How to choose best bike rack for jeep wrangler - Buying guide

Introduction
To all Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts: Do you know that a four-wheeler makes you go fast, but a two-
wheeler will help you go everywhere? How about your jeep and your bike share the same road?
You can cruise off rugged pathways with a jeep, but cycling will allow you to explore your
surroundings once you arrive at your stop.
Ironically, before you start your ride, you've packed a massive bundle in the trunk of your Jeep for
the day-long trip. There was no room for bicycles. Trying to stuff might work. What if you have
more than one bike? What if you need to bring enough bicycles for your whole family to hang out?
Let a bike rack take care of this. Don't worry because this outdoor gear can carry up to 4 bicycles at
the same time. It will solve every transport issue you're facing.
Choosing a suitable bike rack will definitely leave you with bundle of unanswered question. Check
out my Buying guide - How to choose my best bike rack for jeep wrangler below before purchasing
your Jeep one.
Types of racks that can be used on a Jeep Wrangler :
In the outdoor gear industry, bike carriers made for Jeep Wranglers fall into three main categories:
Hitch-mounted, spare tire mounted, and roof-mounted racks. Each class has its advantages and
disadvantages. Choosing any bike rack depends on your jeep model, your specific needs, and the
size of the bicycle you want to carry.
Typically, to choose the right bike rack, you need to answer the following questions: does your jeep
have a hardtop or soft top? Does your jeep come with a spare tire?
1. Roof rack
With a jeep with a hardtop, you can consider purchasing a roof rack. The advantage of this type of
bike rack is that you can hassle-freely open and close the rear hatch; if the spare tire needs to be
removed, it won't be a big deal. But this will not come as an optimal choice when you have to go
through tunnels that don’t have enough clearance. With tall vehicle, loading might become
cumbersome.
2. Hitch mounted rack
A hitch-mounted bike rack will solve the problem of roof racks. If your jeep has a soft top, then you
should use this gear. Hitch rack can transport up to 5 bikes at the same time. However, before
making any payment, do not forget to check if your jeep does have a hitch. How can we assemble a
hitch-mounted rack on a Jeep Wranglers designed without any hitch? One limitation of the hitch-
mounted rack is that it will prevent you from opening the back of your vehicle. Some hitch racks are
designed foldable with a clearance from the tailgate for a spare tire. However, if you install both a
spare tire and bike rack, it will interfere with the rear car accessment.
3. Spare tire rack
What will happen when your extra wheel is oversized? The space between the trunk and the hitch
rack may not be wide enough for you to insert the wheel. Then the solution to this problem is a
spare tire rack. A carrier allows the user to tie the bike to the spare wheel. It seems to be a safe
choice. However, it also has a few downsides: most spare tire racks are designed to carry two
bicycles at a time. Have more than two bikes? Consider using a hitch-mounted bike rack.
Furthermore, attaching your bike to the extra wheel will hold you from taking off the wheel in an
emergency. Nevertheless, this is also a popular choice because of its convenience and neatness.
In general, every rack has upsides and downsides. Customarily, I will opt for a hitch rack or spare
tire rack because I don't want to bring an extra stool to climb to the car roof every time I mount my
bike to that place.
How to choose the best bike rack for Jeep Wrangler ?
There are many factors to consider when you choose the best bike rack for you. Break down these
required features to know more about the merchandise you are going to purchase.
Security
It can be frustrating seeing a gaping hole where your bikes and bike rack used to be after a short
while when you were not around your jeep. Nowadays, some manufacturers equip their products
with innovative features that help you do bike-to-rack and rack-to-jeep locking.
Compatibility
The adaptability between the rack and the vehicle will prevent your bikes from getting ruined
during travel. Some bike racks may not be able to hold woman's bikes or bikes with an odd shape.
Make sure you read enough reviews from other purchasers to see if you will have similar
installation problems.
Capacity for Holding Bikes
You may forget that your family will buy more bikes in the future. A rack for just two bicycles can
become useless when a family of 4 wants to trip in different commuting styles. How about a group
of cyclist friends hop on the jeep together? Consider getting a bike rack more compact. Some brands
can provide extra accessories to add an extension if you need to carry some more two-wheelers.
Stability
When it comes to endurance and sturdiness, both bike rack and bikes should be a concern. You will
not want your bicycle to get damaged issues such as mold, deformed, or peeling painted after a long
trip because of jeep-to-bike or bike-to-bike. A rack with anti-sway straps will be the one that helps
cyclists nail the trail. And a well-built rack will not easily get rusted after exposure to different
weathers.
Ease of Use
Some vendors will provide the bike rack as fully assembled, which will take a short while to mount
the rack in your jeep. A hassle-free assembly is all we need for a long ride, especially on trips with
multiple stops, and at these times, you want to cycle to explore your surroundings for a short while.
Recommendations and final thoughts
In the car accessories industry, there are several brands you should check out. I can give you some
big names: Hollywood Racks, Thule Group, Allen Sports, etc. Each brand will have its different
manufacturing procedures, warranty policy, and a strict quality control process to help their
consumers get the most of cycling.
While vast bike racks can pour on your decision like confetti, I hope that this review will give you a
helpful hand. Make a checklist and note down all of your requirements to make sure you don't miss
any important information.