred Robinson - Age: 33 // Years Riding MTB: 15 // Height: 6'1" (1.85m) // Weight: 227-pounds (103kg)

"Drop my heels and go." Fred has been on two wheels since he was two-years-old, is deceptively quick for a bigger guy, and likes steep, fast trails where he can hang it off the back of the bike. Several years of shop experience means he's not afraid to tinker. He's very particular when it comes to a bike's suspension performance and stiffness traits.

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Specifications

Product
Yakima DrTray Rack
Car Rack Type
Hitch-Mounted
Features
Carries 26” to 29” wheel sizes and tires up to 5” wide
Large spacing up to 18” between each bike
QuickChange lever provides tool-free adjustment while bikes are loaded
RemoteControl tilt lever
Lightweight, aluminum design
Tool-free locking SpeedKnob
SKS cable lock system for each bike secures both wheels and frame
40-pound weight maximum per bike (80 pounds total)
Available in 1.25" and 2" hitch sizes
Holds up to two bikes
Miscellaneous
Dimensions: 16” length x 54” width x 11.5” height
Weight: 34 pounds (2” hitch-size model), 41 pounds (1.25” hitch-size model)
Add the EZ+1 and carry a third bike (sold separately)
Price
$579.00
More Info
What do you think?
Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
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