Show me your bike rack!

Given how low the Stratus sat to the ground I figured it needed to be fairly tall so that I wouldn't drag it on anything. An acquaintance has the Thule model as he's a pretty avid mountain bike trail rider, but he has a pickup truck so it's already higher off the ground to start with so it being flatter to the receiver didn't matter much.

We seldom use it, but I got it used (if only just) and it was not expensive so it's worked out. Given that the first bike sits almost 18" from the back of the vehicle (more if you account for the bumper sticking out) it should fit fairly well on just about anything with a hitch such that the pedals and handlebars don't hit.

I suppose I should point out that the reflective red and white on the unit was added by me, I wanted it to be more visible since it sticks out and on the Stratus it blocked the lights a bit.

 

Here's our rack. It's a beast, but solid as a rock. No frame contact. We did a 1500 km drive (each way) with 3 bikes on the back and no worries at all.


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heh. I think we're getting past a nice relaxing afternoon ride...



...and I think we've scared-away the original thread creator.

 

Haha nah y'all didn't scare me away..... just curious on what kinds of racks everyone is trailing with.



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Have you taken this on any off road trails? That hitch you have is factory, right?


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We have not yet taken it out four-wheeling. The hitch itself is OEM from Mopar, but we installed it after the fact as we couldn't find a TH with one for the price we were willing to spend.

There's a company referenced frequently on the various Renegade forums called Renegade Ready. They sell a kit that includes the hitch, the hardware to bolt the hitch in-place of the rear structural bumper under that bumper cover, the clips and such that end up being broken when disassembling the rear plastics to get to the bumper underneath, the "bezel" that wraps around the hitch, and a template that one uses to cut the holes for the bezel, in addition to the hitch itself. Optionally they sell an electrical kit to allow trailer lights to work.

Given how inexpensive that Bell carrier is, I would not be afraid to try it if you have a factory-ish hitch. There's that threaded hole on the right side that if you find the carrier moving too much you could make use of as a tie-down point to reduce the sway.

 

I use this - has worked great for the past ten years on my HHR. I have the two-bike model, but it's also offered in a four-bike version. Reasonably priced and easy to stow. Of course it's not for everyone, but it works for me.

It simply works... for me.

Yes, it cuts departure angle dramatically & No, it's not for everyone.
Highland Sportwing - with "Fulton Sportwing Accessory Shank with 1-1/4-Inch Receiver Mount and 4-Inch Rise" - Available on Amazon and from other suppliers. Note: The description states it is a Fulton brand shank. It is actually a Highland part from Cequent.

 

Your under-bumper hitch that hangs down might be even more of the issue with departure angle than the bike carrier. I wonder how that model would sit on a Renegade with the factory in-bumper hitch.