Sponsored

Bike Rack Options??

panda234

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2018
Threads
0
Messages
55
Reaction score
45
Location
Colorado
Vehicle(s)
2009 JKUR
So what's the point of a trailer hitch (that we all paid extra) if you can't put a bike rack on the back of a wrangler without extra extensions and issues with the backup camera! And this problem isn't going away, ALL NEW WRANGLERS WILL HAVE THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS TO COME.

This is crazy, some innovative business is going to figure this out and be very successful.
Well, the trailer hitch works pretty well to pull a trailer. :)

I don't see what the big deal is about using a hitch extension, and if you check out aCeMedic13's pictures, the backup camera still looks like it's usable, just not optimal. There are ways around both issues that are more optimal, but no company is going to bother because they will likely lose money on them due to the low volume.
Sponsored

 

deniska

Active Member
First Name
Dennis
Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Threads
2
Messages
35
Reaction score
38
Location
SF Bay Area
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep Wrangler JL Sahara
Putting a bike inside is not a solution for me - I frequently carry 3-4 bikes.

This is not just a new Wrangle problem, it’s an all Wrangler problem. I am likely to get cruicified for what I am about to say, but here it goes.

Wrangler is just not a practical vehicle. We buy it because we love the way it looks, or what it represents. Or because we love going way off-road. And we do this recognizing that we give up convenience, utility, and fuel efficiency. And we McGyver solutions to the shortcomings. Sometimes that makes us proud. Sometimes that makes us frustrated. Sometimes that makes us cringe.

My emotions on the topic are a bit all over the place at the moment. Last time I took the roof off and went cruising up Mt Diablo and got stuck off-roading where I should not have been, that made me smile ear-to-ear. Maybe I need to try that again and forget my hitch rack woes for a little while.
 

Saejin

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gene
Joined
Mar 2, 2018
Threads
40
Messages
738
Reaction score
560
Location
Colorado Springs
Vehicle(s)
JLUR - Firecracker Red
^^well I think 1Up will fit and possibly the Kuat Sherpa as it doesn’t have much of a rise to it. The issue with most racks is due to the folding mechanism they are about 6in higher than the actual hitch.

As for the camera and parkimf sensors that is an issue for every vehicle you put a hitch mounted rack on. Nothing you can do to allow the sensors to work with a bike rack. Rear view camera might still have a workaround.

Also, hit is for towing primarily, not bike racks. I’ve seen some cool trailers that you can mount 4 bikes on, haul a ton of comping gear on, etc.
 

Covfefe

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2017
Threads
26
Messages
1,057
Reaction score
1,185
Location
USA
Vehicle(s)
JLUSS
Would any of these fit a 92" long tandem bike? Besides the top tube mounted ones.
20643117_10209892916583902_1244378229368033810_o.jpg
 

Sponsored

Tunesoul

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kirk
Joined
Jan 28, 2018
Threads
44
Messages
489
Reaction score
624
Location
California
Vehicle(s)
1999 Jeep Wrangler Sport, 2012 Subaru Outback, 2018 Ocean Blue JLUR
Occupation
Owner of a Mobile Auto Paint Touch Up Co.
Putting a bike inside is not a solution for me - I frequently carry 3-4 bikes.

This is not just a new Wrangle problem, it’s an all Wrangler problem. I am likely to get cruicified for what I am about to say, but here it goes.

Wrangler is just not a practical vehicle. We buy it because we love the way it looks, or what it represents. Or because we love going way off-road. And we do this recognizing that we give up convenience, utility, and fuel efficiency. And we McGyver solutions to the shortcomings. Sometimes that makes us proud. Sometimes that makes us frustrated. Sometimes that makes us cringe.

My emotions on the topic are a bit all over the place at the moment. Last time I took the roof off and went cruising up Mt Diablo and got stuck off-roading where I should not have been, that made me smile ear-to-ear. Maybe I need to try that again and forget my hitch rack woes for a little while.
Off roading on Mt Diablo? You should take your rig down to Hollister Hills OHV, it's got some great beginner trails and some moderate trails that you can legally traverse!
 
Last edited:

smuddy

Well-Known Member
First Name
shane
Joined
Dec 7, 2017
Threads
17
Messages
458
Reaction score
527
Location
atlanta
Vehicle(s)
JLUR
Get a swing out carrier so you can get access to the tail gate. And, I guarantee you that a metal shop can take 2 hitch extenders, cut one down and then weld to the other to give an offset to the trailer post to give a better view of the camera. Could probably be done for less than a hundred. That's what I'm going to try but still waiting on my jeep so I'm probably 2 months out on reporting back with results when I do this.
 

smuddy

Well-Known Member
First Name
shane
Joined
Dec 7, 2017
Threads
17
Messages
458
Reaction score
527
Location
atlanta
Vehicle(s)
JLUR
Get a swing out carrier so you can get access to the tail gate. And, I guarantee you that a metal shop can take 2 hitch extenders, cut one down and then weld to the other to give an offset to the trailer post to give a better view of the camera. Could probably be done for less than a hundred. That's what I'm going to try but still waiting on my jeep so I'm probably 2 months out on reporting back with results when I do this.
Hmmm, I posted just thinking quickly. I'd be worried the welds wouldn't hold up to the weight of the rack and bikes. Maybe they could also slip on a high strength sleeve around both as well to make it stronger. Any welders out there reading this have any thoughts on it's strength in this configuration? It would have to hold roughly 100 lbs for 2 bikes.
 

smuddy

Well-Known Member
First Name
shane
Joined
Dec 7, 2017
Threads
17
Messages
458
Reaction score
527
Location
atlanta
Vehicle(s)
JLUR
If this would work, why wouldn't something similar work if it were welded to the side instead to give you an offset and better camera view?
BX88130.jpg
 

panda234

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2018
Threads
0
Messages
55
Reaction score
45
Location
Colorado
Vehicle(s)
2009 JKUR
If this would work, why wouldn't something similar work if it were welded to the side instead to give you an offset and better camera view?
BX88130.jpg
I assume you're talking about when the rack is folded up. If so, a side to side adjustment wouldn't help with the 1up, Kuat, or Raxter racks. All of them have bars that go all the way across. Being able to move the rack up or down a bit might help if you can find a position for the camera to see between the cross pieces.
 

Sponsored

jayz235

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jay
Joined
Feb 18, 2018
Threads
6
Messages
116
Reaction score
58
Location
Minneapolis
Vehicle(s)
Wrangler JLU Sahara
My Kuat Swing Away arrives this week and I will post up rear view camera photo to see how much the NV Base blocks the view then folded up. With the added spacing from the arm I'm hoping for a bit more view of the surrounding area which will be good enough for me. Being able to easily access everything in the back and frequently carry 3-4 bikes (plus 3-4 bags of gear) plus at a 250lbs carrying limit it can easily double as a step to access the roof if/when I add a rack later on.
 

deniska

Active Member
First Name
Dennis
Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Threads
2
Messages
35
Reaction score
38
Location
SF Bay Area
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep Wrangler JL Sahara
Off roading on Mt Diablo? You should take your rig down to Hollister Hills OHV, it's got some great beginner trails and some moderate trails that you can legally traverse!
How about the Carnegie SVRA in Tracy? Is that worth checking out? That’s a bit closer than Hollister for me.
 

deniska

Active Member
First Name
Dennis
Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Threads
2
Messages
35
Reaction score
38
Location
SF Bay Area
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep Wrangler JL Sahara
My Kuat Swing Away arrives this week and I will post up rear view camera photo to see how much the NV Base blocks the view then folded up. With the added spacing from the arm I'm hoping for a bit more view of the surrounding area which will be good enough for me. Being able to easily access everything in the back and frequently carry 3-4 bikes (plus 3-4 bags of gear) plus at a 250lbs carrying limit it can easily double as a step to access the roof if/when I add a rack later on.
I really want to see this in action.
 

Jeepnick

Well-Known Member
First Name
Nick
Joined
Feb 17, 2018
Threads
15
Messages
168
Reaction score
155
Location
Pittsburgh
Vehicle(s)
Tacoma pro
I’ll instal my kuat rack with the pivot on my jl for the first time next weekend
Will post up
 

Tunesoul

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kirk
Joined
Jan 28, 2018
Threads
44
Messages
489
Reaction score
624
Location
California
Vehicle(s)
1999 Jeep Wrangler Sport, 2012 Subaru Outback, 2018 Ocean Blue JLUR
Occupation
Owner of a Mobile Auto Paint Touch Up Co.
How about the Carnegie SVRA in Tracy? Is that worth checking out? That’s a bit closer than Hollister for me.
I haven't been there yet. Check it out, and let us know how it is?!?
Sponsored

 
 



Top