Hitch Recommendation for 2015 Toyota Sienna and Compatibility with Thule Apex Swing 4 Bike Rack

Question:

Hello, I have a 2015 Toyota Sienna that I want to purchase a hitch for the Thule Apex 4 Swing 9027 for. Im trying to determine the right hitch to buy that will allow me to use the Thules Snug-Tite receiver lock feature WITHOUT having to purchase an additional hitch extender to move the rack further away from the rear hatch of the van. It does not look like a hitch extender was needed on any of the Siennas in your Thule Apex 4 Swing videos, but I cannot determine what hitch was mounted on the Siennas in the videos? Please help. Thank you.

asked by: Rob

Expert Reply:

I can help you choose a trailer hitch to use with the Thule Apex Swing 4-bike rack on your 2015 Toyota Sienna. Since the Apex Swing is designed to only fit trailer hitches with 2 inch receivers our options are narrowed down to the Draw-Tite Class III # 75237 and the Curt Class III # C13105. The Class II hitches available for your Sienna only have 1-1/4 inch hitch receivers.

Between the Curt and Draw-Tite Class III hitches, I recommend going with the Curt # C13105 because it offers you more distance between the bumper and the bike rack. When we installed this trailer hitch on a 2015 Sienna, we found that the center of the hitch pin hole sits 4-1/2 inches forward of the rear-most edge of the bumper. When we installed the Draw-Tite hitch, the center of the hitch pin hole sat 5 inches under the bumper. I've attached a photo showing these measurements for you.

An extender was not used for any of the test fits of the Thule Apex Swing on the Toyota Sienna because there is enough clearance for the rack to install on the van without an extension. While I do not have a way to be sure, it appears that the hitch on the 2013 Sienna for test fit was the Curt # C13105 hitch. Thule's fitguide confirms that for the Apex Swing to fit a vehicle, the center of the hitch pin hole to the back of the bumper needs to measure 7-1/4 inches or less. Since either 2 inch hitch option for your Sienna measures less than 7-1/4 inches, the Apex Swing will work great.

While the back of the anti-rattle box sits 3 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole, and the anti-rattle knob sits 4-1/4 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole, the first component on the bike rack that could interfere with clearance is the knob on the backside of the rack at 7-1/2 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole. I have also attached a photo of the Apex Swing installed on a 2013 Sienna for you. In the photo it can be seen that the anti-rattle knob will sit closer to the vehicle than the rear-most point of the bumper, but the handle is still accessible for installation because of the shape of the bumper.