Bike Racks on the Hitch Mount

[4RUNNER4MARLEY]

Anybody got a rack on their hitch?? What do you have Yakima or Thule? Anybody got the KingPin4 by Yakima??

Are there any problems with the spare and the bike rack hitch rubbing ??

Any help is appreciated, I wanna get a rack and not mess up my 4Runner by doing something stupid. :awais:

 

[Ron Helmuth]

I have a slide in bike rack

I have the 4 bike holder, I believe it is a Thule unit.

My spare is mounted under the vehicle, no there is no issue with rubbing or anything like that. It has a little too much give, or play in the fit between the receiver and the mounting "stub" in my opinion, but nothing serious.

The design of the unit places the bikes out and away from the rear of the vehicle, I also use an hitch extender so that I can still open the rear hatch when the rack is mounted.

If you tow a trailer, it is possible to "pinch" the bikes between the Runner and the trailer-care in backing and in making sharp turns is needed.

:bash:

 

[4RUNNER4MARLEY]

just gonna haul bikes on the back. I want a good one and I saw the KINPIN4 by Yakima and wondered if any MTN Bikers had them on their 4RUNNERS?? :awais:

Thanks for the tip on the hitch extender to open the rear door GREAT IDEA

 

[GatorGreg]

I also have a Thule 4 bike rack, no problems to report. I briefly had a cheaper brand (Schwinn maybe?) which was only 1.25" but came with an adaptor to fit my 2.5" hitch - the adaptor system was junk IMO and after 1 use I returned it and got the Thule when I saw it on sale. The hardware for lowering the top section and lowering the vertical bar so you can raise the hatch is far better quality and design then the cheaper brand. I would think Yakima would be just as good as Thule. Like anything else you get what you pay for.

 

[JustAnotherT4R]

954 Revolver from Thule. its working great.

 

[animator]

Just picked up a 4-bike rack this weekend. It's a thule, and is designed for 1.25" receivers, but it was on sale and cheap, so I got it.

Plan is to cut it off at the upright, weld on a piece of 2" square tubing, and be done with it. Should work just fine.

 

[Islands]

best rack

I've been used various hitch mounted racks on my 4Runner for the last 10 years.

After much research I switched to a Sportworks Transport rack and have never looked back. It mounts easily, doesn't wobble in the receiver, the bikes are easy to load and very secure, and it takes all kind of bikes regardless of frame design (because it mounts to the wheels of the bike not the frame).

The rack is expensive but seems to be the best out there, according to all the reviews I read.

(Looks like the company may have been purchased by Thule since I bought mine).

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=260121