Trunk-Mount vs. Hitch-Mount Bike Rack Capacity on 2015 Toyota Highlander  

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The Saris trunk-mount bike rack fits for your 2015 Highlander (please see the attached link) do include the Saris Bones EX 3 Bike Rack and you will not be required to use glass hatch hooks. However, you will be limited to typical bikes which are 35 -lbs or less for each bike. Even though I only recommend carrying one or two bikes on a trunk mounted rack, I still suggest the 3-bike carrier as its longer arms will give you more space between bikes for easier loading and to avoid bike-to-bike contact. This small incremental cost is a good investment, in my opinion.

If you need to transport 3 or 4 bikes then the best solution is to install a trailer hitch and use a hitch-mount rack. The main advantage of hitch racks are that they offer higher carrying capacity and completely avoid placing stress on your rear hatch's hinge or glass. All the bikes' and carrier's weight is handled by the vehicle's frame - its strongest part.

The hitch I recommend is the 2-inch Class III etrailer # e98844 which is a no-drill bolt-on installation and hardware is included. The written instructions and an install video are linked for you along with two helpful articles on hitch installation tips.

With this hitch in place, you can use a compatible 2-inch hitch rack with up to 5 bike capacity. A link is provided to let you review all 2-inch racks. You can use the filters on the page to select features such as the number of bikes, your preference for a hanging style or a platform style rack, and for a specific brand. For a terrific 4-bike hanging rack that includes locks please consider the Yakima FullSwing # Y02465 that can swing away from your rear hatch for easy access even when loaded with bikes. Please see the linked video showing this rack in use on a Highlander.

expert reply by: Adam R

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