Kuat Pivot v2 & NV 2.0

Full disclosure: I'm a swinger. Been swinging since my first pickup. Nope, a fixed rack just doesn't cut it when you keep gear in a slide-out bed box. Not to mention cooking supper in the trusty ol' tailgate kitchen. Which is why, when it came time to replace my old bike rack (which was made for old bikes), the first thing I picked up was a Kuat Pivot v2, the exact item I needed to keep things clear behind my truck bed.

The Pivot slides into my hitch and locks securely into place, then opens with a quick-release lever and swings wide. The 2" receiver accepts whatever rack I want, for whatever activity, in whichever season. In the late fall, it's a platform rack for a game cooler. Wintertime calls for a cargo box, with skis, snowshoes, and extra warm-weather clothing. And from spring through early fall, the Pivot holds my NV 2.0 bike rack, also from Kuat.

The NV 2.0 is strong, stable, and expandable, should your cycling posse grow over time. Adjustable tire cradles accommodate every type of bike, from sleek gravel grinders to wide-tire mountain monsters. It'll even hold heavyweight battery bikes, if that's your thing. Throw in the integrated hitch lock and the built-in bike stand for quick maintenance, and you've got yourself one of the best racks on the market—even if you're not a swinger, like me. Yep, the NV 2.0 tilts, so you can skip the Pivot and slide it right into your hatchback or sedan.

Available at kuat.com; $498 for the Pivot v2, and $989 for the NV 2.0 (2-bike capacity).