Fit of Thule Passage # TH910XT Trunk Mount Bike Rack with 2013 RAV4 and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Question:

We have a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2013 Toyota RAV 4 with spoilers on top. Will this type bike rack service both vehicles? Does it attach to the top of the spoiler? Since they spoilers are only plastic wont it damage them?

asked by: Tom B

Expert Reply:

In their testing, Thule has found that the spoilers on both your 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2013 RAV4 are plenty strong enough to handle the Passage 2-Bike Rack, part # TH910XT as long as it's installed according to the instructions and the 70 lb weight capacity of the rack isn't exceeded. The top mounting straps will pass over the top of the spoiler and will attach to the top of the rear hatch. The only two cautions are that you shouldn't operate the rear wiper with the rack in place, and you do not want to open the rear hatch with the rack in place. The lifting struts on the rear hatch are only designed to handle the weight of the hatch itself. The extra weight of the rack could cause the hatch to suddenly fall shut, catching you by surprise if you're lucky or by the head and shoulders if you're not.

If you'll be transporting women's bikes or bikes with sharply-angled top tubes, you might also consider a frame adapter bar like part # 64005. The bar spans the distance between the handlebar gooseneck and the seat post, which provides a secondary attachment point for the bike rack. This allows the bike to be carried level, which maximizes ground clearance.

expert reply by: Mike L