Hitch accessory 119# limit

[BEV-ICE]

Hi, I'm kind of torn by the low accessory limit of 119 pounds and within 24" of the receiver end. I need to be able to carry four bikes and this is holding me up from purchasing. I mean, even a two bike platform rack extends more than 24". I have a Velocirax for four bikes but the weight is significantly over 119#.

Any additional information on this? Thank you,

 

[nelslens]

1. there's a factory roof rack option, and the Gravity can sit quite low when parked for easy hoiking up / down.

2. if you squeeze 2 ppl into the 60/40 2nd row, and fold the single seat, you could easily carry at least 2 bikes in the capacious interior, if you yank the seats & front wheels. More if we're talking kids' bikes...

 

[BEV-ICE]

Thank you. For option two, what's the best way to hold up the bikes? I don't remember seeing tie downs. I am having a hard time remembering what the space looks like with the single seat folded down. Or maybe fold the double seat in the second row and one of the rear seats on that same side? So one person on the second row and another on the third row?

 

[nelslens]

There are 4 fold-out tie-down points in the rear of the cargo area. My preferred way to transport a bike or two is:

front wheel & seat-post removed
upside-down, riding on the triangle of rear tire & handlebars (may have to rotate smartphone bracket etc out of the way)
a webbing load-strap looped tight around downtube between bottom bracket & water bottle cage, making A-shape to the car's anchor points

If more than one bike I prefer to use separate load straps for each, for stability.

I use a furniture blanket to make a foldy envelope for the removed front wheel/s.

Second best option: If you carefully use pieces of carboard, foam pad (I use cut up pieces of old neoprene yoga mats) and / or furniture blanket, you can safely make a nice bicycle club-sandwich with them stacked flat... but you'll want some plastic grocery bags or rags to cover your greasy bits.

I have a 5-seater so don't have any experience with organizing a 3-row rig but I don't see why your idea wouldn't work. Especially if you use both the right-side single seats to give more room?

Obviously if you're talking e-bikes or frames that don't have QR front wheels, it becomes a more challenging scenario.

 

[BEV-ICE]

Awesome. I am pretty sure I understand what you're saying. Feeling confident to pull the trigger.

 

[hwy17er]

The 60:40 "60" 2nd row seat down with the 3rd row driver's side seat stowed is how Lucid originally marketed transporting a couple bikes inside in the cargo area.
As you can see they depict these bikes w/ the front wheel removed but bike seats still on.

Can anyone confirm this works IRL ?

 

[BEV-ICE]

That's what I was thinking, though silly the hitch is so weak for accessories. I wonder if there is a bike rack that along with two bikes will weigh less than 119# and the center of gravity doesn't extend more than 24". Is that even possible?

 

[nelslens]

The 60:40 "60" 2nd row seat down with the 3rd row driver's side seat stowed is how Lucid originally marketed transporting a couple bikes inside in the cargo area.
As you can see they depict these bikes w/ the front wheel removed but bike seats still on.

Can anyone confirm this works IRL ?

Yeah the seats are lowered to fit like that, which takes exactly as much work as yanking them. I still find bikes to be significantly more stable with the seat / seatpost removed, which (on most frames) when the bike is inverted allows it to ride on the back tire + handlebars. I also tend to think about what might happen to cargo in a collision, and even a minor one with the bikes as shown would put those handlebars in disquieting alignment with the 2nd row passenger's throat and eye socket.

Other than that I cannot confirm that the depicted configuration "works" with adult-sized bikes but I can confidently predict that opening the tailgate will cause the two loose front wheels to immediately flee captivity and, depending on terrain, potentially escape custody.

 

[hwy17er]

Yeah the seats are lowered to fit like that, which takes exactly as much work as yanking them. I still find bikes to be significantly more stable with the seat / seatpost removed, which (on most frames) when the bike is inverted allows it to ride on the back tire + handlebars. I also tend to think about what might happen to cargo in a collision, and even a minor one with the bikes as shown would put those handlebars in disquieting alignment with the 2nd row passenger's throat and eye socket.

Other than that I cannot confirm that the depicted configuration "works" with adult-sized bikes but I can confidently predict that opening the tailgate will cause the two loose front wheels to immediately flee captivity and, depending on terrain, potentially escape custody.

Three points of contact like a milk stool; makes sense.
(..works to help keep ppl from going overboard on boats too)

Excellent point about where handlebars might go in a collision

I can confirm that two bikes on a Yakima rack off the tow hitch wasn't a problem driving up to the mountains. One of the bikes is a pedal-assist style e-bike (53lbs).
Best to mount the heavier bike closer to vehicle where hitch lever arm is shorter.

 

[BEV-ICE]

I think I’m just going to have to take the bikes to the store and try to fit two in the back to see how it works.

 

[Secretagent58]

I put my 63# e-bike on my 55# bike rack and just lay the second e-bike on its side in the cargo area. Of course, this only works if you have no more than two people in the vehicle.