Hitch-mounted, spare tire-mounted, and roof-mounted bike racks all offer options for carrying bikes on your Jeep Wrangler. But depending on how your Jeep is equiped, some types
will work better than others.
Learn more about these three main types of bike racks:
Hitch-mounted - these racks attach to a hitch at the back of your vehicle
Roof-mounted - these attach to a roof rack system that has crossbars
Spare-tire-mounted - these racks attach to the spare tire at the back of your vehicle
A hitch-mounted bike rack is a great option for hauling bikes on your Jeep. This type of rack will work whether your Jeep has a soft or a hardtop. Keep in mind, though, that a
hitch-mounted rack must extend out far enough from your Jeep's hitch to clear the spare tire. These racks are easy to mount and remove, just slide them into the hitch and secure them with
a pin or lock. Hitch-mounted racks don't make contact with your Jeep (except at the hitch), so they won't damage its paint. These racks
can interfere with opening the tailgate and accessing the back of your vehicle. To help with this, some bike racks fold down or swing out of the way. However, if you have a spare on
the back of your Jeep, folding racks may still not allow you to open the tailgate very far without making contact.
Your vehicle must have a hitch if you want to use one of these racks. If your Jeep doesn't have a hitch, consider installing one. Most hitches can be installed with
basic handtools, and most of them don't require drilling. See our
fitguide to find a custom-fit hitch for your Jeep Wrangler.
Note: If you have a larger, non-standard spare tire on your Jeep, be sure to check the distance from the hitch pin hole of your Jeep's receiver to the outer edge of the spare and compare this value to the clearance listed for the rack to ensure a proper fit. Click here to learn more about how to measure your vehicle for fit.
If your Jeep has a hardtop, a roof-mounted carrier is an option for you. When you carry bikes on your Jeep's roof, you can easily remove your spare if needed, you can tow a trailer
if you want to, and you can open the rear hatch to stow gear. You'll have to lift your bike up to the roof of your Jeep, though, which can be difficult on such a tall vehicle. A
small stepladder can make loading a bike much easier. Because roof-mounted bike racks don't contact your Jeep, they can't scratch the finish. See our
fitguide to find a custom-fit roof rack for your Jeep Wrangler.
A Jeep can present a challenge when it comes to carrying bikes. Trunk-mounted racks won't fit over the spare tire. A roof-mounted rack is not
an option if your Jeep has a soft top. A hitch-mounted rack will work if your Jeep has a hitch and the rack is long enough to clear the spare. If none of these options are a good solution
for you, consider this option - a spare tire-mounted rack. This type of rack mounts on the spare tire, so you can easily carry bikes on your Jeep. And if you do have a hitch, you can use
it for towing and still take your bikes with you.
Note: If your Jeep has a larger, non-standard spare tire, be sure to check fit information listed for any rack that you are considering to ensure proper fit.
Assuming your kayaks don't exceed the roof's capacity (which is the case for any vehicle), the hard top on your Jeep is indeed capable of transporting them with a roof rack system in place. For your Jeep Wrangler I like the Thule WingBar setup that consists of part # TH711520 for the crossbars and # TH300R for the Gutter Feet. Your copy of the Jeep's owner's manual should hopefully list a weight capacity for the roof.
To determine how much clearance you will need to clear the spare tire on the back of your vehicle there is one important measurement you will need to make. First, place a long, flat object, like a 2x4 or yard stick, against the spare tire. Make…
The 1-1/4 inch part of the shank on Curt bike rack #C18030 is steel. The sleeve to adapt the rack to fit a 2 inch hitch is plastic. The other option would be to use a steel reducer sleeve in a 2 inch hitch, #HT02, and then not use the plastic…
You would have to measure from your hitch pin hole out to the furthest point out on the rear spare of your 2007 Toyota RAV4 to determine if the #C18030 will clear it. The rack has a distance of 7-3/4 inches from the pin hole to nearest portion of…
Your best option for an e-bike rack that will clear the hitch pin to spare dimension of 10 inches would be the Hollywood Racks RV Rider part #HR87FR which has this dimension as 12 inches and since it uses frame clamps instead of wheel clamps is…
We can't recommend you drill into the base plate to mount the breakaway switch as that would void the warranty of the base plate kit. Instead I would recommend mounting the switch to the bumper of the vehicle.
I was able to go out to our warehouse to measure the 3 trailer hitches available that are confirmed to fit your 2018 Jeep JL Wrangler Unlimited. On each of them, I measured from the front mounting plate where it will attach to the back of your…
The trailer hitch that I recommend for a 2023 Jeep Wrangler is etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver part #e98856 as it has the longest receiver tube so it will offer the best clearance for hitch mounted accessories. This can then be combined with the…
You can use hitch extender #RM-071-1075 for things other than flat towing a vehicle. It will fit any 2 inch trailer hitch receiver. However, the tongue weight capacity of the trailer hitch will be reduced by 50 percent when using an extender.…
The Roadmaster Anti-Rattle Hitch Extender for Tow Bars - 2" Hitches - 7-3/4" #RM-071-1075 has a maximum tongue weight of 400 pounds. The tongue weight is the downward force that the trailer exerts on the hitch. If you are looking for the…
I have a solution for you. Unfortunately, the closest part of the Thule T2 Pro XTR Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount #TH83JV is 7 inches. This dimension will interfere with your 12-inch wide spare tire. There are no other options…
Yes, the Hollywood Racks SR1 2-Bike Carrier part #HRSR1 will fit the 285/70-17 spare tire on your 2018 Jeep JL Wrangler as it works with tires up to 15" wide and the 285/70-17 spare tire you have is only 11.2" wide. The u-shaped bar you are…
"WOW! I am impressed! I called to place my order and real person answered, spoke perfect English, albeit a slight southern accent, and my order was sent within a day, shipped quickly and I had it a few days later. I saved over a hundred dollars over local and installed it my self. I cant imagine how that they could do any better. THANKS!"
Steve J.
2/13/2023
What do you recommend for 37-inch tires?