Thule Spare Me 2 Bike Rack - Spare Tire Mount - Folding Dual Arms

I have aftermarket ExpeditionOne bumpers for my 2020 Ford Ranger. My spare tire is on a rear bumper swing arm (see photos). In my install what worked best was the short arm only, no spacer. If you read the instructions, that will make more sense. I think the instructions are for a Jeep, but my spare tire mount is different, considering I have 265/60 tires.

Negatives
The thule cable lock for the bike doesn't engage enough to lock, but looking at the design, not sure how robust it is anyway, so I'll just use a bike lock I already have through the swing arm frame and spare tire. Also, for offroading, I think it may be safest to take off both bike wheels and strap the frame separately. I drive on very narrow jeep trails, so I don't want a bike wheel catching on brush/branches that I'm driving by. Those two things are why I only gave 4 out of five stars.

Positives
The light weight of the rack (15lbs) and the thule bolt lock to the spare tire (different lock vs the bike, see photos), are why I got this rack. Really like that I could offset the rack some, so it's more centered. Really like the spacers that add more contact between the tire and the bike rack, see photos.

Summary/Observations
I'm lazy, so will try the orange tape, instead of always lowering the arms (see photos) I'm tall, so that should keep me from walking into them. My truck tires aren't huge, so I'm still in the weight range of the swing arm, keep that in mind too, but I'm happy to avoid a hitch bike rack, I didn't want to lose departure angle for off roading.

I'll update the review if it doesn't perform like I expect, but I think it'll work well enough. I've had lots of different racks (roof, hitch, rear trunk, etc), so I'm not expecting any surprises.1567535

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Katrina B.

6/19/2023

You mentioned that the cable lock doesnt engage enough to lock. Can you please elaborate on what is happening? Is the knob twisting and not tightening or loosening?

Daniel H.

6/19/2023

The knob lock that keeps the rack from being stolen off the spare tire is fine. Does what its supposed to spins free when its locked, and engages when unlocked. The cable lock that you use to keep the bike from being stolen isnt working, but honestly, its not worth my timelabor to exchange the rack for the issue. Ill just use some cable locks that I already have, and I think they will protect the bike from theft better anyway. The cables arent as thin as the Thule one.

Katrina B.

6/19/2023

I have gotten some information back from the manufacturer. This locking cable needs to be hard tugged at to get it to release. It is in there pretty snug so you may need to use a little force. Go ahead and give that a try and let me know if it works. I hope this helps.

Daniel H.

6/19/2023

I added some dry graphite lube to the bike cable lock receiver, let it soak in for a day, tried again, wasnt working. In frustration, I gave the other end of the cable a hard push into the receiver, and it clicked! Seems to be working great now. Im a big guy 63 285lbs...so I try not to force things because that usually breaks stuff, but it fixed whatever the issue was in this case. Lol

Daniel

4/30/2024

This rack has held up well, and I eventually figured out that the Thule cable lock would work if I pushed really hard to get the cable end to seat properly into the receiver. Over time, that got easier and its convenient to use now. On my last trip I also used a heavy duty Kryptonite chain lock to secure the bike frame to the spare tires rim. I parked overnight in some sketchy areas and no one stole my bike

This bike rack works great. Took my bike on a cross country road trip from Tampa, Florida to Whistler, British Columbia and back with no issues. There was no slipping or excessive shaking with highway speeds up to 80ish mph. Encountered 105 degree heat, rain squalls and snow storms with no issues. No problems with the set up and the fact that the rear spare tire on my 2011 Toyota Rav4 is off center was not an issue as the rack can accommodate for this. It's a well made product from a reputable company. Make sure to read the directions as they advise against opening the rear hatch with the bike on the rack due to weight concerns. Shipping was quick as were replies to questions to customer service. Follow up correspondence from etrailer was also appreciated. Overall great experience, would highly recommend the product as well as etrailer. Thanks!464529

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Andre

1/4/2019

Thanks for the follow up! The bike rack continues to work great. It survived another cross-country trip this year. Hope you guys had a successful holiday season.

by: Don03/31/2018

2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Great product. So glad I chose this one instead of one of the other types I'd seen around town. Didn't like the design of the ones that fit into the trailer hitches or on the roof. Found this one online and called to order. Steve (I think it was Steve) was extremely helpful and suggested the Swagman adapter which is worth its weight also.

Totally satisfied with it and enjoying it every chance we get.

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Don

4/2/2019

Were still enjoying it very much and very glad I chose this particular Thule model. It is definitely one of the things that is helping keep us young !

I needed a solution to put a bike rack on my Jeep where I could open the back door. I also have a backup camera. This works with my back-up camera, because mine is mounted not in the center hole, but in the larger tire hole above it with a bracket. This rack hit all my marks including weight as my e-bike is 43 pounds - so I'm carrying one bike, although my mountain bike probably would still keep it under 75lbs. I had my friend's husband help me install and it was pretty straight forward. The only issue we had is that the safety strap which is sewn (attached) to the handle is not long enough. I have 265 tires, so medium size and there are adaptors for bigger tires included. We tried every possible configuration and could get it attached, but only with an inch of strap left so no tie off. The safety strap is needed, but not long enough. I contacted Thule and they are sending me two straps with metal buckles to extend it. Good customer service.1309686

Maryk

6/8/2023

After one year the rack has gotten a work out. I towed my Jeep for 5 months through the PNW and am now on another trip to the Midwest from AZ. Its held up well.

I wanted to respond to you to let you know that I had a really good experience ordering from etrailer. I was informed every step of the way, from the moment I ordered it online, all the way up until it was delivered to my doorstep. I was very impressed!! The bike rack itself was easy to install on my car - I have a RAV4 so it was important to me to be able to still be able to open my trunk with the rack on. Haven't gotten to actually use it yet (I've been temporarily deployed with the military), but I can't wait to! I've attached a picture as well - it looks so spiffy, and makes me seem more athletic than I actually am.

Again, great experience, and I would definitely recommend etrailer to others in a second. Have a great day!135056

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After a week of comparing, I decided that this Thule Spare Me 2 bike carrier was the perfect choice to haul my bike on my new 2013 Jeep Wrangler. My husband has a Thule Vertex Swing 4 bike carrier on his truck, which we love. I could transfer it to the hitch on my Jeep whenever I need it, but I wanted something that I could leave on my Jeep that also wouldn’t be in the way when I wasn’t using for my bike. When not in use, this Spare Me carrier folds down out of the way and it doesn’t cause me to make any changes when backing up in tight spaces unlike the hitch mounted carrier.

It was easy to install. I am only 5 feet tall and not very handy with tools. I was able to take off the spare tire with the lug wrench that is in my Jeep easily, pop out the center Jeep logo from the tire, put on the mounting plate and reinstall my spare without help. I then installed the carrier, my bike, cleaned up the packing materials, and even had my husband come admire my handiwork- all in less than an hour.

I can easily fold and unfold the arm and secure it in just a few seconds. It is easy to mount my bike to it and all the straps hold my bike securely and are easy to use. It is also easy to open the straps and take down my bike, so I can be off riding and not fussing over how to get my bike off. I have no problems opening the gate of my Jeep when the bike is not mounted. I don’t know if I would recommend opening the gate with the bikes on.

I have already used the Spare Me for my bike and my nephew’s bike. I drove it over 50 miles at interstate speed and the bikes stayed in place securely. You do need to follow the instructions and use the straps provided to keep the bikes from moving too much. I also use some simple inexpensive hardware store hook and loop straps that keep the wheels in place during transport. From previous experience, I don’t care for bungee cords they stretch too much and don’t hold or pull too hard on my wheels and cause problems with alignment. I learned that lesson the hard way.

My only complaint about the carrier is that the integrated lock for securing the bikes to the carrier is not long enough to accommodate a women’s bike. It works perfectly to go over the top bar on the frame of a man’s bike, but since a women’s bike needs to use an adapter bar for this style bike carrier, the lock only secures the adapter bar. Some women’s bike adapter bars on the market have locks, but the one I own does not. For me, this isn’t a huge problem. I have a separate cable bike lock that I will use if I need to leave my bike unattended. The lock that secures the carrier to the vehicle works as described, so no worries there.

I also want to say that etrailer amazed me with the shipping. I could have order this same product from my Jeep dealer, but they said I would take them 10 business days to get it. I didn’t want to wait 2 weeks. The price was nearly the same from etrailer so I took my chances that I would get it faster. I order this Friday afternoon and UPS delivered it to me Monday afternoon. Wow!
I also selected etrailer because they have the clearest videos and instructions. I was truly able to compare the products and feel like I was making informed decisions based on my skill level and needs. If I ever need something like this again I will remember etrailer.

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by: MikeW04/07/2017

2014 Jeep Wrangler

Installed this on a 2014 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 2dr. Install was a snap and the bike rack has worked out very well. Good paint finish and after a year it is holding up like brand new.

Rubber ties are also like brand new.

Very pleased overall.364117

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Great Bike Rack, install was so easy even a CaveMan could do it!
Bought this one for my Toyota 2002 Rav4 because I wasn't crazy about mounting my bike so high on the roof and the biggest thing that sold me was the spare tire hard cover can go back on when you take the rack off without having to take spare tire off to remove the hold down plate between the vehicle and spare tire.52524

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Great product, easy installation and perfect for my RAV4. I highly recommend this product.245622

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This bike rack has been one of the best investment I evermade,for my new Jeep Wrangler. Very easy to put the bike on,and simple to secure with the rubber tie downs. These straps work very well, and simplify everything, especially time


Thank you e~trailer/and George j170262

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Easy to install if you follow the directions that are included. The rack seems very secure and holds my Mountain Bike tightly to the frame.
The shipping was really fast and the communication from the folks at trailer.com was exceptional. Tracking email and a follow-up email on the day of delivery. WOW, that doesn't happen with most retailers.
I am confident that the Thule TH963PRO Bike Rack will be all that I had hoped it would be and I'd highly recommend etrailer.com
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by: Joec04/23/2020

I Love this bicycle rack...And use it often.
Well made and easy to use.784826

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Joec

4/24/2021

still loving my bike rack

by: Paul 10/12/2022

Toyota

It's been just shy of one year since we purchased this for our Toyota RAV4's spare tire mount. It's been easy to install, use, and keep our bikes secure for trips both long and short. It has also been convenient that the assembly allows us to easily open and close the horizontal swinging trunk door of the car without straps or other parts getting in the way. I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a safe, secure solution to moving two bikes around for compatible vehicles!1447135

I was initially a bit confused by some of the language on the installation instructions. Once I determined that the installation on my 2005 Rav4 was the most basic one, everything went smoothly. I used the rack for the first time this past weekend and was amazed at the sturdiness of the relatively light frame, and was very pleased with the ease of getting my bike on and off the rack. The bike was so securely attached, that it seemed part of the car. The outstanding customer support I received was icing on the cake. I highly recommend this rack as a solid buy.273411

Jose V.

1/6/2018

The rack is still performing very well. I am vey satisfied with the purchase and the buying experience.

Thule Spare Me 2 Bike Rack - Spare Tire Mount - Folding Dual Arms. Great alternative if you don't have a hitch. Easy installation and nice to have the offset mounting choice. Took test drive and bicycle stayed firm on mounts.303322

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My wife and I received our bike rack just in time to take a 900 mile roundtrip to SC to go camping with our family. I am not mechanically inclined but with a little help from my wife we figured out pretty quickly how to get the rack attached to our 2007 Toyota RAV IV. We had no problem carrying our two bikes there and back. We did need the adapter bar for the lady's bike in order to carry it along with my road bike. Now if it will just stop raining! 79525

Cindi B.

6/25/2013

My husband and I are looking for a new or slightly used vehicle to have for fun camping, biking, hiking trips. Is the Toyota rav 4 great for camping? It sounds like we will need a new bike rack. Thule seems to make stellar gear. BTW, where did your family camp? We are always looking for new places. We live in Cary, NC.

Patrick B.

6/26/2013

The RAV 4, among other small SUVs and wagons, makes a great vehicle for outdoor adventures, right now it is in the top 20 among our customers. Small SUVs are great for getting outdoors because they are versatile, without being bulky or cumbersome. I always see a few of them at one of our local mountain biking hot spots. Because they have been so popular with the outdoors crowd, many manufacturers have a lot of offerings that are compatible with the RAV 4. The most common limitation is the size. Depending on the number of people and the activity/ies, small SUVs can be too small, but that is all relative. With the RAV 4, you will have 3 bike carrying options: spare tire mount, hitch mount and roof mount. With spare tire racks, on a 2012 RAV 4 for example, you will be limited to 2 bikes. If you went with a 2 inch hitch, there are carriers that will haul up to 5 bikes available. There are some swingout models that will allow full use of the lateral swing hatch door without removing the rack. Roof racks are a great option because it keeps the rear of the vehicle free for a cargo carrier and roof rack system can be configured to haul cargo, kayaks, bikes, skis and just about anything else. As you are shopping and deciding on your vehicle, you can use our Vehicle Fitguide to see what accessories are available for a given vehicle.

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Steve D.

6/27/2013

Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort , SC.

Patrick B.

6/27/2013

Thanks for coming back and sharing!

This bike rack is very high quality. It holds the bike very tight, with no movement after securing the two wheels together. I watched the bike on my first trip and saw very little vibrating. I would recommend this product to others. Excellent quality & customer service!521126

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Relatively easy installation. Two bikes fit very well, with little motion once secured with the rubber straps and the tie down. Would like to see the tie down be a few inches longer in order to be able to capture the front tires on both bicycles; could only get the frames and the front tire closest to the car. We have used the rack a couple of times, and my wife is also able to load the bikes with relative ease.312193

Marshall M.

11/1/2017

We used the bike rack significantly last year and pressed the eTrailer into service on short notice to move our daughter back from school. Both had worked out great and are still in use. Thanks for asking.

Product did not fit an oversized tire (P265) on my jeep wrangler. The Safety Strap was not long enough to secure the bracket to the tire. The long and short mounting brackets did not properly fit on the back tire. When I called tech support, the answer was to take the long mounting bracket to a machine shop and get it cut down to the correct size.389752

Doug S.

6/26/2018

Since the mounting bracket was cut to the correct size, I do not have any issues or concerns transporting my road or mtn bikes. The bracket configuration provides flexibility to utilize bungee cords to secure the new mtn bike frame securely.

At this point I can only provide comment on the service, as I have not yet had a chance to remove the product from its shipping container. However, I can say that the service has been great. I phoned in the order to a very knowledgable and helpful person at Etrailer. She subsequently sent me three emails to keep me aware of the status of the order. It must have been shipped within 12-24 hours of the ordering phone call and it arrived today, four days later (one of which was New Year's day). I am off to a great start with the Thule rack and with E trailer!111866

Thom J.

1/3/2015

The Thule bike rack spare time mount has been to Florida and back. No problems to report. We are about to leave for Florida again. Again two bikes but this time one is a fat tire bike Sun Crusher 7 with wide handle bars. Will have to see how they fit together. Anticipate having to remove handle bars to get both bikes on. Well see how that goes.As a follow-up to Etrailer, from whom I bought the Thule rack, they were to have gotten back to me about a refund on a part, but I never heard back. It was a small issue, so it has not changed my mind about them being a very good supplier.

Rachael H.

1/5/2015

Thank you very much for the follow up. I did check into your order notes and saw that a credit was issued on 1/19/14 to your account for the replacement handle that you referenced. We will be in touch with you soon regarding this credit.

Received the rack yesterday and installed on my wife's 2010 RAV4. Fits perfectly without any of the extenders or extra mounting pads. Will be easy for her to quickly use without my help. Only suggestion to THULE... The locking knob is shipped with a plastic plug in the hole where the lock is to be installed. the directions say to remove with a screwdriver. I quickly stripped the grove with a normal sized screwdriver. You would need a huge screwdriver to fit the grove. I had to wrestle it out with a pair of pliers - it is then discarded and you install the lock. Would have been a lot easier with just a hole. Once I got that out, rack mounts easily and looks good.114551

Dj

3/31/2014

I ran into the same problem with the plastic plug on that knob. It is still in there and ran into another problem. I screwed the knob on. It began to get tight and i kept turning it. Now the knob just turns freely and doesnt screw any further. Did I strip the knob somehow? I didnt muscle it too hard, it just popped and now just spins freely. Do I need to buy a new knob now?

Patrick B.

4/2/2014

Double check to make sure the lock is not in the locked position. When the lock is locked, the knob spins freely so that a thief cannot get the rack off the vehicle. When the lock core is unlocked, the knob re-engages and will free the rack.

This bike rack fit my 2004 Honda CR-V perfectly, even though the support crew at Thule said it would not.1154152

Just what I was looking for, held two bikes with no sway or movement at all. The plug for the lock is ridiculous as others have reviewed, it broke off so I had to use needle nose pliers to remove it. This was minor the rack is well put together and easy to install. 412861

Ray C.

7/31/2018

All good! Best bike rack I have ever owned! Pura Vida,

by: Nathan 09/26/2022

Overall excellent. The only issue was - potentially from user error - a plastic component broke during installation. However, customer support was great and sent me a replacement part. The rack itself is easy to put on and take-off the car, the bikes are easy to stow, and the bikes are secure. Really like the product.1425250

Rack seems good and sturdy. Went on to my CR-V fairly easily. My only real complaint is with the printed documentation. It makes numerous references to the "fit guide" but not where or how to find it. After much hunting here's what it seems: The online version of the user manual has the "fit guide" at the end - the printed version sent with the rack does not. But even the material at the end of the online manual is hard to interpret / understand as the notes apply to various types of racks and it's not clear which ones, if any, apply to this one.430667

Jason A.

9/10/2018

The rack is still working well. Maybe too well. It facilitated taking our bikes to a trail that was a little rougher than we were prepared for. My wife fell over & broke her wrist on a sand patch so we havent been using the rack as much lately lol.