Hitch and Bike Rack Recommendation for 2011 Volvo V50 T-5 Wagon  

Question:

Expert Reply:

According to Curt Manufacturing, their # C11438 Class I receiver will fit your V50 T-5 R Design.

All the hitch and bike rack manufacturers agree that bike racks used in a Class I receiver should be limited to carrying no more than two bikes. This is due to the limited tongue weight capacity of the Class I hitch, which is usually 200 lbs. Although it is certainly possible that the weight of a bike rack plus three or more bikes would come in under the 200 lb figure, any additional bikes placed on a rack will place weight farther away from the receiver opening. As this distance lengthens, more leverage is applied to the receiver and its attachment points to the vehicle. If the leverage becomes excessive, it can damage the hitch or the vehicle itself.

The Thule Helium Aero, part # TH9042PRO is a popular hitch-mounted choice for your vehicle. Its aluminum construction means that the rack is extremely light, at just under 20 lbs. The rack features a locking anti-rattle system that secures the rack into the hitch receiver, and an integrated cable lock that will help deter theft.

To carry womens bikes or bikes with sharply angled top tubes or step-through frames, using a frame adapter like part # TH982XT 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.

expert reply by: Mike L

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