Will the Thule Passage 2 Bike Rack Fit on a 2009 Lexus RX 350  

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Expert Reply:

I can tell you that Thule does list all of their trunk mounted bike racks as a fit for your 2009 Lexus RX 350, however, I would be cautious about using a trunk mounted bike rack on your vehicle if it has the spoiler at the top of the rear hatch. Spoilers are typically not designed to support any type of weight and could be damaged with the weight of the bike rack and bikes.

One way to tell if your spoiler can handle the load of your bike rack and bikes is to see what kind of spoiler it is. If it is metal and is just a solid extension of the door, then you should have no problem using a trunk mounted bike rack with this spoiler. If it is a separate plastic or fiberglass piece from your metal door, then I would not recommend using a trunk mounted bike rack as this type of spoiler will bend or even brake.

I would recommend looking into using a hitch mounted bike rack like the Swagman Trailhead Bike Rack, # S63360. This bike rack will fit into 1-1/4 inch or 2 inch trailer hitches and has a tilting feature that gives you access to the rear cargo area of your vehicle without having to remove the bike rack each time. Another advantage to a hitch mounted bike rack is that there is no contact between the bike rack and your vehicle essentially eliminating the possibility of denting or scratching from over tightening or overloading of the bike rack.

If you do not have a trailer hitch on your vehicle, then you could install the Curt Class III Trailer Hitch, # 13530, if you are interested in this option.

expert reply by: John H

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