The hooks, straps, and buckles on trunk-mounted bike racks enable you to fasten them to the back of your minivan. These racks can be the most affordable option for transporting bikes because they don’t require any additional hardware (a hitch or crossbars). Bike racks that mount to the trunk typically have padding of some kind where they come into touch with the car. But before mounting them, be sure to clean the areas of your minivan where they do make contact to help prevent any potential scratching of its finish. Even if there are no bikes mounted on a trunk-mounted rack when it is fitted, you cannot open the hatch. Even though certain racks are made to mount on cars with spoilers, a spoiler can affect how well these racks fit.
Pros:
- does not need a hitch or crossbars
- cheapest possible choice
- can be switched between various vehicles
Cons:
- hinders access to the hatch
- more challenging to install
- automated rear windshield wiper is hampered
- Damage from improper installation is possible.
In This Article...
Clean the weld nuts
To clean the weld nuts of all debris and corrosion, use the battery terminal. On either side of the car, there are three. The underbody panel that came with your Toyota Sienna will need to be removed and trimmed in order to complete the installation. For more details, consult the hitch’s instructions that came with it.
Lower the exhaust
To remove the isolator rod from the rubber exhaust hanger, use the exhaust removal wrench. The rod might need to be loosened with soapy water. On the passenger side, above the exhaust muffler, is where you’ll find the rubber hanger.
Position the hitch
To position the lift, hoist it with the aid of additional hands. Align the six attachment holes before sliding the right hitch bracket over the exhaust pipe. The conical washers and six M12 bolts should be installed with the teeth facing the hitch. Before using the 19mm socket with the 5-inch extension to fasten the bolts, tighten them by hand first.
Torque the hitch
To torque each M12 bolt to 75 ft-lb, use a torque wrench with a 19mm socket and a 5-inch extension. Once the proper amount of torque has been applied, you should hear a clicking sound.
Raise the exhaust
Each M12 bolt should be torqued to 75 ft-lb using the torque wrench equipped with a 19mm socket and a 5-inch extension. When the proper amount of torque has been applied, a clicking sound should be audible.
- The receiver’s height from the ground is 11 3/4 inches.
- From the pinhole to the end of the bumper, it is 4 1/2 in.
Your Toyota Sienna should now be equipped with the Draw-Tite 75237 trailer hitch.
Is a hitch required to install a bike rack?
A trailer hitch must be installed on your car in order to use a hitch mount bike rack; roof and trunk racks don’t. Almost any car, from little hatchbacks to large SUVs, may be equipped with a trailer hitch. Find a hitch for your car here or read more about choosing a hitch here.
Which van bike rack is the best?
Although it requires roof rails to fit to, the Thule ProRide roof mounted bike carrier is a quick method to get a bike out of the way on top of your car. The good news is that it is simple to mount and may be left in place while not in use without significantly altering fuel usage.
A lock for your bike and straps to hold the wheels securely are included in the mount, which makes it simple to lock and unlock a bike. Since there is only enough for one bike, transporting more bikes will be costly.
Can a van have a bike rack on it?
Van rear doors may accommodate bike racks, giving full use of the door. However, we advise using a Thule towbar bike rack if you intend to carry larger bikes, such as e-bikes.
Can you put a hitch on your own?
Look up the installation instructions or installation videos online for the hitch you are contemplating before making a purchase, and then determine whether you can install it yourself or if you need to bring it to a pro.
Can I install a hitch myself?
If you have the appropriate tools, you can install a trailer hitch by yourself. DIY hitch installation is an excellent technique to reduce the cost of installing a trailer hitch.
Installation of CURT custom hitches is designed to be as simple and painless as possible. The majority of CURT hitches are simple to install in your garage using standard hand tools.
Can a 2022 Toyota Sienna be hitched?
A hitch receiver for your 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid will be one of your options. The Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver – Custom Fit – Class III – 2″ (part number DT55MR) is what I advise. The greatest variety of hitch accessories are compatible with it because it is a Class III hitch receiver. It has a maximum gross trailer weight of 4,500 lbs. and a maximum tongue weight of 675 lbs.
Car damage caused by bike racks fitted to the trunk?
Unlike hitch racks or roof racks, trunk mounted bike racks rest on the paint of the car as they are fastened to the trunk with metal clips. Damage, however, can also result from poor driving, improper installation, utilizing the inappropriate kind, etc.
Many people, including myself, have figured out how to attach a trunk rack to our car without harming it. I’ll give you some advice on how to stop one from harming your car down below.
What is the cost of mounting a hitch on a bike rack?
The short answer is that it depends on the sort of tow hitch you have, the make and model of your automobile, and how much work it will take to install it. For instance, while some vehicles don’t require drilling to attach a tow hitch, some must.
Hitch installation costs typically range from $100 to $800. Remember that you’ll also need to purchase the tow hitch and other components individually, which can easily cost an additional $150 to $200.
The following vehicle parts are necessary for tow hitch installation, along with our recommended Amazon selections for each:
Are bike racks with straps secure?
As long as you know how to properly secure the rack and the bike, the trunk rack via straps is a relatively decent alternative to the hitch because it provides a firm connection to the car. There is no chance the bike will fall off after it is securely fastened with extra tie-downs (spare tubes). Since there is no mechanism to fail, it is actually even more secure than the majority of roof racks. The roof racks, in my opinion, are the least secure. Since you can’t see the locking mechanism or check to see if it’s functioning properly, you must rely on it. Therefore, even if you believe you have locked the bike securely, the mechanism may fail and you may lose the bike.
However, trunk-strap racks require the most work since, although they are secure (if placed correctly), they are a little difficult to use every time.
Without eyelets, how is a bike rack attached?
Let’s examine the three possibilities for attaching a bicycle rack without eyelets now.
1) Mounting a common rack devoid of eyelets
52 Pieces of Rubber Wire Clamps from Keadic in a Sturdy Storage Box In comparison to the other two solutions, this one calls for a little more DIY know-how. Additionally, it’s a little more durable of a patch; removal still works, it just takes a little longer.
If your bike doesn’t already have eyelets, you’ll need to add them to make it fit a typical bike rack. The best method for doing this is to employ “P-clamps. If you’ve never seen these before, they are metal bands that wrap around tubes, leaving an eyelet sticking out where fasteners can be added. A 3/4 P-clamp fits a tube with a diameter of 3/4 since they are sized in accordance with the diameter of the tube. Simple to fit around the seat stays, you’ll need a nut, washer, and bolt at each top and bottom to attach the rack to. P-clamps with a rubber coating are the best option because they will protect the paint on your bike from damage.
Remember the heel-strike problem I discussed earlier. Only bicycles with longer chainstays will allow you to keep the side pannier bags away from your feet in this configuration. If you already have a regular rack, P-clamps are worth a try. If you haven’t already, I’d advise purchasing one of the following options rather than attempting to modify a normal rack to suit.