What Hitch Extender do I need for a Thule Rack on a 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with Mud Spare Tire

Question:

I need a hitch extender to accommodate my Thule bike rack for my 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. My concern is that I cannot clear the spare Mud terrain tire. What size of an extender will I need. I am a looking at these extenders but I cant tell if the tip that goes into the 2 vehicle receiver is a smaller tip than the opening that is remaining. It should be a 2 remaining for the bike rack. But if the tip that is inside the hitch is smaller it will rattle and be lose. Please help me with these questions

asked by: Isaiah

Expert Reply:

To determine the extension length you need to take a measurement on the back of your wrangler. Take a yard stick or a dowel rod and stand it straight up and down on the ground and have it touch the outer most spot on the tire. Measure from the center of your hitch pin hole to the yard stick. This measurement is the minimum clearance you will need.

Next, measure from the upright on the bike rack straight back to the hitch pin hole on the bike rack. This is the clearance the bike rack provides. The difference between this measurement and the measurement you take with the yard stick is the length of extension you will need.

The part you were looking at, part HES0, is for 1-1/4 inch hitches and does not provide a 2 inch receiver opening. I have added a link to our 2 inch hitch extenders below.

Any hitch accessory be it a bike rack, cargo carrier or extender is going to have some wiggling when inserted in the hitch. This wiggle room is to allow for varying manufacturer tolerances. There are anti-rattle devices available to remedy this. I have added a link to them below.

Finally, an extender will reduce the capacity of the hitch by 50 percent. For example, if your hitch has a 350 pound tongue weight capacity, it will be reduced to 175 pounds. That means, the combined weight of the bike and bike rack must weigh 175 pounds or less.

expert reply by: Patrick B