Hitch bike rack that allows tailgate to go down.

[greenweever]

My Kuat transfer will not allow the tailgate to go all the way down. Anyone have recommendations? I'm not talking about a frame rack, but one that the tires sit on.

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[tom_tucker]

My Kuat transfer will not allow the tailgate to go all the way down. Anyone have recommendations? I'm not talking about a frame rack, but one that the tires sit on.

Hitch mounted platform rack. Mine allows the tailgate to go down a bit more than halfway. I gorilla taped some padding on the rack post where it contacts the tailgate. It can now rest on the hitch or put the tailgate in half up position and it's just above it.

Any type of hitch extender is going to cut your tongue weight in half, from 400 to 200 lbs. Measure you rack to the tailgate and see how much clearance you need to open the tailgate. Check etrailer for a 2" hitch extender in that length.

Another good (better) alt. is to keep your existing rack and get a swing away adapter. Much more $ than a simple hitch extender though.

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Hitch_Adapters-sf-Swing~Away_Hitch_Adapter.aspx

 

[bmxmarty]

I haven't received my Maverick yet, however I use a 1-Up on my Odyssey. Bought it specifically for the low height so my hatch can open without tipping the rack down. Buy their single bike rack if you mostly ride solo, and then buy the add-on, which takes about 60-seconds to install/remove when you need to transport an additional bike. They have dimensions on their website so you can check fit. One other fit consideration is how close to flush your hitch is with the bumper. The further the hitch is recessed the lower the odds that the rack will work as I described. I believe they've got measurements for that as well.

 

[Skifletch]

My inlaws have a fold-down Thule that would definitely be low enough.

 

[tom_tucker]

My Kuat transfer will not allow the tailgate to go all the way down. Anyone have recommendations? I'm not talking about a frame rack, but one that the tires sit on.

Did you get it figured out? I'm about to install this hitch extender. It will allow the tailgate down all the way with the bike rack. It's adjustable from 5.75 to 8.5 to 11 inches. Only the 8.5 or 11 settings will fit my bike rack, so I'm going to use it at 8.5" extension. I needed about 5" min to drop the gate. Extender is way cheaper than a swing away rack, roughly 10% of the cost. I should now be able to load and cook on the tailgate. Tailgating is back!


https://www.homedepot.com/p/HitchMate-Hitch-Extension-6000/203517837#overlay

 

[QuesoEnFuego]

Did you get it figured out? I'm about to install this hitch extender.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/HitchMate-Hitch-Extension-6000/203517837#overlay

This is what I did and it works great! It does make the car long, I usually take the rack off if I know I'm going to be parking downtown.

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