Trailer Hitch and Hitch Mounted Bike Rack Recommendations for a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country

Expert Reply:

I can certainly help you out with trailer hitch and bike rack selection. For a trailer hitch, you have several options but basically you can get a Class II or Class III hitch. I recommend a Class III trailer hitch because they have higher capacity and use a 2 inch receiver opening instead of the lower capacity Class II hitches that use only a 1-1/4 inch opening. This larger size will offer more options for bike racks and will be stronger.

I recommend the Hidden Hitch Trailer Hitch, # 87451, that you have referenced. This is a Class III trailer hitch with 2 inch receiver. It is capable of 400 pounds tongue weight capacity and 4,000 pounds gross trailer weight. The key here is the tongue weight capacity. A 400 pound tongue weight capacity ensures that you will not exceed the capacity of the hitch, though it is always a good idea to check the capacities of your 2010 Chrysler Town and Country and stay within the limits of the lowest rating. I have included links below to the installation instructions and a video installation on a similar vehicle. The trailer hitch comes with the necessary hardware for installation.

For a bike rack, a lot depends on how many bikes you want to carry. I recommend a folding rack that will fold down away from the rear of the vehicle to allow greater access to the rear hatch of the van. You will also want a rack that clears the rear bumper of the van. This will be about 5-1/2 to 6 inches on your van from the center of the hitch pin hole out to clear the bumper.

For 2 bikes, I recommend the Thule Helium 2 Bike Carrier, # TH970XT. This rack has the clearance required and also folds down using handy quick-release levers. It also features frame mount anti-sway cradles.

For 3 bikes, the SportRack Escape 3 Bike Hitch Mount Folding Rack, # A30403, is a great value. It also features frame mount cradles and has a folding feature.

For 4 bikes, I recommend the Thule Hitching Post Pro, # TH934XTR. This is an affordable bike rack with a ton of features included. It has anti-sway frame mount cradles and an anti-rattle hitch pin that can be locked with the optional lock, part # THSTL2.

To carry womens bikes or bikes with sharply angled top tubes or step-through frames, using a frame adapter like part # TH982XT is recommended. The adapter spans the distance between the seat post and the handle bar gooseneck, and provides a level attachment point to the bike rack so the bike has greater ground clearance and is not carried at an angle.

To see some product demonstration videos, click the provided links.

expert reply by: Michael H