Bike Rack Options for 3 Bikes on 2012 Mazda 3 Hatchback with 1-1/4-Inch Class I Hitch  

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Expert Reply:

We can help you select the best match in a 3-bike rack for use on your 2012 Mazda 3 Hatchback.

Do please note that if you choose to go with a hitch-mount rack you will be limited to transporting 2 bikes. This has to do with the leverage applied to the receiver tube of a light-duty Class I hitch, which is the only type offered for your Mazda 3. Class I hitch = 2-bikes only. If you prefer to use a trunk-mount rack then you can carry three bikes. The linked article on hitch classes may be of interest.

If you can stow the child's bike inside the car then you have a lot of 2-bike hitch carrier options, from the lightweight wheel-mount Curt # C18085 to the Swagman Chinook 2 Bike Platform Rack # S64683. These and other 2-bike Class I hitch racks are shown on the linked page.

For a 3-bike trunk-mount rack option for your 2012 Mazda 3 Hatchback I recommend the Hollywood Racks Over-the-Top 3 Bike Rack # HRF2-3, an excellent choice especially if you have a spoiler on the car. At a lower price point we offer the Thule Passage 3 rack # TH911XT which is a great option if the car does not have a spoiler. For a higher-end 3-bike trunk rack that includes locks and that will be easiest to install the Thule OutWay # TH56BV is the clear winner.

If any of the bikes does not have a horizontal top frame tube, such as a woman's step-thru frame design, such bikes will need an adapter bar # UB01 to mount correctly on a hanging style rack. It is generally best to load the heaviest bikes first, to keep stress on the hatch to a minimum.

Please note that no bike rack that I know of has any special provision for accommodating training wheels on a child's bike. This may have to be removed for transport; it just depends on how the three specific bikes mesh together on the carrier.

expert reply by: Adam R

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