Can Thule Passage 3 Bike Carrier # TH911XT Fit Both 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe & 2004 Volvo S40

Question:

I am looking at the TH911XT to go onto my 2015 Hyundai SantaFe AND my 2004 Volvo S40. From what I can see it would work on both cars. One thing I want to know is can the trunk/tail gate be opened with the rack installed? The last thing I want to do is damage the car with the rack installed. Is there enough clearance for the clips to open and close without damage? Something I wish you covered in your excellent reviews on product. A reason for me to buy from etrailer over anyone else. Thanks very much.

asked by: Eric N

Helpful Expert Reply:

You are correct that the Thule Passage 3 Bike Carrier # TH911XT will fit properly on both your 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe and your 2004 Volvo S40. This quality Thule rack features cushioned anti-sway cradles and their patented Fit Dial fitting system for easy installation.

No vehicle trunk or rear hatch should be opened with a trunk-mount bike rack installed, even if the rack is empty. The hinges for those parts were designed for the weight of the trunk/hatch but not for the additional weight of a loaded bike rack, which could easily exceed 100-lbs when loaded with typical bikes that weigh 30-35-lbs each. Rear wipers also cannot be used with a trunk-mount rack installed. It is important to a car's painted finish to keep both the car and bike rack clean and free of trapped dirt and grit than act like an abrasive.

If you want to have rear hatch and trunk access with your bike rack in place you'll need to have a hitch on each car and use a tilting or swing-away type hitch-mount bike rack. The only issue here is that your Volvo's available Class I hitches cannot carry more than 2 bikes, no matter what. The Hyundai can be fitted with a higher-capacity Class II or Class III hitch that CAN carry 3 bikes.

I have linked our pages for hitches for the two cars and also to hitch bikes racks. The articles I included will help you consider this option.

expert reply by: Adam R