Carrying Four E Bikes On A 2019 Subaru Ascent

Published 07/11/2021

Question:

Will the front hook go down to the 14 inch tires?

asked by: JOSEPH C

Helpful Expert Reply:

E bikes test the weight limits of many bike platform racks. For example, the Saris MTR Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount, can carry heavier bikes in the trays closest to your vehicle, but the maximum weight the trays can hold drops on the two trays furthest from the vehicle. As a result, your e-bikes will be too heavy for the last two trays of this hitch bike rack, even if you do only carry three bikes most of the time. You will still exceed the recommended weight limit. The addition of fenders can also limit your options. Your e bike has a rear fender, which will cause difficulty with this Saris bike rack. While you will not have any trouble securing the front wheel with this rack, the fender is at the rear of the front fork, the rear wheel's fender will interfere with the securing of the bike.

Ramps do make the loading of bikes easier and we do offer racks with ramps, but the racks we have with this capability only come in two bike options. One of the things I recommend to people with e bikes is removing the battery while transporting their bikes. This is a good practice, even without the added benefit of weight savings. If this is done, your Jetson Bolt Pro will not exceed the weight limit of my rack recommendation.

I recommend the Thule T2 Pro XTR Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount, part # TH69TX. This rack has an anti rattle hitch pin that eliminates movement between the hitch bike rack and the hitch receiver. It has a total weight limit of 160lbs and an individual bike limit of 40 lbs. You will not exceed this limit if you remove your batteries during transport. This rack has a handle on the front of the rack that makes the raising and tilting of the rack easier. It can be tilted while empty or loaded with bikes, so you will always have access to the rear of your vehicle. This rack secures the bikes by its wheels, so your frames will not be damaged during transport. This rack will be able to lock to your vehicle and also lock the bikes to the rack.

I have included a product description link and a video review link below.

expert reply by: Mark Smith

Joseph C.

7/11/2021

Will the front hook go down to the 14 inch tires?

Mark S.

7/11/2021

Unfortunately, it will not work on 14" tires. I do have a recommendation that will. The Saris SuperClamp EX 4 Bike Platform Rack - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Tilting, part # SA4026F, is the perfect rack for you. It has wheel straps to help secure bikes, this comes in handy on smaller tires or bikes with fenders. The rack can tilt-away from the vehicle, with or without bikes, so you can access the rear of your vehicle. It comes with anti-rattle hitch lock to eliminate movement between the hitch receiver and the bike rack and secure the rack to your vehicle. You can also lock the bikes to the rack with the included cables. I have included product description links and video review links below.