As with a host of 4×4 enthusiasts, mountain biking is a favourite past time of many Jeep owners. Be it a quick trip to a local mountain biking trail or an extended mountain biking holiday adventure, getting your mountain bike there safely is paramount. That is where a bike rack comes in. Mountain biking racks, as with many jeep parts, come in a variety of configurations. The great thing about these racks is that by mounting your bike on the outside, a massive amount of space can be saved inside your vehicle for other equipment.
In this blog, we are going to take a look at a few examples that you might want to investigate, either when purchasing your first bike rack for your Jeep or if you are upgrading from an older model.
Thule Spare Me
This is a highly durable bike rack that can be connected to your rear-mounted spare tyre and works brilliantly with a Jeep Wrangler or a Liberty. Other than a cable for integrated locking, the Spare Me includes an additional adapter plate to fit different tyre sizes (including oversized) as well as individual cradles that offer even more stability to your mountain bike while travelling at speed. This rack can hold two full-sized bikes and folds away when not used. Accessories include the Thule Frame Extender to help attach BMX bikes.
Thule Parkway
The Thule Parkway can be attached to any model of Jeep with a hitch receiver of 1.25”. The rack features rubberized cradles to protect the bikes frame, extremely durable steel construction, a braided steel security cable and comes in both a two bike and four bike configuration. More importantly, the Parkway does not block your vehicle’s tailgate or trunk. Note, the Parkway is not compatible with tandem bikes.
Thule Gutter Foot
The Thule Gutter Foot is a roof mounted rack for those Jeep owners who prefer to have their bikes mounted above them and not behind them. The only drawback is that these racks only work if your vehicle’s roof has a gutter to attach them to, for example, the Jeep Wrangler. Many people, however, do not like mounting their bikes on the roof of their vehicles, especially when travelling long distances due to the distinct disadvantages of the aero profile of the kind of setup.
Thule Gateway Trunk Mount
For those looking for a trunk mount, the Thule Gateway fits the bill although seems to work better on smaller models such as the Compass, Patriot and Liberty. It includes cradles with anti-sway cages to ensure mounted bikes remain stable, a FitDial system which allows it to be fitted to most vehicles, bike arms that adjust individually and a folding mechanism for easy storage. This system can hold two mountain bikes up to 70lbs.
No matter your Jeep model, there is a bike transporting system for your vehicle. Often these come down to personal preference, although the number of bikes you would like to transport can push you towards a certain model and configuration. Browse our online catalog of Jeep parts to find the bike rack that suits your needs.