Thule Spare-Me Bike Rack - review

tibaal89 · 08-27-2007, 07:47 PM

Just wanted to write a quick review to share my positive experience with the Thule Spare-Me bike rack, seen here on amazon

I have no hitch and no roof rack (and don't really want them on the roof anyway), so the spare tire was really the only place for bikes. That said, this thing is awesome!

Immediately after purchasing it, I drove 2,000 miles from Milwaukee to Tucson with two bicycles, and several heavy duffle bags hanging off it becuase I overpacked my truck. No problems!

The user manual states that it is not to be used off-road. This morning I put that to the test and hauled a mountain bike with me on the trail.

Hear this: I did NOT take it easy at all on this thing. And I did everything - really fast sand to steep rock shelves. The bicycle stayed put and the rack was not damaged. Also, the bike is mounted high enough that it would be very difficult to put into the ground.

Also, it has a locking mechanism that prevents its removal, and since it blocks the lugs on the spare tire - it doubles as a spare tire lock in some sense.

Highly recommend it!

smurfyFJ · 08-27-2007, 08:02 PM

Thanks for the review. I've been looking for some guidance on picking a rack...I'm leaning toward one of the hitch-mount type but I don't like that you can't open the rear door without removing the bikes. With the spare tire mount, I assume you can still swing the door open, yes?

tibaal89 · 08-27-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

smurfyFJ previously said:

Thanks for the review. I've been looking for some guidance on picking a rack...I'm leaning toward one of the hitch-mount type but I don't like that you can't open the rear door without removing the bikes. With the spare tire mount, I assume you can still swing the door open, yes?

That's correct about this - the door swings open, bikes and all. Of course they kind of clunk around when you do that, but its not a problem.

I have no knowledge of the hitch type racks, but I certainly hope they have some mechanism which allows the door to open. That would be annoying as

. Yes, annoying as

.

speedy · 08-28-2007, 01:36 AM

How does the rack stop the front wheel of the bike from turning? Looking at the pics it seems it has been hitting your rear door or bumper.

**NCFJ** · 08-28-2007, 06:51 AM

I have the Yakima version of the tire mount rack and it works well. I use a bungee cord to keep the front tire from spinning. THe rack does prevent the rear window from opening though. I use the bike rack all the time.

**Joeg180** · 08-28-2007, 10:54 AM

I have a hitch mounted rack that I use on my current truck. It can be lowered out of the way to gain access. I picked mine up on ebay several years ago.

You can find them all over the net.

Yakima, Thule, Saris, Rhode Gear to name a few.

On my Bronco I used a spare tire rack bike rack, it didn't ask as spare tire lock.

tibaal89 · 09-01-2007, 09:08 PM

Quote:

NCFJ previously said:

I have the Yakima version of the tire mount rack and it works well. I use a bungee cord to keep the front tire from spinning. THe rack does prevent the rear window from opening though. I use the bike rack all the time.

Mine does not prevent the window from opening, with or without a bike loaded - there is plenty of room between the rack/bikes and the swing of the window.

Quote:

speedy previously said:

How does the rack stop the front wheel of the bike from turning? Looking at the pics it seems it has been hitting your rear door or bumper.

The bike is far enough away (being out on the tire) from the door that it does not reach to hit the door. The wheel is sometimes free to turn, but that can be fixed with a bungee, having two bikes on, or the bike can be mounted in such a way as to prevent it.

Slide · 09-01-2007, 10:45 PM

I noticed that the rack is mounted on alloys. Does the rack also work on the stock steelies?

tibaal89 · 09-01-2007, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Slide previously said:

I noticed that the rack is mounted on alloys. Does the rack also work on the stock steelies?

The rack isn't really alloy or even FJ specific - I'd assume it would work with steelies. Its on there via a mounting bracket that goes inbetween the wheel and door.

hummerhater · 09-01-2007, 11:33 PM

I stayed away from the tire racks because I didnt want to take a chance of bending anything on the door or the door itself. The way I see it, the spare tire holder is designed only to carry the spare tire. My hitch has 500lb toung weight capacity. So I purchased a Yakima Kingpin 4 (hitch rack) and love it. Just finished a 3000 mile roadtrip carrying 3 bikes without any problems whatsoever. The bike arm folds down when no bikes are being carried. The whole rack itself folds down to get the rear door open. Only gripe I have is with the rack folded down you can only get the rear door open to 45 degrees.

Yakima: Kingpin 4

Good Luck,

Bobby