What 2-Bike Hitch Rack do You Recommend for My 2 E-Bikes on My 2015 Hyundai Sonata?

Question

Question:

I was also looking at the Yakima on ramp bike rack for the 1.25 hitch as a possibility for my Sonata. Or maybe the Thule easy fold? & I do like the Saris you recommended as well. It is definitely less expensive! What are your thoughts about getting a bike rack that is compatible with a 1.25 & 2 inch receiver? I have heard that when you use adapters it can take away from the weight capacity. We also have a Ram truck with a 2 inch receiver, and a travel trailer!! So, with the Saris, could we use the rack on both the Sonata and the Ram, or would that not be recommended? For the travel trailer, we are considering the 23X59 Stromberg Carlson Cargo Carrier and the Bike adapter. Your thoughts? Not many of the e-bike racks are compatible with the travel trailers. We will attach it to the trailer bumper.

asked by: Cheryl F

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Expert Reply:

For a great 2-bike electric bike rack for your 2015 Hyundai Sonata, I recommend the Saris Freedom Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount # SA4412B or the fat-bike version # SA4412B-FB. The great thing is that the Freedom comes with a high 60-pound per-bike weight capacity and accommodates bikes with wheelbases up to 48 inches long. Another great benefit of the Freedom is that the bike clamps adjust anywhere along the central mast. This eliminates the need of a bike frame adapter bar if you have women's bikes, children's bikes, or step-thru frame styles. It also comes with an 8-inch rise for extra ground clearance. For theft-deterrence, I recommend purchasing the Hitch Tite Locking Anti-Rattle Hitch Pin # SA3022 along with the etrailer Cable Lock # e98891 to lock the rack to the hitch and your bikes to the rack.

If you need a hitch receiver on your 2015 Sonata, we only carry 1-1/4" hitches. For the best one available, that is the Curt Hitch - 1-1/4" # C11402. This hitch not only provides you with 200 pounds of maximum tongue weight capacity and 2,000 pounds of maximum gross towing capacity, it also comes with the quickest installation time of any hitch we carry for your vehicle (takes approximately 50 minutes to install). As far as compatibility, the hitch fits hybrid and non-hybrid models. I went ahead and attached a video that shows the installation on a 2016 model. The process on a 2015 model is nearly identical.

It is important to note that since all we carry are Class I 1-1/4" hitches for your 2015 Sonata, you most likely will not be able to use the Saris Freedom models with your ebikes. This is because the Freedom only works with Class I hitches at a reduced capacity (35 pounds per bike). For a great alternative, the best bet is the Thule EasyFold XT # TH903202. The EasyFold XT is compatible with a Class I 1-1/4" hitch without reducing its capacity.

expert reply by: Bob C

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Cheryl F.

1/1/0001

I was also looking at the Yakima on ramp bike rack for the 1.25 hitch as a possibility for my Sonata. Or maybe the Thule easy fold? & I do like the Saris you recommended as well. It is definitely less expensive! What are your thoughts about getting a bike rack that is compatible with a 1.25 & 2 inch receiver? I have heard that when you use adapters it can take away from the weight capacity. We also have a Ram truck with a 2 inch receiver, and a travel trailer!! So, with the Saris, could we use the rack on both the Sonata and the Ram, or would that not be recommended? For the travel trailer, we are considering the 23X59 Stromberg Carlson Cargo Carrier and the Bike adapter. Your thoughts? Not many of the e-bike racks are compatible with the travel trailers. We will attach it to the trailer bumper.

Reply

Bob C.

3/15/2022

I recommend the Thule EasyFold XT - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches # TH903202 over the OnRamp - 1-1/4" Hitches # Y96FR primarily because the EasyFold XT is compatible with both 1-1/4" and 2" hitches. This may give you more compatibility between your Sonata and your Ram. Also, the EasyFold comes with a slightly wider integrated ramp and provides you with a longer shank for bumper clearance and hatch clearance with the tilting mechanism (8 inches from the center of the pinhole to the upright mast). Also, like the Saris Freedom # SA4412B or the fat-bike version # SA4412B-FB, you do not need to purchase a bike frame adapter bar with the EasyFold XT. If you have fat-bike tires that measure between 3 to 4-11/16 inches wide, you do need to use the fat bike straps # TH985101. As far as your concern about combination 1-1/4" and 2" racks, this factor does not decrease the overall weight capacity of the hitch. The 50% decrease in capacity only applies in cases when you use hitch extenders or longer hitch adapters. Since the piece that makes the EasyFold XT does not add any length to the overall rack, it does not reduce the hitch's capacity. This is the same with the Saris Freedom. Ultimately, if you want the easy of a ramp, I recommend going with the EasyFold XT over the Saris Freedom. It is also a factor that the EasyFold XT is compatible with Class I 1-1/4" hitch receivers. If, however, you are not concerned about the easy of loading your bikes onto the platform, the Saris Freedom is the way to go if you have a Class II or Class III hitch. It is also good to mention that you will receive 8 inches of additional rise when using the Freedom. This is a great advantage over the EasyFold XT. As far as the 23x59 Stromberg Carlson Cargo Carrier for 2" Hitches - Steel - 500 lbs # CC-100 with the Bike Rack Adapter for Stromberg Carlson Hitch Mounted Cargo Carrier # CC-125 does technically work with your travel trailer. However, the adapter loops are pretty narrow; they only fit bikes with tires up to 2-1/4" wide. With that being said, if you have wider tires, I recommend going with a travel-trailer approved rack like the Swagman E-Spec Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount # S94FR along with the fat tire cradles # S64679 if your bikes measure between 3-5 inches wide.

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