What E-Bike Rack do You Recommend for a 1-1/4" Hitch and a 2" Hitch for a 72-Pound Bike?

Question:

Hi, I currently have an Acura RDX 2019 1 1/4” receiver???. I’m gettting a Santa Cruz limited 2” receiver?? 2022 in 6 weeks. I don’t want yo buy two bike racks. I have a Himiway step through cruiser 72 lb 4” fat tire ebike and want to get another for my husband. Currently we have another mountain bike specialized, normal weight as our second bike. With all these changes can you please help me? I have no idea what to buy. I bought a saris platform ex 2 bike and turns out it only holds 60lb/bike. In addition the Santa Cruz was supposed to arrive may 5th but now June 1 and we’re going on a trip, now with the Acura instead of the Santa Cruz, over Memorial Day and I need to take my ebike. Ugh! Help!

asked by: Jennifer

Expert Reply:

Help is on the way!

The absolute best option in order to make a rack work with your Himiway step-thru bikes with your 1-1/4" hitch and a 2" hitch is the Thule EasyFold XT # TH903202. Since your Himiway weighs 72 with the battery, you will need to remove the battery in order for it to work with the 65-pound maximum per bike capacity of the rack. This is recommended anyways since leaving the battery attached causes unnecessary risk of damage to the batteries from bumps or jarring. The huge advantage of the EasyFoldXT is that it comes with an integrated ramp that allows you to simply roll the bikes onto the platform without ever having to lift the tires off the ground. Also, since the cradles of the rack are independently-adjusting along the central mast, this eliminates the need for a bike frame adapter bar for your step-thru frames. I went ahead and attached a photo of a neighbor using the EasyFoldXT with a similar frame style as your Himiway.

Since you have fat-bike tires, you need the fat bike tire straps # TH985101 for each fat-tire bike.

In order to make sure that you have enough bumper clearance length on the shank to clear your rear bumper on your vehicles, I recommend measuring from the center of your hitch's pinhole to the face of your rear bumper on your RDX and your Santa Cruz. If that length is less than 8 inches long, you are good to go!

expert reply by: Bob C