Can I Attach a Bike Rack to The Back of A Cargo Carrier on My 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hitch?  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Great question. The reason you cannot attach a bike rack to the shank of a separate cargo basket is that they are not designed to work together. Adding another accessory to your cargo carrier reduces the tongue weight (TW) capacity of your hitch by half. The added length of the bike rack on the end of the carrier will allow greater leverage to be applied to the hitch tube, which causes the loss of capacity.

Combination racks like the Hollywood Racks SE2 Bike Rack with Cargo Carrier, # HR1450Z-85 are reinforced and built to handle the additional leverage, which is why they typically weigh more and are more expensive than cargo baskets alone.

If you are interested alternative options, I'd be happy to help you find something that works for your needs. Have you considered using a roof-mounted cargo bag like # RL100S30 to carry your cargo? This bag is very roomy and your Crosstrek is rated to carry up to 150 lb on the roof. If you have a roof rack, the addition of a roof basket like the Thule Canyon # TH859XT, would also solve your storage problem.

Let me know if you would like further info on options for carrying cargo on your 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek. I've provided a link to a video of the Malone cargo basket on a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek which will give you an idea of how it would look on your vehicle.

expert reply by: Amy W

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