Thule Bike Rack Recommendation for a 2013 Honda Civic Sedan

Question:

I have just puchased a 2013 4Dr Honda Civic sedan. I intend to keep the bike rack attached to the car for several months. I am concerned about damaging the paint where the rubber pads and clips touch the vehicle. Would one of the above racks be better than the other at preventing damage because of a better designed or higher quality pad design or material? Should I consider ing a certain type of cloth or other material between the pads/clips and paint to prevent damage?

asked by: David A

Expert Reply:

The bike rack that I would choose for your 2013 Honda Civic sedan is the Thule Gateway Pro 2 Bike Rack, # TH88VR. This bike rack uses support pads with a flattened surface that will make better contact with your trunk over the round pads on the Passage bike rack. The Gateway bike rack uses molded rubber pads that will last longer than the soft rubber pads of the Passage bike rack.

If you will be keeping the bike rack attached to your vehicle for extended periods of time, it is always a good idea to occasionally remove the bike rack and clean the surface of the pads and the trunk. Two main causes of paint scratching and denting is dirt buildup under the pads and over tightening/over loading the bike rack. Make sure you keep dirt and debris from building up under the pads and strap hooks and do not over-tighten or over-load the bike rack.

The hooks on this bike rack are padded, so adding an additional piece of cloth may not be necessary. Just make sure you are keeping the pads clean and dirt free.

expert reply by: John H