Bike Rack Option for Limited Ground Clearance

Published 04/19/2017

Question:

now many inches can the bike from the ground on a hitch rack

asked by: Mark O

Helpful Expert Reply:

Sounds like you are asking about how much ground clearance is acceptable for bikes on a bike rack. There isn't a specific number that always works since there are many different factors that will affect what is going to work like the hilliness of the roads and the distance from the rear axle of the vehicle to the hitch of the vehicle.

If you have limited ground clearance I would go with a platform bike rack that has a rise in the shank for a couple reasons. They typically will drag the ground before the bike would which protects the bikes and because they hold the bikes from the bottom which gives a more concrete idea where the ground clearance would be. Plus the bikes are going to be totally level.

I really like the Saris Superclamp part # SA4025F for ground clearance. It has a decent rise in the shank at 5 inches and the bikes are held pretty close together which means less of an angle that can drag. This rack can also fit 2 inch (Class III) and 1-1/4 inch (Class II) hitches and weighs only 35 lbs. Check out the review video I attached as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C