Hitch and Bike Rack

[str86tt]

I bought a hitch and bike rack for my Accord a couple months ago. I know there's that other thread in the 7th gen forum but it didn't quite have everything I was hoping to find while I was researching.

I ended up with this combo:
Hidden Hitch #60236
Thule Roadway #914

There were two hitch part numbers that I found for our cars. It looks like one was an older design. The one I purchased has the angled tubes going to the reciever which I thought might be better hidden under the car.

I ended up repainting parts of the hitch where the paint had been chipped off during shipping.

The install was fairly straight forward although it took us quite a while to get the exhaust unhooked from the rubber hangers. We did find that the backing plates that are supposed to be inserted into the hole in the frame was too wide to fit. The instructions provided say to file the hole bigger but I did not want to remove the e-coat and expose steel. We ended up grinding the plates a little bit narrower and painting the plates with Rustoleum.

Trimming the heat shields was just trial and error to get enough material removed from the corner that the hitch now occupied. There's already a dimple in each heat shield that marks the spot where the bolt & nut from the hitch are located. We used a 1" christmas tree (stepped) drill bit to drill a hole but it wasn't quite big enough. The heat shield just got bent a little bit when it was bolted back up.

[str86tt]

For the rack, I believe Thule's website recommends the #912 which is the two bike version of the rack I ended buying. However, Thule does say that when using the 914 with a class I hitch it can only carry two bikes. It took a little back and forth with tech support to confirm that the hitch would go into a class I.

I tried looking at Yakima racks as well but it looks like you need at least a class II hitch to use their racks.

[str86tt]

some more pics...

[twcoupe]

looks like a good setup, will check this out. Thanks.

[PKT]

Very cool! You know, I am about to install that exact same hitch tomorrow afternoon, for a kayak trailer; I will get me a bike rack like that as well. I take it since this is not for a trailer you didnt install the wiring harness, Im wondering how thats going to go. I will try to get pics if I get it done tomorrow... I like how the hitch bolts to the tow hook and basically just transfers the weight to the hook.

I decided I dont want to put my kayak on top of my coupe, so this is the trailer Im getting, found a deal on a used one nearby http://www.sportsrig.com/ these are pretty slick, extends the hauling capacity of the car and then folds up into the garage...

Thanks for the tip, I think Ill grind down the plates as well. The part about 'enlarging the hole' bugs the hell out of me.

[str86tt]

Originally Posted by PKT

Very cool! You know, I am about to install that exact same hitch tomorrow afternoon, for a kayak trailer; I will get me a bike rack like that as well. I take it since this is not for a trailer you didnt install the wiring harness, Im wondering how thats going to go. I will try to get pics if I get it done tomorrow... I like how the hitch bolts to the tow hook and basically just transfers the weight to the hook.

I decided I dont want to put my kayak on top of my coupe, so this is the trailer Im getting, found a deal on a used one nearby http://www.sportsrig.com/ these are pretty slick, extends the hauling capacity of the car and then folds up into the garage...

Thanks for the tip, I think Ill grind down the plates as well. The part about 'enlarging the hole' bugs the hell out of me.

Yeah, I didn't do the wiring since I didn't intend on using a trailer but the pictures I saw of the harness don't look like it would be difficult.

I liked the fact that there was no drilling needed to install the hitch although I was bummed to lose the tow hook as a jack point. Now I have to work on the rear one side at a time.

That's a pretty cool looking trailer.

Don't forget those plates have a coating on them too. That's why I repainted them after grinding. I just hope using the heat gun to quick dry the paint doesn't keep it from sticking. :-)

[bigme]

thanks for the pictures, have you ever put four bikes on that rack? I have a 05 Accord sedan and am looking for a way to transport 4 bikes, mine my wifes and two kid sized bikes.

[el Vato]

Your my hero!

I was contemplating this setup as well. Now with your pics I get a clear view of what it'll look like.

Looks Great!

[morcheez]

thanks for all the info ...just curious how much did everything cost

[zZz LoNeLy zZz]

trying to find snowboarding racks but the cheapest i found was like $500 and thats just for the rack first. any of yah have a snowboard/ski rack on your coupe, can you post a picture. thanks.

[str86tt]

Originally Posted by bigme

thanks for the pictures, have you ever put four bikes on that rack? I have a 05 Accord sedan and am looking for a way to transport 4 bikes, mine my wifes and two kid sized bikes.

Sorry, most of the time I only have one bike on there. It actually does say somewhere on the Thule website that the rack is only supposed to carry 2 bikes with a class I hitch. So, going more would be a do it at your own risk kinda thing. I bought the 4 bike rack because it wasn't much more and it gives me more flexibility.

[str86tt]

Originally Posted by morcheez

thanks for all the info ...just curious how much did everything cost

I think everything ended up around the mid 300 range for the rack and hitch. The hitch came from etrailer and the rack from REI (had a 15-20% off coupon). I don't remember what I paid for the antisway cages for the rack.

[el Vato]

str86tt,
Does that rack have the option of locking the bikes?

[str86tt]

Originally Posted by el Vato

str86tt,
Does that rack have the option of locking the bikes?

It's got a spot at the base to loop a locking cable through (I haven't been using anything to lock up my bike).

The do have a model, the Ridgeline that has a built in locking cable along with a few other extras.

[searich07]

sr86tt, I admire you for attempting to use bikes for exercise. I have used bike racks on my Accords since 1992. But only use ones with rails above roof. One issue with a rack on rear end, is extension of car in terms of feet, which makes it very difficult to park properly without encroaching on an adjacent space or access lane.

Carrying two bikes on rear extension rack will add 3 or 4 feet to your car. No matter how one decides to rack their car for bikes, kayak, snowboards, or skis. I have found above roof configurations work best for me. Having a Coupe limits which above roof solutions you can adapt for carrying recreational gear. Regards

Richard