# 1
Thule Elite Van XT 2 Bike Rack for Sprinter Rear Door
This is the 2nd time I have purchased this bike rack and it a good fit for the Sprinter van. The rack is sturdy and pretty easy to load while not taking up a lot of space. It does take a couple of days to install due to drying times on the adhesives for the rails that mount to the door.
The Thule Elite Van XT2 Bike Rack is just what I expected but the install instructions leave something to be desired. Nothing but pictures trying to describe the install. Even a few poorly worded sentences would have been helpful in some places. I have seen this noted in other reviews and [online]. Otherwise a quality product and I have been able to integrate it with my Kuat swing arm and bike rack that we were already using. I wanted to be able to add a 3rd bike to our setup without extending the length and still be able to open the rear doors without removing a bike. This all worked out with just a little modification. I did move the Thule bike rail install point 1.5" above the center install position to allow clearance over my wife's ebike. See photos.
# 2
Thule OutWay Platform Trunk Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - Adjustable Trays
Pretty straight-forward on how to affix to trunk, any questions are covered nicely throughout the instruction booklets. Once fastened, everything is confidently snug. The only thing I was initially concerned about was the potentiality that the clamps might not fit around my frame (being a thicker-framed MTB). I actually found a YouTube video of somebody reviewing the item and they actually showed some good ideas for how to fit the bike securely to the rack. Once you get that dialed-in, it's as sound as a pound. Haven't had any issues with the rack and don't even worry about it or the bike while driving. Worth the purchase.
Originally I was looking to put a hitch on my 2021 jeep renegade sport for a hitch mount bike rack, after seeing that I would either have to remove seam sealer and drill holes in my rear subframe (this is not a good option living in the rust belt), or remove my entire back bumper off and cut holes in it for the factory style hitch, and still have a rack that is illegal and blocks my license plate/brake lights turn signals I decided to look at different options. A roof rack is a little too high to lift a bike on comfortably. This thule outway platform 2 takes about 10 minutes to install correctly, and is solid and holds the bike securely, and the rack locks to the vehicle, and also the bikes lock to the rack no extra purchases required (comes with 2 keys and plastic spoiler supports). I have driven 80mph over potholes and bumps, also on extreme hills and has held securely.
What our customers are saying:
"WOW! I am impressed! I called to place my order and real person answered, spoke perfect English, albeit a slight southern accent, and my order was sent within a day, shipped quickly and I had it a few days later. I saved over a hundred dollars over local and installed it my self. I cant imagine how that they could do any better. THANKS!"