Question Was Asked By - John A

Fitting Thule Helium Bike Rack TH971XT to Draw Tite Hitch 36297 on a 2007 Volvo XC70

Question:

My 2007 Volvo CX70 wagon has a class II hitch which is blocked at the back. My question is will this bike rack fit?

asked by: John A

Expert Reply:

The Thule Helium bike rack TH971XT measures 2-5/8 inches from the back of the shank to the center of the pin hole.

Draw-Tite Hitch 36297 measures 2-3/4 inches from the rear, closed end of the hitch opening to the center of the pin hole. It will be a very close fit, but you should be able to slide the bike rack in and insert the pin.

A better choice for your 2007 Volvo XC70 and hitch combination would be the Kuat Beta bike rack, part # B202-114. This rack is very similar to the Thule Helium, offering a lightweight aluminum construction and a knob-style anti-wobble, but it has a measurement of 1-1/2 inches from the end of the shank to the center of the pin hole, so you would have plenty of room in case there might be paint or weld burrs built up in the back of the hitch opening. The Kuat bike rack is also a good choice because if you did happen to have a class I hitch, or might get one in the future, the rack would still work for you, whereas the Helium bike rack does not fit class I hitches.

expert reply by: Sarah L

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