Is It Better to Clamp Lower or Higher on Bike with Thule Epos

Updated 04/02/2025 | Published 03/25/2025

Question:

With the Thule Epos bike rack, is it better to clamp higher or lower on the bike frame or does it matter? Also, any concern with adding on the Thule 7” hitch extender to the Epos rack on 20ft Ram Promaster van? And can you use the tilt away feature with 2 e-bikes totaling 100 lbs without concern? Thanks!

asked by: RG

Expert Reply:

Hey RG, anywhere you can get a solid grab with the frame clamps of the Thule Epos part # TH99XE will work great realistically. Technically the higher the mount the better leverage it would have over the bike so that would be a slightly more secure place to use. There's also no reason you couldn't use the Thule Hitch Extender part # TH55JV with this rack and your Promaster. Tilt feature with e-bikes loaded will also work just fine too.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Bike Loaded Thule Epos
(click to enlarge)

4/2/2025

Thanks Jameson. We tried the Kuat 10in extender with the Thule Epos rack to provide clearance to open the van rear doors and allow for a door mounted spare tire. Unfortunately it does not provide enough clearance by almost 2 inches to open the doors. We own the Epos rack so trying to make it work. Do you have a recommendation to solve our clearance issue? Im assuming we don’t want to extend the extender? Possibly a swing away attachment?

Jameson C.

4/2/2025

@Rg The Yakima Backswing swing away hitch extender part # Y02483 would be your best option. It moves the rack back a bit but more importantly it allows you to swing the rack out and away from the vehicle.