Recommended 4-Bike Platform Rack That Allows 2012 Lexus GX 460 to Open Rear Door

Question:

I have a 2012 Lexus GX460 with a side opening barn door style rear door. I definitely want a platform type 4 bike bike rack. I am willing to remove bikes to open rear door. Looking at Swagman XTC 4 bike platform bike rack. It appears to lay down lower. After removing all bikes and folding the Swagman XTC down, would I have the clearance to open rear side swinging door? Please help! Center of hitch receiver is 16.5” above ground. Barn door is 29” above ground. Barn door clears the center line of vehicle where hitch is 40” behind the hitch receiver. All measurements approximate. Probably +/- half an inch so would be great if you could provide the measurements from the bike rack in addition to whether or not it will work.

asked by: D W

Expert Reply:

Thank you for all the information, it was very helpful. I went to our demo room to take some measurements of the Swagman XTC-4 # S64665 and based on those would not be able to confirm it would allow a 2012 Lexus GX 460 to open the rear door.

If you use the attached photo (which shows the Swagman, but not on a Lexus GX 460) as a reference, you can see that at the highest point, the XTC-4 is going to be roughly 28" above the ground on a 2012 Lexus GX 460. Given a margin of error of roughly an inch or so, it is too close to safely say that the Swagman would work, particularly when there are other options available which will.

The best option would be a tilt-away bike rack, the Yakima HoldUp # Y02443-2. The bikes would still have to be unloaded in order to open the rear barn door of the 2012 Lexus GX 460, and the ratcheting arms folded down, but once the rack is tilted away, the door can easily be opened.

The HoldUp uses sliding wheel cradles to secure your bikes by the wheels. It folds up when not being used, has a weight capacity of 50 lbs per bike and has an anti-rattle hitch lock to secure it to your Lexus and a cable lock to secure your bikes to the rack.

I've added links to video reviews of this rack for you to take a look at.

expert reply by: Kyle S

Flo

5/31/2020

I have a 2016 gx 460 with the barn door and am considering the swing man 4. Can you please provide the height in inches from the top of the receiver hitch to the highest points of the bike rack? Trying the gauge the bumper space (distance between the hitch and the bottom of the barn door when it swings open). Would it be accurate from your pic that the distance would be 28”-17.5”=10.5” ?