Bike Rack Options for a 2008 Toyota Highlander for Very Occasional Use

Question:

We need an inexpensive mount to bring home our sons bike from college a 3 hour drive. This looked like it might work. Do you have any other recommendations? Thank you.

asked by: Francene

Expert Reply:

There are two possible ways that you can carry a bike on your 2008 Toyota Highlander, but I am sorry to say that a trunk mount bike rack will not work. It cannot be safely attached to the vehicle. However, you can still use either a trailer hitch mounted rack or a roof rack.

If you want to go with a trailer hitch, I recommend Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch, # 75586. And for a bike rack, you can go with something basic like the The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 part # SH12G that you referenced is a really great bike rack. It's lighter weight like you want at 32 lbs, is a platform style rack which means it's very easy to load and unload, and also only touches the bikes at the tires which protects delicate frame materials or paints.

If you have an aftermarket hitch installed on your 2018 Subaru Forester like the EcoHitch part # 306-X7216 that you referenced this rack would be a perfect solution for you. If your hitch is the Subaru brand of hitch then that means it has a shallower hitch pin hole and this rack would not fit, so instead you could install the EcoHitch in place of it or you could go with the Swagman Titan 2 Bike Rack for 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting, Item # S63400 which does fit the factory Subaru hitches. It's also lightweight too at approximately 30 lbs. It's pretty easy to load too since you just set the wheels onto the cradles.

I attached review videos for both racks for you to check out as well.. This is a good, solid rack for occasional use.
If you decide to go with a roof rack, if your Highlander has only side rails that run front to back, you will first need RoundBar Crossbars # Y00409, RoundBar SL Adapter # Y03536, and Yakima TimberLine Towers # Y33TR. You can then add a bike rack like the Swagman Upright, # S64720.