Recommended Thule Trunk Bike Rack for Childrens Bikes on a 2015 Subaru Outback  

Question:

Expert Reply:

These two bike racks will work: Thule Gateway # TH78VR, and the Thule OutWay # TH56BV will hold children's bikes with a bike adapter bar. I recommend the Swagman Bike Adapter Bar # 64005 to mount your children's bikes. This bar gives a horizontal cross tube to any women's, children's or alternative frame bikes so the bikes can easily mount to the rack. Even if your children's bikes have a horizontal tube, they likely won't be long enough for the rack arms so the adapter bar alleviates that issue.

The best rack out of the two is the Thule OutWay # TH56BV. I recommend this rack out of the two you are looking at because it is the easiest rack to install and remove out of all trunk-mounted racks. Also, the rack only has 2 cables to secure the rack instead of 6 straps like the Thule Gateway. This makes it easier to mount without losing any security. Also the integrated cable lock secures your bikes to the rack and locking covers secure the rack to your vehicle.

This rack can carry three bikes and has a weight capacity of 99 lbs. When loading the bikes onto the rack, make sure the heaviest bike mounts first so it is closest to the vehicle with the handle bars on the driver side of the vehicle. Then the next heaviest bike follows and the handles should be on the passenger side of the car for the best fit.

I attached a video demonstration on how to use the bike adapter bar and a review video of the OutWay Bike Rack you may want to check out.

expert reply by: Sarah H

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