Can Rear Hatch of 2015 RAV4 be Opened with Trunk Mount Bike Rack Installed

Question:

with the Thule Venture 3-Bike Trunk Vehicle Rack on my rav 4 and bikes on the rack can I open the rear door/hatch ?

asked by: William P

Expert Reply:

I don't recommend opening the hatch of your 2015 Toyota RAV4 with a Thule Venture, or any trunk mount bike rack, on the vehicle. Even without the bikes. Your hatch isn't designed to support weight and if it were to fail you could cause a lot of harm to the rack, bikes, or even yourself.

If you're looking for something to carry your bikes and allow access to the rear of the RAV4 I recommend a hitch mount bike rack. A hitch mount, once installed, makes no contact with the vehicle so it's generally considered a better option. Especially if you'll be carrying the bikes very often or over long periods of time. It's a more expensive option but one I think you'll be happier with in the long run.

First you'll need a trailer hitch receiver. I recommend the etrailer # e98864. It's custom designed for your RAV4 and has a 2 inch opening. The Class III, 2 inch receiver will give you more options than a smaller hitch will.

The bike rack that's a great fit for your vehicle is the Kuat Transfer # KU24FR. It'll carry 3 bikes like the Venture you mentioned and has clearance for the rear hatch to open. See the video I've linked of the Transfer on a RAV4 like yours. Locks can be added to the rack for additional security using # PTSCLK13.

expert reply by: Charles S