Hitch mounted bike rack that clears tailgate?

[mopes]

Got all excited to install my oem pintle that I didn't even think about the tailgate not clearing my bike rack when it was installed.

Threw my kuat 4 bike rack on last night for a weekend trip to St. George and realized that even when the rack is horizontal or tilted down BELOW horizontal I can only open the damn tailgate 10-20%. Rack probably needs to be dropped down at least an inch or two.

Any of you guys running a hitch mounted bike rack that allows the tailgate to fully swing open?

 

[NMBruce]

SwingDaddy

 

[jonshonda]

I have a 1UP USA 2-bike tray and to my dismay it just barely scrapes the bottom of the tailgate when in is horizontal. But luckily the angle down feature on the rack allows me to open the rear gate. I about had a fxxxing heart attack when I got the GX and mounted the rack.

1up is the best bike rack out there period, get one and love it.

 

[mopes]

I about had a heart attack myself. My first thought when it happened was 1up. Good to hear it clears. I'll take a look at the swing daddy too.

 

[jonshonda]

Just took this pic last night.

 

[Scat Adams]

Get the 1up then sell me that Kuat please!

 

[mopes]

Looks great, nice and clean. If I snag a 1up will definitely sell the Kuat but shipping could be a beast...

 

[IanB]

I just went through this myself, found a product called the Rakattach, swings whatever you have in the receiver out to the side and out of the way! I ordered a medium, driver's side swingout (special order, no extra cost), and so far it looks like it will work great. Here's a pic of one on an FJ Cruiser.

This swings stuff out of the way so I have full access to the rear hatch on the GX, and it also works with the rear spare tire carrier and upper/lower tailgater on my HDJ81! Works with whatever bike carrier you want, basket, etc.

 

[Burner01]

Two options for you:
1. Currently using a Thule T2 rack, it has a pin that you remove that allows the whole rack to tilt further down thereby allowing the door to clear.

2. Prior to that I used a Northshore NSR-4 rack. This also had enough adjustment so that the door would clear the rack when lowered.
This was a great rack but clearance issues meant that I could not load bikes on it inside my underground parking.

 

[123ROBERTELEE]

You can buy a hitch extension from academy or any parts store. That might help.

 

[TahoeLX450]

Two options for you:
1. Currently using a Thule T2 rack, it has a pin that you remove that allows the whole rack to tilt further down thereby allowing the door to clear.

2. Prior to that I used a Northshore NSR-4 rack. This also had enough adjustment so that the door would clear the rack when lowered.
This was a great rack but clearance issues meant that I could not load bikes on it inside my underground parking.

Ditto on the Thule T2. I leave the pin out and drop it all the way and it works OK. Was easier with a tail gate, on my FZJ80, though where I could access gear in the back by lifting the upper hatch. With the GX I can access with bikes on by letting the gate rest against the plastic wheel cups... which can be adjusted to be in the position to do so.

 

[mstrsltr]

Just took this pic last night.

View attachment 1339254

Hi! I've been dealing with my Yakima HoldUp on my GX470 which is a great rack but I hate how it blocks my camera. And it sticks out so far it makes an already parking challenged vehicle even harder to parallel park. I've bumped too many people's bumpers at this point.

Do you have the regular duty quick rack? Or the heavy duty? And does it block your camera at all?

Could you do us all a solid and post some pics of the your rear view cam view from the dash so we can see how if it obstructs the camera at all? Also, since I'm asking for favors, can you fold the rack up and take a straight on shot from the side and rear that shows how low profile it is?

My buddy has a quick rack on his sedan and I am in LOVE with it. It's ROCK SOLID compared to most other racks. And I can see how little it would shake on rough roads etc. And it looks nice and compact when folded up.

Thinking very seriously about picking one up but was hoping you could help tip me over the edge as a fellow GX/Santa Cruz owner

Nice bike btw! Bronson or Nomad?

 

[kbahus]

My cheapo from Performance has been with me for probably close to ten years and has hauled heavy downhill bikes for most of it's life. I put it on the GX today to run a local trail and barely clears the rear door.

 

[klimraamkosie]

My cheapo from Performance has been with me for probably close to ten years and has hauled heavy downhill bikes for most of it's life. I put it on the GX today to run a local trail and barely clears the rear door.

View attachment 1530778

What rack is that?

 

[suitcase]

I've got a Kuat NV 2.0. There's some flex in the rack such that if I push down on the rack I can open the barn door all the way. But then you still have the rack ready to trip you as you're unloading/load stuff from the back. I usually end up pulling the rack off when I get to camp. Here's a few other observations. I have the 2 bike add-on extension. The rack sticks way far out with all 4 trays attached and definitely makes me nervous navigating parking lots. I've scraped the bottom of the rack coming off steep slopes. Oneup seems to have a better design in that it angles upwards instead of sticking straight out. For whatever reason, Kuat doesn't rate the NV as being compatible with an RV. I didn't know this when I was buying. At the time I was looking at the Yakima and Thule equivalents. The Kuat looked the most beefy so I went with them. I've taken the Kuat over bumpy washboard roads without issue though. Kuat customer service is really good. I called about the wheel adapter for kids bikes and they immediately shipped one out for free.