RAILIAS PRO TAILGATE RACK SYSTEM REVIEW

Tech features:

When we first saw the Railias Tailgate rack system at the Sea Otter Classic in 2023, we were instantly intrigued. The minimalist appearance, fairly robust construction, and semi-modular design piqued our interest, and we were curious how it would work out in the real world.

The system is built around the SportRail, which looks akin to a small tailgate pad from the back of the truck but has a metal rail system on the inside with multiple mounting points for the Modular fork mount, which is what your bike mounts to. It uses a simple strap and tension system to tighten the rail to the inside of the tailgate. The strap pad protects the outside of the tailgate and is easily trimmable to fit a multitude of different-sized trucks. The Modular fork mount snaps into place on the SportRail via four metal pins, two on each side, that use a spring mechanism to hold them in place, and it comes with a variety of adapters to fit the different front axle standards that are popular today.

To attach your bike, you simply remove the front wheel and mount the fork to the Modular fork mount using the axle. Mounting the bike to the SportRail involves dropping the tailgate, lifting the bike into the bed of the truck, then lining it up and attaching it to the rail system.

A handy feature is the Parasol attachment that is included in the Pro system that attaches to the SportRail to provide shade in between laps or while at the campsite. Additionally, the Brick system is basically a miniature version of the SportRail and is designed to be mounted in the garage for compact and efficient home bike storage.

Field test results:

Though the Railias Tailgate rack system is clever in its design, its use in the field had mixed results. If you don’t have a truck with a 6-foot-or-longer bed, you’re likely to run into issues with most mountain bikes, as the bed simply isn’t long enough to accommodate the wheelbase. To make it work on our test vehicle, we had to set the rear wheel and frame at an angle.

Some of us also weren’t big fans of having to take our front wheel off whenever we had to load the bike and then reinstall whenever we got to the trailhead. We found it to be a bit cumbersome and time-consuming compared to other racks and tailgate pads where you simply lift the bike on and latch it down. Another drawback was that the rear wheel and frame weren’t secured to anything, so the bike was prone to bouncing and moving around whenever we hit any bumps or dips in the road, but the same can be said for tailgate pads.

The SportRail system is solid and secure feeling when installed on the tailgate, and we actually found the Parasol umbrella feature to be super handy and useful, especially post-ride when you want to take a few minutes to relax. We’re looking forward to using the umbrella this summer at the bike park to get out of the sun in between laps. The brick system is also handy for home bike storage if you need to be efficient with room or if you know you aren’t riding a bike for a little while.

Like installing in a truck, you have to remove the front wheel, but this can help save space if you don’t have the biggest garage or have to store your bikes inside.

HITS:

• Clever semi-modular design
• Not as obstructive as a traditional tailgate pad
• Integrated garage/home storage system
• Parasol umbrella feature is super useful

MISSES:

• Short-bed trucks can run into issues
• Have to remove the front wheel
• Expensive
• Can’t carry more than two bikes per vehicle

STAR RATING: ★★★1/2

Price: $600
Contact: www.railias.com