Recommended Trunk Mount Bike Rack that Wont Scratch or Dent 2015 Mercedes-Benz 300C  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Let me begin by saying that anytime you have a piece of equipment strapped to the painted finish of a vehicle, the potential for scratches or dents exists, no getting around it.

This being said, the risks can be minimized by putting as little weight as possible on the racks and by observing the racks weight capacity, by installing the rack exactly as described in the instructions, and by keeping the surfaces where the rack and vehicle touch absolutely clean. A good coat of quality car wax where the surfaces meet would add extra protection.

The design of the rack can also influence the likelihood of the vehicle being scratched. You'll want a rack that spreads the weight of the rack and the bikes on the vehicle over a large an area as possible. The Saris Bones for example (which Saris confirms isn't a fit for your vehicle) has rather small feet, which applies all the weight of the racks and the bike on a very small area. Most trunk racks use 6 hooks to attach to the vehicle's trunk, which also can cause scratches.

The Thule OutWay, part # TH45JV for the two bike version or # TH56BV for the 3 bike model isn't inexpensive, however because the rack uses only 2 rubber coated straps to attach to the vehicle (2-4 less points of contact than other racks) and long feet that touch the vehicle (spreading out the force applied to the trunk lid and bumper over a larger area), in my opinion theOutWay is much less likely to damage your vehicle than any other trunk mounted bike rack we offer. Finally, the OutWay is ridiculously easy to install and remove, as you'll see if you click the video I've linked for you.

If you'll be transporting women's bikes or bikes with sharply-angled top tubes, you might also consider a frame adapter bar like part # 64005. The bar spans the distance between the handlebar gooseneck and the seat post, which provides a secondary attachment point for the bike rack. This allows the bike to be carried level, which maximizes ground clearance. I'll link you to a video showing how the adapter bar works.

expert reply by: Mike L

0