Question Was Asked By - Lee B

Bike rack Recommendation for a Class 1 or Class 2 Trailer Hitch on a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Question:

I have a 1998 Olds Silhouette minivan with a trailer hitch. I do not know what class the hitch is but we bought it to pull a utility trailer.We want to get the right hitch bike rack for our vehicle. Will the SR26247 with its compatibility for both 1 1/4 and 2 hitches work with my trailer hitch? Also do non fold down arms give a rack more stability?

asked by: Lee B

Expert Reply:

There are 3 Classes of trailer hitch available for your vehicle so you will need to be sure of the hitch you have before ordering a bike rack. If you order a bike rack designed for a Class 1 hitches then it will work in a Class 2 hitch but if you order a Class 2 only bike rack then it will not fit in the Class 1 hitch. The Softride Dura Parallelogram Tilting 4 Bike Rack, item # SR26247, is designed for Class 2, 1-1/4 inch hitches and will not fit a Class 1 hitch. Your Best bet if you cannot find out the Class rating of your hitch is to order a rack designed for the Class 1 hitch.

I would recommend the Thule Parkway 4 Bike Hitch Mounted Folding Rack w Frame Mount Cradles for 1-1/4 inch Hitch, item # Th957, or the Thule Ridgeline 4 Bike Hitch Mount Folding Rack w Frame Mount Cradles for 1-1/4 inch & 2 inch hitches, item # TH954. If your hitch has a Class 1 rating you will most likely be limited to 2 bikes on any bike rack behind the vehicle, due to the low tongue weight rating.

Fold down arms do not necessarily make the bike racks weaker or give them less stability, each bike rack is rated for the capacity it is designed to carry.

expert reply by: Bob G

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