birdermom

Trying to decide...should we put a hitch on the Fiesta for a bike rack/carrier or buy one to attach directly to car? It is a hatchback. Please advise if this is possible...Will a bike rack that will fit a 1.25...2 inch...hitch be compatible with the Fiesta, with hitch, and a Ford escape that has a 2 inch hitch? Trying to determine the most economical...safe...way to have a rack that can be used on both vehicles.

Pops1959

You could probably put the Fiesta on your bike's rack! lol. Ahem, anyhow, check this out:

https://www.etrailer.com/Best/Ford/Fiesta/Bike_Rack

fietsbob 

I used to Own a Hatch back 1 roof rack rail on the roof the other gripping the steel on the edge of the hatch Back lid.

This was back when cars had rain gutters .. same mount gripped the hatch back edge , and being round cross Bars , Yakima ,

The hatch back still opened ..

the tray extrusions with the rear wheel tie down and fork tip mount-clamps connected the 2 crossbars..


So, You got a 2" hitch fixed on the frame of both cars? that will let you swap a hitch mount..





...

birdermom

No...a 2 inch on Escape and will be putting a1.25 on Fiesta. Only come in 1.25 that I see. The bike rack says 1.25 or 2. I figured these are the standard two sizes and the rack "adapts" to either and therefore one rack if I put the hitch on.

fietsbob 

a reducer [*.375"] sleeve around the 1 1/4" bike rack will let it go in the larger 2" receiver, if it is included..

the steel square tube the hitch maker uses comes from a steel tube mill that makes square tube..

* (2 - 1.25)
________

2



'/,

SkyDog75

I've got a Chevy Sonic, roughly the same size as a Fiesta, and I'm *so* glad I put a hitch on it for my bike rack. It's quicker and easier to get on and off, it holds the bikes securely, it won't damage the car's paint, and it even lets me open the trunk.

Glancing at the eTrailer web site, there are hitch options for most (all?) recent model year Fiestas and the installation looks pretty easy, too, if you're handy with a wrench.

If you put a hitch on the Fiesta, it'll be a 1.25" Class 1 hitch. If you buy a bike rack that'll fit that hitch, you'll be able to use the same rack in a 2" hitch with an adapter.

GerryinHouston

I have a 1.25" hitch and a Thule hanging rack on my 2014 Mustang.

A word of caution: If the rack sticks out too much behind the car, you will have trouble with sloped driveways (like ours), parking lot entrances etc (i.e. wherever there is a transition from horizontal to an incline).

I found that I can exit our driveway by driving across at an angle and putting across one wheel at a time. You will not be able to do this with a platform rack like the Swagman in the link.

The hitch mounted hanging racks (Yakima, Thule and others) will do.

mgvh

Just 2 weeks ago I got a hitch for my 2014 Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback (similar to your Fiesta). Go to the UHaul.com website. You can get a full quote in advance and a discount by booking online. Cost me ~$170 for a 1.25" inch. (I didn't do any wiring, since I don't plan to pull a trailer ever, and I doubt it's even recommended to pull a trailer w/ a Fiesta either.)
I decided to go with the Swagman XC2. (About $150 at Amazon) As GerryinHouston noted, you may have to be careful getting out of steep driveways. I've used mine a couple times now, and it is very solid, and I feel comfortable about the bike being secure on the back. I decided to go with this style instead of the hanging rack type because I will often have both my bike and my wife's, and she has the woman's style which would require buying an extra bar so that it can hang properly. Also with this one, the bikes don't need to be secured in additional ways to keep from bumping against the car.

birdermom

Thanks for the information. We are going with the hitch then will work on getting the rack.

martianone

For two bikes, We use a Saris Bones on a fiesta and an escape. Suggest a 3 bike model (for 2 bikes).

birdermom

Any other recommended racks for dual purpose...both size hitch would be appreciated. And do they come with adapters for both size hitch or. Would it be purchased separately?

birdermom

Why 3 for 2?

fietsbob 

You can leave a space between empty and they wont bang into each other ?

& the cost difference is tiny? room for 2 friends to go with you?

GerryinHouston

Saris Bones have anti-sway straps. The bikes will not move much.

Word of caution: I have the Saris Bones II as well (my previous rack, before I bought the Thule Vertex II). I needed the arch design to go over the airfoil attached to the trunk of the Mustang. The rack has 'shoes', for the legs... Because the integrated bumper on the Mustang has the 'melted' look, it takes a lot of tension to get pressure on the shoes and keep all the straps tensioned. A LOT! Eventually I got fuzzy scratches on the bumper. That's when I decided to investigate a hitch mounted rack and decided on the hanging rack type.

SkyDog75

Bob's got it. A 3- or 4-bike rack rack gives you more space to arrange bikes. An extra inch or two on the rack comes in really handy when it comes to positioning things so that handlebars, pedals, cantilever brakes, etc. aren't banging into the other bikes on the rack.

coffeesnob

I cant't wait till I get a truck to haul my bikes.

martianone

Exactly, better positioning of bikes - especially when mixing different size bikes and handlebars.

birdermom

Any suggestions for brand or style?

yak bacon pie

Many of the preceding posters have been yammering on about Saris Bones which are a trunk rack and have no bearing on your search for a hitch rack. Unhelpful to say the least.

Hitch racks span the gamut from inexpensive hanging style racks (Thule, Yakima) to more expensive tray types (Kuat, One Up, Yakima, Thule).

You really need to figure out your budget and then decide. There's no need to buy a 4 bike tray rack to handle two bikes if you're using a hitch rack. Ignore those posts.

Johnny Mullet

Bicycle rack for car

yak bacon pie

She's installing a hitch.

Why is your post helpful?

birdermom

Sorry...think I asked many questions that made my last one unclear...So I would like suggestions for a hitch mount rack...for at least two bikes..budget friendly but sturdy..thanks!

Cyril 

*I deleted my own post*

Cyril 

* deleted this one, too*

Planemaker

FWIW if you put an adapter on hitch (i.e. go from a 1.25 inch to 2 inch adapter) the tongue weight rating of the hitch is cut in half. In the case of a Ford Fiesta you will have a Class I hitch which has a tongue weight of 200 pounds. An adapter to reduce a rack with a 2 inch receiver would reduce the maximum tongue weight to 100 pounds (bikes and bike rack are added to get tongue weight). Depending on the rack you buy plan on only hauling 2 bikes.