Expert Answers about Trunk Bike Racks

• Is the Malone Runway Trunk Bike Rack Going to Damage My Trunk?
• I understand your concern. Fortunately, we have not heard about any damage to vehicles' trunks when using the Malone Runway Trunk Bike Rack for 3 Bikes # MPG2142. From the weight distribution of the rack, most of the force is actually allayed to the bottom bar that rests above your bumper and the hooks that attach into the front of the trunk. The angle in your photograph looks normal. I went ahead and attached a picture of our expert installation to give you a comparison.
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• Heaviest Weight Bike Can Be With use of Trunk-Mount Bike Rack
• The most a bike can weigh with the use of any trunk-mounted bike rack, including the Saris Bones 3 Bike Carrier # SA801BL is 35 lbs because heavier bikes are unable to be properly supported. For a bike that weighs 42 lbs you will need to use a trailer hitch and hitch-mounted bike rack; if you let me know the year, make and model of your vehicle as well as how many bikes you are looking to carry I will be happy to help you find the best solution for a bike rack.
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• Can Rear Hatch Be Opened With Trunk-Mount Bike Rack Attached To 2016 Mazda CX-5
• There are no trunk mount bike carriers that will allow the rear hatch on a vehicle to open. The Hollywood Racks Over-The-Top bike carrier # HRF2 is a great bike carrier for vehicles that have rear spoilers. The bike carrier has adjustable arms and has a weight capacity of 35-lbs per bike. If you are planning on carrying bikes with alternative frames like kids bikes or women's bikes I recommend using an adapter bar like part # 64005. This attaches between the seat post and the handlebar...
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• What Does Non-Retractable Mean on the Saris Bones 3 Bike Trunk Mounted Carrier?
• The facet you are asking about is put there by our team. The Saris Bones 3 Bike Carrier # SA801BL has anchor straps and coated clips that attach the carrier to your vehicle that simply need to be tied up so they don't have the extra strap flapping in the wind. For this bike rack you may also consider using a cable lock like # e98891. We have one bike rack that uses straps/cables that retract into the rack itself so no further securing is needed. It is the Thule OutWay 3-Bike Rack -...
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• Will A Trunk Mounted Bike Rack Scratch or Damage Vehicle
• Any time you install a weight bearing device on a vehicle that rests on a painted surface, there's the potential that the vehicle can be damaged. That's the honest answer. That being said, there are things you can do to greatly reduce the possibility of that occurring. • You'll want to make sure that the surfaces of the bike rack and the vehicle that touch each other are 100% clean and free of dirt and grit. A good coat of high quality car wax applied to the surface of the vehicle...
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• Recommendation For Cradles To Carry Fat Bike With 4.8 Inch Tires With Thule Raceway Trunk Rack
• I contacted Thule and unfortunately there are no cradles for larger, fat bike tires available for your Thule Raceway Platform rack. If you would be interested in looking at a hitch hanging or platform bike rack then there may be some options. For example, the RockyMounts HighNoon FC Solo Bike Rack for 1 Bike - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount # RKY87RR, works with 1-1/4 inch and 2-inch hitches and accepts tires with maximum width up to 5 inches. If interested in checking out this...
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• Why is Trailer Hitch Available for 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport - Owners Manual Says Not To Tow With it
• Instead of towing, many folks use their trailer hitch as an attachment point for a cargo carrier like # C18151 or a bike rack such as the Thule Hitching Post Pro, part # TH934XTR. Having a trailer hitch comes in very handy when you're wanting to carry bikes. There are other bike carrying options such as roof mounts or trunk/hatch mounted bike racks, but roof mounts are difficult to deal with if you're not very tall and the bikes are heavy. Trunk mount racks can scratch the finish on the...
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• How Much Does the Replacement Top Hook for Thule Raceway 8529665001 Weigh
• The Replacement Top Hook for Thule Raceway and Raceway Pro Trunk Mount Bike Racks part # 8529665001 has a shipping weight of 0.7 lbs which means you are looking at around 1.5 lbs total for two hooks.
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• Does the Thule Gateway Pro 2-Bike Rack # TH88VR Come with Locks
• The Thule Gateway Pro 2-Bike Rack, # TH88VR, does not come equipped with a way to lock the bikes to the carrier or the carrier to the vehicle. These products are sold separately. For this we offer the Thule Cable Lock, # TH538XT, to lock your bikes to the carrier and the Thule Passive Security Strap, # TH533, to secure the carrier to the vehicle. Simply loop the cable around your carrier and close the puck end in your locked trunk or rear hatch so your carrier cannot be removed.
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• Do I need a Bike Adapter Bar to Mount a Womens or Childrens Bike on a Yakima King Joe Bike Rack
• It is highly recommended to use a bike adapter bar if you are carrying any women's, children's or alternative framed bikes without the top horizontal cross tube. This is because most bike racks, like the Yakima HangOut 3 # Y02638, use the horizontal cross tube to mount the bikes to the bike rack. When a horizontal cross tube dips down, like with a women's bike, or is very short, like on a children's bike, mounting bikes to a bike rack can be difficult. Using a bike adapter bar will not...
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• Excessive Movement of Swagman Bike Carrier In Trailer Hitch
• The yellow sleeve you see in the photo for the Swagman Original 4 Bike Rack, part # S64400 is just the grip they use in our photo studio to hold the bike rack so they can take photographs. It sounds like you have tried a number of things to tighten the bike rack up in the trailer hitch. One thing you may want to try is a stabilizing strap like part # 18050. This may relieve some of the movement of the bike carrier when in the hitch. You just loop one end over the arms of the bike carrier...
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• Why Does Curt Require the Stabilization Strap While Carrying a Bike Rack on a 2013 Honda Accord
• Curt requires a stabilization strap for all Class I hitch mounted accessories to relieve stress that is put upon the hitch while carrying hitch mounted accessories. To utilize the Curt Support Strap # 18050 on your Swagman XTC-2 simply loop the strap through your bike(s), then around the upright mast of your bike rack and attach it to the trunk of your 2013 Honda Accord. If you have the Crosstour model then attach the hook to the lower edge of the rear lift gate. Although Draw-Tite does...
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• Will Skewer on Swagman S64701 Patrol Truck Bed Bike Rack Lock When Using Adapter
• The Swagman Patrol trunk mount bike rack, part # S64701 already comes with a locking skewer. To accommodate your Boost Axles, you'll need the # S64719 adapter. All you'll need to do is to replace the existing 15mm adapter with the # S64719 adapter and you'll be good to go.
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• Will the Softride Soft Velcro Tie Down Damage the Paint on Bicycles
• The Softride Soft Velcro Tie Down, part # SR54FR, is made of a soft Velcro material that should not damage the paint on your bicycle. We have not had any customer complaints of these straps causing any type of damage to their bicycles.
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• Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver with Single Bike Rack On a 2013 Lexus ES 300h
• As we have not installed the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # C11362 on a Lexus like your 2013 ES 300h in our shop we do not have any clearance measurements to give your. Curt does not take these measurements when they produce a receiver. I would recommend the RockyMounts MonoRail Solo Bike Rack # RKY10007 as it has the most clearance of our 1UP bike racks. From the hitch pin hole center to the closest part of the rack in the open position is 12". This will ensure you will not have clearance...
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• Will Yakima FullBack 3-Bike Rack Damage 2019 Mazda CX-5
• To keep your pair of bikes spaced out as much as possible so they don't damage each other, getting the Yakima FullBack 3-Bike Rack # Y02633 instead of the 2-bike version is certainly a smart idea. This bike rack is a fit for your 2019 Mazda CX-5, and it won't damage your vehicle so long as you take the proper precautions. There are specific instructions to mount the rack in "Anchor Mode", which you can see on page 5 and 6 of the linked installation instructions. Yakima also says to be...
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• Can The Swagman Chinook Affect The Suspension Of A Toyota Yaris If Left On The Vehicle
• The Swagman Chinook Bike Rack for 2 Bikes # S64683 only weighs 47lbs so it wouldn't really damage your suspension more than having a person seat in the back seat. Because it's added weight and not really the most aerodynamic you will have a decrease in your gas mileage though. Trailer hitches are exposed to the elements so rust is a reoccurring issue and could potentially make getting the rack out of the hitch if left in for a long time. Bike racks can also be a pain when trying to open...
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• Purpose of Curt Stabilizing Strap # 18050
• In order to satisfy Curt warranty requirements, any of their Class I or II receivers (like the C11423 you referenced) as well as a few of their Class III hitches must be used with a stabilizing strap like part # 18050. This applies to any non-trailer loads like a bike rack or cargo carrier. Curt has this warranty provision because of the lower tongue weight capacities of Class I and II hitches. The strap prevents any bouncing of the bike rack or other hitch mounted accessory from damaging...
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• Does Using The Hatch Huggers To Replace Side Straps On My Saris Bones 3 Limit The Carrying Capacity
• Yes, the information in the question you mentioned is accurate. This came directly from the folks at Saris. So for the Saris Bones 3 # SA803, if the Hatch Huggers # SA3035 are used in place of the side hooks they do not limit the carrying capacity. That said, you will want to use hatch huggers to replace the side straps on your 2022 Subaru Forrester.
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• Does the Thule Passage 2 Bike Carrier Have a Speed Limit?
• Yes, the Thule Passage 2 Bike Carrier, # TH910XT, can handle 75mph on the turnpike.Thule recommends following all local traffic laws when operating a vehicle with a bike rack equipped. Always exercise caution when hauling additional loads on your vehicle and adapt your speed to the conditions of the road. I'd also recommend Thule's Adapter Bar, part # TH982XT if you are carrying step through, children's or aggressive (BMX or Mountain) style bikes. These bars allow the frames to sit level...
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