Hitch and Spare Tire Mounted Bike Carrying Solutions for 2005 Toyota RAV4

Question:

what is the best product to use with my rav 4 for 2 bike use?

asked by: Ian

Expert Reply:

A hitch mounted rack would not be the ideal solution for your RAV4 if you want access to the rear of the vehicle.

Once the hitch is installed, the receiver will be close enough to the bottom edge of the rear door that when a bike rack is installed, the rear door will not be usable, even if folded down, unless the rack is removed. If this does not bother you, you could install the Curt Class III hitch, part # C13524. Since the distance from the hitch pin hole to the rearward edge of the spare tire is 10 inches, you would need to choose a bike rack whose shank is long enough to clear. The Swagman Titan, part # S63400 would have plenty of clearance, and would be a great choice.

A better alternative would be the Yakima SpareRide 2, part # Y02599. The SpareRide mounting plate attaches behind the spare tire, and the rack would attach to the plate. This rack would allow you full access to the rear hatch once the bikes are removed and features an integrated cable lock to deter theft.

Opening the rear door while the bikes are in place will place extra stress on the door hinges and is not recommended.

To carry women's bikes or bikes with sharply angled top tubes or step-through frames, using a frame adapter like part # Y02531 is recommended. The adapter spans the distance between the seat post and the handlebar gooseneck and provides a level attachment point to the bike rack so the bike has greater ground clearance and is not carried at an angle.