Anyone ever use the factory spare mount for a bike rack?

jdumont · **Posted:** Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:48 pm

I may look into this in the next few weeks once my motorcycle is all set for the season.

Just looking for ideas... by bike rack i mean home made contraption that is unsafe for myself, my bike, and following motorists.

calcrd · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:57 pm

Check out the Thule 963 "Spare Me" rack. I use it with stock16 " wheel and 225/75R-16 tires

jdumont · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:04 pm

Thanks, that looks relatively easy to make actually.

ZERO6 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:10 pm

Just buy the one for your receiver hitch. You wont
regret it..

xturboexpress · **Joined:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:43 am **Posts:** 75

I was just thinking about a roof-top bike carrier. Then I realized with my new parts how far away the roof is.

I will be getting a hitch/spare mounted carrier =)

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:36 am

Go with a hitch mount. Much stronger, plus if you accidentally overload it you won't dent your door.

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:57 am

We use a Thule SpareMe. I have a hitch-mount rack too, but the Thule is always on there and has spent a LOT of time hauling bikes...

Drawbacks: Two-bike maximum, less weight capacity, overloading it could cause damage to door.

Plus: It's always on the truck. It serves as a spare tire theft deterrent. I can open the rear gate without worrying about moving, folding, adjusting, or removing the bike-rack.

In short, if you're only carrying two bikes, the spare-mount rack is a great solution. If you're carrying more than two bikes, or have extremely heavy bikes, go with a hitch-mount.

jdumont · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:25 am

I would never carry more than two. Most of the time it would only be mine actually. The girlfriend only comes when I force her to. She would rather lay on the beach in the summer than exercise with me when its 100 out.

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:18 am

Personally, in your situation, I would get a spare-mount carrier. But it's easy for me to say that because when I first got the KJ I was using a 4-bike Yakima hitch-mount carrier. I still have it, but it was always a chore to put it on when we wanted to go riding and take it off right when I got home, and fold it down when I wanted to open the tailgate (it's one of those that unhitches and leans backward at an angle). Leaning it allowed for very limited access into the tailgate. I realized that we never carried more than two bikes on the Jeep, so I ponied up for the SpareMe and have NEVER regretted it. The only time I take the rack off my Jeep is when I change tires/rims, or when I'm rotating them. It literally stays on there all the time (the arms fold down). I never have to think about it, I never have to climb into the attic to get the rack. Whenever we want to go riding, I flip up the arms, throw the bikes on there, and away we go. We probably wouldn't go riding as much if I still only had the hitch-mount rack.

Wow, that was more than 2 cents, wasn't it? Sorry about that.

jdumont · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:17 pm

Ill take however many cents you want to donate! Its all good information that will help me decide what to do.

I appreciate it guys

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:00 pm

I have the Mopar spare tire mounted bike carrier. I don't like the hitch mounted racks because you have to remove them to open the rear gate or buy a expensive swing away model.

Anyone ever use the factory spare mount for a bike rack?

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