Does the Thule Helium 3-bike Prevent Theft at Tilt-Down Bolt?

Published 04/05/2021

Question:

Is there something that prevents someone from just unbolting the bolt and nut at the tilt-down bolt feature and removing the top half of the rack with bikes attached? The hitch locks to the receiver and the bikes lock to the top of the carrier, but the two halves of the rack are just attached with a regular bolt and nut from what I can see. Is there something I am missing? Also, did you experience much issue with clearance or access to tighten the knob in any of your vehicle test fitments? Thanks!

asked by: Andrew W

Helpful Expert Reply:

There is nothing that prevents someone from unbolting the bolt at the tilt-down bolt feature from the Thule Helium Pro 3 Bike Rack # TH9043PRO. The locking cable is a huge deterrent for a would-be thief, and the thief would have to have a lot of time in order to unbolt the rack from the tilting point. If there is still worry about the security of the tilt-down bolt, I recommend unbolting the rack and stowing it safely in your vehicle when not in use.

With clearance or access to the tightening knob, we did not have any issues. However, if you want me to confirm the hatch clearance with the make and model of your vehicle, I would be happy to help.

expert reply by: Robert C