Options for Carrying 4 Bikes on 2010 Chrysler Town & Country

Question:

Hi, I´m thinking of buying a trunk mount bike rack for my Chrysler Town and Country 2010. As we are a family of four we have two adult and two kids bikes. Unfortunately I could only find a rack for 3 bikes. As it should has a lock there are two models TH9010XT and TH56BV. As we only will use it occasionally I guess the TH9010XT will be fine or would you recommend the more expensive one? Would it be possible to open the trunk if the rack is fitted without the bikes of course to get the fourth bike out or do I have to remove the rack completely before opening the trunk? I guess I will need adapters for the women´s and one kids bike, right? Do I also need to stabalize the wheels anyhow to keep them in position? Thank you in advance.

asked by: Silke W

Expert Reply:

If you were wanting to carry four bikes on your Town and Country, you'd need to install a trailer hitch like part # 75579. You could then install an inexpensive 4 bike rack like the Swagman Trailhead, part # S63380.

The bike rack manufacturers have determined that attempting to carry more than three bikes on a bike rack strapped to the trunk or hatch lid would damage the vehicle, as the rack and the bikes would weigh too much.

If you could carry the remaining bike in the rear of your van, a 3 bike rack like the Thule Passage, part # TH911XT would work well for you. The OutWay # TH56BV is also an excellent rack that would be much easier to install or remove due to the fact that it connects to the vehicle using only 2 retractable cables instead of the 4-6 straps and buckles of other racks.

Thule recommends removing the rack from the vehicle before opening the hatch, and there's a very good reason for this. The gas filled struts that help open and hold up the hatch aren't rated for too much more than the weight of the hatch. As they age, they can become less effective. Adding the extra weight of the bike rack (even though they're not terribly heavy) could result in the hatch unexpectedly closing, catching you by surprise or the head and shoulders. Ouch. You'll also want to avoid using the rear window wiper when the rack is in place.

Given these caveats, I'd recommend going with the hitch and a hitch mounted bike rack. The hitch will also come in handy if you ever decide to do some light duty towing or if you need to use a hitch mounted accessory like a cargo carrier like # C18151.

Frame adapter bars like part # 64005 are indeed recommended for women's bikes or bikes with sharply-angled top tubes. 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. I'll link you to a video showing how the adapter bar works.