Hitch Bike Rack for Electra Townie Womans Bike Carried on 2001 Ford Escape

Question:

Hello I drive a ford escape 2001 and Im having trouble trying to find the right fit for my bike, I have my eye on a hitch rack that fits two bikes. An I also have my eye on a rack that fits 2 bikes as well I want something thats going to be sturdy and that I can trust and I dont have to worry about it falling off Or theft. Please let me know thanks in advance.

asked by: Tone

Expert Reply:

The first thing to check is the size of the hitch on your 2001 Ford Escape. This vehicle can have either a 1-1/4-inch Class I hitch or a 2-inch Class III hitch and the different hitch sizes have different capacities for carrying bikes. The linked article explains how to tell which type of hitch you have.

If you have a 1-1/4-inch Class I hitch you can carry only 2 bikes, and you will want to be sure to select a Class I rack. For a solid platform rack for 2 bikes that comes complete with locks you might consider the USA-made Thule DoubleTrack Pro XT # TH92BJ. Another similar locks-included option is the Swagman Chinook # S64683.

A low-cost option in a wheel-mount hanging rack is the Curt # C18085 2-bike platform rack. This does not come with locks but you can add them with parts # e98891 and # e98879.

Since there are many bike styles in the Townie series, including some with fenders, you might send a photo of your bike so we can ensure a good rack selection. You can also tell us what size hitch you have.