RackAttach:
- MSRP: $589
- Weight: 56 Ibs
- Material: steel
- Hitch receiver size: 2”
- Weight limit: 275 Ibs
- Max swing-out: 100º
APS Main Panel:
- MSRP: $299
- Weight: 15 Ibs
- Material: Aluminum
- Total system weight capacity (main + side panels): 200 Ibs
APS Side Panel:
- MSRP: $79
- Weight: 4 Ibs
- Material: Aluminum
- Total system weight capacity (main + side panels): 200 Ibs
APS Table:
- MSRP: $149
- Weight: 10 Ibs
- Material: Aluminum
- Total table weight capacity: 75 Ibs
Intro
Most know 1UP USA because their dual-arm tray-style bike racks revolutionized hitch-mount bike racks, and the design has inspired almost every major player in the bike rack business to make a version of their own. Well, they’re now applying their innovative ways to the gear-hauling overlanding category with their recently launched Accessory Panel System (APS).
Design
APS is designed to integrate with the 1UP RakAttach Swing-Out Hitch Mount. The RakAttach converts any 2” receiver rack to a swing-away style rack. It pivots 100 degrees out of the way, giving you unimpeded access to the back of your rig. The RakAttach has a fairly hefty 275 lb weight limit, but that’s still something to keep in mind when carrying multiple eMTBs plus a full suite of accessories. I’m a big fan of swing-out capability for bike racks and find them equally beneficial when attached to cars, SUVs, or trucks — to the point where I don’t have much interest in having a rack that doesn’t swing out anymore.
The three-part system includes an APS Main Panel, APS Side Panel, and APS Table. The Main Panel is a MOLLE board that bolts directly to the RakAttach. For those unfamiliar with the overlanding scene, MOLLE stands for Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment, and it’s a universal standard. MOLLE boards have a uniform grid pattern to which accessories can be attached. Because it is a universal standard, MOLLE accessories from different manufacturers are compatible with each other, so there are a ton of available options. Common accessories include jerry cans, traction boards, and high-lifts, but there are MOLLE mounts for just about anything you can think of.
The APS Side Panel is a MOLLE board that attaches to the Main Panel. You can put it on one or both sides of the Main Panel to add more MOLLE real estate for additional gear-carrying capacity. The APS Table is a flip-up style table that attaches to the Main Panel. It looks like it will be especially handy for working on bikes, not to mention the usual camp kitchen duties.
Bottom Line (for now)
I like the idea of being able to add gear-carrying capability to the swing-out component of a bike rack. When heading out to go camping, it never ceases to amaze me how quickly the bed of my truck fills up, so adding an external gear-carrying solution makes sense. Additionally, I’m not really an “overlander” per se, so the 1UP Accessory Panel System looks to be right up my alley since it will allow me to carry more stuff without turning my truck into something ready for a zombie apocalypse. We have a 1UP RackAttach, Accessory Panel System, and their Super Duty bike rack on the way, so stay tuned for a full review of each component, plus a round-up of some swing-out rack systems we’ve been testing.