by Bryan Ray |
Last Updated: July 15, 2019 We're an affiliate!
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Jeep Wranglers are known for their versatility and ability to go wherever life takes you. This is all true until you are packing your bikes, bags, dog, and more into the bed of your car, we’ve all been there!
The best fix?:
A bike rack.
So, we took a look at the different types of bike racks for Jeep Wranglers.
If you’re looking to bring your bikes on a trip, but not have them cramped in your Wrangler, this is for you!
The best bike rack for Jeep Wrangler is the Thule 963 Pro Spare Me 2 Spare Tire Carrier. You can check it out on Amazon by clicking here
One of my favorite features is that this bike rack is it is built to last the life of a Jeep Wrangler. It will be able to handle almost anything your Wrangler can handle.
To learn more about this rack and other options, continue reading…
Table of Contents
★ Our Top Picks At A Glance ★
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ★ Our #1 Pick ★Thule 963PRO Spare Me 2 Spare Tire Carrier |
| Check on Amazon |
 | Kuat Transfer 2 Bike Rack |
| Check on Amazon |
 | Yakima Spare Tire Bike Rack |
| Check on Amazon |
 | Hollywood SR1 Spare Tire Rack |
| Check on Amazon |
 | Rhino-Rack Spare Tire Bike Carrier |
| Check on Amazon |
 | Allen Sports Deluxe Two Bike Spare Tire Mounted Rack |
| Check on Amazon |
Best Bike Racks For Jeep Wranglers 2020
Here’s a quick list of the bike racks for Jeep Wranglers that I have reviewed. Click on them to learn more!
- Thule 963PRO Spare Me 2 Spare Tire Carrier
- Kuat Transfer 2 Bike Rack
- Yakima Spare Tire Bike Rack
- Hollywood SR1 Spare Tire Rack
- Rhino-Rack Spare Tire Bike Carrier
- Allen Sports Deluxe Two Bike Spare Tire Mounted Rack
Thule 963PRO Spare Me 2 Spare Tire Carrier
My very first instinct with the Thule 963PRO is trust. If this article isn’t your first time hearing about any sort of bike rack, you have most likely heard of Thule.
They are an industry leader and their experience shows with the 963Pro. It’s easy to mount your bike once you have it attached to your jeep. Make sure, once done to take the rack off your Wrangler.
Most bike racks can only hold up to a certain tire size. But, this rack comes with a universal adapter to be able to hold bigger size tires.
If you have an oversized spare tire than this bike rack is perfect for you!
A few issues you should consider is that the rubber straps will wear down over time. So after a while, you will also have to buy replacements.
Buyers have left great reviews. Check out the amazing ratings see why Thule is one of the best products on Amazon.
Kuat Transfer 2 Bike Rack
The Kuat Transfer 2 Bike Rack is the best hitch bike rack for Jeep Wranglers.
This allows the Kuat to give you a 3 bike option that cannot be done with the spare tire attachments.
To prevent damage to your bike frame this rack secures your bike by the wheels. You don’t want your bikes to paint to get ruined.
One major problem with most bike racks is that they can’t hold women and child bikes. Fortunately, I do have a guide I wrote to that will teach you how to put a women’s bike on a bike rack that you can read by clicking here.
But you won’t need to waste your precious time if you decide this is the bike rack for you. The Kuat Transfer can hold any bike frame and you won’t need to spend the extra money on an adapter.
Because of the design of the rack, there is no contact with the frame of your bikes, keeping your gear in the best condition.
Check out the very happy buyer reviews and see why it’s one of the highest rated bike racks on Amazon.
Yakima Spare Tire Bike Rack
Another huge name in the outdoor industry is Yakima. I highly recommend the Yakima Spare Tire Bike Rack if you looking for a sturdy rack. Head over to Amazon by clicking here.
They have entered this space with a great bike rack for your Jeep Wrangler.
The Yakima Spare Tire Bike Rack has a design that allows for a simple installation, without the use of tools.
The patented ZipStrips will keep your bike securely on the rack and prevent them from banging into each other
Along with that, Yakima has a good line of accessories that can enhance your experience. Oh, did I mention it has a built-in bottle opener?
Who doesn’t like an ice-cold beverage after a long ride with friends?
Unfortunately, if you don’t have a stock spare tire you should consider another bike rack on this list.
Completely worth reading tons of great buyer reviews that helped this earn Amazon’s Choice Award.
Hollywood SR1 Spare Tire Rack
This rack is one of the more inconspicuous in design.
Hollywood Racks hit it out of the park with the SR1 Spare Tire Rack, with both bolt and strap mounting systems.
It will fit 2 bikes each weighing 35 pounds apiece. The arms will also adjust if your tires are mounted on the side.
Best of all, when you aren’t using the Hollywood Racks the arms fold down so you don’t have to take the rack off your jeep!
You can easily drive through town or off-road knowing your bikes will still be there upon arrival.
The fact that the Hollywood Racks has a mid-range price point sets it apart from its competition.
You won’t want to leave your bikes on the rack when you aren’t around. There is no locking system included so your bikes could get stolen.
Many happy customers back up my recommendation because it’s one of the most reliable bike racks on Amazon.
Rhino-Rack Spare Tire Bike Carrier
Rhino-Rack claims to be giving you more trail-time than other bike racks with their strap on tech.
One of the only racks that have the ability to be adjusted for a spare tire on the left, right, or center of your car.
Because of this, it’s adjustable to maintain a balanced weight no matter where the spare tire is placed
You don’t have to worry about the elements with rack. Whether its raining or snowing this rack has a rust-proof coating that helps it last longer than most.
Do keep in mind, Rhino-Rack does not recommend heavy off-road use. This is because strap-on technology tends to be less secure than bolting the rack secure.
I highly suggest checking out this bike rack on Amazon by clicking here.
Allen Sports Deluxe Two Bike Spare Tire Mounted Rack
As a result of its strap on, patented carrying design, the Allen Sports Deluxe Spare Tire Rack fits onto nearly all tire sizes.
This versatility cannot be found elsewhere in the market. This is great for someone with a variety of vehicles.
The way the rack is designed helps hold your bikes so that they won’t damage your bikes or your tire.
Along with that, this rack is the least expensive on our list and one of the best racks you can get at any price point.
If your spare tire is older you should stay away from this rack. You don’t want to cause unwanted tire damage.
Have a look at the great reviews buyers have left and see why this is their favorite bike rack on Amazon.
What Sets a Bike Rack Apart?
There are many factors that go into picking the best bike rack for your Jeep Wrangler. Of course, not everyone has the same preferences and needs. So, it is important to understand your needs and what makes a good bike rack.
So, what should you think about before purchasing a rack?
Consumer Reports did a test and found that bike racks can decrease your mileage per gallon. You should weigh the convenience of having a bike on the outside of your car rather than inside against the extra gas costs.
For a cross-country trip with one bicycle, it might be best to take off the wheels and stick it in the back-seat.
Mounting Styles for Jeep Wrangler
One thing that is important is to know the 4 industry standards for bike racks in general. Although most of these can be attached to your Wrangler, that does not mean they are the best.
The four styles are:
- Roof Rack
- Spare Tire Rack
- Hitch Mount Rack
- Trunk Rack
Each will have its benefits and disadvantages, but some have more than others. When it comes down to a purchasing decision, you will need to decide based on your individual situation, desires, usage, and needs.
The roof tack and trunk rack don’t work so we won’t be covering those styles.
Once you are familiar, we can look at your options for a Jeep Wrangler bike rack.
Spare Tire Mounted Racks
First, let’s look at the spare tire mount. This style of bike rack makes up the majority of the best bike racks for Jeep Wrangler.
Within this category, you will find racks that bolt into your spare tire, racks that strap onto your spare tire, and racks that do a combination of both.
These allow you to access the bed of your Jeep Wrangler without having to take off the rack. Along with that, most of these racks are very quick and easy to install and they are moderately priced.
Spare tire mounted racks do come with their shortcomings though. For example, because of the design of mounting bikes to the spare tire, you will only find racks that fit up to two bikes.
Along with that, many of these racks will hold your bikes from a hanging position. This is not always bad, but it can be an inconvenience in many ways.
First of all, hanging your bikes can cause damage to the bike frames. Along with that, hanging racks tend to have a harder time fitting all types of bike frames. So, if you have a versatile bike collection, hanging racks may not be your best bet.
Hitch Mount Bike Racks
The only other style of bike rack featured in my list of the best bike racks for Jeep Wranglers is a hitch mount. Hitch mounts are the only other bike rack that lets your Wrangler be a Wrangler while you haul your bikes around.
For a family or someone who likes to ride many bikes, this is the way to go. Hitch mount racks give you the ability to take more than two bikes which cannot be found by spare tire bike racks.
Along with that, hitch mount racks are super simple to install and are very sturdy.
Because of their sturdiness and good design, hitch racks can get very expensive. If you are wanting to carry three bikes, a hitch rack can easily cost a lot of money.
Also, hitch racks add a lot of length and weight which can be funky when driving off-road. If you find yourself on the back roads a lot, a hitch rack may not be for you.
If you’re headed on a family vacation though, this is a great way to bring each member of your family’s bikes.
Conclusion
Now, it is clear that spending a little extra for a bike rack will get you the best option. So, the Thule 963 Pro Spare Me 2 Spare Tire Carrier takes the cake.
The fact that this rack almost has no problems on where you can go and what you can do with your Jeep Wrangler sets it apart. That, along with that peace of mind that comes with having the locking systems makes for a pleasant bike rack experience.
The Yakima rack came in a close second, but the lower versatility and higher price really knocked it down a bit. Thule knows how to keep their prices low while still delivering a product that will work with almost all who need it.
Along with that, having the bolted mount rather than a strap-on mount provides so much security for your bikes. It’s well worth it to pay the extra money on a bike rack that will securely hold your precious bike rather than risk ruining your bike.
In the end, no matter what you are doing with your Jeep Wrangler, the Thule will deliver. This allows for versatility in the activities that you can do with your friends and family that is unprecedented in the industry.
So, maybe you are headed to the beach to cruise.
Or, you may be venturing into the mountains for a camping trip. No matter what, the Thule will get your bikes wherever your Jeep Wrangler takes you. This is exactly why I chose it as the best bike rack for a Jeep Wrangler.
Additional Reading
If you want to learn more about storing your bike for the offseason I got you covered. Click here to read the best ways to store your bike in your garage.
If you are worried about messing up the paint job on your Jeep Wrangler then check out my article on how to prevent damaging your car with a bike rack.
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