Replacement for Thule DoubleTrack Bike Rack That Does Not Work For Fat Tire Bikes

Question:

Is there a kit or different ratchet strap to get for this rack? We have a 3” fat tire hardtail mountain bike and a full suspension mountain bike. We thought this rack would be great because the other Thule we got wouldn’t fit the full suspension. We just tried putting our fat tire bike on our newly purchased doubletrack and the straps don’t fit over the tire. Wouldn’t it be simple to make these longer in general? So now we have two racks that don’t work. Do people not own fat tire bikes and dual suspension bikes or is it just us? I read a reply to a question that said if you improvise a strap on the rack it voids the warranty and compromises the integrity of the rack. How does using a nylon strap over the existing strap void the warranty and mess with the ability of the rack to securely hold the bike?

asked by: Morgan F

Expert Reply:

The Thule Doubletrack Platform-Style 2-Bike Rack TH990XT is a high-quality rack in a lot of ways, but a major drawback is that it does not offer the ability to hold bikes with fat tires, like you have had the bad luck to find out firsthand. There is also no kit that allows you to modify the rack to work with fat tires, and the reason why any type of modification will void the warranty is because if Thule or other rack manufacturers allowed any type of modifications and they didn't work, people could simply claim a product failure, hurting the manufacturer's pocketbook and reputation.

The specific instance you are referring to is not something I can speak to - I think it is likely more of a general rule that any type of modification will void the warranty, if that makes sense.

The best option for you to carry bikes is a rack that can handle your bikes and I recommend taking a look at the Hollywood Racks TRS 2-Bike Platform Rack - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting - Wheel Mount # HR3000, which can handle tires up to 4-1/2" wide, or the Saris Freedom 2 Bike Platform Rack for Fat Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches # SA4412B-FB which has the ability to handle bikes up to 5" wide.

I have added links to video reviews of each rack for you to take a look at.

expert reply by: Kyle S