Recommendation for Carrying 3 Bikes on a 2010 Toyota RAV4

Question:

I am hoping you can tell me if this spare tire bike rack will work for our 2010 Rav 4 which does not have a trailer hitch nor roof rack. Our family of three needs a bike rack that will carry three bikes. If this wont work can you suggest one that will?

asked by: Melloney B

Expert Reply:

The SportRack spare tire mount bike rack, # A30813STL, will not fit a 2010 Toyota RAV4 but I do have a recommendation for you. You can use Thule rack, # TH963PRO. However, this rack only carries 2 bikes, like the other racks (with the exception of the SportRack that will not fit).

What I recommend is to install a trailer hitch and hitch mount bike rack to carry all 3 bikes. The most popular hitch for your RAV4 is # 75432. This hitch has a 2 inch receiver that will afford you many accessory options.

For a bike rack, I recommend the Swagman XP, # S64910-2, because the single arm and rotating cradles are compatible with many types of bikes. Clearance to get beyond the spare tire is still an issue. On a 2009 model we installed the Draw-Tite hitch on, it measured 6-1/2 inches from hitch pin hole to clear the spare. This rack extends out 13-1/2 inches so it will clear the spare.

expert reply by: Michael H