Fit of Kuat Alpha B202-2 Bike Rack on 2005 Toyota RAV4 w/ Rear Mounted Spare Tire

Question:

Will this rack fit a 2005 Toyota RAV4? It has a rear tire mounted to the back. If not, is there another Kuat bike rack that would fit my car?

asked by: Annette

Expert Reply:

In order to determine if the Kuat # B202-2 Beta will fit the 2 inch receiver hitch on your 2005 Toyota RAV4, you'll need to determine the lateral distance between the hitch pin hole in your hitch's receiver tube and the furthest rearward point of your spare tire. I've linked you to an FAQ article that shows how to do this.

When we installed a 2 inch receiver on a 2nd Generation RAV4 (2001-2005 model years) we found this distance was 10 inches. The hitch pin hole to bike rack upright measurement on the Kuat # B202-2 is 7 inches, which means that the upright of the bike rack will contact the spare tire before the rack's shank can be secured in the hitch., so it won't fit.

There are other options. Although it's not as light as the Kuat Beta, the Swagman Trailhead, part # S63360 would be a good choice. It's hitch pin hole to rack upright distance is 11 inches, which should allow you 1 inch of extra clearance between the rear of the rack upright and your spare tire.The rack weighs approximately 25 lbs, which would be manageable for most folks. It's also quite a bit less expensive than the Beta. I'd also recommend going with the optional Bike Rack/Cable lock, part # S64031.

Thule also offers a pretty cool option, the Spare Me, part # TH963PRO. The Spare Me would mount to the spare tire itself, with no clearance worries. The rack is reasonably priced, but provides the quality Thule is known for. The rack locks to the vehicle, and incudes a cable lock to secure the bikes to the rack. I've linked you to a video showing how the Spare Me works.

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. I'll link you to a video showing how the adapter bar works.