Best 2003 Jeep TJ Bike Racks

This HRSR1 bike carrier will not fit a 2023 Jeep Wrangler JL UNLESS you remove the stock Liddy Light and associated bracket. Upon discovering this, I was able to locate an aftermarket kit which allows for the relocation of the light to just above the rear camera. The kit was easily installed and the bike mount was installed just as easily as the directions explain. The new location of the light is partially obscured with the bikes mounted and, although not ideal, it is adequate and certainly better than total removal. I was unable to find any mention of this situation in the install instructions or reviews prior to purchase of the rack. I just wish I had been aware of this before purchase. I would have rated 5 stars for this product were it not for the slight hiccup. Kudos to etrailer. It is always a pleasure to do business with them. They are very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.

This is a well designed rack. Adding and removing bikes is quick & easy. Just set the bike on & slide the padded hook down onto the bike frame to secure it; no straps required. If only one bike is transported, it does not interfere with opening the trunk on our Tesla Model 3. With 2 bicycles the trunk cannot be opened. For 2 bikes the Swagman model that can tilt might be worth the extra 22 bucks. This rack uses a bolt in the receiver hitch instead of a pin. This locks it securely preventing it from moving in the hitch & rattling. It also requires a wrench to remove it, good for theft prevention but one more thing to keep track of. For storage on the vehicle the top bar folds down. For storage in the garage, the left & right bars fold up & you can hang it using one of the hooks.

So far so good. The rack wiggles a bit, but that is expected. I have it on my 2007 Corolla and I have hit 65+ on the highway with it and have not had a problem. I would recommend getting a locking pin. The one included is threaded, which aside from security, makes it harder to take the rack on and off. I would also look into a DIY way to secure the wheels better. I am using some bungee straps which do the job no problem. The two bikes I carry are at the racks capacity.

After a couple of weeks of researching which type of bike rack I wanted for my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK (hitch mount or spare tire), I decided on the spare tire mount. And after a 4hr (roundtrip) mountain biking weekend escape, I'm very happy with my decision. What I like about the rack: well built, very sturdy with bike(s) mounted (no sway or rattle), arms fold down and lock in place when not in use (looks slick), full access to cargo area without needing to remove rack, rack and bike cable locks included, economical, lifetime warranty and of course the dual bottle openers ; ) What I would improve upon or revise in a future model: arms should be longer (even just an inch because bikes rub slightly so I had to add padding), more use of aluminum rather than plastic (thinking long term durability of the plastic locking teeth and arms) Thanks eTrailer

This bike carrier is great! It is very well made and is secured to the vehicle with a keyed lock. It comes with a locking cable for the bike as well. I can open the tailgate and access the trailer hitch while the bike is on the carrier. I could not be more pleased!

I was sent additional mounting materials that don't correspond with my hitch or my bike rack. See the photo below. Are these materials for my Swagman STC2 Bike Rack Item #S64670?

Just put it together and that was easy. Still waiting to use it this summer. Expect it to be perfect as I've use an XCT 4 bike rack for 12 years. It's still fine but I don't need to carry that many bikes and wanted a lighter rack.

I installed this rack onto a Curt trailer hitch which is mounted onto a 2017 Honda Fit. I have been using it intermittently for several months, probably about 5 times with one bike and twice with two bikes. I give some pros and cons below and then elaborate. Pros: easy to assemble, easy to mount and dismount bikes, easy to lock and unlock, how to put the rack into different positions is intuitive Cons: inconvenient to put the rack into different positions, inconvenient to mount the rack onto the hitch, rack protrudes about 15 inches from bumper when in flipped up position (seems very vulnerable to someone backing into it in a parking lot, very inelegant looking I say the repositioning is intuitive because there is really only one way you could possibly place the pins for each position. But removing and replacing two pins is much less convenient than turning a knob or a lever, like some racks do. Also many racks fold and flip in such a way as to look very unobtrusive when in non-use mode. This one looks like kind of a monstrosity. That does not really bother me but it might bother some owners. The part that does bother me is how far it protrudes from the car. I back into parking spaces whenever possible to avoid someone bumping into the rack and damaging it (which happened to a friend). My number one suggestion for Curt is related to mounting the rack onto the hitch. Make it easier to tell when the holes are lined up so that the bolt/pin will fit and thread. As it is now, if you insert the rack as far as it can go it is way too far in. Ideally, it would be exactly lined up. Failing that, maybe some kind of click or other feedback to know at least that you are in the neighborhood. It would also be great to have an attaching device that is easier to fasten and unfasten than is the bolt/pin. Tip for mounting the rack onto the hitch: I assumed that it would be awkward to hold, what is it 46 pounds?, while trying to line up the rack probe with the receiver. If you have a garage with exposed collar ties, my solution could work well for you. I looped a cargo strap over a collar tie. Then I hooked both hooks of a bungie onto that loop. The idea is that you hook one of the bike frame holders of the rack onto the bungie, suspending the rack a few inches off the garage floor. This takes most of the weight of the rack so that you can just pull up or down and forward until you line up with the receiver. Tip for mounting bikes. Don't put the little screw into the post that prevents you from completely removing the bike frame holders. Remove both holders. Position the first bike, slide the holder into place, position the second bike, slide the holder into place. I found this makes it much easier, because you avoid parts of the bike hitting the holder as you are trying to get the wheels into place. The trick is that if you are mounting only one bike, don't forget to put the second holder back on - or maybe just stick it inside the car right away.

Have used mine several times in the past 2 years on the back of a ‘21 Honda Pilot and a ‘19 Ram 1500 Classic. I really like that the platform will tilt downward allowing the Pilot rear hatch to open with no interference. The tailgate on the Ram doesnt open fully even with the platform tilted downward, but that is a Ram problem & not a Curt problem. Was well worth the money.

Love this product! I built a great bike carrying system for my F-150 using two of these fork clamps. They are easy to install and extremely well made. No more tangled bikes and lots more room in the bed for other stuff! Best way to go for a nice bike rack system. Thanks, Phil T.

Had bought three of these a year ago and placed it on a cut 2" x 4" for three bikes. All three bikes (2 MTB and 1 Road) now easily fit the 5'7" bed of my Ram 1500. No worries with the quick release and no more stress taking the whole family to the trails. So glad I got these.

This is a really good rack. We do a lot of car camping out of our Subaru Outback and I wanted a bike rack that would swing aside so we can raise the hatchback and easily access the camping gear, cooler, duffel bags, etc that we carry in back (see photo). This rack 100% solves that problem. Further, the bike hold-downs are very secure. I use them on their own for shorter trips. For a longer trip or one that may involve a rough road, I supplement them with a ratchet strap, but this is probably just unnecessary paranoia--the hold-downs are excellent. My one heads-up about this rack is that it is heavy. I am a large, strong man and can attach it myself, but I do not look forward to the chore. This is a beefy rack and the weight is unavoidable. I welcome how sturdily-built the rack is. We typically carry my normal bike and my wife's heavy e-bike on it, and the rack is totally up to the job. Highly recommended. I have zero regrets about the purchase and the investment in this rack that will serve us for many years to come. The design is pretty much perfect--I can't think of one thing I would change.

We love our RockyMounts BackStage Bike Rack. The fact that it can hold our two e-bikes and swings out for rear door access makes it perfect for vanlife. Service and communication from etrailer is outstanading!

This rack is heavy, easy to assemble and has zero wobble. The reason I purchased this rack was due to the quality of the rack, but also my last experience with trailer. Great customer service, and if you have a question, it's pretty easy to get hold of a real person! I actually purchased this for an Ebike.

Excellent bike rack. Easy to put together. Fits perfect with the etrailer curt hitch. This is a heavy duty bike rack, which also means it heavy but still manageable. Using this for my Aventon Ebike.

Hi This is an Excellent Bike Rack, It came in no time, Nicely Plastic Wrapped incase of Rain, The Instructions were an Easy Read. I Installed it on my 2001 Honda CRV which was a Breeze, I do think that People Who are too week to lift a Tire shouldnt attempt this alone Though. When You install it you have one hand to hold the tire and one to Screw in your bolts. It does require Strength and Dexterity, and we who ride Bikes already Have that I would Think. I put My Trek Bike on the Rack it Fits Great ! , and Im Ready to tour the Countryside. Thanks etrailer.com You Guys Know your Stuff Alan J

Very easy to install, looks great on my jeep. Very strong materials used to make. Looks to last me several years of riding trips. Bonus is that I can also mount it on my pop up tent trailer when I go camping. Very satisfying. Price was decent too. Thank you for prompt delivery. Sincerely, Mr. Mendez

I've been looking a eBike racks for about a month and finally decided on this Swagman rack because it's rated for use on an RV. That's what I needed because it will be on the back of my travel trailer. I had it on my wish list on another site but etrailer had it for $[XX] less, so I jumped on it. It was fairly easy to put together, I installed it on the hitch on my truck so I wouldn't have to wrestle with it on the floor of my garage, that made it easy to assemble. This rack is very well built, and is very solid, it doesn't move while on the hitch on my truck (I installed the RV hardware) so I have no doubt that in will be fine on the back of mhy travel trailer.

So far so good! I have used it on the back of my Jeep Grand Cherokee and on the back of our travel trailer. It is a pretty solid e-bike rack. I would definitely recommend this e-bike rack. We did purchase it for using on our travel trailer, but also works great on the back of our cars, which have 2" hitch receivers. On the travel trailer we also installed a Draw-Tite Hitch, along with a Curt 14" hitch extender for 2" trailer hitches and a Malone anti-rattle hitch lock system. We purchased everything from etrailer. I am very happy with how all of this works together for hauling our e-bikes on the back of our travel trailer.

Super easy to load 4 bikes and go. Takes me 5 minutes to get all 4 on the rack, compared to 15-20 with the rack I had before. I would change nothing honestly. It's a fantastic rack. It has performed great. I can now quickly load 2 kids bikes and 2 adult bikes on the rack with no special adapters. We can hit trails faster and spend more time riding. There is no real downside. It's also significantly cheaper than competitors and provides a much easier and smooth experience. Is it a great rack for small families who want to ride together. No adapters needed for different sized bikes and super easy to load and unload. I would not recommend this particular model if you don't plan on using more than 2 slots. But for 3 or 4 it rules.

One year in and it is great. I have a 2021 Subaru accent and it is perfect. We carry 4 adult bikes and while it is a tight fit it works great. The rack is VERY solid and does not move when tightened up. Over the past year we have used it 3-4 times with no issues so far. It is easy to use and one person can easily load and unload the bikes. The tilt up feature is nice and when the rack is down and there are no bikes we can open the back hatch without an issue and there is plenty of clearance. We have been very happy with the performance and the price.

Bought it as a gift for my Parents. They love it. Easy to use, well thought out and built to last!

Love this rack and use it every day on my Toyota Tundra pickup. I ride my cruiser on the beach and loading/unloading bike/s is really easy. I travel to riding locations as well and even at highway speeds, two bikes remain secure and wobble-free. My bikes are expensive and the stand-up mode of securing them means no worn paint or scratches. If any complaint it's not made for the salty air here in FL and certain parts corrode...even with daily rinsing off. The rack is perfect for the fat and oversized wheels on bikes I've owned...even heavier ebikes...WILL BUY IT AGAIN.

etrailer- rapid delivery, excellent service. Thanks! The rack - heavy, but the instructions were clear and all the tools (wrenches) were included in the box. Straps, too. Well thought out. Installed on an Outback, shown with mast at full extension. For my bikes, it appears I can use the lower setting. Instructions say use the taller setting for hitches less than 16” high. Mine is 15” high, but a lower setting makes it easier to hang bikes. I am 6’2” and the high mast is a make-able reach. The lower setting is about 4” lower. I have an 8’ tall garage and the bikes can stay mounted inside. Great enabler for an early morning start. Now I can go Mtn Biking with the gang. Mountain bikes are big and awkward for hauling, I have other racks. I have storage for the rack when not using the rack.

The rack is almost great, but there are some silly issues that I didn't expect for the price point. The rubber straps that hold your fork securely to the mounts were complete trash. It was difficult to secure them and get them out of the way for loading, and after a single road trip two had split open. I ended up buying some cheap generic bike rack straps and those have worked fine, but I should not have had to. I highly recommend putting a tie-down strap (included by e-trailer) from the rack handle to your roof rack to take up any slack in the system. I would also recommend securing your front wheels with a bungie or similar for longer trips. The wheels spin in the wind and cause the bikes to want to shift, due to physics that I have no business explaining. Also, as mentioned by e-trailer, this is not a convenient system for short people, my wife at 5'4" is NOT a fan, so I'm usually on load/unload duty.

This bike rack is awesome! It is incredibly easy to use for one person and holds our bikes very securely. I highly recommend it for it's convenience and reliability. The cable locking feature is an added bonus but I would like to see a heavier cable used; one that has higher cut resistance. Overall, I am very happy with this rack and would purchase again.

We love this bike rack for its ease of use and solid construction. Bikes are quick and easy to load in and lock down tight. The hitch-receiver tightening system works great for a wobble-free rack and the hinge and locking lever work smooth and solid. It looks nice too.

Works for my fat tire bike. Once it's set up, it's easy to install and remove. I had to cut out some of the plastic cladding on the underside of my bumper on my 2014 Subaru Outback. Good value. I've had no issues.

GI love the Rack, it is easy for me to handle, (as a 89 yearold rider.), two bikes ride and fit very nicely. Like how it folds down,and how it folds to open the tailgate . Great quality for the money, I would highly recommend this rack

I can't say enough good things about this bike rack.I was going to go with a cheaper model but I'm glad I spent the extra money for this Saris.The rack installs and comes off the hitch quickly.The bikes also are easy to load and unload.This thing is great.The first one got ruined by the carrier and etrailer sent me out a new one immediately.Top notch service.

Thanks to etrailer’s excellent information, I managed to find a bike rack that would carry 2 e-bikes and work with my existing class I 1-1/4 in receiver. I had the added challenge that I carry the bikes on a car that I tow behind my RV, so it needed to be rated for a tow vehicle. The Saris Superclamp EX met all my criteria, and for a reasonable price. I was also happy to find that it’s made in the USA. Install was fairly easy, couple of minor hiccup’s as I figured out the drawings, which, to be honest, weren’t entirely clear. But it’s pretty intuitive, so just added an extra minute or two, and probably wouldn’t phase the more mechanically minded. I’m a somewhat out of shape 50’s female, and I don’t have any trouble moving the rack around, it’s a nice weight and fairly compact when collapsed. It’s very easy to access the hatch when the bikes are not mounted. Haven’t tried it with bikes on yet. Once installed, it is rock solid. Loading my 45ish lb bike (with battery removed) is doable. In a perfect world it would have a ramp, but given my other criteria were met, I’m happy to do without the ramp. The rack seems like it holds the bike firmly during transport so overall, I’m extremely happy with my purchase. Also, there wasn’t a ton of unnecessary packaging to get rid of, but things were well protected in shipment. Customer service from etrailer is stellar as well, they helped quickly with a minor issue. Happy customer here!

A very good, inexpensive, lightweight bike rack. Folds nicely and doesn't interfere with the hatch opening on our 2023 XC40. I wouldn't consider this a heavy duty rack, more suitable for short trips to the riding trails. Good for urban living, as opposed to 4 wheeling out to a mountain destination. Several plastic components. Two things I dislike is 1) the hitch pin lock is cheesy plastic, and because of the threading bolt on the rack's hitch, you can't use a sturdier 5/8" locking pin. and 2) the cotter pins should have a small security cable.

I am very pleased with this hitch! Fit my bikes very nicely. Easy to assemble. Rack looks great on my Mazda cx-30. Customer service is very responsive.

I purchased this bike rack for my 2018 Honda Odyssey. I am very satisfied with the bike rack and purchase experience from etrailer. I received prompt responses for my queries which helped me decide between Inno vs Thule. Inno bike racks is very well build, easy to assemble and holds your bikes firmly by tyre with out any damages to your bike body. I use the bike rack to carry a Trek Dual Sport - Large and Trek Verve -XL. I strongly recommend this Inno for bike rack and Etrailer your purchase.

Awesome rack! I have been running a variety of bike racks since the early 1990’s and this is the best one yet. Once setup for your hitch it only takes seconds to put on and take off. Easy load and unload, including a 50 lb e-bike. Be advised, it blocks the rear license plate when in up position (Lexus RX350h). Only reason for 4 stars is there’s always room for improvement,

Installation today was pretty straight forward. We had no problems. It may require two people to install the bike rack onto the hitch because it is pretty heavy. But, as a 41 yo woman I was able to attach the bike rack to the hitch by myself. We haven't used it yet to transport our bikes, but I imagine that will be seamless too.

I bought this hitch carrier to bring 4 bikes on a 1200 mile round trip for a 2 week vacation. I used to spend more to rent bikes than the cost of the hitch. I purchased this during a Labor Day sale last year thinking if I used it once it would pay for itself. I spent the xtra $$ on the swing feature and am glad I did as it allowed me to load bikes whenever I needed and get to the rear of our SUV at any time. Works flawlessly! I have a THULE roof carrier (love it) but when I went to Dicks to check out the THULE ‘s securing rubber ties, I realized they were pretty hard to secure whereas the Yakima zip ties are easy. Hitch lock was easy and built in bike lock made made everything secure. Would buy again, recommend to anyone!

Yesterday we tried this rack, and I have to say that at first it was a challenge. We installed everything according to instructions, but during our ride to the bike trail the rack started to shift under the weight of bikes, although we placed only two bikes on it. The top bar leaned left about 20 degrees. We had to stop and check the safety of installation. It seemed sturdy enough, although not straight. We made it to our destination, but felt rather nervous over every bump and had to drive slowly. Before our trip back we straightened the rack, and the ride back home was fine without problems and any shifting.

The bike rack arrived quickly. It was missing a wrench. We read the directions but found a video that was very helpful to us in setting the rack in place.