Bike Carrying Options for 2002 Honda Civic 4 Door Sedan

Expert Reply:

The answer to your question will depend on how many bikes you want to transport and whether you were interested in a hitch mounted rack or a trunk mounted option.

If you wanted to go the hitch mounted route, you would start with installing the Draw-Tite Class I receiver, part # 24706. Due to the low tongue weight capacity, Class I receivers are limited to carrying two bikes.

You would then choose a Class I compatible bike rack. You can see our selection by clicking on the provided link. The Swagman Trailhead, part # S63360 is a good mid-priced choice that features anti-sway cradles that will prevent the bikes from striking each other or the vehicle and an anti-rattle hitch pin to hold the rack tightly in the receiver. A hitch lock and cable, part # S64031 is also recommended.

In your situation, a trunk mounted bike rack would probably be a more cost-effective solution. If you click the link I provided, you can see all the trunk mounted racks that are a confirmed fit for your Civic. I would recommend the Thule Raceway, part # TH9001 for two bikes or part # TH9002 for a 3 bike capacity. Instead of the strap and buckle arrangement used by other racks, the Raceway uses a clever ratcheting cable system that allows the rack to be installed or removed in seconds. The Raceway is our best selling trunk mounted rack.

For 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.

I have linked you to the products I recommended, as well as install details, product demonstration videos and some FAQ articles that you might find helpful.

expert reply by: Mike L