Recommended Bike Rack to Make Loading and Unloading Bikes and Rack Easier on a 2017 Subaru Forester

Question:

What does this bike rack weigh? Will one 54inch female be able to put it on and take it off the car between trips? I have a Subaru Forester 2017. I plan to get a Reese Towerpower 44705 Class III custom-fit Hitch with 2inch square receiver opening and have it installed for the bike rack. I want a rack that swings, so the Rocky Mountain Backstage 2 bike platform rack for a 2inch hitch looks like it will meet my needs.

asked by: Kathy D

Helpful Expert Reply:

The RockyMounts BackStage # RKY10002 is a great rack that sounds like it would well for you. Except that it is a pretty heavy rack at around 70 pounds. Unfortunately, swinging racks are generally heavier, as our platform racks. When you combine it into a swinging platform rack it's likely going to be pretty heavy.

Taking the weight of the bike carrier into consideration I have a few other options you may like.

The Yakima FullSwing # Y02465 is also a swinging rack however it's a hanging rack. The rack itself weighs about 56 pounds but it will be harder to load a bike onto. Plus the weight capacity is much less at 35 pounds per bike. I've linked a video for you to see.

Another rack to consider is the Thule T2 Pro XTR # TH83JV. The rack weighs 52 pounds and is a platform rack however it tilts instead of swings. I've linked a video of this carrier as well. The video shows the rack with the extension but I wanted to use this one because it's on a 2017 Subaru Forester like yours. As you can see in the video you are able to completely open the rear hatch with the rack tilted.

expert reply by: Charles S