For those using receiver hitch carriers

4 ft bed is practically useless for bikes....most American trucks are dumb. Bumper rack, then the bed for stuff with the gate up

I've been using a Harbor Freight carrier on a couple vehicles no problem (thousands of miles logged). Bought it for $100. This one is my latest. It's been sturdy and I haven't had any issues. Like others have said, if you have the option to take pins out so the tires sit in the carrier, do it. I usually just use two front tiedowns.

Got the Black widow one after I sold off my van and need to haul The bike around.  No issues to date and a No Spill can fits right in the channel.  

Another advantage of a hitch hauler is you don’t have to worry about tolls or red light cameras 

I race off-road and most of the time they have 500 cars parked in a shitty unlevel field. Lots easier to find a spot to park when you don't need 20 feet of room behind your truck to load/unload. 

Also after racing for 2 hours pushing a bike up a ramp where your truck is sitting at who knows what angle most likely in the rain or 90 degrees sucks. 

Yup, that's the one I got after. I was not satisfied with the first aluminum one I got off of Amazon. It only had a hook in the center of the channel. I did not like that idea at all, and it was a flexiFlier and didn't like the way the wheels got caught rolling it up into the carrier. 

The steel one is much more stout, but it is a lot more heavy and anti-Rattle device is a must.

+1 to removing pins so the wheels drop in. This is why I love the cheapy unit from Cycle Gear, it's actually better than the more expensive carriers that aren't adjustable. With the right amount of pins, the wheels drop in such that it's still pretty easy to get the bike off, but the wheels are in enough that it's not going anywhere and anything more than two tie downs is pointless. 

+2, facts

All you need to do is drive behind someone with a two-bike trailer hitch hauler down a long, bumpy, rocky Baja road to know those things are rock solid.

Just secure the shit out of the wheels. As long as they can’t come out of the track, you’re good.

Did he have the bike insured? if it has a VIN it has to have it's own insurance policy to cover it.

A single is no problem.  I used a double for years with zero issues.  

I was on the fence with using a hitch carrier myself, but when all's I had was a Jeep Wrangler, there wasn't many other options. My current setup (2006 DC Tundra) has a topper on it with a bed setup for winter time / ski season. It's nice to escape the shade while riding and gives my 4 & 6 yr olds a place to chill. 

Anyway, I removed the bolts that allow both front and rear wheels to sit "chocked" in place. I use 2 ProTaper tie downs ran to the frame to relieve some pressure from the fork seals. One ran onto the hitch / vehicle side, and the outer strapped to the carrier itself. I even throw a 5 gal VP jug on the ramp portion strapped up while transporting. 

I've driven close to 10,000 miles over the last 6-7 years through multiple states, have used a couple of different vehicles as well as different bikes with no issues.

I like the LED brake light strip some have posted above, and thought about making a 6 round / 4 flat connector with one wired up to it. Also, utilizing the peg mount system in some capacity is the goal eventually. By then, I'll be needing a toy hauler for the kids bikes along, so who knows if that'll happen.  

I’ve used the hitch hauler for years on an suv. I still have it but I’m in trucks now so it gets little use. I went crazy with the tie downs at first but eventually backed it down to two on the handlebars and a fork saver. I have a smooth aluminum rail that has a wheel chock that sits behind the front tire. It pivots down to roll the tire over while loading. The bike never moved much towards and away from the back of the vehicle but would roll an inch or two on the rail in turns. I changed tie downs every other year and I used(still do) the wide, cam style tie downs. I used that set up to take the bike to the in-laws a couple times, probably 2500 miles round trip. I never had any issues with it.  
As a follow up for everyone in relation to the wrecked Husky above, check with your insurance companies. I had an accident a couple years ago and found out my insurance only covered $500 on towed items and in the truck bed items. This can be an adjusted amount but that was the base coverage on mine. I’d assume a bike on a hitch hauler would fall under that coverage somehow. 

I have used them for years (thousands of miles) with no problem.  Just two straps on bars like normal and use an anti-wobble on the receiver.  

My buddy would also put a small strap 3rd on his peg to carrier but that is overkill to me.  It's not going anywhere with 2 straps. You're worrying about nothing. 

My concern using my hitch carrier is getting pulled over for improper license plate display.  You can kinda see my tag.  Texas can be rough when it comes to traffic tickets, it’s how the small towns print money.  Texas deer hunters get improper tad display tickets all the time for using receiver rack for ices chests.  Some have had to put a tag with a light on their receiver rack.  Just depends who rolls up behind you.  I may get an extra tag and rig up a light to mount on my carrier, traffic violations in Texas are brutal.  

That's how I do it.  The footpeg pulls forward, the tie down pull back against it.  Very solid.  I use a hitch tightener to reduce rocking of the rack itself.  

I use to poo-poo these but after selling my Sprinter, I'm carrying my bike behind my pickup on a steel carrier.  No loss of MPG and it's pretty solid.  

I use my mx hauler a few times a year, deffinitly solid. Also have a double hauler one that looks sketchy but works 100%

What a good topic. The short answer is: I don't fully trust them. I had a box van for a long time, and then many trucks. Nothing more secure than that. But alas with family and age those things went, and now I'm in the same boat. Small RV with a hitch carrier. 
I think its all in the prep and not rushing it. Probably lots of ways to get it done right. Most guys here have a good idea on what to do. They only additional thing I do I have a tie down from the handle bar across back to the vehicle to stop any swaying. 

 

3rd year on a std issue Harbor frieght.  No issues, one trick I learned is to walk it on up the ramp running, in gear, so it’s easy to use the starter motor to get it up and out of the slot, once it’s wedged in there - it’s already in gear 

Ratchet strap the foot pegs to the carrier.  Makes all the difference in the world.  Once you ratchet the pegs down you don’t have to worry about scrapping the back tire.  I haul mine all over Houston and three hours up the road to the lake house.  I’ll have mine loaded up headed to MX 2.0 hour East of Houston in the morning like I have good sense!  Which I wish I had lol. 

I have banged and scraped this carrier a lot more than I should have, I was really nervous at first, but this ballards rack is pretty strong! I’m loaded and driving in about 2 minutes, I just use the turnbuckles onto the footpegs with the seat bar just in case. Can’t believe I lived so long without one! No issues or complaints, yet!

In NY State they will give you a ticket if taillights are blocked, pretty cool, imagine it just plugs in to your trailer connector. 

I always used to say this too. Swore I’d never use one and made fun of my dad for getting one. Destroyed my ankles a couple years ago and can no longer physically load a bike into my truck without help.  Hitch hauler made it so I can still load up and go to the track or wherever

I use my enclosed trailer for my motorcycles, but I did get this double hitch carrier for my son's and my electric bikes. I thought it would be easier than dragging the trailer, but I'm not sure at this point. It's a lot of work putting this thing on and loading the bikes on it.

This makes me want to pull the trigger on a hitch carrier for my 110 on my Tiguan. Class 3 hitch but the tongue weight limits always scare me.