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1 UP USA Rak Attach Review

Back in February, we published a first look at the 1Up USA Rak Attach and I’m back to report on how things went long term, thru the summer camping season.

In a nutshell…1Up USA sells this accessory for their excellent hitch racks called the Rak Attach. It allows the fully loaded rack to pivot ninety degrees and lock into position so you can gain unfettered access to the back of your vehicle. Here are some of the ways that I found the RA worked well during testing.

When you want to make some lunch under a picnic pavilion and it’s raining, it was nice to swing the bikes out of the way to get to the groceries.

Every stop can be a tailgate party when your roll with a Rak Attach. A little fresh pour over coffee at the beach with the truck loaded for a summer road trip.

I think camping is where the RA really shines. I like to travel with two bikes a lot of the time, so it’s nice to have a place to keep one locked, while I’m out on a ride.

My Taco Truck – aka the mobile fun unit packed to the gills with groceries, a kitchen and a tiny hotel room with full access backstage passes provided by the 1Up USA Rak Attach.

Camping in the bed of the Taco is fast easy and pretty luxurious. The RA provides a perfect little brace-step to jump into the back. The sturdy construction of the RA has been solid from day one. The RA did require a bit of care in the form of lubrication at the pivot. I keep a can of Boeshield in the garage, so that’s what I used to keep that pivot silky smooth.

So if you’ve got an SUV, Truck, or Van and you want access to the rear hatch and you love your hitch rack for transporting your bikes, the Rack Attach is a great option to consider. I really like the Rak Attach, but there are just a couple of areas that might be something to think about. The RA does add about ten minutes to installing or removing the rack from the car. The few times a year, that I tow a trailer, it wasn’t a big deal to switch around, but it’s worth mentioning. The job requires some tools and can easily be done by one person.

The other thing that I have to mention is that the RA is powder-coated steel, which means that it will not be as rustproof as 1Up USA Racks that are made from Aluminium with stainless steel hardware. The elements are really tough on car accessories in the Great Lakes and rust never sleeps. With all that being said, the Rak Attach is made very well and we think that it will be in service for years to come.

The Rak Attach earns 4.5 Flaming Gnomes

For more information about 1Up USA visit – https://www.1up-usa.com/

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4 Responses to 1 UP USA Rak Attach Review

  1. Dustin Marsh December 8, 2020 at 12:35 pm #

    I’ve been thinking about this for Tim, my van. Looks like it might not fit under the twinkly tree though!

  2. Greg December 11, 2020 at 9:16 am #

    This is a great add on! I bought one this summer before a trip to Marquette to camp and ride Crusher EX. This is a perfect add on for my 1 Up and my Jeep Wrangler.

  3. Steve December 20, 2022 at 7:58 pm #

    Cool. I have a single tray 1up on my LB taco. This thing makes more sense with a 2 tray though. I travel up to Marji to camp come Sept.
    Is yours a medium or large size Rak Attach?

    -Steve

    • Gomez December 25, 2022 at 11:42 am #

      I think it’s a Large, but I would check with 1Up to get the correct size for your Vehicle.

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