Fit of Trunk Mounted Bike Rack on 2005 Saab 9-2X with OEM Spoiler On Hatch

Question:

Hi, Im currently shopping for a trunk mount bike rack for my 2005 saab 9-2x. This Tule rack looks good but I have one question, my vehicle has a rear spoiler and was wondering if the straps will put too much weight on it?

asked by: Vue

Expert Reply:

Typically, we do not recommend using a trunk mount rack on a vehicle with a spoiler on the top of the hatch unless it is a floating spoiler that would allow the strap/hook to pass underneath it.

However, I spoke with one of the product fit folks at Thule who tell me that the spoiler on your particular vehicle is indeed robust enough that you can safely pass the top rack straps over it without causing any harm.

The Thule Gateway Pro should work very well for you, but I would also recommend taking a look at the OutWay 3-bike model, part # TH56BV. Instead of the 4-6 strap and buckle arrangement that most trunk mounted racks use to attach to the vehicle, the OutWay uses only 2 retractable cables that make installing and removing the rack very quick and easy. Two of the cables lock, which secures the rack to the vehicle, and the rack also includes an integrated cable lock to further deter theft.

To carry women's bikes or bikes with sharply angled top tubes or step-through frames, using a frame adapter like part # TH982XT is recommended. The adapter spans the distance between the seat post and the handle bar 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.

expert reply by: Mike L