Installation Tips for Attaching the Lower Hooks of the Thule OutWay Trunk Rack on 2013 Ford Escape

Question:

Hi, How do you fit the bottom hook of the Thule Outway on the Ford Escape 2013. Look easy on your video however the hooks don't fit and wont bent. Thank you in advance for your help. Best regards,

asked by: David B

Expert Reply:

In the video Matt was able to just slip the hooks over the lower edge of the hatch door to install the lower straps of the Thule OutWay 3 Bike Carrier # TH56BV. If this is proving to be difficult you could slightly open the hatch so that it comes away from the body of your 2013 Ford Escape to allow you to attach the straps. A coworker of mine has this same rack and has to do this every time he installs the rack on his vehicle.

If you decide to try this you need to be extra careful not to open the hatch too far as the upper straps could bind up and possibly warp the hatch or the threshold of your vehicle. So basically you would just open the hatch a tiny bit to allow the hook to make it around the hatch edge.

If you plan on carrying any women's or alternative framed bikes without horizontal top tubes you may also be interested in purchasing a Thule Bike Adapter Bar # TH982XT to provide a horizontal top tube on your bikes to provide an attachment point. I attached a review video for this product also. This will allow the bikes to be carried more level and will provide more ground clearance.

expert reply by: Jameson C