Spare Me Pro

Thule always tries to think of everything and they provided all the options I needed for this to be a simple and effecient installation.I have a jeep cherokee, it has a 31" spare tire on an after market tire swing that is offset to my passenger side. Using a hitch bike rack would prevent me from accessing the rear of my jeep so I researched this carrier.Thule knows that people have different tire sizes so they have options for us. Short, Med, Long. They provide 2 different sized brackets with additional thread extenders if needed for the main support bolt.They also took into consideration vehicles, like mine, that have offset tires. I was able center this carrier on my vehicle by simply installing the unit with an option explained in the instructions. Otherwise one of my bike tires would be over extending passed the width of my truck.THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE AWESOME. Take the time to read them especially if you have an oversized tire. There is a whole bunch of stuff in the box when you open it, so read the instructions and it will tell you what each parts purpose is.There are 2 locks INCLUDED in this kit, it not only locks the carrier to your tire but at the same time it is locking your tire to your vehicle. Extra security??? why not. There is also a lock that will lock your bikes to the carrier, really sleek design on this carrier, having that built in bike lock is really nice. I'll still be using my old lock because i like to thread it through my wheels too.The carrier does not move, I loaded 2 bikes onto it and strapped them down the way the book explains. I went with the extra support from 2 brackets that snap onto the carrier brackets. No sway, the bikes don't hit eachother, it's really nice.When i take the bikes off, the carrier fold up and sits flat, you tighten it up and it doesn't rattle. And my jeep is all over the road, i feel all the bumps and don't miss any chance at driving off-road.Only thing that I will suggest for small framed bikes, or women/kids bikes is a Frame adapter. My hardtail bike has a thick upper tube and it won't fit accross the bars properly so i use a frame adapter. It's a bar that goes from your bike seat post to your front post, giving you a horizontal bar to lay over the bike carrier.Thule doesn't dissapoint, once again they impressed me. Quality product, built to last.

I got this for my new 2013 Wrangler because I wanted something that let me still use my gate without limitations. This does exactly that. Its not hard to install, the instructions are ok, but not great, you'll need good common sense to do it. It kinda leaves out a few things (that aren't hard to figure out) and some of the explanations aren't thorough enough. But you'll figure it out.The rack is sturdy, and pretty well made. Installed properly it is very solid and secure. My tires are oversized, and this kit includes hardware to accommodate them. The instructions recommend certain configurations for certain tire sizes, but I found these to be inaccurate. I swapped pieces until I found the best fit, and I would suggest doing that. Also, be advised, this rack, whether up or down, will be in your line of sight thru the back window. I have a soft top and the rack is level with my center brake light when the rack is up for a bike.The rack holds two bikes, and the cradles are adjustable to hold different styles so you can find a good fit for your bike. You just turn them to the desired angle. It advises a 75lb max for the rack, so 2 of most bikes will fall within that parameter. I have a 29er and its a big bike so it sticks out both sides, but not past the fender, so I don't have any worries about it getting hit while I'm driving. The cradles have rubber straps to secure the bikes and while you have to pull on them good and hard to get a nice fit, they are secure and won't scratch your bike. It also has a cable to lock over the bikes, and this is a tight fit because the cable isn't long. It comes with a strap for over fat tires as an extra security measure, and another to go around the bike frame and rack so your bike won't wobble around. If you use all the secures, it'll take about 5 minutes to snug-on your bike until you get used to it.With this rack I have full use of my Wrangler's gate at all times, bike on or off. Even with my over-sized bike my gate opens as far as I could need and the bike never touches the Jeep at all. I have had no issues with this rack and my bike has been safe and sound. I will say, I have given four stars instead of five because I think this rack is overpriced for what it is and its quality level, even on Amazon, which is the cheapest place I found. Not that its a bad rack, but it is definitely over-priced.

I decided on the Thule bike rack for my Jeep Wrangler based on good reviews on Amazon and elsewhere. The product looked sturdy and well constructed upon arrival. The ability to customize the rack to fit a wide variety of tire and wheel combos was important since I have a lift, oversize tires (31") and aftermarket wheels with more offset than stock.The test fit went fine until I tried to disassemble. The stand off bolt, a piece designed to extend the threads of the bracket that fits behind the spare tire, came loose before the bolt that held the rack in place. No big deal. I got a long socket, took it apart and during final installation, I wanted to make sure the stand off bolt was nice and tight. I applied moderate pressure with my ratchet and sheared off the bolt. Mind you, this is the piece that holds the rack on your vehicle. It doesn't support the weight of the rack and bikes but it does accept the bolt that holds the rack tight to your tire.If you can't tighten this bolt securely without shearing it off, it could rattle loose during transport and leave your bikes in the middle of the highway or come out of the mounting bracket before the bolt that holds the rack on. The latter isn't the end of the world but the former is. The stand off bolt looked like cheap cast metal. I do a lot of mechanical work and only cheap bolts and fasteners that aren't properly hardened or forged break this easily. There are cheaper racks on Amazon but I went with the name brand. I returned the rack, I flat don't trust it even with a replacement part, and will buy different brand now.