Got my NV rack
Got the Kuat NV on the E and the tailgate sits on the rack like I was worried about. Everything else clears fine and the rack is awesome and I plan on keeping it. I am going to add the MWE Bladerunner or Red October with this Kuat NV and the cleareance on the tailgate will no longer be an issue.
So my review:
1. tailgate cleareance. Could be solved by adding the MWE like I am or one could drill a new hole where the hitch pin goes. It only needs to come out about 1/2" further to let the tailgate all the way down. The rack only has one hole option and so does my Uhaul hitch.
2. The cable lock on it is lame and easy to cut. Every rack I looked at had lame locking issues, but I would have preffered that the front wheel arms had locks in them in stead of a cable lock.
3. It's heavy. That is beacuse it's built to last and I don't mind the weight, but on the E it all starts to add up. It will hold Two 55lbs bikes after all and has a Four bike optional add on.
4. Expensive. Yup, but 20% off at REI helps. I've had cheap racks in the past that have damaged my car and bikes. This should not happen with this rack. Sometimes you get what you pay for and I like what I got this time.
5. The rest of the rack is perfect. From the way it looks to the sold feel of it with and without bikes. Plus the work stand is just icing on the cake. No wiggles or noise from the rack at all. Best rack I every put a bike in.
So on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a NINE
Locks are all lame on racks. That is why I bought the E in the first place to keep my bike inside. All rack locks seem to be lacking.
E clearence issue can be delt with. Kuat could have added a few more holes to adust the rack placement.
It's is not the perfect E rack just yet, but I like it better than any other rack out there and I feel like I looked at them all. Find it on sale or buy it used, but you won't be dissapointed in the rack itself.
