Recommended Trailer Hitch for a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta to Carry 2 Bikes

Question:

I recently purchased a V.W. Jetta and looking for a hitch to carry mountain bikes on a bike rack. We are soon taking our annual trip from Indianapolis to Gatlinburg. Would you please help me pick a hitch that would be best to haul two bikes for this distance. Before I would just bungee as best I could to keep the bike wheels from bouncing around. I see one of the hitches suggest stabilizing straps and was wondering if this would be safer and more secure than my bungee cord mess that I normally do. Thanks Guys!

asked by: Bart

Expert Reply:

Since you plan on using the hitch for a bike rack and not towing I recommend Curt # C11474. It is just the hitch and the installation hardware as opposed to the hitch, hardware, and a ball mount, which you would not need since you are not towing. I have linked a video to the right showing the hitch being installed.

If you already have a bike rack you will need to make sure it is compatible with a Class I trailer hitch with a 1-1/4 inch receiver opening. If not I recommend the Swagman XTC # S64670. This is a platform style rack that will definitely take care of the issue with the bikes from bouncing while driving. I have linked a video review of this rack for you.

The use of a stabilization strap, # 18050, is required for the Curt hitch. It would work better than bungees to limit the movement of the rack since it does not have the elasticity that bungee cords have.

expert reply by: Michael H