Recommended 4-Bike Hitch Rack for 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon for Large-Frame Bikes

Question:

Hi, I am trying to find a 4 bike carrier for my 2015 jeep wrangler unlimited rubicon. Hoping to spend around $200. I need to transport my dual suspension giant stance small and large frame bikes. They have a bend in the frame and large rear shocks in the frame as well. Ive been looking at the thule vertex, and thule hitching post. Please let me know what your recommendation would be, it does not have to be one of these 3. Thanks

asked by: Ashton

Expert Reply:

You'll want to take note of which hitch size you have installed on your 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, either a 1-1/4-inch Class II or a 2-inch Class III, as you consider 4-bike hitch-mount racks. You'll also want to measure the distance from your hitch pin hole to the rear-most part of the Jeep, which is likely to be the rear-mounted spare tire.

You'll want to choose a bike rack that fits your hitch size and that offers enough clearance from the hitch pin hole to allow the rack to fit without contacting the spare tire. I have linked two helpful articles that will help you confirm your hitch size and the clearance needed from your chosen bike rack. When we installed Curt 2-inch hitch # 13432 on a 2015 Wrangler Unlimited we found that the hitch pin hole was 12-1/2-inches forward of the back of the spare tire; this means you need a rack with more than 12-1/2-inches of clearance. The Hitching Post Pro # TH934XTR (which fits both hitch sizes) does fit. For your budget, the best option is the Hitching Post Pro.

For the bikes that do not have a horizontal top frame tube you'll need an adapter bar # UB01. This simple item connects between the seat post and handlebar stem to provide a level mounting point to mate with the carrier's arms. Please see the linked video. If this particular bar is not long enough you can use the linked page to select one that will work on your large-frame bikes.

expert reply by: Adam R