Will Thule Roadway 4 Bike Carrier Fit a 2009 to 2011 Subaru Forester with a Class I Trailer Hitch

Question:

I have heard that not all racks fit the forrestor hitch properly. what is the best bike rack to buy. I have hitch 24807 installed on my subaru. can it support a 4 bike rack?

asked by: Khozem

Expert Reply:

In a situation where an accessory, like the Thule Roadway 4 Bike Carrier, # TH914XT, will not properly fit a trailer hitch, it could be a couple of different issues. Since the trailer hitch on your Subaru Forester is a Class I trailer hitch, a Class II accessory will not fit. The Roadway is designed to work with Class I or II 1-1/4 inch trailer hitches.

Another potential issue that comes up is the paint or powder coat on the accessory going into the hitch may make it a tight fit. If this occurs, some of the paint or powder coat can be removed so the accessory will fit. You would just have to make sure you were not removing metal from the accessory shank. I have not heard of any problems with trailer hitches on the Subaru Forrester like this.

Since your Forrester has a Class I trailer hitch, you can only carry 2 bikes even if using a 3 or 4 bike rack. A Class I trailer hitch is not rated to handle the stresses associated with carrying 3 or more bikes. You will also want to measure the distance from the center of the hitch pin hole out to the distance required to clear the rear bumper. If that distance is less than 11-7/8 inches, the Hitching Post Pro will fit.

I have included a link to our FAQ article on the different trailer hitch classes.

expert reply by: Michael H