Allen Sports Premier 2-Bike Tray Rack

It took a few hours for my husband and I to put this together; we wanted to make sure we read the directions a few times to understand the names of the parts referred to and any snafus. For the most part, directions were clear & diagrams helpful. Previous reviewers' comments were also very helpful re: the stiff red straps for the wheels and positioning the front wheel base in the correct direction. But, we came across 3 snafus of our own. First, we had trouble inserting the front wheel part into the frame- metal against metal. We found that by waxing (from a candle) the sides of the front wheel insert, it slid more easily into the frame. Our second problem had to do with the locking mechanism. It didn't seem to function as the directions indicated- clockwise, counter-clockwise, locking, etc. This was a frustration, but not a deal breaker. We installed & secured our 2 bikes as directed, putting the largest one on first. Neither my husband nor I are very strong, but it was fairly easy to install the bikes and they seemed secure after a short trial run around the block. Our third snafu was more of an issue for us. When we tried to remove the entire rack from the hitch, it would not budge. We followed insertion directions & didn't put the rack in too deeply beyond the silver button as described in the manual. But we had visions of having to live with the rack forever in place or pay to have it removed somehow. My husband spent some time searching for a video to help & was able to find one that better explained the locking mechanism & how to detach the rack from the hitch. We were finally able to get the rack off fairly easily, but it does take two people & some slight rocking. Hopefully, this process will get easier as we use the rack over time (fingers crossed). The rack is made from solid metal; the thick plastic straps are tricky, but secure the wheels well; the spur arms to secure bikes on the top work well, and we love the ability to move the rack up when bikes are not on it. We did add a few of our own bungee cords to keep things secure, but they really may not be needed. But we feel better safe than sorry. We have used it twice for short distances at speeds no higher than 45mph, but I suspect it will feel just as safe at higher speeds. The bikes seem safe and well-secured. There are no rattling noises from the rack or the bikes. We look forward to using this well-constructed rack for years to come & we can strongly recommend it... but read the directions, re-read the directions, watch the videos, read the directions again, and again, and take your time.