Hi guys, I recently installed the Curt 13408 class III hitch receiver (super easy to install!). I'd like to get a 2-bike hitch mount bike rack.
I currently have 30" tires but will probably end up upgrading to 33s eventually. I don't plan on keeping the bike rack installed full time, and tilting/swing-away is not important to me either as the top will be off most of the time.
Any recommendations on products? What racks have you used which don't require a receiver extension to clear the spare tire? My budget is under $200. Thanks.
I picked up a used Kuat NV Core over the winter. I need to use a short extension to clear my 35 inch spare tire, but I like the way the rack works and the way it folds up tight against the spare when not in use. I bought it used on craigslist for $200.
No. Just mounts to the hitch. I suppose I could add a strap to the spare tire if I felt it was necessary. It seems very solid, but I would not go offroading with the bikes mounted. That woulld be too much stress for this rack. I needed a platform style rack because of the design of my mountain bikes, no way to use the top bar to mount them because the shocks are in the way and my wife's bike frame is too curvy.
I have another heavy duty hitch mount rack that uses the top bar on the bikes to mount them and clears my spare tire ( similar to the one in this ad: " _ " --> Yakima Swing Daddy bike rack ). A friend of mine also uses a rack that mounts to the spare tire carrier and holds 2 bikes. Lots of options out there depending on what you need. Craigslist is a great source for used racks. Why pay double what you need to.
I run a 10 yr old Reese (rebranded Swagman, similar to current 64095 model). it was like $50 on sale at a hardware store when I first got my jeep. Its been across the country and all over Colorado. Uses a plate that bolts on with a hitch ball. Simple & works awesome for what I need it to do.
I bought a swagman xtc2. By pulling 3 pins I can open the tail door without removing the rack. Wheels set in holders and ratchet bars lock into place. not recommended for off roading.
I own 2, an older Allen for a 2" receiver that did rub my spare 235/75/R15 on my old YJ, and I have a new Yakima with 1 1/4 receiver that I need an adapter for 2"receiver on my TJ. With the adapter, mine clears the 31-10.5-r15 just fine.
I have a two-up Yakima rack. To clear the 12.5 spare, I had to run a 10" extension. It travels well, but I should really run an adjustable strap back to the spare. I also added special semi-tapered shims to take some of the wobble from the 2" hitch.
The shim is for construction use. It measures 2" x 6" x 1/16". I used structural silicone and glued two of them 90-degrees to each other on the hitch extension. Once it cured I took a sander and tapered the thickness so the extension could be slid into the receiver but snugs-up and most of the play is removed. I should think a large window or steel erection company would have a few shims they could sell you.
Good idea! Most of the racks I've been looking at are reviewed as having some play at the receiver. Such a fix had not occurred to me, and I'll definitely incorporate your solution if I encounter that problem.
I used my Harbor Freight cargo rack for a bike rack. I figured why go out and by another accessory when the $50.00 cargo rack I already had can work. All I did was mount some cleats on each side of the rails. This way I could put my bike and my wife's on in opposite directions.
I had the cleats already but you can pick them up online for cheap. The back tire I just wrap a bungee cord around and secure it to the rack.
It works great and it's dual purpose. When not using it as a bike rack, I use it as a cargo rack
This is a great idea. I have some of those fork mounts left over from an old truck that was stolen (I took them off for a truck box) and also have a hitch mount cargo carrier.. Thanks for the idea!
I have a Thule platform but needed an extension. Before that I had a Yakima (I think its called spare me) that mounts to the spare rim. I had to buy a special bar that hooks across the bike because of the frame shape, but that set up was under $200.
I still have the spare tire one and bar, thinking about putting it in CL if anyone is interested.
Frank
I use a Hollywood Sportrider, but it's the one they made for Performance Bicycle. I changed out the vertical section for the ratcheting one. I also changed the regular arms for the longer ones for my recumbents. They make a trike adapter for it, which I need for my Trident Stowaway II. I didn't like the plastic adapter for the receiver, so I used a metal one from 2" to 1 1/4" that I got from U-Haul.
I ended up purchasing the Allen Sports deluxe. It was inexpensive and seems solidly built. I think it will work well for the dozen or so times per year I'll be using it.
It has an integrated adapter to go from 1-1/4" to 2", but using the pre-drilled holes would not accommodate the spare tire, so I got a hitch adapter/extender from HF and used the no-wobble bolt included with the hitch to attach the adapter to the rack. There will be plenty of room for a larger tire when I upgrade down the line. I'll use a locking hitch pin and the shim method outlined above to secure the rack and eliminate the (very) minor amount of wobble which is present.
The instructions which came with my Curt receiver suggest using a bike rack strap to create additional tension between the rack and the vehicle, so I will do that as well.
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