Reliability of Bike Rack with Ramp for 2015 Lexus RX350

Question:

Hi, I have a 2015 lexus Rx350. I have ordered 2 trek verve + 3 e-bikes. I now need a hitch rack with a ramp. I have not gotten a hitch installed yet. Anyway, when I read your reviews, it sounds like this Thule bike rack is the best. However, when I went on the Thule website, some reviews spoke of the ramp being flimsy aluminum and too short, , bikes are moving or some have fallen off, rack doesn’t fit 2” receiver and the clamp does not fit around the frame. I spoke w Tech Support from Thule and he “thought” the clamp was 3,” didn’t know about the receiver and did say they have a longer ramp, albeit Aluminum. While your reviews leave me encouraged the user reviews leave me doubtful. Can you help? Thank you.

asked by: Ann S

Helpful Expert Reply:

We try to have all the information available here at Etrailer.com so that you can find the best fit for your car. I looked through the reviews as well and it looks like it was a matter of bad fit for their vehicle or specific needs. We have seen some issues with bike racks and newer factory hitches. Some factory hitches are sized a fraction too small or have mounting brackets obstructing locks or have offset hitch pin holes.

With that being said, the Thule EasyFold XT # TH903202 has nice features like a ramp and e-bike weight capacity, but it really shines when you need a bike rack that you can fold up and store easily. This bike rack was designed with space and storage in mind. It has a 36" ramp that can be folded up and stored within the bike rack. It tilts almost horizontally so that you have more space to access your hatch. For your SUV, you might want to check if a 36" long ramp will work for you or if you need the longer 53" ramp # TH933402. Note that this longer ramp won't fit in the rack's storage spot. Also please check that your hitch pin hole is centered and is at least 1-1/2" away from the face of your receiver.

We also have other bike racks with ramps options. I really like the Yakima OnRamp # Y36FR as it was designed to be all about the ramp. I attached a video review of it in action. In the video, the rack is hitched to a Chevrolet Tahoe which is one of the taller SUVs. Even then, the 50" ramp is long enough to provide a nice angle for mounting and dismounting our e-bike. The ramp is also one whole solid piece which helps instill confidence in its sturdiness compared to a foldable ramp with hinges.

All in all, I recommend the Yakima OnRamp # Y36FR if your main priority is a ramp for your e-bikes. The Thule EasyFold XT # TH903202 is also a great bike rack and really shines when you have to install, uninstall, and store your rack often. For your SUV though, you'd need the longer # TH933402 ramp and find a spot in your vehicle to store it. For that reason, I prefer the ease of use that comes with the Yakima OnRamp.