Recommendations for Carrying 3 or 4 Bikes on 2015 Jeep Cherokee

Question:

Can you recommend a bike rack for a 2015 Cherokee. It does not have a hitch. I would like to know if you have a 3 bike or a 4 bike rack.

asked by: Ketan

Expert Reply:

Yakima offers a trunk mount rack that is considered a fit for your 2015 Jeep Cherokee. With a trunk mount rack, you'd be limited to carrying 3 bikes on your Cherokee.

I'd recommend the Yakima HangOut 3-bike rack, part # Y02638 because its wide footprint will spread the weight or the rack and bikes over a larger portion of the hatch lid of your Cherokee. The one problem I would have with a trunk mounted bike rack on your vehicle is that you'd need to remove the rack before opening the rear hatch. The struts that hold the rear hatch open are only rated for a specific weight that's not too much more than the weight of the hatch itself. If you'll need rear access to the cargo area, a trunk mount rack might not be your best option.

Installing a hitch such as the Curt Class III # C13172 would allow you to use a hitch mounted bike rack that could carry 4 bikes like you mentioned. The hitch would also serve as a handy attachment point for hitch mounted accessories such as a cargo tray like part # C18151 (great for traveling!)

With the hitch installed, you could install a reasonably priced bike rack like the Thule Hitching Post Pro, part # TH934XTR.This bike rack can tilt rearward once the bikes are removed, offering access to the cargo area. Another reason to go with a hitch mounted rack is the fact that the rack will not touch the painted finish of the vehicle. There's no worries about the rack scratching the car.