Bike Rack Recommendation for 2013 Jeep Wrangler JK 2 Door  

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Expert Reply:

One of the unique challenges of being a Jeep owner and wanting to carry bikes is having the ability to open the back gate of the Jeep with bikes mounted-especially with a hard top; for this reason I recommend going with a swing-away hitch mounted rack.

My favorite rack in this class is the RockyMounts BackStage 2 Bike Platform Rack # RKY10002 . This rack gives you the option of tilting it away from the rear of your Jeep, as well as fully swinging the carrier away from the rear so that the tailgate can be fully opened. It also comes with a lock system that locks both the hitch to the vehicle as well as a cable lock that secures the bikes to your rack. This rack has a 60lb per bike capacity, so the weight of your bikes won't come into play.

Another option to consider is the Swagman Chinook 2 # S64683. The Swagman also comes with a lock system for added security. While this rack will tilt away from the back to give you some extra clearance, it will not allow you to fully open the tailgate. This rack will work in both 1-1/4" and 2" hitch receivers, so you will have some added flexibility if you wanted to carry it on a different vehicle with a smaller receiver.

If your Jeep did not come with a hitch already mounted, I recommend # DT78MR which has approximately 6" of clearance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the edge of your spare tire (slightly less for larger than stock spare). This is going to give you the clearance you need from your hitch receiver to use a hitch mounted rack.

If you already have a hitch receiver on your Jeep, you will want to check the measurement from the pin hole on the receiver to the edge of your spare tire to make sure. Anything less than 7" from the pin hole to the edge of your spare should provide adequate spacing for these racks.

expert reply by: Erik B

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