What Bike Rack do You Recommend for Transporting a 4-Inch Fat Tire and Mountain Bike on 2012 Outback

Question:

I’m looking for a bike rack that will hold a 4inch fat tire bike and a regular mountain bike. The hitch is on a 2012 Subaru Outback I think it’s a 1 inch or a 1 and 1/4 inch. Do you have anything that will work?

asked by: Casey L

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you have a 1-1/4" hitch like the Curt Hitch # C12290 on your 2014 Subaru Outback. It is important to note that they do not make 1" hitch receivers. However, it is important to know whether you have a 1-1/4" or a 2" receiver. I went ahead and attached a helpful FAQ article that shows how to measure your hitch. I recommend measuring the inside height and width of the inside of the receiver tube to be sure.

For a great compatible bike rack, I recommend the Saris Freedom Bike Rack for 2 Fat Bikes # SA4412B-FB. This bike rack is compatible whether you have a 1-1/4" or a 2" hitch. There are many benefits to the Freedom. Firstly, since the cradles adjust anywhere on the central mast, you do not need to worry about using a bike frame adapter bar for women's bikes, children's bikes, or bikes with a step-thru frame. Also, since this model comes with cradles that fit bikes up to 5 inches wide, it is perfect for your 4-inch fat tire bike. It comes with a 60 pound per-bike weight capacity, but it is important to note that you are limited to 35 pounds per-bike if you happen to have a Class I rated 1-1/4" hitch (there is no reduction for Class II 1-1/4" or 2" hitches). The Freedom accommodates bike wheelbases of 48 inches long and comes with a convenient 8-inch rise for additional ground clearance to prevent scraping/bottoming out. For theft deterrence, I recommend using the Anti-Rattle Hitch Lock # SA3022 along with the etrailer Cable Lock # e98891.

As with all bike racks, I recommend making sure that you do not exceed the weight capacity of the hitch. Doing so is extremely unsafe.

expert reply by: Bob C