Recommended Hitch-Mounted Bike Rack for E-Bike with Wide Frame

Question:

I have a Saris Freedom II carrier that I loved until I purchased a Trek Verve+ 21inch model that comes with the battery mounted on the lower part of the front frame and has factory metal front and rear fenders. The bike frame is too wide to fit into Sariss supports and Saris does not offer a wider support to fit the wider frame needed for the battery tray. A carrier that clamps the tires will not work because of the metal fenders. I am looking at the Thule EasyFold XT 2 that is supposed to be for electric bikes but I do not see how the clamps will work with the short uprights height on my 21inch and my Trek 7300 with a 22.5 frames top rail. The clamps appear too narrow to handle the wide tube with the battery unless I am looking at this incorrectly. Will this work or is there another carrier I should be considering? I have a Chevroley Equinox with a 1.25inch Class 2 hitch and a small truck with a 2inch hitch which is another reason I am considering the Thule model since I could use it on either vehicle like I can my Saris Freedom II. Both bikes are about 45 inches from axle to axle.

asked by: Randy

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Thule EasyFold XT 2 Bike Platform Rack # TH903202 that you referenced features padded clamps that will hold bike tube diameters that are up to 3-1/8 inches. This it a bit larger than what your Saris Freedom Carrier can handle, but not by a lot. The bigger difference between the Thule EasyFold and the Saris rack is the adjustability of the cradle position that can be accomplished on the Thule. The arms on this rack can actually be disconnected and positioned along the upright frame so that you can find a different/better location on your Trek Verve+ frame to attach the cradles.

I recommend taking a look at the video demonstration I have attached for this rack, specifically starting at around the 3:25 mark. This will give you a good idea as to how these arms can be positioned around different bike styles so you can confirm if this will work better for your particular e-bike.

This is a really nice carrier that will hold two bikes of up to 65 pounds each. I do recommend verifying that you are still under the capacity for your trailer hitch and vehicle with the combined weight of this carrier and your new bikes. This bike rack also features a nice, removable aluminum ramp that will assist with loading your e-bike.

expert reply by: Chris R