What Hitch Is Recommended For A Toyota Highlander Carrying A Bike Rack

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Question:

We just purchased a hitch from you that we plan to have installed. We are also looking for a bike rack to attach to the hitch. We will be carrying 4 bikes- two adult one male, one female and two kids bikes 20 and 24 inches. What bike rack would you recommend?

asked by: Jill G

0

Expert Reply:

If your only purpose for the hitch is a bike carrier, I would narrow down your choices to two hitches. The Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # C13200 and etrailer.com Trailer Hitch Receiver # e98844. Both are solid options that provide the same 2" of clearance from the top of the receiver to the farthest point of the bumper on your 2014 Toyota Highlander. Both provide a low profile, hidden appearance and so the key difference is for preference for the matte finish of the etrailer hitch or the glossy finish of the Curt. We have seen the matte finish be less prone to scratching and often blends in nicely on modern vehicles.

I would be happy to recommend a bike rack as well if you could let me know what kind of biking you do, the types of bikes you need to carry, and any special considerations such as ease of loading or if you intend to transport curved frame bikes. In the meantime I've included a help article for selecting a hitch mounted bike rack.

expert reply by: Patrick R

0

Jill

9/6/2019

We just purchased a hitch from you that we plan to have installed. We are also looking for a bike rack to attach to the hitch. We will be carrying 4 bikes- two adult one male, one female and two kids bikes 20 and 24 inches. What bike rack would you recommend?

Reply

Patrick R.

9/6/2019

Thank you for purchasing your hitch here at etrailer.com. I think you will be able to select a great rack from these 3 options below as well. The Thule Hitching Post Pro - Folding Tilting 4 Bike Rack w Anti-Sway # TH934XTR is a great choice for a simple rack from a quality manufacturer. The tilting feature allows you to access the hatch and the rack folds up to stow away nicely when not carrying bikes. The trade off with this model is that you have to exert some effort to get the bikes up and onto the carrier. If the women's bike has a curved frame, an adapter bar like the Swagman Deluxe Bike Frame Adapter Bar # 64005 can help a great deal loading bikes onto this style rack so all bikes are mounted level. The included video below demonstrates how useful this can be. A platform style bike rack that is my recommendation is the Saris Freedom 4 Bike Platform Rack # SA4414B. It sits lower to the ground and mounts the bike by the frame using straps that make the loading and unloading process much easier. This rack also tilts away and stows away well behind your Highlander.

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Answer 1

Trailer hitch installs and trailer wiring installs are totally separate processes. It wouldn't be a situation where "well, you're already half way there may as well do the wiring too." So if you wanted to start with a hitch now like…

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Answer 2

I did some research on the towing capacities of the 2018 Toyota Highlander and it looks like only the LE model with the 2.7 liter engine is limited to 1,500 lbs of trailer weight whereas the other models with the larger 3.5 liter engine can tow up to…

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Answer 3

Thank you for the picture. The correct roof rack option for your Highlander Plus is the Rhino-Rack RVP Roof Rack for Fixed Mounting Points #RRRVP37. You can see the two different sections in each of the black side sections on the roof of your…

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Answer 4

The spare tire for a 2019 Toyota Highlander is stored under the vehicle. If you check out the attached installation video for the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e98844 you can see the empty location under the vehicle where the spare tire should be.…

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Answer 5

Take a look at the rear of your 2019 Toyota Highlander in the spare tire compartment. You should be able to find a white connector like you see on the right hand side of the picture I've attached. If there is nothing plugged into that connector…

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Answer 6

I looked up the online version of your owner's manual, which states that a 2014 Toyota Highlander without a tow package and with a V6 engine, is limited to a maximum allowable gross trailer weight of 2,000 lbs. The tongue weight (TW) should not…

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Answer 7

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 8

There is only one difference between the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #C13176 and etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e98909 that fit your 2020 Chevrolet Colorado, which is the finish. The Curt trailer hitch has a glossy black finish while the etrailer…

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Answer 9

I cannot say for sure how you can tell whether or not you have the converter on your Highlander but I can help you out with the trailer harness installation. The only sure way to tell which harness you need is to check out what wiring you have in the…

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Answer 10

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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What Hitch Is Recommended For A Toyota Highlander Carrying A Bike Rack

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