Allen Model 102A Bike Rack

English Instructions
Pg. 1

WARNING: Bikes or rack falling in road can cause serious accidents resulting in bodily injury - do not use
rack on any vehicle on which it can not be properly mounted as described in this instruction sheet.
• Top hooks must be completely hooked over solid metal edges at top/front of trunk lid or rear door - never hook
to rain gutters, roof racks, vertical rear glass, rubber or plastic moldings.
• Mount rack only with bottom feet on a rigid surface of car (never on glass), and with bottom foot assembly
completely extended. Never use on trailers or front of vehicle.
• Never carry more than 2 bikes (max. capacity: 70 lb.) - no tandems, mopeds, or recumbents. Bikes must be securely tied
to rack - use excess strap extending from top metal buckles or additional straps if necessary. Car tail lights must remain visible.
• Drive conservatively, especially over bumps (never off-road). Check periodically during use that all straps are
tight and bikes are secure.
• Do not use if any part of rack is damaged or missing. Contact R. A. Allen Co., Inc. for replacement parts.
Caution: Use Allen 102A only in accordance with local motor vehicle and traffic regulations.
• To avoid damage to rear door or trunk, do not open trunk or rear door when hooks or rack are in place.
• Install rack and load bicycles only at a safe distance away from moving traffic.
• Only rubber feet and hooks should come into contact with car. Do not allow metal parts of rack or bicycles to
scratch car’s finish.
• Make sure that all of rack and bicycles are kept at a safe distance from road and hot exhaust.
• Remove rack from car when not in use.
A. Setting up B. Mounting rack on vehicle:
rack:
1. Make sure that contact surfaces between car and rubber feet are
1. Fold out top-foot/ carry thoroughly clean and free of any dirt, and that all rubber feet remain
arm assembly. Drawing A properly spaced during use. Drawing B

2. Insert pins at ends of

wire struts into holes in top 2. Only thread top straps
foot assembly. through metal buckles as
shown in Drawing A. Never
3. Completely fold out thread straps through fist slot
bottom-foot assembly. in metal buckles as shown in
Drawing B.

4. Set length of top straps to position rack with its carry-arms inclined
3. Top hooks must be completely hooked over
slightly upwards (above the horizontal), and high enough to keep
solid metal edges at top of trunk, rear door, or
bikes away from road and exhaust [for drawing of rack on
hatchback. Never hook to rain gutters, roof
sedan style vehicle, see page 2 of instructions].
racks, vertical rear glass or plastic moldings. Open
5. After length of top-strap is trunk/ hatch slightly for easiest attachment of
set, tie a half-hitch knot at hooks. Be careful that hooks do not
each metal buckle as shown in bind when trunk/ hatch is opened or
Drawing A. closed.
6. Once rack is installed, bottom foot
assembly must be held against 3A. To secure top hooks on
vehicle in its completely open vehicles without adequate clearance
position. Note: It is at the top edge of rear trunk/ hatch: Un-
okay to position top thread top straps from metal buckles and
Drawing Note: Make sure that bottom straps feet on glass;
C are threaded through plastic buckles open rear trunk/ hatch. Place top hooks
NEVER install inside of vehicle (just inside of top edge of
only as shown in Drawing C. rack with bottom rear trunk/ hatch). Carefully close rear
7. Completely hook bottom hook to a feet on glass. trunk/ hatch on top straps, making certain that
metal edge below the bumper or at the
hooks do not bind between frame and rear
bottom of the trunk.
door. Important: with rear door closed, pull
8. Completely tighten bottom strap by pulling on free top straps to bring hooks up tight against inside
end of strap until elastic portion of strap is completely of vehicle. Re-thread top straps through metal
stretched. After straps are tightened, tie a half-hitch knot in buckles as shown in Drawing A. Mount rack
each strap near the buckle. on vehicle.
 Allen Model 102A Bike Rack English Instructions
Page 2.

C. Alternate method #1 for Bottom Strap: D. Alternate method #2 for Bottom Straps:
Use if there is no metal edge below bumper for attachment of hooks. Use if there is no metal edge below bumper or on the trunk for
attachment of lower hooks.
Remove bottom strap from rack. Open trunk
Loop bottom strap around carry-arms slightly and place bottom hooks just inside
near the top metal buckles. Attach hook to trunk/hatch. Carefully close trunk on
lower edge of rear trunk/ hatch; tighten bottom strap. Pull strap to bring hook
straps as described in section B. against inside of trunk. Mount rack
onto car, rethread strap and tighten as
described in section B.

E. Mounting rack onto spare tires: F. Mounting rack onto pickup trucks:
Never use rack on oversized tires, or trailers. Make sure that spare Make sure that tailgate is securely latched.
tire is securely mounted to vehicle and that it is fully inflated. Before mount-
ing rack, remove any spare tire cover that may be damaged by rack. Position top 2 rubber feet so that they will be against the top edge of the
tailgate.
Hook bike rack’s top-foot assembly over top
of spare tire so that top feet are positioned Hook rack’s top-foot
completely behind tire. Top straps go down assembly over tailgate.
each side of tire. Secure all 3 hooks to a Secure all 3 hooks to
metal edge below spare tire. Completely bottom edge of tailgate,
tighten all straps. With off-center spare tires, then completely tighten
make sure that bikes do not extend beyond all straps.
side of car.

G. Loading bicycles onto rack:

Remove all loose items from bikes (pumps, bags, etc.) and check that all quick-release hubs are tight.
Never carry more than 2 bikes (max. capacity: 70 lb..). Car tail lights must remain visible.
Load first bike with its chain and gears facing away from rack. Make sure that bikes do not come
into contact with car (rotate inside pedal if necessary). Place carry arm behind seat tube for
women’s style frames.
Load subsequent bikes in alternating directions. For best weight distribution, load heaviest bikes first
with lighter bikes on outside. Add padding between bike contact points, if necessary.
After bikes are loaded, check and retighten all straps, making sure that rack is still firmly held against car.
Vision out of rear window may be restricted - use side mirrors accordingly, especially when backing up.

I. Securing bikes to rack: All bikes must be securely tied to rack. Use excess of top straps extending from knots tied at metal buckles, or
use additional straps if necessary.
1. Loop excess of top strap around
3. Pull tight.
each bicycle and carry arm. 2. Tie a snug clove hitch knot
at last (outside) bicycle.

R. A. Allen Co., Inc. U. S. Patents 4518108, 4709840, 5361959 - Foreign & Other Patents Pending Tel: (800) 722-5536
P. O. Box 221 © 2001 R. A. Allen Co., Inc., All Rights Reserved Fax: (781) 259-4116
Lincoln, MA 01773 www.allenracks.com email:[email protected]