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Bike racks are a wonderful way to stash bikes while going on road trips or even relocating.
Compared to hooking your bike up to the roof rack, or somehow trying to cram it into the truck, it saves a lot of space and saves your bike from getting cramped up and possibly getting scratched.
Now that we know why bike racks are the preferred way to go when it comes to transporting bikes, we’ll have a look at the top five racks currently on the market!
After we’re done with the reviews, we’ll look at what you need to take care of while considering buying the best bike racks for Jeep Wranglers, and which factors should influence your decision.
Without further ado, let’s get started with reviews!
Best Bike Racks for Jeep Wrangler
To help you find the best bike rack for your Jeep Wrangler, we've compiled a list of the top options on the market. So, whether you're heading to the trails or embarking on a cross-country road trip, here's the list of the 6 best bike racks for Jeep Wrangler.
This is another wonderful rack from Hollywood Racks - the key difference here being that you can naturally have more than one bike on this rack without any fuss or adjustment. If you go riding in tandem often, you needn’t look anywhere else. It can also bear more load without any problems.
Ready for the Road: Easily take your bikes on any trip or...
Perfect for Most Spare Tires: Perfect for vehicles with...
Experience
Hollywood Racks have a simple formula, and we can’t find any reason to argue against it. This one comes with much the same features as the Bolt-On Tire Rack - including the collapsible arms and the wonderful natural way in which the universal plate attaches to the bolts of the spare tires.
The width between the arms is naturally adjusted to having multiple bikes, and the cradle is built out of rubber - making sure your bikes don’t get any scratches. The tie-down straps help secure your bike. Attach the clamp, as well as the strap system, and you’re all set to carry your bikes! The same multi-car versatility of the Bolt-On has been reported for the SR1.
Pros
Incredibly versatile, can be used on other cars if necessary
Wide and strong enough to accommodate two bikes with ease
Easy to install and set up
Cons
You’ll have to invest in good-quality locks yourself
Bike Capacity: 2 | Material: Steel | Bike Compatibility: Universal | Mount Type: Spare Tire | Rack Weight: 10 lbs | Rack Dimensions: 13 x 12 x 7" | Warranty: Limited Lifetime
This is another bike rack that has been around for quite a while. This relatively modern and uniquely styled bike rack comes with a number of features, and keeps both of your bikes (if desired) secure and safe. The anti-sway cradle, the collapsible arms, and the maximum tire width of 12.5 inches make it one of the best bike racks to have.
Spare tire bike rack: Easily attaches to your rear mount...
Holds 2 bikes: ZipStrips secure bikes to the rack and are...
Experience
This Yakima rack comes with a whole host of features, including the powder-coated finish which both gives it a modern look and prevents rusting. The features include the proprietary lock, which can be used very easily with any other Yakima product - so you don’t have to wonder about your keys all that often.
The product fits like a charm onto the Jeep Wrangler and also gives you a bottle opener (two of them in fact) for cracking a cold one with your mates after a long day of biking trails. You can mount the rack either off-center or at the center using the universal mount plate behind the exposed spare tire.
Pros
Yakima products are always lookers, this one is no different
Can fit two bikes with relative ease, even BMX bikes can be fitted in this rack
60-inch locking cable is best in class
Cons
Slightly more expensive than the competition
Bike Capacity: 2 | Material: Alloy Steel | Bike Compatibility: Universal | Mount Type: Spare Tire | Rack Weight: 29 lbs | Rack Dimensions: 40 x 13 x 19" | Warranty: Lifetime
For the ultimate in bike protection, look no further. To prevent scratches and bumps, this particular bike rack is angled outwards and upwards. The rack also has a wider bottom part than the competition, which secures the rim from touching the rack, instead using the back tire to fit against the bottom foot.
Features. Bikes are held away from the road and car's...
Bikes secured by individual tie-down cradles. Extra-wide...
Experience
This rack comes from a pedigree and a legacy of over 50 years in making bike racks. A single bike or two bikes, whichever fits the bill for 70 pounds worth of weight - can be accommodated easily. Bear in mind, however, that the arms do not collapse on this product. This is a pro and a con - you can fit a number of different types of bikes on these arms.
The rack fits just as well on anything that supports a mount, from large trucks to SUVs. Allen Sports suggests an assembly time of barely seconds. The spare tire is irrelevant to this bike rack, which makes it a wonderful rack to store stuff than bikes as well - and a large variety of bikes that can’t be accommodated by other racks.
Pros
The spare wheel size versatility is unrivaled in the market
The product is incredibly robust and will last for ages
Adaptable for other vehicles, not limited to just the Jeep Wrangler
Cons
No adjustable or collapsible arms, hence it’ll have to be kept on the back at all times
Bike Capacity: 2 | Material: Metal | Bike Compatibility: Universal | Mount Type: Spare Tire | Rack Weight: 9.23 lbs | Rack Dimensions: 4.33 x 28.74 x 13.39" | Warranty: Lifetime
The Thule 963PRO Spare Me 2 is only meant for vehicles that use the bolt system to carry spare tires - hence, it won’t be compatible with other tow truck mounts. It’s a rather sophisticated-looking bit of kit, and arguably one of the better-looking products on the market. The rack installs right onto the tire, and not the mount below it.
Stay-Put Cradles with anti-sway cages hold bikes in place...
Attaches to spare tire and fits both regular and oversized...
Experience
The rack fits on tires of any size you can think of, even though it doesn’t make use of the universal mount. The anti-sway cage structure, as well as the stay-put cradles, make sure that the bikes don’t slam into each other at any point. It is very durable, and stable, and installing it is by far the easiest of any product which has been reviewed.
Further, the quality of the locking knob as well as the integrated cable for locking leave nothing for the elements - they secure your bikes in position firmly and deftly. A few niggles exist, however, some users have reported loose screws at some point in time. They can be tightened back in at any time, however.
Pros
Wonderfully designed bike rack
Locking system is best in class
Structurally very secure
Cons
Some screws are known to loosen up with time
Bike Capacity: 2 | Material: Alloy Steel | Bike Compatibility: Universal | Mount Type: Spare Tire | Rack Weight: 18 lbs | Rack Dimensions: 38.5 x 18.5 x 16" | Warranty: Lifetime
The Allen Sports Deluxe Locking Quick Release 4-Bike Rack has gained its spot as an Amazon #1 bestseller for good reason. Designed to make your cycling adventures hassle-free, this rack was built to transport your bikes on road trips, camping weekends, or beach excursions.
Bike rack fits into 2-inch receiver and holds up to 4 adult...
Locking knob allows a wobble-free installation, and can be...
Experience
The quick-install locking hitch insert ensures that you can install the rack into your receiver hitch without any wobble and without the need for extra tools. The individual tie-down cradle adds further security and protection for your bikes, while the folding carry arms conveniently drop out of the way when not in use. Its user-friendly design also allows the rack to tilt back for easy lift-gate access. With a weight limit of 140 lbs, this bike rack is ready to carry your family's bikes with ease.
Pros
Folding carry arms
Quick installation
Individual tie-downs
Cons
Support issues with multiple, heavier bikes
Bike Capacity: 4 | Material: Alloy Steel | Bike Compatibility: 1.25" and 2" Hitch | Mount Type: Hitch | Rack Weight: 22 lbs | Rack Dimensions: 26 x 3.5 x 14" | Warranty: Lifetime
Next on our list is the incredibly budget-friendly MaxxHaul (70210) 4-Bike Deluxe Hitch Mount Rack. Solidly constructed with an all-steel design, it enables you to transport up to four bikes for worry-free family trips.
Secure Bike Transportation: Safely transport up to 4 bikes...
Convenient Swing-Down Feature: The swing-down feature...
Experience
This rack comes with an adjustable bike cradle featuring hook and loop straps that fit 2-inch receivers nicely. The top bar swings down for compact storage when not in use – addressing a common concern among users. With a 150lb weight limit and a light reflector for added safety, this rack delivers both sturdiness and peace of mind.
Pros
Budget-friendly price
All-steel construction
Transport up to four bikes
Cons
The paint of the bike may be damaged
Bike Capacity: 4 | Material: Alloy Steel | Bike Compatibility: 2" Hitch | Mount Type: Hitch | Rack Weight: 25 lbs | Rack Dimensions: 32.99 x 10 x 5.98" | Warranty: 90 days
Buying Guide For The Best Bike Racks For Jeep Wrangler
Now that we’re done with the reviews, we can look at some of the factors which make a great bike rack better than a bike rack that is just “good”. These should always be kept in mind before making a purchase - both bikes and cars are long-term purchases, and you should make sure not to jeopardize any of them due to the bike rack.
Bike weight limit
This is one of the most practical factors that should influence your buying decision. Most bike racks are generally rated at 70 pounds as reviewed, however, you can go in for a lower weight limit if you’re sure you won’t be carrying two bikes at any point in time. For the sake of versatility, the higher the limit, the better it is.
Security
A lock for your bike is essential, and the same goes for the bike rack. These are very prone to be stolen at any point, and most bike racks come with some sort of locking system or the other. If not, you should definitely consider the cost of getting your own lock while making the purchase.
Ease of Use
The rack should have collapsible arms if it isn’t compact, but it should have some compactness to it. It shouldn’t be cumbersome or too complicated to figure out. Taking a dry run of the installation (some people put up videos online) or reviews can definitely help out in this regard.
Bike racks must offer some sort of flexibility towards installation and retrieving your bike from the rack shouldn’t be a problem.
Style
This is strictly personal, but you should have some form in the rack - the only function that makes the rear end of the Wrangler look unseemly and unbecoming. It should suit the overall color choices and exterior finishes of the Jeep.
Bike Racks For Jeep Wrangler FAQ's
Can I use any bike rack on my Jeep Wrangler?
No, not all bike racks are suitable for Jeep Wranglers. It’s important to choose a bike rack that’s specifically designed for use with a Jeep Wrangler and can accommodate the spare tire, if applicable.
Can I install a bike rack on my Jeep Wrangler without a hitch receiver?
Yes, there are spare tire mount and roof mount bike racks that can be used on a Jeep Wrangler without a hitch receiver.
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Can I still access my Jeep Wrangler's trunk with a bike rack installed?
With some bike rack models, it’s possible to access the trunk of a Jeep Wrangler with the rack installed. However, it’s important to check the specific rack’s features and compatibility with your Jeep Wrangler model to ensure this.
Will a bike rack damage my Jeep Wrangler's paint?
With proper installation and use, a bike rack shouldn’t damage a Jeep Wrangler’s paint. However, it’s important to ensure that the rack is installed correctly and that bikes are secured properly to prevent any potential damage. Using protective padding or covers on the rack can also help prevent any scratches or damage.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading our article on the best bike racks for Jeep Wranglers! We hope that the information provided has been helpful and that you are excited about hitting the road with your bikes in tow. We have tested and analyzed various bike racks to make your decision easier, and now we're here to give you our top recommendations based on different factors.
Out of these 6 best bike racks for Jeep Wranglers, here are the top three expert recommendations:
For the best overall experience, the Hollywood Racks SR1 Spare Tire Rack is an ideal option. It's incredibly versatile and can accommodate two bikes with ease. The rubber cradle ensures that your bikes don't get scratched, and it is easy to install.
If aesthetics and ease of use are important factors for you, the Yakima Spare-time Bike Rack is a good option. With its modern design and powder-coated finish, it's a great addition to your Jeep Wrangler. Moreover, the 60-inch locking cable offers best-in-class security for your bikes.
For those looking for a bike rack with the ultimate protection and adaptability, the Allen Sports Deluxe Two-Bike Spare Tire Mounted Rack is the right choice. With a wide bottom part to prevent the rim from touching the rack and spare wheel size versatility, this bike rack is unrivaled in the market.
With these recommendations, you're now equipped to make an informed decision and invest in the perfect bike rack for your Jeep Wrangler. Whatever choice you make, we assure you that these top bike racks will elevate your cycling experiences and allow you to enjoy your outdoor adventures worry-free. Hit the road confidently and explore endless possibilities with your bikes safely strapped and ready for action. Happy trails!