Tow hitch bike rack (no extender) - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

cjrzasa · 07-10-2014, 11:10 AM

Has anyone successfully purchased and installed a tow hitch bike rack on their Camaro without a receiver extender? I ordered Hidden Hitch model 60266 and I was curious to hear what other people are using in terms of racks of platform mounts that can hold 2-4 bicycles.

Please note I did search the threads but can't find many posts which explain whether a receiver extender is necessary or not. If you don't use an extender, can you please share the make/model rack you use with your hitch?

My hitch should be arriving in about a week and I want to also try and get a rack ordered so I can use it almost immediately but I don't want any surprises

TIA!

cjrzasa · 07-10-2014, 12:52 PM

just to confirm, you didn't need a reciever extension for the rack? If that's the case I'll look at the specs of the curt hitch and see if it measures with the same clearance as the hidden hitch (supposed to be about a foot between where the reciever is and the end of the bumper).

Thanks for the insight. Hopefully I can see a few more responses and purhase a rack without worry.

cjrzasa · 07-10-2014, 02:09 PM

Do you also know the measurements between the installed reciever and the bumper? The youtube video of the hidden hitch states their model is about 12 inches to clear the bumper do you know off hand what yours is? If it's the same 12 inches then I may just go with the rack you use.

cjrzasa · 07-10-2014, 02:26 PM

Yup the draw tie hitch is the same! That makes this even easier then:

For the rack you have in the picture on the Camaro, do you know the length of the pipe that goes on to the reciever? Or if you provide me the model I can try and research it. That should give me a general idea as to what I can use without an extension. I'm looking to purhase a rack that can handle 2+ bikes so my assumption would be that if I know which racks work without the extension and can get dimensions on the pipe, it should be gravy. Some manufactures put this information on their websites but not all. Thanks for adding the updates btw.

cjrzasa · 07-10-2014, 02:51 PM

Perfect that'll probably be what I need is the length of the bar. If you're talking about not needing an extension for the saris freedom 2 on your Camaro I can try and dig around for a spec sheet and possibly save you the trouble of measuring if I can beat you to it.

Thanks so much again.

ChrisZXWJ · 07-11-2014, 10:36 AM

I have a Thule Helium rack with a Curt bolt-on hitch on my convertible and I don't need an extender - plenty of clearance.

cjrzasa · 07-11-2014, 10:37 AM

I looked at the fit guide for the Saris and it looks like the model you have in the picture with your Camaro only has 12 inches of clearance but my understanding is the distance between the hitch and the tip of the bumper is also 12 inches. The fit guide said the measurement should be less which means is have to get their 4 bike model (not a big deal) because it measures 14 inches which would provide (only) 2 inches between the rack and the bumper. Do you use an extension with the 2 bike Saris?

07-10-2014, 11:10 AM	#1
cjrzasa Drives: 2011 1LS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central NJ Posts: 39	Tow hitch bike rack (no extender) Has anyone successfully purchased and installed a tow hitch bike rack on their Camaro without a receiver extender? I ordered Hidden Hitch model 60266 and I was curious to hear what other people are using in terms of racks of platform mounts that can hold 2-4 bicycles. Please note I did search the threads but can't find many posts which explain whether a receiver extender is necessary or not. If you don't use an extender, can you please share the make/model rack you use with your hitch? My hitch should be arriving in about a week and I want to also try and get a rack ordered so I can use it almost immediately but I don't want any surprises TIA!

07-10-2014, 12:52 PM	#2
cjrzasa Drives: 2011 1LS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central NJ Posts: 39	just to confirm, you didn't need a reciever extension for the rack? If that's the case I'll look at the specs of the curt hitch and see if it measures with the same clearance as the hidden hitch (supposed to be about a foot between where the reciever is and the end of the bumper). Thanks for the insight. Hopefully I can see a few more responses and purhase a rack without worry.

07-10-2014, 02:09 PM	#3
cjrzasa Drives: 2011 1LS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central NJ Posts: 39	Do you also know the measurements between the installed reciever and the bumper? The youtube video of the hidden hitch states their model is about 12 inches to clear the bumper do you know off hand what yours is? If it's the same 12 inches then I may just go with the rack you use.

07-10-2014, 02:26 PM	#4
cjrzasa Drives: 2011 1LS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central NJ Posts: 39	Yup the draw tie hitch is the same! That makes this even easier then: For the rack you have in the picture on the Camaro, do you know the length of the pipe that goes on to the reciever? Or if you provide me the model I can try and research it. That should give me a general idea as to what I can use without an extension. I'm looking to purhase a rack that can handle 2+ bikes so my assumption would be that if I know which racks work without the extension and can get dimensions on the pipe, it should be gravy. Some manufactures put this information on their websites but not all. Thanks for adding the updates btw.

07-10-2014, 02:51 PM	#5
cjrzasa Drives: 2011 1LS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central NJ Posts: 39	Perfect that'll probably be what I need is the length of the bar. If you're talking about not needing an extension for the saris freedom 2 on your Camaro I can try and dig around for a spec sheet and possibly save you the trouble of measuring if I can beat you to it. Thanks so much again.

07-11-2014, 10:36 AM	#6
ChrisZXWJ Drives: 2012 Camaro Convertible Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Webster, NY Posts: 12	I have a Thule Helium rack with a Curt bolt-on hitch on my convertible and I don't need an extender - plenty of clearance.

07-11-2014, 10:37 AM	#7
cjrzasa Drives: 2011 1LS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central NJ Posts: 39	I looked at the fit guide for the Saris and it looks like the model you have in the picture with your Camaro only has 12 inches of clearance but my understanding is the distance between the hitch and the tip of the bumper is also 12 inches. The fit guide said the measurement should be less which means is have to get their 4 bike model (not a big deal) because it measures 14 inches which would provide (only) 2 inches between the rack and the bumper. Do you use an extension with the 2 bike Saris?