How to Carry Four Bikes on 2008 Chevy Cobalt Sedan  

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Expert Reply:

If your Cobalt sedan is a Sport Model, I would recommend the Draw-Tite Class I receiver, part # 24756. For a non-Sport model, go with the Curt Class I, part # C11430. However due to the very limited weight capacity of the Class I receiver, both the hitch and bicycle rack manufacturers all agree that any bike rack used on a Class I receiver should not be used to carry any more than two bikes. Carrying additional bikes can place the weight of the bikes too far away from the hitch, causing additional leverage to be applied to the hitch as well as the points where the hitch attaches to the vehicle. This extra leverage can cause the hitch to bend or the attachment points to fail, which would result in the loss of the bikes during transport.

The Kuat Beta you mentioned, part # B202-114 would be an excellent choice for carrying two bikes. The aluminum construction makes the rack very lightweight, at only 13 lbs yet the rack is very rugged. The rack also features an anti-rattle system that prevents the rack from moving around in the receiver.

If you were to go with a trunk mounted rack like the Thule OutWay part # TH56BV, you could carry up to three bikes. The Raceway uses ratcheting cables that are super easy to use, rather than the difficult and clumsy buckles and straps that other racks use. The ratcheting cables allow the rack to be installed or removed from the vehicle in seconds.

To carry women's bikes or bikes with sharply angled top tubes or step-through frames with a trunk or hitch mounted bike rack, using a frame adapter like the Thule # TH982XT or Kuat # UB01 is recommended. The adapter spans the distance between the seat post and the handle bar gooseneck, and provides a level attachment point to the bike rack so the bike has greater ground clearance and is not carried at an angle.

Any remaining bikes could be carried on the roof of your vehicle with a roof mounted bike rack that would mount to a roof rack. A reasonably-priced roof rack could be constructed using the following parts:

Rhino Rack 2500 Series Roof Rack, part # RRVA118B-2
2500 Series Legs, part # RRRLKVA
Vehicle Specific Clamp Kit, part # DK181

Once the rack is installed, the remaining one or two bikes (depending on whether you went with a trunk or hitch mounted bike rack) could be carried on the roof by using a rack that would connect to the crossbars of the roof rack. The Thule UpRide Roof Bike Rack, part # STH599000 would be a good choice that is economically priced and easy to use.

I have linked you to the products I recommended as well as product demonstration or install videos for them if available.

expert reply by: Mike L

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