Recommended Hitch Mounted 3 Bike Platform Rack for 2018 Subaru Forester

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Question:

For your 2018 Subaru Forester, the Curt hitch that meets your criteria and is a confirmed fit is the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2" # C13144 and will work great for a 3 bike rack. For a 3 bike carrier, I recommend going with a platform rack because it supports the bikes by the wheels. The Saris 3 bike was discontinued, but the Kuat Transfer # KU24FR is a similar choice that will also make loading easy due to the design where you can walk in between the rack to load the first and second bikes. Securing the bikes by the wheels is also easy with this design because the ratcheting hooks are easy to secure from this location. I prefer platform racks over hanging racks because there is limited frame contact...in this case no frame contact...and no bike adapter bars are needed to transport bikes level.

asked by: Jim H

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

For your 2018 Subaru Forester, the Curt hitch that meets your criteria and is a confirmed fit is the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2" # C13144 and will work great for a 3 bike rack.

For a 3 bike carrier, I recommend going with a platform rack because it supports the bikes by the wheels. The Saris 3 bike was discontinued, but the Kuat Transfer # KU24FR is a similar choice that will also make loading easy due to the design where you can walk in between the rack to load the first and second bikes. Securing the bikes by the wheels is also easy with this design because the ratcheting hooks are easy to secure from this location.

I prefer platform racks over hanging racks because there is limited frame contact...in this case no frame contact...and no bike adapter bars are needed to transport bikes level.

expert reply by: Jason S

1

Jim

8/28/2017

For your 2018 Subaru Forester, the Curt hitch that meets your criteria and is a confirmed fit is the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2" # C13144 and will work great for a 3 bike rack. For a 3 bike carrier, I recommend going with a platform rack because it supports the bikes by the wheels. The Saris 3 bike was discontinued, but the Kuat Transfer # KU24FR is a similar choice that will also make loading easy due to the design where you can walk in between the rack to load the first and second bikes. Securing the bikes by the wheels is also easy with this design because the ratcheting hooks are easy to secure from this location. I prefer platform racks over hanging racks because there is limited frame contact...in this case no frame contact...and no bike adapter bars are needed to transport bikes level.

Jason S.

8/28/2017

Based on the information you gave, I recommend the Kuat Transfer 3 Bike Platform Rack # KU24FR. As you stated, it is a little heavier than a hanging rack, but I believe the platform style rack will be much easier to use to load your bikes. It does way 51 lbs, but once installed, it has really nice folding and tilting features using a foot lever instead of a hand lever allowing you to use both hands to control the load. The design allows you to step in the middle just like that Saris rack, but you won't need to lift bikes as high to get them into the cradles and you can secure one wheel at a time. This rack is definitely one of our most popular racks with customers for ease of use and durability.

Answer 1

I have a couple reasons Anthony, that I feel like makes the Kuat Transfer #KU24FR much nicer to use than the RockyMounts MonoRail Bike Rack #RKY10004-10005. With as deep as the 3 bike racks are I like on the Kuat you do not have the full length trays…

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Answer 2

Yes, you can use the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #C11416 on your 2021 Honda HR-V LX, to be able to carry 2 bikes. This receiver will fit all trim levels and both the FWD and AWD drive types. As you are going to be carrying a bike rack an important…

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Answer 3

The straight-forward answer is no, you should never carry 3 bikes in a Class I hitch. Any trailer hitch manufacturer will confirm this. Even though it would seem like using a lighter bike rack like the Thule Helium Aero 3 #TH9043PRO would keep the…

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Answer 4

Great question, Travis. With the rack folded up for storage, the Outpace 2 Bike rack #TH39SA only adds about 10 inches to the back of most SUVs, and about 27" total when folded down for use. That’s compact enough for most garages, especially on…

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Answer 5

Congrats on the possible purchase! To add a hitch to a 2018 Honda HR-V, I recommend the Curt item #C11416. This class I hitch with a 1-1/4" receiver is custom fit and bolts to an HR-V with included hardware. It has a 200 lbs tongue weight…

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Answer 6

The Draw-Tite #75876 and the Curt #C13144 are very similar hitches. Both are Class III 2 inch hitches with 3500 lbs. GTW and 525 lbs. TW; making them both excellent options for your Forester. Check out the links below for some helpful installation…

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Answer 7

There are several hitches we offer that require modifying or removing the heat sheild for the exhaust. It has never been an issue for those vehicles that the heat sheild was removed. In a worst case scenario you might feel the floor in that area of…

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Answer 8

The Yakima HoldUp 4 Bike Platform Rack part #Y02443-2 will accommodate kid's bikes with wheels as small as 20 inches. According to Yakima, they do not recommend using the Yakima HoldUp with kid's bikes that have smaller than 20" wheels.…

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Answer 9

At the rear of a trailer or RV the ride quality is very rough when compared to the ride quality at the rear of a passenger vehicle. Reason being the suspension isn't as sophisticated and there is a longer distance between the rear axle and the…

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Answer 10

I do have a solution for you but when I spoke with my contact at Saris he said that the smallest diameter tire that the Freedom SuperClamp EX #SA4026F can accommodate is a 20" wheel. Since your kids bike is smaller than that you wouldn't be…

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Answer 11

Great News! The Saris #SA4414B Freedom 4 bike rack will accommodate all four of your bikes, even the small 12" bike. The wheel baskets can be adjusted toward the center to fit bikes with a smaller wheelbase. I have attached a picture of the…

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Answer 12

Platform bike racks do offer several advantages like the one you mentioned of not needing adapter for kids or women's bikes. They also are much easier to load and hold the bikes in a more stable way. The Transfer part #KU24FR that you referenced…

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Recommended Hitch Mounted 3 Bike Platform Rack for 2018 Subaru Forester

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