I wasn't sure where to post this but hopefully it will save someone some heartache. I have a Thule four bike receiver rack to carry our bikes. It has the option to tilt down so you can open the tailgate. We just returned from a 1200 mile trip to Florida and back with all the bikes loaded and no issues. I left it hook up so that the next day I could go ring my new $$$ CF mountain bike. I got almost to the park and BAM looked back and no bike I stopped and the spring clip and pin were gone and the bike and rack were hanging 1 inch from the ground. No damage except the pedal was scratch up on the end. If this had happened on the interstate with all our bikes on it they would have been destroyed and the car following us too probably. Do Not Trust that pin !!! I found the pin and the clip and drilled an extra retainer hole. Now it has a retainer pin and the spring clip holding it in place and won't come out again. This is a very poor design and I will be writing the manufacturer also.

Which model Thule rear rack do you have? Could you include some pics. I am useless clueless w/o pics.

thanks.

What are the odds that it was user error?

Rack and modified pin

Almost zero because I never use that feature. But could something have hit it by accident? Possibly but it shouldn't be that easy to unhook. Now it is not.

Thanks for the info and the pictures. I have the Thule T2 and it has a similar tilt-down feature. The holding pin has a small, spring actuated ball designed to keep the pin from sliding out. I just don't trust that little ball. I may do the same mod you did.

thanks.

Real world posts like this are of great use. They may keep someones day from being completely ruined. Thanks for posting.

I have a rack with a pin/retainer like that. I'm guessing that the retainer got unclipped from over the end of pin somehow, may betting caught on clothing or something. Once off the end of the pin it can come off the post and allow the pin to works its way out. Just a theory...

You should also file a complaint with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They track defective products and will have the manufacturer do a recall if needed.

One possible explanation is that some sick joker partially pulled that pin- similar to how some punks will loosen wheel and brake bolts.

Good suggestion Patty.

Now, for the love of all that is good and right with the world, please I beg you...change your avatar picture. Por favor chica!

That is a possibility I hadn't considered but at least with my redesign it will take a little longer to sabotage it.

Has operator error been ruled out? If the rack was lowered in the process of unloading the vehicle after your trip, was the catch latched properly over the end of the pin afterward? A check prior to driving off could be a good idea.

I don't ever lower it and I do usually look but who knows for certain. Like I said it really shouldn't be able to be disengaged by accident so easily if that is what happened.

I have a Rhode Gear rack that uses a similar clip. I don't use the rack much anymore, but I never had a problem with it, and I used the tilt feature all the time. In hindsight, I can envision that an unusual amount of jostling might unclip it. Thanks for the head-up.