Trailer Hitch, Bike Rack & Roof Rack For 2023 Subaru Forester

Question:

I have a 2023 Subaru Forester. I would like to get a bike carrier, cross bars, and kayak rack. It already has roof rails. I have a womens specialized rockhopper mountain bike, but would like the carrier to hold two bikes. I have two kayaks. I have done alot of research but am overwhelmed by the options. I do not have a hitch yet, but will get one installed once I know what kind/size to get. The most important thing to me is I cannot cause any damage to my car or bike. Do you have any suggestions?

asked by: Brittany K

Helpful Expert Reply:

We can get your 2023 Subaru Forester set up, and from how I'm reading this you want a trailer hitch receiver and hitch-mounted bike rack, along with a roof rack and kayak carrier. Since it sounds like the hitch and bike rack are top priorities, we'll start there:

- etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver # e83ZR

- Kuat Sherpa 2.0 Bike Rack - Black # SH22B, Pearl # SH22P, or Gray # SH22G

The hitch is a fit for your '23 Forester and is a bolt-on installation that also has good bumper and ground clearances to keep the bike rack off the ground and away from the car. As for the Sherpa 2.0, this is a wheel-mounted bike rack which means nothing is going to touch the frame of your Specialized Rockhopper mountain bike.

The Sherpa is by far my favorite bike rack, in part for its ease of use, as it installs in your hitch with the swift and simple turn of a knob. This knob also works as an anti-rattle device for a quiet ride, and it only weighs 32 lbs so it's much easier to handle than most racks. The Sherpa tilts down (with the bikes loaded if need be) with the use of a handy foot lever, and folds up when the bikes are not being carried if you want to keep it on your Forester. Importantly, the Sherpa also comes with a hitch lock to secure it to your Forester, and a cable lock to secure your bikes to the rack.

Then for a roof rack, I highly recommend the Malone AirFlow2 Roof Rack # MPG216.

The AirFlow2 is the overall best value for a rack, with a much better price point than other racks while offering the exact same functionality. It has 58 inch aero crossbars which not only give you a quiet ride, but are longer than any other aero bar, so you have the most possible room to not only carry two kayaks, but make it easier to load them. A J-style kayak carrier will be perfect for this rack, and one that is easy to use and comes with the needed tie-downs is the Malone FoldAway # MAL98FR.