Options for Carrying Three Bikes on 2007 Mazda 5  

Question:

Expert Reply:

The hitches available for your vehicle are all Class I. Due to the low tongue weight capacity of the Class I hitch, all the hitch and the bike rack manufacturers agree that no more than 2 bikes should be carried in a rack installed in a Class I hitch. Adding a third bike moves the weight too far away from the rear of the vehicle, which places too much leverage on the hitch and its attachment points to the vehicle. This excessive leverage can bend the hitch or cause the hitch attachment points to fail, which would be bad.

I'd recommend you go with a trunk mounted bike rack like the Thule OutWay 3 bike rack, part # TH56BV. You'll need to remove the bikes and the rack before opening the rear hatch of the vehicle, but the rack is unbelievably easy to install and remove. Other trunk mount racks use 6 straps that must be adjusted in order to install or remove the rack, which can take quite awhile.

The OutWay uses only 2 steel cables that retract with the twist of a knob and release with the pull of a lever, allowing you to remove the rack in seconds. The cables are lockable to secure the rack to the vehicle and the rack incudes an integrated cable lock to secure the bikes to the rack.

The only other option for carrying three bikes on your vehicle would be to install a hitch, carry two bikes on a hitch mounted bike rack, and carry the third bike on the vehicle roof which would involve installing a roof rack and a bike rack. If you're interested in this alternative, please let me know and I'd be glad to make some recommendations.

expert reply by: Mike L

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