I tested the Yakima EXO SwingBase while living full time on the road
A swing-away hitch rack base that you use to carry bikes, gear, or both
September 16th, 2026
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Our verdict
The Yakima EXO SwingBase is the foundation swing-out hitch rack you use to attach the EXO DoubleUp bike rack, OpenRange camp kitchen, GearLocker cargo box, or RoadShower portable shower to your vehicle’s tow hitch. You can’t carry anything with the EXO SwingBase alone, but you need it to carry any one of these EXO accessories.
I tested the EXO SwingBase for three months during the summer in Colorado. I installed the SwingBase and every accessory myself, and have driven over 1,000 miles with it so far. A decent chunk of that driving has been on rough dirt roads, too. I tested the SwingBase with the DoubleUp, OpenRange Deluxe, and RoadShower.
The SwingBase is the only hitch-mounted rack that swings out and allows you to carry two separate accessories. It gives you maximum flexibility in how you carry outdoor gear while you drive. It’s an ideal choice for people with a rooftop tent or otherwise don’t have enough roof rack space for everything they need to carry on the outside of their vehicle. And it’s durable and easy to install yourself, unlike some roof rack setups.
Yakima EXO SwingBase
The biggest downside of the EXO SwingBase is that it’s expensive. The base itself is about what you would expect to pay for a rear swing-out rack, but the base itself will only carry the DoubleUp, OpenRange, RoadShower, GearLocker, or other EXO accessories, which each cost what you’d expect to pay. And if you want to carry two of those items, you’ll also need to buy the TopShelf, which costs a lot.
Also, the EXO SwingBase won’t work on every vehicle. You’ll need to check the vehicle tongue weight capacity, the maximum weight that a tow hitch can support, to use the EXO system with your vehicle. In short, if you have a smaller crossover SUV, such as a Subaru Outback, you might be close to the tongue weight limit, but you can use this system if you don’t overload it.
The price is high to use the EXO SwingBase to its full capabilities, but vehicle-mounted cargo gear is always expensive. It needs to be strong enough to handle highway speeds while standing up to the elements. And you’ll need to make sure everything you want to haul with the EXO system won’t be too heavy for your vehicle.
If you’re looking for a swing-away cargo platform to carry multiple gear items on your vehicle’s hitch, you should start with the Yakima EXO SwingBase and build your cargo hauling kit from there.
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Yakima EXO SwingBase Hitch Bike Rack Specifications
Price: $699
Weight: 68 lbs
Hitch receiver size: 2-inch only
Hitch class required: Class III and IV only
Swing-away: Yes
Locking mechanism: HitchLock (secures base to vehicle); additional SKS locks included for accessories
Accessory attachment: Tool-free EXO Cleat system with locking SpeedKnobs
Fits trailers, campers, or RVs: No
Built-in bottle opener: Yes
Warranty: Manufacturer's limited lifetime warranty
Compatible accessories: EXO DoubleUp (bike rack), EXO OpenRange (cargo box), EXO GearLocker, EXO GearWarrior, EXO TopShelf riser, EXO SnowBank
Comparison table
| Bike Rack | MSRP | Type | Hitch Reciever | Rack Weight | Weight Capacity | Swing Away | Modular System | Locking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima EXO SwingBase | $699+ | Swing away hitch base | 2" | 64 lb | 250-300 lb total | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Kuat Pivot v3 | $549 | Swing away hitch adapter | 2" | 51 lb | 250 lb total | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Thule Arcos Tilt Platform 2" | $600 | Tilt away hitch base | 2" (comes in 1.25 as well) | 60 lb | 110 lb total | Tilt | ✅ | ✅ |
| PAKMULE Scout | $795-1120 | Hitch base | 2, 2.5" | 37 lb | 500 lb total | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Yakima StepUp Swing 2" | $999 | Swing away hitch tray | 2" | 70 lb | 135 lb total | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Best for
Mid-to-large sized SUV, truck, or van owners with a vehicle tongue weight limit over 300 pounds
Crossover vehicle owners with a tongue weight capacity over 300 pounds who want to carry bikes plus more on a hitch rack
Anyone looking for a swing-away cargo carrying hitch rack
Vanlifers, overlanders, or extended road-trippers who want to carry gear outside of their vehicle
What we liked
Easy to install
Securely hauls gear and bikes
Swing-away feature makes the back of the vehicle actually usable
Comes with security bolts and locking hitchpin
What could be better
Expensive initial investment
Requires a lot of pieces to get the full potential out of this system, which is expensive
Too heavy for smaller vehicles
How we tested
I tested the Yakima EXO SwingBase with multiple EXO accessories on my 1999 GMC Savana 2500 with a 500-pound tongue weight Class 3 trailer hitch. I mounted the EXO DoubleUp, RoadShower 7G, and OpenRange accessories to the SwingBase, along with the EXO TopShelf, which allowed me to carry any two of those accessories. I tested the system all summer, driving over 1,000 miles in Colorado and New Mexico. I drove most of that distance on highways, but I also drove rough, dirt washboard roads daily to get to campsites.
Initially, I tested the DoubleUp bike rack alone on the EXO Swingbase. Then, I added the EXO TopShelf, moved the DoubleUp onto that top shelf, and installed the 7-gallon RoadShower (with the EXO mounting kit) on the lower level. After driving around with that setup for over a month, I swapped the RoadShower for the OpenRange Deluxe. The heaviest weight I carried on the EXO system was when I had the RoadShower on the lower shelf and DoubleUp bike rack with two bikes, one of which was an e-bike, on the top shelf. The total weight of that setup was approximately 290 pounds. I have had the DoubleUp and OpenRange on the SwingBase for over a month now, and I've had no issues with it.
We also tested the Yakima EXO SwingBase with the DoubleUp alongside other bike racks in our Best Bike Racks for Cars, Trucks, and SUVs guide, directly comparing installation processes, ease of use, carry capacity, stability, security, durability, and more.
Vehicle compatibility
A typical Class 2 hitch (which can have either a 1 ¼ inch or 2-inch receiver) that you’ll find on crossovers, sedans, or small SUVS can support up to 350 pounds, usually less than this, though. Class 3 or 4 hitches (which always have a 2-inch receiver) can support more weight. If you have a larger vehicle with a higher tongue weight capacity, such as a truck or full-size SUV, you shouldn’t have to worry about tongue weight and vehicle compatibility. But if you have a smaller vehicle, you might.
For example, the standard 2021 Subaru Outback has a tongue weight limit of 270 pounds. The EXO SwingBase itself weighs 68 pounds, the DoubleUp bike rack is 37 pounds, and two bikes weigh roughly 50 pounds. So with the SwingBase, DoubleUp, and two bikes weighing 155 pounds, you only have 115 pounds of tongue weight capacity left. You would quickly reach that capacity by adding TopShelf (33 pounds) and the OpenRange Deluxe (72 pounds). You would be just over capacity with the 7-gallon RoadShower, which weighs 84 pounds when full.
Performance in the field
Receiver stability
This rack feels very stable at the hitch receiver. I never notice it wobbling while driving on rough roads or at high speeds on the highway. Even when I attempt to wiggle it by hand, it barely moves at all. Most other bike racks I’ve used wobble a lot more than the EXO SwingBase.
Swing mechanism
The swing mechanism swings out smoothly when loaded full. It has a thread-in locking mechanism, which prevents the rack from swinging out when you don’t want it to. To swing out the rack, simply unscrew the locking mechanism with the attached handle (no tools required), pull out the locking pin, and swing it away from your vehicle. If the rack is heavily loaded with bikes and gear, you’ll have to use some force to swing it out, but it still swings smoothly.
Installation and setup
I installed the entire EXO system by myself, using only the tools Yakima provided. Installing the EXO SwingBase alone took about two minutes, then installing each additional accessory took another five minutes. It’s all intuitive and straightforward.
As long as you have a 2-inch hitch receiver, you should be able to install this yourself with ease. The 68-pound EXO SwingBase wasn’t very difficult to lift and slide into place on my own.
Accessory attachment
Every EXO accessory I added to the SwingBase was also easy to install. I think it consistently took longer to remove the packaging from each accessory than to attach it to the EXO base.
Every accessory I tested, except the RoadShower, comes with cleats that fit the EXO system already installed. This means that installing the accessories is as simple as dropping the cleats into the EXO system tracks and tightening the knobs. The SpeedKnobs lock when you have tightened them fully against the cleats. The lock cores come pre-installed, too.
Security
The SpeedKnobs and HitchLock on the hitch pin come with locks preinstalled. These are easy to use and would make it difficult for a thief to steal your rack or the accessories attached to it.
Some online customer reviewers express concern that some accessories use standard bolts to attach to the cleats. In my experience, you can’t get to most of these bolts when the accessory is attached to the EXO base or TopShelf.
You can undo the bolts that attach the Double Up bike rack from the cleats, however. This means that in theory, a thief could undo the two nuts and bolts holding the bike rack tray to the EXO system cleat, then walk away with the bike and tray. I haven’t had any issues with this, but if you regularly park your vehicle in high-traffic, high-crime areas, you shouldn’t leave your bike on a bike rack either way, because a determined thief can always find a way to steal it. I’d recommend gluing a ball bearing in the hex head of the bolt that holds the rack to the EXO cleats in this instance, but I think best practice is to avoid places where your bike is likely to be stolen off your rack.
Durability
After a three-month testing period, the EXO SwingBase, pivot, and locking hardware look dirtier, but otherwise they’re in great shape. There is no corrosion, obvious wear marks, or rattling. I would expect this system to last for years without issue.
Features
Swing Mechanism
The EXO SwingBase has a swing mechanism that pivots the gear attached to the rack away from your car with the gear loaded so that you can access the back of your vehicle. It has a threaded locking mechanism and pins that hold the swing arm closed while you’re driving.
HitchLock
It comes with a locking hitch pin that uses the same key as the locking SpeedKnobs, which lock the EXO accessories.
EXO Cleat System
The EXO Cleat System allows you to easily slide an accessory into the arms on the EXO SwingBase. Once you’ve fitted the cleats on the bottom of the accessory into the tracks on the SwingBase arms, you tighten the SpeedKnobs to hold the cleats in place on the SwingBase arms.
SpeedKnobs
The EXO SwingBase arms have tracks that the EXO Cleat System fits into, and each end has a SpeedKnob. These SpeedKnobs tighten the EXO Cleat System to hold the accessory securely on the SwingBase. You can also lock the SpeedKnobs so they can’t be unscrewed without the key.
Bottle Opener
Of course, like every other piece of outdoor gear, the EXO SwingBase has a bottle opener at the end of each SwingBase arm, just below the SpeedKnobs.
Sustainability
Yakima has committed to reducing company emissions by 50% by 2030.
Their plan to reduce emissions is to reduce reliance on air freight; increase use of renewable energy; their headquarters in Lake Oswego, Oregon is now 100% powered by wind; increase use of sustainable materials; reduce waste and increase recycling in headquarters and manufacturing facilities; develop products that last a lifetime; and reduce corporate travel/commuting.
You can read more about Yakima’s sustainability on their website.
FAQ
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No, the EXO SwingBase works only with a 2-inch hitch receiver.
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The EXO SwingBase is compatible with the Yakima EXO TopShelf, DoubleUp, GearLocker, OpenRange, OpenRange Deluxe, BackDeck, GearWarrior, and RoadShower (in the 4- and 7-gallon version with the RoadShower EXO Kit).
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The EXO SwingBase weighs 68 pounds on its own. So, depending on your vehicle’s tongue weight capacity, this could be a substantial amount of your vehicle’s total tongue weight capacity.
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If you’re even moderately mechanically inclined, you can install the EXO SwingBase by yourself. The base itself weighs 68 pounds, so as long as you can lift that much on your own, you should be able to slide it into your vehicle’s hitch receiver and install the locking pin on your own.
Should you buy the Yakima EXO SwingBase?
Buy if:
You want to use the Yakima EXO system to carry any number of Yakima EXO accessories such as the DoubleUp, GearLocker, OpenRange, BackDeck, GearWarrior, or RoadShower.
You have a tongue weight capacity of over 300 pounds and a 2-inch Class 3 or 4 hitch receiver
You want to carry a lot of gear on the back of your vehicle without it blocking access to your trunk
You want a swing-away rack system with a lot of accessory options
Skip if:
You just want a swing-out bike rack
You have a smaller vehicle with a 1 ¼ inch tow hitch receiver
Where to buy the Yakima EXO SwingBase
The Yakima EXO SwingBase hitch bike rack is a popular gear item, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
Amazon
Pros: Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime membership (can be same-day delivery in major metropolitan cities)
evo
Pros: 365 day returns, store locations in ski towns for easy last-minute pick-up, may offer rentals if you want to try before you buy, earn 10% back in Rewards, free membership gets discounts on services and rentals
Advice on where to buy
In general for gear, we recommend purchasing from a place with easy or free returns, like REI.
Similar bike hitch racks
Yakima EXO SwingBase vs Kuat Pivot v3
Price: $549
Weight: 250 lb total
Hitch receiver size: 2"
Swing-away: Yes
Locking mechanism: Yes
The Kuat Pivot v3 is a swing-away attachment that lets you use any 2-inch hitch-mounted rack and swing it away from the back of your vehicle. I’ve used the Pivot v2 with a Thule bike rack and a hitch-mounted spare tire rack. The Pivot costs $150 less than the EXO SwingBase, and you can use it with the bike rack or hitch-mounted accessory you already have. You can also choose a version of the Pivot that swings to either the driver side or the passenger side, unlike the EXO SwingBase, which only swings to the passenger side. The Pivot v3 has a 250 lb weight capacity.
In contrast, the EXO SwingBase technically only has a weight capacity based on the accessories it’s carrying (the EXO GearLocker’s weight capacity is 100 lb, for example), but has a similar weight capacity. The Pivot v3 is a great option if you only want to carry one rack on the rear of your car, and especially if you already have that hitch-mounted rack and simply want it to swing out. The EXO SwingBase is a better option if you want to stack multiple rack items and if you’re willing to buy into Yakima’s EXO system.
Kuat Pivot v3
Yakima EXO SwingBase vs Thule Arcos Tilt Platform and Arcos Box
Price: $600
Weight: 110 lb total
Hitch receiver size: 2" (comes in 1.25 as well)
Swing-away: Tilt
Locking mechanism: Yes
The Thule Arcos Tilt Platform and Arcos Box (sold separately but used together) is another rear-mounted cargo-carrying system. This system doesn’t swing away from the vehicle; rather, it tilts down to (sort of) get out of the way. The Arcos system is also more expensive than the Yakima EXO system. And the Arcos system only fits a cargo box. No other accessories (or a second level) work with the Arcos base. The Arcos does, however, come in a 1.25-inch hitch receiver version so that it can be used with smaller vehicles with lower tongue weights.
Thule Arcos Tilt Platform and Arcos Box
Yakima EXO SwingBase vs PAKMULE Scout
Price: $795-$1120
Weight: 500 lb total
Hitch receiver size: 2, 2.5"
Swing-away: No
Locking mechanism: Yes
The PAKMULE Scout is another hitch-mounted cargo carrying option. The PAKMULE is a simple cargo tray, but it has a solid floor with holes to secure bike rack trays or strap anything else onto the platform. The PAKMULE doesn’t swing away, but it is rated for off-road use and has a 500-pound weight capacity. The PAKMULE costs about $100 more than the EXO SwingBase alone, but it costs less than the SwingBase plus any one accessory.
PAKMULE Scout
Yakima EXO SwingBase vs Yakima StepUp Swing 2"
Price: $999
Weight: 135 lb total
Hitch receiver size: 2"
Swing-away: Yes
Locking mechanism: Yes
The Yakima StepUp Swing 2" is a two-bike hitch-mounted rack that swings away. This Bike rack works like the EXO SwingBase plus the EXO DoubleUp, but it comes as one unit, so you don’t have to buy separate items. The EXO SwingBase plus the DoubleUp ($699+$549=$1248) costs about $250 more than the StepUp Swing 2" on its own. If you’re just looking for a swing-away bike rack, the StepUp Swing is a great option. But if you want to carry a bike rack plus other gear on your tow hitch, the EXO SwingBase plus necessary accessories is a better choice.
Yakima StepUp Swing 2"
Why you should trust us / About the author
Sam Schild lives full-time in a DIY converted 1999 GMC Savana campervan, which he uses as a mobile basecamp across the American West. He has reviewed car camping accessories such as mattresses, portable showers, backpacking bidets, and portable toilets for Treeline Review, along with loads of running, biking, and backpacking gear.
Over three years of full-time van-life and 3 more years of living in a Honda Element, he has experimented with many ways to haul gear on the outside of vehicles, from rooftop cargo boxes to swing-away racks. For this review, he used the Yakima EXO SwingBase and accessories to carry bikes, the RoadShower solar shower, and the EXO OpenRange for an entire summer in Colorado. He never once had any mishaps while hauling his precious outdoor cargo.
You can find more of Sam’s work on his Treeline Review author page, website, or Instagram.
