Bike Rack Recommendation for a 2007 Mazda 5 to Carry 3 or 4 Bikes

Question:

Hi! I am looking at the hitches and bike racks you sell. What would the best rack need it to hold 3-4 bikes and which hitch do you recommend? 2007 Mazda 5

asked by: Trish

Expert Reply:

All of the trailer hitches for the 2007 Mazda 5 are Class I trailer hitches. This means that at most you can only carry 2 bikes using a hitch mount bike rack. This is because Class I trailer hitches are not rated high enough to withstand the additional stress put on the hitch from a third or more bikes.

To carry up to 3 bikes you can use a trunk mount bike rack. I have included a link to the 3-bike trunk mount bike racks that will fit your 2007 Mazda 5. Three bikes is the most you should carry on a trunk because the vehicle materials are not designed to handle too much weight.

Out of the options I recommend the Thule OutWay, # TH56BV. I have the older version of this rack and they have since improved upon what was already the best trunk mount bike rack I have ever used. What makes it unique are the retractable cables it uses to secure to the vehicle.

The cables are housed in the rack, no straps flapping around, and there are only 2 of them now instead of the 4-6 straps making installation easier. They have upgraded the cradling system and this rack features superior road-dampening technology to better protect the bikes. You can also lock the cables of the rack and the bike in the last bike position to deter theft.

If you will be carrying any bikes that do not have a top frame bar that goes straight across (like a typical mens bike would) then I recommend using bike adapter bar # TH982XT. This will allow you to carry those bikes more level and will provide better ground clearance. I have to use these adapters and without them my wifes bike would be at a severe angle and I would not be able to load my sons bike at all. I have linked a video showing how the adapter works.

expert reply by: Michael H