besserheimerpha

I'm looking for a bike carrier for our family travel car so that I can take my bike on trips, especially to the in-laws in Iowa City where I hear there are a couple good mountain bike trails. The vehicle I'm trying to fit is a Honda CR-V. We went cheap on the CR-V since we were buying new - no towing package (so no hitch) and no roof rails. A hitch would be $150 or so plus the cost of the actual carrier. Honda makes a bike carrier specific to the CR-V, but first I'd have to pay $250 for the roof rails and then another $100 or so for the carrier. The biggest complication is the fact the the spare tire is mounted on the rear of the vehicle, offset to the passenger side. Everything I've seen so far that straps to the back of an SUV doesn't show the carrier going over a rear-mounted spare. I saw one carrier that mounts directly to the spare, but since the spare on the CR-V is way over on the passender side, the bike would likely be hanging way out on the passenger side. Has anybody seen a strap-on bike carrier for SUV's that will accomodate a rear-mounted spare tire? I'd like to keep the solution under $100 if at all possible. I'm aware that Duct Tape is a possible solution, but the wife will veto especially since it's "her" car.

flip18436572

Nothing that is available that I have seen. My guess is that you would have to add the roof rails, as the spare tire being on the back will restrict you from using a hitch mount.

Stujoe

Is the Spare Joe the one that you already saw but weren't interested in?

https://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=123

piper_chuck

Yakima makes a model called Spare Joe. Attaches to the spare tire and can hold 2 bikes. REI has their Yakima stuff 20% off now, so the rack is $95.99.

piper_chuck

Missed this part. If you put the bike on the mount with the front facing right and took the front wheel off the bike, would it overhang?

jaxgtr

I have the Thule SpareMe. Work fantastic on my 1997 Honda CR-V. The bike does not hang off the passenger side cause the SpareMe has an offset position to deal with Left, Right or Center mounted spare tires. It's really nice. Picked mine up at the LBS for $125. Carries 2 bikes very securely. It also has a lock on the knob that secures the rack to you car. I put some waterproof grease on the post so I would not have to worry about the rack freezing on the post.

https://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=963

flip18436572

It would depend upon the year, because I did a search and it shows that it doesn't work on certain years. But, that might be to meet their legal problems.

jaxgtr

The Thule will fit a 2006. They have the same placement of the rear spare as my 1997 CRV.

besserheimerpha

The Thule SpareMe looks like just the ticket. I looked at the Yakima Spare Joe as well, but after looking at the pictures and instruction manuals, I like that the Thule mounts to the spare lugs rather than wrapping around the spare with straps. It looks like it will resolve the offset issue for me. That's probably what I'll set my sights on.

Jaxqtr - it looks like you have to take the spare cover off to use the rack? Just curious. Also, I assume that it doesn't interfere with opening the rear door, although you can't open the rear glass?

Flip - I tried the "Rack My Car" thing, and it said that the Spare me was an option until I tried to select it. Then it told me that they were sorry they didn't have anything that fit my vehicle. ???

Thanks for the quick replies all.

jaxgtr

Yea, my cover ripped long ago and I never replaced it so it not a big deal. No interference at all and you can easily open the door with the bikes on the rack. As you mentioned, opening the glass is an issue, but based on your handle bars, open your window a little, pull the door back to clear your bars, then you can open the window all the way. This is really only an issue if I carry 2 bikes or if I use the back rack. The front rack is far enough away that is does not interfere.

Also, when you use the right offset setting and I put my Trek 7300 on the rack with the rear wheel on left, the front wheel will only extend about 1/4" beyond the right rear tail light. I can't even see the front wheel from the side mirror when I have my Allez on the rack. I do find that my hybrid is a little tight fit do to the downtube and headtube design. My Allez has lots of room.

jaxgtr

Oh yea, this rack makes a great work stand. I do a lot of my repairs and I have put off buying a work stand as I can do 90% of what I want to do on this thing.

besserheimerpha

Well, I talked to my wife about it last night, and suddenly she'd rather spend the money for the roof rack. *sigh* Oh well, the roof rack will be handy for other stuff too. I don't know which option I'm going to pursue, but it's nice to know that the SpareMe is out there.

jaxgtr

Yea, I don't have the roof rack either and sometimes I wish I had it as well, but since my car is 10 years old and I have gotten by without it so far, not high on my list. Good luck.