Bike Rack Recommendation to Carry 4 Bikes with a 2011 Kia Soul

Question:

Im trying to find a rack that I could use to carry 4 bikes on a Kia Soul. I thought the Softride Dura Parallelogram 4 Bike Rack might work, but it looks like it will only work with a class 2 hitch. Is there any way to get a hitch/rack combination to carry 4 bikes on a Kia Soul?

asked by: Dan

Expert Reply:

Since your 2011 Kia Soul is limited to a class I hitch your hitch mounted bike rack will be limited to carrying up to 2 bikes at a time. The reason is that a class I hitch cannot handle the stress associated with carrying more than 2 bikes because it allows for too much weight farther from the hitch. The torque produced could damage the vehicle.

Your best bet will be to add a roof rack to your Kia Soul in order to carry two additional bikes.

For a bike rack, I recommend the Swagman Titan 2 Bike Carrier, # S63400. This rack is compatible with a class I trailer hitch. It also has some nice features like an integrated cable lock and anti-sway cradles. I have included a link to the installation details and a video review of the rack for you to take a look at.

In order to carry the additional bikes the remaining option is to add a roof rack. There are several roof rack options for your Kia. I recommend the Yakima system. You would need the following parts:

Round 58" CrossBars for Yakima Roof Rack System (QTY 2) # Y00409
BaseLine Towers for Yakima Crossbars - Naked Roofs - Qty 4 # Y28TR
RoundBar SL Adapter for Yakima BaseLine, SkyLine, TimberLine, and RidgeLine Towers - Qty 4 # Y03536
BaseClip Fit Kit for Yakima BaseLine Roof Rack Towers - Qty 2 # Y06112
BaseClip Fit Kit for Yakima BaseLine Roof Rack Towers - Qty 2 # Y06116

You could then add a roof rack mounted bike rack or racks like the Yakima FrontLoader, # Y02103. I have included a link to the installation details and a video review for you to view.