Trunk Mounted Bike Rack for 2013 Buick LaCrosse

Question:

I have a 2013 Buick Lacrosse 4 dr. Will this rack fit this veh. trunk and with what number setting.

asked by: ED G

Expert Reply:

According to Thule, their OutWay Platform Bike Rack, part # TH65JV is not a fit for your LaCrosse. Once the bikes are loaded on the rack, it would be heavy enough to damage the vehicle. However, Thule offers a 2 bike hanging version of the OutWay, part # TH45JV that is a fit for the 2013 Buick LaCrosse. This is the easiest rack to install and comes with locks for both the rack and the bikes.

Any time a piece of equipment is in direct contact with the painted surface of a vehicle, the potential for scratching exists. You can minimize this potential to a large degree by doing the following:

-Ensure that the portions of the rack and the vehicle that touch each other are perfectly clean and free of grit. A good coat of quality car wax can provide extra protection.
-Thule recommends removing the rack when it is not being used.
-Be sure to install the rack exactly as mentioned in the instructions.
-Do not exceed the 66 lb weight capacity of the rack.

To completely remove any risk of damaging the vehicle finish, a hitch mounted rack would be the way to go. You would begin by installing a hitch like part # 36522. With the hitch in place, you could then install a bike rack like the Swagman XTC-2, part # S64670.

To carry women's 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.

I have linked you to some product demonstration videos you might find helpful, as well as to a listing of the top 20 most popular bike racks among Buick LaCrosse owners.