Three or Four Bike Rack and Recommended Hitch for 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe  

Question:

Helpful Expert Reply:

Any of the hitches available for your Hyundai Santa Fe (see link) would work great for carrying 3 to 4 bikes.

I recommend the Curt Class III hitch, part # C13505. Not only will the hitch work very well as an attachment point for a bike rack or other hitch accessory, it will also allow you to tow a small trailer should the need ever arise. If you plan on towing, you will also need a trailer wiring harness part # 118473, a ball mount like part # C45010 and a 1-7/8 inch # 19260 or 2 inch # 63845 trailer ball.

For a bike rack, choose a rack that has sturdy cradles and rubber straps to secure your bikes. Anti-sway cradles will keep bikes from swaying back and forth during transport, and prevent them from striking each other or the rear of your vehicle. Less expensive racks use hook and loop straps to hold the bikes in place and do not provide anti-sway cradles, which is okay for short trips or occasional use but would not be recommended for frequent use or long trips.

A rack like the Swagman Trailhead, part # S63365 for a 3-bike model or # S63380 for the 4-bike are reasonably priced, but provide the important features mentioned above. The Trailhead is a perfect choice for most riders, and will handle individual bike weights up to 35 lbs. The Thule Hitching Post Pro, part # TH934XTR shares similar features, but has a weight capacity up to 160 lbs.

To carry womens bikes or bikes with sharply angled top tubes or step-through frames, using a frame adapter like part # 64005 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

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