Can a 3 Bike Trunk Mounted Bike Carrier be Used on a 2005 Toyota Solara

Question:

I need a 3 bike carrier for 2 adult man/woman and 1 child bike to fit on my Toyota Solara 2005. Thank you.

asked by: Marilyn

Expert Reply:

I have good news and bad news. First, the bad news is that the only trunk mount bike racks that are recommended for the 2005 Toyota Solara are 2 bike racks, because the attachment points on the vehicle are not capable of supporting 3 bikes and a trunk mounted 3 bike rack.

The 2 bike racks that will work on the 2005 Toyota Solara are the Thule Passage, # TH910XT and the Thule OutWay, # TH45JV. Of these choices the OutWay rack is the easiest to install and remove and comes with locks for both the rack and the bike to deter theft.

The good news is that there is a Class II trailer hitch, # C12110, available for your 2005 Toyota Solara and you could use this hitch and the Swagman Titan, part # S63405 to carry all three of your bikes.

You would most likely need a adapter bar, # TH982XT, to carry women's and children's bikes that do not have a horizontal frame so the bikes can be carried level.

I recommend going with the hitch and hitch bike rack option because it allows you to have access to the trunk of your vehicle without removing the bikes and bike rack and it is much easier to install and remove a hitch mounted bike rack than a trunk mounted rack. I have added links to some videos that may help you make your decision.