Recommendation for a Quality Hitch Rack to Transport 2 to 4 Bikes with a 2007 Honda CR-V

Question:

we are casual bikers and are thinking we may want to get out of the neighborhood to some bike paths that are in our area. At the same time,if we might want to get a bike rack that has a level of quality that we feel comfortable bringing our bikes on longer trips on the interstate...ie 300-400 miles. will usually be carrying 2 bikes...but it would be good to have the ability to carry up to 4. Looking for quality and value we arent avid bikers and might use once a month. I was looking at the Y02458...it has good reviews. Do you recommend this...and what other models do you recommend? My wife has a seven speed beach cruiser...so will we need a special attachment to get this bike to fit nicely/securely in the cradle? Will these racks work with a 2inch hitch on a 2007 crv? anything else that you recommend we get on the front end? thanks

asked by: Tom

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Yakima RidgeBack 4 Bike Carrier, # Y02458, is a great option and will work with the 2 inch hitch on your 2007 Honda CR-V. This bike carrier offers a ton of features including anti-sway cradles with hassle-free ZipStrip straps secure your bikes to the rack. The maximum weight capacity of the carrier is 150 pounds.

From the information that I have gathered about the CR-Vs, the maximum tongue weight is 150 pounds. Tongue weight is the maximum amount of weight that can be safely suspended from a hitch. With the carrier weighing approximately 35 pounds, this leaves 115 pounds for the bicycles and any accessories. I do recommend that you refer to your owner's manual to ensure that the 150 pound maximum is true for your individual vehicle.

Since you will be carrying a woman's bike, I recommend picking up the Yakima Tube Top Bike Adapter Bar, # Y02531. This adapter bar is also recommended for children's and alternative frame bikes. Bikes with small or angled frames can be difficult to load on hanging style bike racks and they can cause ground clearance issues. This adapter will allow you to load the bikes easily and safely.

You might want to consider purchasing a cable lock. The Same Key System (SKS), 9 ft Cable, # Y07233, along with the SKS Lock Cores, # Y07202, gives you the ability to secure your bikes to the carrier when not in use. The additional lock core that is included can be used to replace an existing core in a Yakima SKS product to give you the convenience of carrying only one key.

I am including a couple videos which may be of help to you when making your decision.