Will the Kuat Transfer V2 Work on My 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited?

Updated 06/25/2021 | Published 06/23/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Kuat Transfer V2 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount

(322)

$549.00

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

(351)

$118.93

Curt Hitch Extender for 2" Hitch Receivers - 8" Long

(676)

$74.28

Question:

Will this rack work for a Jeep Wrangler with mounted on back? We have the new 2021 wrangler unlimited ecodiesel. My wife had them install the standard tow package. Judging from the bikes we have, heavy mountain e-bikes (full suspension bodies), I thought tire mount rack would work best. Some other flexible frame mounts like sari freedom I think will be quite difficult to get these heavy bikes up and on. I believe the tongue weight for this standard 2” class 2 hitch installed is 350 lbs so if this particular bike rack has a short post to receiver I was thinking of either swapping out for a longer hitch or adding a hitch extender (giving me half or ~175 lbs of tongue weight as I understand it). Unless you have other ideas?

asked by: Kevin B

Expert Reply:

If you have heavy mountain bikes, you are definitely going in the right direction of a hitch-mounted bike rack instead of a tire-mount rack. Since the current distance from the center of the hitch pinhole to the closest part of the Kuat Transfer V2 Bike Rack # KU84FR is 6-1/2 inches, a hitch extender will be your best route for trying to clear your spare tire.

If your hitch sits close to the bumper like the Curt Hitch - 2" # e98835, you are looking at around 7-1/2 inches of clearance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the face of the spare tire. I went ahead and attached a video that shows some of the dimensions on your vehicle with the etrailer hitch.

For increased shank distance, I recommend the Curt Hitch Extender for 2" Hitch Receivers - 8" Long # C45791. The Curt receiver will give you the added length you need to bypass your spare tire with the Kuat Transfer V2. You are correct in saying that using a hitch extender will decrease your hitch capacity to 50% (in your case, 175 pounds). Even with that decrease, you will still have plenty of weight capacity to mount your two heavy mountain bikes on your 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

expert reply by: Bob C