Height Adjustable Spare Tire Mounted Bike Rack for 2010 Toyota Rav4

Question:

Hi, Is the Yakima SpareTime or Thule Spare Me Bike Rack hight adjustable by a couple of inches so that the bike can sit higher and not cover the number plate on a 2010 Rav4? if not, is there another brand you can recommend? Regards

asked by: Eman

Expert Reply:

Neither the Thule # TH963PRO or the Yakima SpareTime # Y02599 are height adjustable. However, either rack will allow you to shift the rack a bit to the side to center the bike better on the rear of the vehicle on vehicles with off-center rear tires like your RAV4. This could move the rack enough so that the bike didn't cover the license plate.

Keep this in mind- even though a portion of the bike might block the plate a bit, the license plate will still be plenty visible. I've never received a report of anyone receiving a traffic ticket because they were carrying a bike on the rear of their vehicle that obscured the plate.

Between the two spare tire mounted bike racks, I prefer the Yakima SpareRide. Not only is the rack less expensive, but in my opinion it looks better than the Thule Spare Me. 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.

expert reply by: Mike L