Recommended 4 Bike Rack for 2006 Honda CRV That Allows Rear Door to Fully Open

Question:

Ive read through your other answers, and it sounds like the Thule Vertex is a good option if I plan to carry 4 bikes on the back of my 2006 Honda CR-V using a Class 3, 2inch receiver hitch Hidden Hitch 87578 or Curt 13535?. Just wondering if the unloaded Vertex tilts far enough away from the car to fully open the swinging rear-door on the Gen II CRVs? Thanks.

asked by: TC

Helpful Expert Reply:

Lets begin with the hitch. I would recommend the Curt # 13535, as it's manufactured in the USA.

When we installed this hitch on a 2nd generation CR-V, we found that the clearance distance between the hitch pin hole and the furthest rearward point of the spare tire was 8-1/2 inches. This means that the rack you choose needs to have a hitch pin hole to closest portion of the rack shank distance greater than that measurement. The Thule # TH934XTR Hitching Post Pro has a hitch pin hole to closest part of rack dimension of 13-1/2, so it'll clear your spare tire with room to spare. The rack will tilt down once the bikes are removed.

If having full access to the cargo area is the most important consideration for you, the Yakima FullSwing # Y02465 would be my recommendation. The shank is long enough to clear the spare tire, and the rack will swing off to the passenger side of the vehicle allowing the door to open fully, and you won't need to remove the bikes.

To carry womens 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