Hanging 4 Bike Rack Recommendation for 2019 Subaru Forester

Question

Question:

Hi, I have a 2019 Subaru Forester. Looking at your information on line, I am thinking I will purchase the Eco Hitch you have recommended for my vehicle #306-x7391 - I think My question is, will the Thule Camber 4 bike rack work with the Eco Hitch on my Forester. I would like a hanging bike rack that works with 4 bikes. I was also looking at the Yakima Ridge Back for 4 bikes. Thank you for any advice you might have! i have not yet purchased the hitch or the bike rack and would like to make sure that what I purchase will work with the 2019 Forester! THANK YOU! Additional information- I wrote you earlier today regarding using the EcoHitch recommended on your site to use to attach a rack for 4 bikes. I was asking about the Thule Camber 4 bike rack and if the EcoHitch worked with it. But now, after reading something on line, I realized that in the attachment of the EcoHitch one removes a piece in the bumper and replaces it with a part of the EcoHitch. I dont think I am too keen on having a part of the car removed. So now I am thinking of getting the Draw-Tite Class III max frame hitch for the Forester and am wondering which bike rack for 4 bikes would work the best? Thank You

asked by: Mary R

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

Just to clarify and try to address your initial concern, there won't be any parts removed from your vehicle when installing the EcoHitch Hidden Hitch # 306-X7391 , but there will be some trimming of the fascia on the underside of the bumper required. The differences in installation between the EcoHitch Hidden Hitch and the DrawTite # 76271 are directly correlated to the benefits of one over the other. The reason that the DrawTite hitch doesn't require that trimming is because it is mounted to the frame, so it will hang down under the vehicle a bit; whereas the EcoHitch is mounted behind the bumper and the only visible part of the hitch is going to be the receiver. Going with the EcoHitch is going to give you some additional ground clearance for when your Subaru is loaded up with bikes and gear or if you ever take it off of paved roads. There are a lot of benefits of going with the EcoHitch over the DrawTite, but the installation is definitely going to be more intensive.

When it comes to hitch mounted bike racks, you're going to be able to use any rack that fits in the 2" hitch receiver you'll be mounting on your 2019 Subaru Forester. Both the Thule Camber 4 # TH9056 and the Yakima Ridgeback # Y02458 are going to fit on your Forester's 2" receiver and the differences between the two are few and far between. Both racks are going to tilt away to allow you to fully open the rear hatch of your vehicle, and they're both going to provide the same spacing between the bikes when loaded up. I recommend going with the Yakima Ridgeback because it comes with an integrated lock for the rack on the hitch pin to make sure that your rack is secured to your vehicle; the Thule Camber requires a separate purchase of the Locking Hitch Pin # THSTL2 for that added security. The Yakima also uses their SpeedKnob technology to reduce the rattle of their rack, which is tool free and easy to use, where the Thule Camber uses an anti rattle hitch pin that requires tools to tighten it up; this is especially handy if you don't always carry tools in your car.

One thing you'll need to consider with a hanging bike rack are frame adapters, which will allow you to more securely mount frames with odd shapes, such as women's and children's bikes. Yakima's frame adapter for hanging racks is part # Y02531 and Thule's frame adapter is # TH982XT .Since neither rack comes with a way to secure the bikes to the rack, you may want to add a cable lock. The Yakima HandCuff Cable Lock #Y02466 is a perfect match for the Ridgeback since it works using the Yakima Same Key System, which allows you to only use 1 key for all of your Yakima lock cores- the HandCuff comes with an extra lock core to replace the one on the SpeedKnob of the Ridgeback, so you'll be ready to use the system from the get-go. Thule's cable lock is part # TH538XT and has the same technology used in the Yakima SKS for Thule lock cores.

I've also attached some pics of the 2 hitches to try to show the differences. Picture 1 is the DrawTite and Picture 2 is the EcoHitch