Kuat NV 2.0 Rack & Add-On Review

I’ve used Kuat’s NV 2.0 and Add-On system for more than a year and a half. I’ll discuss my experience and compare it with other platform hitch racks to help you decide if it’s worth the price.

About the Kuat NV 2.0 Hitch Rack & Add-On

The newly redesigned Kuat (pronounced koo-at) NV 2.0 hitch rack features adjustable front tire cradles for a dialed-in fit, a foot-assisted pivot release system, integrated cable locks for added security, burly construction, and a design that stands out from much of the competition.

Combining this with its ability to carry up to four bikes using the optional Add-On rack and a No Worries lifetime warranty, Kuat calls the NV 2.0 the best, most advanced platform rack on the market.

Sure, Kuat packs a lot of seemingly useful features into an immediately noticeable package with the NV 2.0 hitch rack. And based on my extensive experience with it, along with the Add-On rack, I think they deliver a heck of a lot of value—despite the admittedly steep price.

The NV 2.0 isn’t for everyone, though. Here, I’ll briefly discuss my long-term experience with this bike rack system, so you can decide whether or not it’s worth the investment.

How Does the NV 2.0 Rack & Add-On Work?

Available in powder-coated Gray Metallic/Orange or Black Metallic/Gray color schemes and water transfer logos underneath, the patent-pending NV 2.0 hitch rack can accommodate two bikes with wheelbases up to 48”.

Per the website, tires can range in size between 20” and 29”—although you’ll need to purchase wheel adapters for 20 to 24-inch tires—and width between 4.8 inches (note: the user manual indicates up to 5 inches) using Kuat’s optional Phat Bike Kit.

Bikes can weigh up to 60 lbs each (120 lbs total), with an overall rack weight of 52 lbs. You can double your carrying capacity by installing the NV 2.0 Add-On (40 lbs), which can hold bikes up to 40 lbs but otherwise maintains all the same features.

You’ll have one heck of a time moving the four-bike setup (more soon), though, since the combo’s total weight comes in at a whopping 92 lbs.

Either way, your front tires sit inside Kuat’s articulated front cradle system, which features updated ratchet arms for a more intuitive release and a more stable tow,  and offers three positions for fast adjustability.

At the other end, the NV 2.0 features co-molded tire straps that lock around your bike’s rim, as well as longer, more durable, and easier to use integrated cable locks.

Farthest away from your vehicle is Kuat’s handy Trail Doc system, which they say was redesigned from the ground up to deliver a pro level feel.

The NV 2.0 comes from the manufacturer ready to fit standard 1.25” hitches, although it can accommodate 2” hitches with an adapter. A hitch lock is included.

Once in place and ratcheted down using the NV 2.0’s hand-tight hitch cam system, its redesigned foot lever can help you unlock the pivot and place fully upright after bikes have been removed, or to angle toward the ground if you need access to your trunk or rear cargo door.

Kuat advertises it will endure a lifetime of use. Is this what I’ve experienced using the NV 2.0 hitch rack, though? I’ll discuss more next.

My Experience Using Kuat’s NV 2.0 Rack & Add-On System

I purchased my Gray Metallic/Orange NV 2.0 rack in October 2017 from REI and upgraded to the Add-On about six months afterward.

At more than $1,000 for the two, there’s no getting around the fact that this is an expensive platform rack setup.

Overall, though, it’s my opinion that it features distinctive good looks and—overall—delivers excellent value for its premium price tag. It’s not perfect, though. Here’s why:

NV 2.0 & Add-On Assembly

Kuat includes all necessary hardware and easy-to-follow instructions with the NV 2.0—match the letters on each tray arm with their corresponding letters on each center beam. Then, tighten the appropriate bolts and you’re ready to go.

Pro tip: Based on the NV 2.0’s weight and width, it might be a lot easier to build with the assistance of a second person.

When it comes to the Add-On, though, you can almost certainly handle installation by yourself:

1. Remove the 2.0’s Trail-Doc and endcap using a 6mm hex key.
2. Align the Add-On’s bolts over the top and fit into place.
3. Alternately tighten each of the Add-On’s two 8mm hex bolts.
4. Reattach the Trail-Doc and endcap.

Overall, I found that the NV 2.0 was easy to set up, even compared to purportedly “simpler” upright hitch racks from third-party manufacturers.

Attaching the NV 2.0 to Vehicles

Outside of weight considerations, the NV 2.0—pivoted into the upright position—is easy to mount. Just slide its 1.25” (2” compatibility available with extra adapter) hitch into your vehicle’s receiver, insert the pin, and hand-tighten the support bar by turning the cam clockwise.

Pro tip: Based on my experience, you might have to slightly lift and lower the hitch arm as you turn the cam. Otherwise, you could make an otherwise straightforward task a whole lot more labor-intensive than necessary.

Pivoting the NV 2.0

Once attached to my truck, I appreciate the NV 2.0’s unique pivot lock lever, which I can adjust by pulling the top with my hand, or by pressing the grooved bottom section at the bottom with my foot.

Pro tip: Based on my experience, despite the lever’s deep tread, it becomes quite slippery once wet. My foot has unexpectedly slipped on multiple occasions.

When unloaded, the NV 2.0’s platform is easy to lower or raise with a quick push or pull of its lever. It’s not much more difficult with the Add-On installed, except for its additional weight and the extra reach required to access its lever.

When unloaded, moving the NV 2.0 from flat its flat to lowest positions—such as when you need access to your rear cargo door—is similarly easy. But, you likely won’t need to drop it until you have all of your bikes mounted and attached, which is something we’ll discuss in the next section.

Attaching & Carrying Bikes with the NV 2.0

I start the mounting process by extending all of the NV 2.0’s arms, positioning my bike on its tray, and then placing the front wheel in a cradle, which accommodates all the tire widths in our household (from 700 x 38 to 29 x 2.25). It’s adjustable front-to-back as well, which comes in useful for carrying kids’ bikes.

With the proper technique, its ratcheting plastic hook is easy to use one-handed. Don’t try to force it, though, since you’ll make the process more difficult, and potentially cause damage.

Pro tip: You might need to apply a little extra downward force once the hook is in place, though, which will eliminate as much potential movement as possible.

Once the front wheel is secure, and the bike sits upright by itself, I then loop the rear strap over the rim, insert it into the ratcheting mechanism, and pull through until there’s no play remaining.

Fully loaded, my NV 2.0 holds 110+ lbs of bikes, plus 20-ish lbs for the platform itself. So, when it comes time to drop the tray to its lowest position, such as accessing a car’s rear cargo door, it’s definitely a two-person job—one to pull the pivot release lever and help support the tray, with a second in the rear to ease the tray’s backside toward the ground.

On and off the road, I’ve found that the NV 2.0 securely keeps everything in place, with no discernable movement. This remains the case even when driving on especially rough terrain, where ruts and washouts can cause some fairly extreme up-and-down motion in the rear of my truck.

Locks: My Biggest NV 2.0 Complaint

To be fair, I’ve found that the NV 2.0’s integrated locks work very well once secured. But, getting everything lined up properly in the tight space between bikes can present a Herculean challenge—made even worse if my bikes are covered in mud, or it’s pouring rain or snow.

The issue is that the male end of the cable fits into the broad side of the lock’s body, while the key fits inside the end. This means that I simultaneously have to hold the lock’s underside with one thumb, grip the cable between my forefinger and middle fingers while pressing down, finagle the key between the cable and my bike’s spokes, and then turn the key to allow the cable’s end inside.

Kuat advertises that the cable end fits into the lock without keys, although I’ve found this only works 20—30% of the time, more so as my rack ages.

In fact, not too long after purchasing the NV 2.0, a cable fell out soon after leaving a riding area. We drove more than 50 miles across mountainous terrain before realizing what happened, and the lock’s metal had been ground to basically nothing by that point.

On the upside, the silver lining was that I had the opportunity to speak with Kuat’s stellar customer support, who sent me a replacement lock free of charge (removal and re-mounting was super easy).

Is the NV 2.0 Trail-Doc Useful?

Perhaps the NV 2.0’s most unique feature is its integrated Trail-Doc work stand, which unclips and pulls out from the rack’s central support bar.

Then, you rotate the knob counterclockwise until the clamp springs open, put your bike in place—whether at the seatpost or top tube—and then close the clamp and turn the knob clockwise to lock in place.

I’ll admit that the NV 2.0’s Trail-Doc doesn’t feel as sturdy as my Park PCS-10, although I’ve found it can hold its own when I need to make last-minute repairs.

The Kuat NV 2.0 vs. Other Platform Hitch Bike Racks

There is a handful of platform hitch bike racks in the marketplace competing directly with the NV 2.0, all of which also hold bikes primarily by the front wheel, feature adjustable levers that allow the racks to pivot up and down, use latching mechanisms for back wheels, fit 2” receivers, and come with lifetime (or limited lifetime) warranties.

Here are some of the top models, as well as how their core criteria compare:

Like any other cycling product, no single hitch rack will meet everyone’s needs. So, the right option largely depends on which factors you consider most important.

Although there’s only an $80 difference between these platform hitch racks, if the price is your top consideration, 1Up’s 2” Heavy Duty Double starts the lowest at $569 but can climb considerably higher. At $649, the Kuat NV 2.0 and Yakima Dr. Tray are the most expensive.

However, if you’re looking for the lightest rack, Dr. Tray comes in a svelte 41 lbs, whereas the RockyMounts Backstage Swing Away tops the scale at nearly 20 pounds heavier. At 52 pounds each, the Thule T2 weighs the same as the NV 2.0, but the former also has the largest footprint of the bunch.

How about the most carrying capacity? The Heavy Duty Double’s 150 lb limit earn it the top position by a large margin, followed by the NV 2.0, T2 Pro, and Backstage Swing Away with 120 lbs each.

With an 80 lb capacity, Dr. Tray can carry the least weight. In fact, even though the Kuat Add-On is only an extension, it boasts the same bike weight limit.

The NV 2.0 and 1Up models are the only platform racks that can optionally carry up to four bikes, and they’re competitively priced: the Kuat with Add-On is $1,088, whereas two single extensions for the 1Up will bring your total to $1,007.

But, if having access to an integrated work stand is at the top of your must-haves list, the NV 2.0 is currently the only game in town.

Bottom Line: Is Kuat’s NV 2.0 the “Best, Most Advanced Platform Rack on the Market?”

The bottom line is that terms like “best” and “most advanced” are highly subjective, especially within the cycling industry.

But, with its foot-action pivot lever, adjustable front wheel trays, Add-On for extra bike-carrying capacity, quick setup, easily replaceable parts, and stellar customer support, I can that it’s been a joy using the Kuat NV 2.0 over the past year and a half, including several long-distance road trips.

And based on what other online customers report, it seems most experience much of the same. If you’re in the market, I’d highly recommend checking it out.

>> Keep rolling: Park Tool PCS-10 Review