http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=961

i was looking thru thule site and came across this rack. according to their fitting guide this should fit the hatch. it seems like a cheaper solution to a hitch rack, but i'm worried bikes will sway and hit the car. has anyone tried this kind of rack?

I ain't no expert, but from what I have heard those things will scratch the crap out of your hatch. I like my swagman hitch mount.

Bone

bob !! Lets hear more .How many bikes ,how many passengers . I haul bikes with my E daily .Maybe I can help. Are these bike clean ,muddy ?

[quote:e4d159fee0=" "]http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=961

i was looking thru thule site and came across this rack. according to their fitting guide this should fit the hatch. it seems like a cheaper solution to a hitch rack, but i'm worried bikes will sway and hit the car. has anyone tried this kind of rack?[/quote:e4d159fee0]

To be honest, that rack seems like it would have to be open 180 degrees or more to fit on the E (the back of the E has very little slope compared to the SUV shown in the illustration). I had a similar rack, without as many straps (lots of extra bungees though), and it just wasn't safe. Perhaps seeing if a local place (such as REI) has one out on display they might allow you to try on?

I opted for the valley hitch + softride pull-pin rack. If you're not interested, just ignore the rest of this post.

It's more $$$, but I think it's a significantly more solid solution. I always hated the racks that strap on, because I'd always be super worried about the bikes during the trips, esp. on bad roads or during bad weather.

Plus, you can just slide it out of the way to open the back! Granted it does take two hands...

The hitch is best sourced from u-haul and/or sportsrack.com as mentioned elsewhere.

The bike rack is from this company (it's the older model; the newer one is foot released, but twice as expensive)):
http://www.softride.com/rack/pinRack.asp

overstock.com used to have the best price but are sold out:
http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=668135

Another source is:
http://www.hitchsource.com/softride.php

Or, an ebay-centric company, which has good prices on the rack and the accessories:
http://seasonaloutfitters.zoovy.com/

The arms don't fold up, but are removable. I stow them in the left-side storage pocket in the cargo area.

-brendan

My family use a rack like that for several years...and bikes kept falling off!
The hinges where the bike holders attach just aren't that strong, and the design and construction hasn't changed enough to make me thing they're any better now.

And before any wiseasses speak up...I was only a kid...what did I know?!?!

jesse

Oh, also...you can't open the hatch with the thing loaded...