Trunk Bike Rack Recommendations For Carrying Electra Townies On A 2018 Infinity QX30

Published 08/23/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Thule OutWay Platform Trunk Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - Adjustable Trays

(15)

$599.95

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

(36)

$233.35

Rhino-Rack Bike Frame Adapter Bar for Women's and Alternative Frame Bikes

(169)

$44.99

Hatch Huggers for Saris Trunk Mount Bike Racks

(31)

$24.99

Saris Bones EX 3 Bike Rack - Trunk Mount - Adjustable Arms

(90)

$259.99

Question:

The racks I tried leave one of the tires dangerously close to the ground due to angle of the bar on women and men. Can I carry these on my trunk without the wheels almost touching the ground?

asked by: Santos

Expert Reply:

This is a tricky question because there seem to be some limitations to how you can attach a trunk rack to your vehicle. Thule does not even offer a trunk bike rack that will fit your 2018 Infiniti QX30. As is stands, there is not a platform style trunk bike rack that will mount to your vehicle. However, if you still want trunk bike rack, Yakima and Saris have trunk bike rack options that will fit your vehicle.

If I am forced to choose a trunk bike rack, I would pick the Saris Bones 3, part # SA803. Imagine this, driving St. Louis to Los Angeles, and back, while carrying two bikes on a Saris Bones 2. I also made a separate trip from Washington, DC to St. Louis carrying two bikes on a different vehicle with a Saris Bones 3. I have traveled well over 4,000 miles carrying bikes with their racks. Here are some of the vehicle fit notes from Saris:

Part #3035 Hatch Hugger required to replace Top Hooks
2 BIKE / 70 LB LOAD LIMIT. Bikes must be located in positions closest to vehicle.

I would still recommend the Bones 3. The fourth leg on the Bones 3 just offers a little more stability. Saris is my go to trunk rack company and the Bones 3 is my pick. By the way, the Saris Bones 2 and 3 are both compatible, but with their own version of Yakima's anchor mode, which are the Hatch Huggers for Saris Trunk Mount Bike Racks, part # SA3035. Here are some of the vehicle fit notes from Saris:

I have included product description links, video installation and demo links of the Saris Bones bike racks, and a link to the Saris Bones bike racks on the etrailer website below.

expert reply by: Mark Smith

Frame adapter on a bike
(click to enlarge)

Santos

8/23/2021

The racks I tried leave one of the tires dangerously close to the ground due to angle of the bar on women and men. Can I carry these on my trunk without the wheels almost touching the ground?

Mark S.

8/23/2021

Yes, you can carry your Electra Townies on your trunk bike rack. The Townie has a top tube that angles downward. If you carry the it by the bike's top tube you end up carrying it at an angle. What you can do to counter that is use a frame adapter with each of the Townie bikes. The Rhino-Rack Bike Frame Adapter Bar for Women's and Alternative Frame Bikes, part # RRRBCA021, creates a virtual top tube for your bike. When you carry your bikes on your trunk bike rack you will hang them from this tube. This will keep your bikes level during transport and you will avoid those issues, such as your tires hanging very low while on your trunk bike rack. The adapter attaches to the stem of your bike and the seat/seat post interface. I have included a product description and a picture of a frame adapter on a bike below.