Recommended bike rack to be used on spare wheel of SUV

[GroenHoender]

Hi all,

 

A long while ago I bought a 2ndhand Toyota RAV4 (2005 model) which, by design, have a spare wheel mounted on the back (booth) door. It also had a customised tow bar (in form of it being welded with additional steel bars to make it longer to reach beyond the spare wheel).

 

I have that tow bar removed and sold because I never needed one. My MTB was transported mostly in the back, with back seats removed or folded flat.

 

However, over time I got tired of loading / unloading the bike plus I now must share space with the "boss (wife)" in terms of additional baggage in booth.

 

So, I want to transport my MTB outside the SUV.

 

So, my options are as follows:

(a) definitely NO tow bar again, because it will cause me lot of grief in terms of it being at a low angle underneath the SUV as well as requiring welding to extend its reach, meaning it will be closer to ground, as well as hitting speed bumps, etc (which did happened a lot with the original tow bar before I had it removed).

 

Also, a Thule Euro bike rack mounted on a tow bar will prevent me from opening the 5th door / accessing the boot, unless I remove bikes from tow bar rack before I can open the door.

 

(b) roof racks are not an option, ever, due to height of SUV involved, as well as the messy issues of MTB (bugs, dirt, etc) as well as garage issues.

 

 

Which lefts me with a "rack-on-spare wheel" option which also sounds like a more sensible option because it is easy to get access to the booth with bikes hanging off the wheel.

 

 

But my problem is that the Thule "Spare Me" rack does not fit the RAV4 spare wheel design.

 

 

What else are my options? Can anyone give me some advice, please?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Pax_]

I use this one, and it works fine for me. You need to put spacers (pool noodles work well) between the bikes, to prevent them scuffing while in transit.

 

I have transported 3 large bikes on it, and had no issues, although I mostly only transport one bike.

 

I do find that it is a bit tricky with a fullsus where the shock is mounted to the top tube, but I am sure with a little bit of experimentation wrt bike angle and fixing position you will get it to work as well.

 

http://www.rackandca...rrier ver 1.pdf

 

Edit to add: It wont work with a SUV that has a shell cover over the spare wheel - not sure if the RAV has this.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Pax_

[Purnjap]

I use this one, and it works fine for me. You need to put spacers (pool noodles work well) between the bikes, to prevent them scuffing while in transit.

 

I have transported 3 large bikes on it, and had no issues, although I mostly only transport one bike.

 

I do find that it is a bit tricky with a fullsus where the shock is mounted to the top tube, but I am sure with a little bit of experimentation wrt bike angle and fixing position you will get it to work as well.

 

http://www.rackandca...rrier ver 1.pdf

 

Edit to add: It wont work with a SUV that has a shell cover over the spare wheel - not sure if the RAV has this.

I would strongly advise against the Holdfast recommended here, the plastic teeth on mine broke, sending my three mountainbikes all over the road, and the thing was less than a year old.

[Pax_]

I must admit that I was a bit nervous the first time a put three bikes on it, due to the forces the lever arm must be placing on those little plastic teeth. But I have now done this a number of times over the last two years, and over very different terrain types (tar to bumpy dirt roads), without any issues.

 

As you are only looking to transport one bike, I don't think you have anything to worry about as long as you place your bike closest to the spare wheel to reduce level arm forces.

 

However, after reading Purnjaps horror story, also look at the other rear wheel mount systems on the link I provided.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Pax_

[GroenHoender]

Thanks to everyone who send me advice via PM or on this forum.

 

I found a solution to my problem - seems that most sales people at cycle shops does not know Thule equipment well for I went to a Thule distributor who informed me that the Thule "Spare Me" rack would actually fit any SUV which have a spare wheel on the back, without any problem.

 

The Thule "Spare Me" rack comes with the necessary seperate parts to test-fit on the spare wheel hub - then it is just a matter of time to assemble the rack together and violá....problem solved.

 

Carries 2 bikes max, thought.