If I could give it 4.5 stars I would, but I rounded up. I bought this product in anticipation of the great American road trip. We used it while traveling 2350 miles, from Colorado to Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and back through Colorado, mounted on the back of a newer model Toyota Sequoia. We are not a serious biking family, so I did not want to spend the money for a significantly more expensive product like a Thule or a Yakima, so I can't judge whether this is a better product than those pricey models. We mounted two adult mountain bikes, a "beach cruiser" type adult bike, a small mountain bike, and a BMX size bike. It did not take any serious "Jenga" effort to fit all those bikes on there, although I did need the adapter for the cruiser used on step-through frame bikes. I did have the heavier bikes closer to the vertical tube, but I think you could put 5 adult size bikes on here without any issue. I think that if all the bikes were the same style, it might even be easier. There is plenty of clearance from the vertical tube to the ends of the carrier bars to fit five bikes, and the blocks are adjustable. I really liked that you get more than enough rubber straps; I think it came with at least 18. No issues with bars bending, swaying, or any kind of black rubber residue (as was noted on the Allen Sports Premier Hitch Mounted 5-Bike Carrier, which is why I chose this one over that one). Assembly was really easy, and takes less than 20 minutes with basic tools and skills. Mounted the bottom part that attaches to the hitch with the threaded bolt which prevents sway, Then attach the vertical tube and the actual carrier part. The only thing I did not like is that the mounted bolts and pins were previously used, as you could clearly see tool marks on them. My gut instinct is that someone bought the item I have, tried it and then returned it. No marks were visible on the carrier itself though. I like that the carrier bars that the bikes rest on seem to have a slight amount of flex in them, which I believe makes them much more resistant to bending than some of the competition models. The tilt function on this carrier works very well and when it is tilted down at about a 45 degree angle, I had full access to open the back hatch on my Sequoia, and I believe most full size SUV's would not have any issues. The bikes did not really shift at all the whole trip other than some minimal movement of the blocks on the carrier bars. I will say though that life is great on the interstate, but beware of bumps on by-ways. I hit a low spot in a neighborhood going too fast and the bounce of the bikes got my attention real quickly. Even then, they did not come unsecured. The only other issue I had is just a physics problem and not an issue with the product: Five bicycles are really heavy when you have to lift the carrier from the tilted to the upright position. I'm not a huge guy (nearly 6 feet and 200 pounds) and am decently strong, but it was not an exercise I enjoyed. It also is a two person job, as it requires at least one person to lift, and another to pin the carrier back into position. So that is probably the most serious consideration for smaller than average folks with this product. Something that swings away horizontally might be a better choice for you. I will note that on my vehicle, when in the tilt position, the smaller bikes being the most rearward meant that they did not hit the ground and bare the weight of the carrier. This might not be the case with adult bikes, so you could potentially bend the wheels on the outermost bike if you are not careful. It seems to me this carrier is really designed for a family: 2 adults and three kid - sized bikes. Pros: Easy assembly Stout construction No sway issues Plenty of tie down straps with no residue Will fit five full size bikes easily Tilt feature is useful on full size SUV type vehicles with hatches Cons: Used mounting hardware on my item Carrier will still "bounce" at the upper part if you hit a serious bump Apparently bikes defy the laws of physics and gain mass while traveling: Five bikes are HEAVY to lift from tilt to upright so Tilt feature may not be for everyone