Bike Rack Options to Carry 4 Bikes with a 2017 Volvo XC90

Updated 08/19/2017 | Published 08/18/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(21)

$233.19

etrailer Cable Lock - 10' Long - 5/16" Diameter - Steel - Keyed Alike

(220)

$44.07

Thule Apex XT Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting

(212)

$499.95

Thule Snug Tite Hitch Lock and Anti-Rattle Device

(556)

$69.90

Kuat Ubar Bike Frame Adapter Bar for Women's and Alternative Frame Bikes

(131)

$49.00

Question:

We are looking for a 4 bike trunk rack for our 2017 Volvo XC90. We went to the Volvo dealership and their solution requires installing cutting the bumper, installing a hitch and lots of $ etc. Have read from a previous QandA that you say the Yakima Hangout part Y02638 will fit our car... does this come in a 4 bike version? Is there a four bike 2017 Volvo XC90 compatible trunk rack? Many thanks for answering this question and for all the invaluable information your website provides!

asked by: Toni

Helpful Expert Reply:

To carry 4 bikes with your 2017 Volvo XC90 you do have a few different options, but the best way to go would be to install a trailer hitch receiver and use a hitch mounted bike rack. Since the most bikes that can be carried on a trunk mount bike rack is 3, the alternative solution would be to use a trunk mount bike rack and a roof rack to carry the bikes. A hitch mount bike rack is much easier to load and can be removed quicker than a trunk mount version.

For your XC90 I recommend installing the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # C53HR which is a Class III hitch with a 2-inch receiver. This install is pretty involved unless you are comfortable working with cars, I recommend calling a few shops around your area and inquiring about the cost for it to be installed. It does require that the center fascia be trimmed for installation.

Since you are looking at trunk mount options you are probably interested in a hanging style kind of bike rack. Your best option in this category is the Thule Apex 4 Bike Rack # TH9025XT. It comes with bike and rack locks to deter theft of your equipment and uses anti-sway straps to help prevent bike-to-bike contact while traveling. It can tilt without the bikes loaded for access to the rear cargo area and can be folded for extra rear clearance as well. The aluminum construction makes it very corrosion resistant and the RDT Cradles (Road Dampening Technology) make this bike rack compatible with the very fragile carbon fiber frame bikes. If you have any bikes with frames that do not have a horizontal top tube like a traditional men's bike does then you will want to use an Adapter # UB01 to ensure that the bike stays level and has maximum ground clearance.

The most cost-effective option from Thule would be the Thule Hitching Post Pro # TH934XTR. This is basically the rugged version of the Vertex where it comes with all of the same features, but it doesn't have the sleek look and you will need to use a cable lock # e98891 to deter theft of the bike and the same Snug-Tite Hitch Lock # THSTL2 to deter theft of the bike rack.

Keep in mind that the same rule applies for the Adapter Bar # UB01 for any of the hanging style bike racks.