Bike Carrying Recommendations for 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Sedan  

Question:

Expert Reply:

There are many things you can do to reduce the possibility of scratching the vehicle when using a trunk mount bike rack. Follow the rack manufacturer's installation instructions. To the letter. Before installing the rack, ensure that the surface of the vehicle that the rack will touch and the portions of the rack that touch the vehicle are completely free of dirt and grit. A heavy coat of car wax on the portions of the vehicle where the rack will touch will add further protection. Be sure never to overload the rack's weight capacity.

Any time someone asks about a trunk mount bike rack, and is concerned about scratches, I always recommend they go with a hitch mounted bike rack. The advice I provided above will reduce the risk of scratching, but won't remove it completely. The rack uses anti-sway cradles that will prevent the bikes from swaying back and forth and banging against each other or the rear of your vehicle.

Curt offers a Class I hitch for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan. The part number is # C11001. Due to the limited tongue weight capacity of the Class I hitch, the hitch and the bike rack manufacturers agree that no more than two bikes should be carried on a bike rack installed in a Class I hitch. Adding additional bikes after the first two moves the weight too far away from the hitch opening, which exerts additional leverage on the hitch. This leverage can cause the hitch to bend or detach from its attachment points to the vehicle.

The Kuat Beta hitch mounted bike rack, part # B202-114 would be an excellent choice. The rack's aluminum construction makes it lightweight and easy to handle. A locking hitch pin, part # HL1 is sold separately.

expert reply by: Mike L

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