Bike Racks for Honda Elements

If this has already been discussed, feel free to point me in the right direction!

We need a bike rack and so first we need a trailer hitch. We aren't sure whether to get a 2" hitch or a 1 1/4" hitch. I'm told that once we get the hitch, we will be able to find a bike rack to fit it, that it doesn't make any difference which kind we get.

I'm a bit lost in this process -- except for being stunned that Honda would charge around 900 bucks for an installed trailer hitch!

Any opinions/advice/experience?

Thanks.

Well. UHaul will sell and install the Class 3 trailer hitch for less than $300.00.

How could there be that much diff in price? That's almost scary.

I would personally go for a 2" hitch. It seems most things that you would hook up are 2". And I believe they have a converter you can buy if you end up using something that needs the other size.

Honda's price may include a transmission cooler or something to that affect, I can't remember exactly what it was. We just went ahead and let the dealership put the hitch on my Pilot and it was about that cost with the transmission thing. If you have an extended warranty, which I do, you'll void any transmission coverage if you put a hitch on without the extra transmission thing.

We've got a 2".

Thanks for that info, Steph. I'll check into it.

And I'm leaning toward the 2", midgetcycler. Makes sense. Thanks.

ETA: Steph, I'd already called a Honda dealership and asked if having a trailer hitch installed would void the warranty. They said no. But I didn't ask specifically about the extended warranty or the transmission, so thanks. I want to be sure.

My Ford Escape came from the dealer with a class 3 trailer hitch (1.25") and towing package that included updgraded battery and a few other things. Don't know if Honda is charging for those upgrades as well. Probably not. Honda is a premium product and they charge premium prices to boot.
Having said that, and having an 1.25" receiver hitch on my truck...I'd vote for the 2". I think there's a whole lot more usefulness out of the 2" that you don't have with the (whimpy) 1.25". But, maybe it's a Freudian thing...

I thought the whole point of having an Element is that the bike(s) fit inside - no rack required!

Of course, we have it a little easier since we don't have kids. The back seats are out, and the bikes fit in back, upright, along with luggage, gear, etc. It's great.

Good luck finding what you are looking for!

Emily

Love that Freudian thing, since we're definitely going with the 2". Heh.

As for the bikes fitting inside -- yes, they are supposed to. I know lots of people who can carry two or three bikes in the back of their E without taking out seats -- just putting them up on the sides.

Our bikes are very tall and don't fit in that way. I don't know if it's because they're hybrids, or if it has something to do with them being shaft-drive or what. I just know that (curses) they won't fit in unless we pop the front wheels off, and (I know, this is dorky) we haven't mastered that yet. Ours don't pop off as easily as they're supposed to. The woman at the LBS said it would be easy, then it wasn't -- I had to hold the bike while she worked with it. Then she said, "It's no big deal, just different than I've ever seen before." But it took both of us to do it, and she knew (or could figure out) what she was doing. That doesn't bode well for me hauling my bike alone.

Plus if we take our bikes camping, we'll have the back filled with camping gear and will need to put the bikes on the outside.

There's also the option of a spare tire bike carrier. Thule makes one for around $150

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pooks

If this has already been discussed, feel free to point me in the right direction!

We need a bike rack and so first we need a trailer hitch. We aren't sure whether to get a 2" hitch or a 1 1/4" hitch. I'm told that once we get the hitch, we will be able to find a bike rack to fit it, that it doesn't make any difference which kind we get.

I'm a bit lost in this process -- except for being stunned that Honda would charge around 900 bucks for an installed trailer hitch!

Any opinions/advice/experience?

Thanks.

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We had U-HAUL install a 2" hitch in July and it was less than $200 (I think it was about $130-but would rather error on the high side). We needed something that would haul 5 bikes. Thule made exactly what we were looking for and it has been wonderful. As for hitch size, a lot of the sites I looked at when researching bike carriers mentioned the hitch size required.

There are a few companies who make hitches that will work with the Element.

Curtis, UHaul, and Reese.

I can't remember which one it is, but one installs with no extra drill points or special mounting, it uses pre-existing holes in the frame.

Honda's isn't bad but remember it's a Honda accessory so it costs more than it should. If your set on the one from Honda, try College Hills Honda's website they have a very good parts/accessories site with excellent service and discounted prices.

You might want to also try checking in with the folks over at www.elementownersclub.com