Jeeps are excellent vehicles for those with an active lifestyle. This all-American automaker carries a fine range of products that can cut a stylish dash in the city on your weekly work, school, and shopping runs, as well as look tough and act purposeful on the weekend trail bash. It’s no small wonder then that many Jeep aficionados or ‘Jeepers’ are also into other outdoor activities that they pursue in conjunction with their Jeep. Cycling is one of those activities, be it road cycling, touring, or mountain biking.
Of course, you can’t just throw your bike in the back of your Jeep and call it a day. While some bikes can indeed be folded and may fit inside the luggage area, it leaves precious little space for your luggage. That is why 4 Wheel Parts carries a range of bike racks for Jeeps, including Jeep spare tire bike racks, hitch racks, roof racks, hanging racks, and accessories. In fact, we’ve got stuff for all the popular Jeep models, such as Jeep Wrangler bike racks. In this article, we’ll take you through what to look for in Jeep bike racks, the types that are available on the market, and our top picks.
Types Of Jeep Bike Racks: What To Look for In Jeep Bike Racks
When choosing a bike rack for your Jeep, there are several considerations you should take into account before making your choice. We’ve listed the most prudent ones below.
- How easy is it to mount and remove the bike rack from your Jeep? Can it be done by one person alone, or will it require two persons?
- How many bikes can it carry? There are bike racks that can take a single bike, as well as models that can accommodate up to three or four.
- Will it be able to safely accommodate your bike? Bike racks do come with a maximum payload capacity, and some cannot accommodate bikes with larger and thicker tires, or unusual frame shapes.
- How does it affect your vehicle’s height? With roof-mounted racks, you need to be aware of the extra height that your truck has gained, which can result in some comedic (for others) but heartbreak (for you) moments should you pass under a low bridge.
- How does it affect your vehicle’s width? Hitch and tailgate mounted racks can leave larger and longer bikes protruding beyond your vehicle’s sides, so that’s a factor to consider when maneuvering and parking, as well as the potential legal aspects that may vary from state to state.
- The maximum speed permissible with bikes mounted to the rack. Some racks can safely handle driving of up to 75mph while loaded, while others have lower maximum safe speed limits.
Types Of Jeep Bike Racks
There are four main types of bike rack that are available for Jeeps. These are roof racks, hitch racks, hanging racks, and spare tire racks. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, as we shall outline briefly.
Roof Racks
Roof Racks, as the name suggests, are mounted on the roof of your Jeep. They are very strong and sturdy. However, they cannot be mounted to all Jeeps, such as those with soft tops. They also require a way for you to climb up in order to mount and dismount bicycles from them. You will need to consider the increased overall height of your vehicle when bikes are mounted to a roof rack.
Hitch Racks
Hitch Racks mount directly to the towing hitch on your Jeep, and can accommodate up to five bicycles depending on model and payload capacity. They are easy to install and remove; however your Jeep must be equipped with a standard tow hitch at the rear.
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