Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2011 Ford Edge

Review of the Thule Hitch Bike Racks on a 2011 Ford Edge

Today on our 2011 Ford Edge, we're going to go ahead and test fit the Thule Vertex 4 Bike Rack, part number TH9029XT. We already have a bike installed on our rack. Let's go ahead and take a closer look and show you how everything hooks up. We have three points of contact on the bike's frame. There are two straps on top and one to the side, which is the anti-sway strap, which keeps the bike from moving back and forth, possibly hitting the bike in front of it. Let's go ahead and take that off. Now, it's always good practice to put the straps back into place once you take them off so they're not flapping around while you're driving or so you don't lose them while you're driving. Next, I'm going to go ahead and give you some measurements. We're first going to measure the distance added to the vehicle with the bike rack installed, from the bumper.

It looks like right about 37 inches. Next we'll go ahead and do the ground clearance, which is going to be from here. That looks to be about 11-1/4 inches. The closest point to the bumper, which would be about right here, looks to be about 4 inches. These arms do fold down for close quarter situations, such as parking. All you have to do is lift up on this latch here and it will fold down and snap back into place, and you'll know they're secure.

Only one measurement has changed at this point, and that's the total distance. That's changed to right about 11-1/2 inches. This bike rack also does fold away from your vehicle so that you can get into your cargo area by lifting up this latch here. Now you have access to your cargo area with plenty of space on either side of the bike rack to get to what you need. To lift it back up, you have to lift the latch again. Just push up and you'll hear that click again. This bike rack is available for both 2 inch and 1-1/4 hitches.

It also comes with an anti-rattle bolt, which keeps it nice and secure while you're driving. That will do it for the Thule Vertex 4 Bike Rack, part number TH9029XT, on our 2011 Ford Edge. Here it is on our test course. We'll start by going through the slalom. This is going to show us the side to side action which simulates turning corners or evasive maneuvers. Next we are at the alternate speed bumps, which we'll see the twisting action.

This will simulate hitting a curb or pothole, or driving over uneven pavement. Finally, we have the full speed bumps, where we will see the up and down action, which is just like driving out of a parking lot, garage or driveway.