SportRack Spare Tire Mount Bike Rack Will Not Clear Oversized Spare Tire on 2011 Jeep Wrangler

Question:

Hi etrailer.com, I have a 2011 Jeep Wrangler with an oversized rear-tire and because of this my Sportrack 3-bike rack will not fit on the car. I believe that the additional length provided from the Spare Tire Plate B for Saris Freedom Spare Tire Bike Rack will provide enough clearance for the main body of the Sportrack rack to fit. The question is, is the mounting plate of the Saris rack, and the rack component of the Sportrack compatible? If not, is there any way to modify the Sportrack rack to fit on my vehicle?

asked by: Michael

Expert Reply:

The Saris "B" plate for their spare tire mount bike racks is not a confirmed fit for the SportRack bike rack. Your best option to carry bikes on your 2011 Jeep Wrangler is to use a trailer hitch and a bike rack that will extend out far enough to clear the spare tire.

If your Jeep does not already have a hitch I recommend etrailer hitch # e98856 because with it the receiver sticks out further than other hitches making it more likely for bike racks to clear the spare tire. Once the hitch is installed you can measure from the center of the pin hole back to the rear edge of the spare to see how far a bike rack will have to extend out to clear the spare.

The Thule Hitching Post Pro # TH934XTR is a popular rack and it measures 13-1/2 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the back of the upright mast. It has one of the longest shanks available. I have linked a video review of it for you.

expert reply by: Michael H