Recommendations for Tilting Hitch Mount 2-Bike Rack for a 2006 Honda CR-V That Will Clear Spare Tire  

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Expert Reply:

I know you are looking for a hitch mounted bike rack, I believe I have a solution that would work much better and covers all of your need parameters. To carry 2 bikes on your 2006 Honda CR-V the Thule Spare Me 2 # TH963PRO is a spare tire bike rack solution. Using this carrier will solve a lot of your issues being that you can access your cargo easily and it does fold down when not in use. Another advantage is if your vehicle has the Honda cover on the spare tire, the center attachment point for the Spare Me 2 carrier can be left on the spare tire when not in use and the cover will simply go over it as well.

Another advantage to the Spare Me 2 is that it has a locking system that not only secures your rack to your vehicle but also your bikes to your rack. It has a One-Key locking system that locks the rack to the adapter plate and also has an integrated cable lock that secures your bikes to your rack if either of them happen to be left unattended.

I know that the spare tire on your vehicle is offset to the right and the Spare Me 2 accommodates that fact by having an adjustable mounting point. I have attached the instructions which will detail how to adjust to fit your vehicle. I would recommend that if you are carrying bikes other than the straight bar mens bike that you check out the Thule Adapter Bar # TH982XT which give the bikes a level ride as well as ground clearance.

Please note that when using the Thule Spare Me 2, that when you access your cargo area the bikes need to be removed due to the weight of the bikes and the weight capacity of the hinges on the cargo door frame.

If you would rather use a hitch mounted solution, to determine what hitch mount bike rack will clear your spare tire you will need to measure from the center of the pin hole to the outside edge of the spare tire. I have attached a FAQ article that covers the process of this measurement.

I believe the measurement should be in the neighborhood of 9 inches which I derived from previous research. For a hanging bike rack, I recommend the Swagman Trailhead 2 Bike # S63360 for a couple of reasons. First, because the clearance is approximately 11 inches and secondly because it will tilt away from your vehicle giving you limited access to your cargo area. This rack, as you wanted, has arms that fold down. I have attached a short demonstration video of this bike rack.

If you are planning to carry either womens, childrens or alternative frame bikes, I suggest you check out the Swagman Easy-Out Adapter Bar # 64005. Using this bar not only provides a level ride but also ground clearance for the bike. I have also attached a short video of this adapter.

Finally, as far as hanging racks go, the only issue left is safety. The safety of your bikes and your rack when they are unattended can be reinforced with the use of the Swagman Anti-Rattle Lock # S64029 for the rack and for your bikes, a simple cable lock such as Tow Ready # TR63255 would work well. I also have the short review video attached for the Swagman anti-rattle lock.

expert reply by: Lori W

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