How to Carry 4 Bikes on a 2010 Subaru Forester

Question:

I am fixing to purchase my first bike rack. I MTB 3-4 times a week with a fairly expensive but beat up bike. My two boys MTB 1-2 times a week on kids bikes, 20 and 18? I am small so an easy to useinch rack is good. I would also like a lock. We do not go on long trips in the Forester because we also have a Ford Excursion. It has a 2 hitch. The rack has to go on both vehicles. Is that enough information? I am thinking about the Thule Apex 4 bike rack. What say you? by the way, thanks for answering my question:

asked by: Kimberly B

Expert Reply:

If your 2010 Subaru Forester already has a hitch then yes, the Thule Apex 4 Bike Rack for 1-1/4 inches and 2 inch Hitches # TH9025XT will work well. Since it does have the option to install on multiple sizes of hitches it will give you that option of switching it to your Ford Excursion with a 2 inch hitch. Another great feature is that this bike rack comes with both a lock to your hitch and an integrated cable lock to lock the bikes to the bike rack. However, if your Subaru only has a Class I hitch, you can't use a bike rack for 4 bikes due to the weight distribution issues that it can cause. Class I hitches are strictly limited to only 2 bikes regardless of what the rack would hold.

If you have a Class I hitch or you do not have a trailer hitch for your Forester, the Curt Class III Round Tube Receiver Hitch # 13147 will allow you to install the Thule bike rack that you inquired about. This option would mean that you would have to replace your Class I hitch. You can also consider some other options like using a trunk mount bike rack. A good bike rack that fits both vehicles for this option is the Thule 3-Bike Rack # TH56BV.

If swapping the trunk mounted bike rack is going to be too much of a hassle for you then the only other option would be to look into buying a roof mounted bike rack in addition to the hitch mounted bike rack, but in order to do this you have to buy some other equipment which can get a little pricey. I recommend just going ahead and getting the previously mentioned trailer hitch if this is the case.

If you choose to go this route some great options that I recommend using would be the Rhino Rack Roof Rack (if your Subaru has no existing rails or crossbars) which includes the crossbars # RRVA126B-2 and the legs # RRRLKVA, and fit kit # DK186, or the Rhino Aero Bar Roof Rack (if your Subaru has factory installed rails that run front to back) which includes the crossbars # RRVA118B-2 and the legs # RRSX100. In addition to the crossbars you will need the actual bike rack for the roof. The Rhino-Rack Mountain Trail Rooftop Bike Carrier # RBC035 will fit on either of the crossbars that I previously mentioned.

The only other thing that I recommend getting is a bike adapter for your bikes. A bike adapter helps hold alternative, women's, and kid's bike frames to the bike rack. The Thule Bike Adapter for Women's and Alternative Frame Bikes # TH982XT will enable you to properly set your bikes onto the bike rack.

I have also included links to the demonstration videos for all of the mentioned products.