Hitch racks that don't interfere with tailgate?

OP - I had a similar problem with mine sitting too high and not letting me open my swing out tire gate so I cut the Yakima hinge piece off of the receiver tube and swapped it out for a straight square tube. Super easy job if you know anyone that welds. The threaded insert for the receiver bolt is just a plastic piece that snaps I to the tube so that is easily swapped over to a new tube as well :

 

YOU GET A RESPONSE! YOU GET A RESPONSE! EVERYBODY GETS A RESPONSE!

Nope, not interested. Going with a hidden and permanent winch and the two won't play nice together.

I don't see a bed rack being any sort of help with my particular set of problems. I want my canopy and my boats with me as well.

From what I've seen none of the Thule mounts w/ trays will tilt far enough out of the way to clear the tailgate.

Not interested in top tube bike transport, won't work with all the bikes in the quiver. Bladerunner is interesting but it moves everything back increasing the cantilever and overall length, a solution that I could live with but still not perfect.

See second half of last response.

See last response to find instructions on finding relevant response.

No top tube racks for me, tray and tire style only. Not all of the bikes I travel with can be carried like that.

See response above.

The platform screws down along the centerline through a 1/2" sheet into a single piece of 5/8" ply that acts as a vertical support between the drawers. Toenailing screws near the edge of the material is a terrible idea, especially since the platform goes in and out with some regularity. The puzzle joint allows the attachment screws to be driven straight down into the center support and leaves plenty of surrounding material to ensure plenty of panel strength around the screw.

I'm starting to lose track...

This quoting system doesn't allow for me to easily see who you're referencing. I think I've made a mistake here...

I think we have a winner, spec looks like it works too. It's really not that much more than the Yakima I already have.

No, doesn't work w/ a hidden winch.

On a '16? Tried a friend's Kuat yesterday afternoon (don't know the exact model though) and it made contact...

Dammit. This is really my own fault. I done screwed up.

I just had to go back and look and because the quoting is getting confusing. The outboard bike mount is certainly an interesting idea, unfortunately without some modification I'm unwilling to do it won't work with the canopy. When I pull together enough scratch for this though that might be just the solution I'm going to need:

Yes. I can and do weld on a somewhat regular basis. This is an option I'm seriously considering in addition to the 1up.

Thanks for playing everyone. I hope we can all play the pile all your responses to responses into one response game again real soon.

 

I use a North Shore, it folds down so you can access the tailgate. Easy to use, even full of bikes....

 

They sell top tube adapters

 

Interesting. Never took that into consideration before. Thanks for the explanation!

 

www.northshoreracks.com

I have the NSR 4-bike model and it's the best, most compact 4 bike carrier on the market. Designed for mountain bikes but I carry road bikes no problem (wheel out facing the opposite way as mtbs using the stem/handlebar).

The entire rack pivots down, even fully loaded so I can get easy access to the tailgate. Also I have it set up so I can open the tailgate with bikes on there, there is a lot of flexibility in set up.

Pics from this last weekend camping/biking. Will try to get a pic next time my bikes are loaded on it.

 

More of my NSR-4.

 

I'm thinking about getting one of these for my Kuat NV hitch mounted bike rack.

http://rakattach.com

 

I like what I see. Thanks.

 

Thule t2

 

Someone said it doesnt totally clear the tailgate
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-me-how-you-carry-your-toys.406221/page-12
Post #222

 

I had the same rack because it was doing the same, the new Yakima racks will allow your tailgate to clear. I tried one where I bought my rack but I haven't pulled the trigger on purchasing a new one just yet.

 

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Looks like good equipment. Getting some good tips in this thread.

 

That was me that you linked to. But I'm considering adding the Rackattach to the Kuat. The RakAttach allows the entire bike rack to pivot out of the way like in the picture I attached below.

 

The newer Yakima Holdup has minor contact in the "level" position and no contact in the "lower" position. Highly recommended!

 

What did you do to yours to make it not interfere with your tailgate?

I second the 1up. I've never owned another hitch style mount but I've owned Yakima and Thule roof racks, and just from a build quality point of view, the others can't hold a candle to the 1up.

 

I had this same issue with the same Yakima Holdup. Check post 314 to see what I did. It works, though I don't like how far back the rack hangs.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/all-things-bikes-and-tacos.445155/page-16

 

I made new mounting holes on the side plates so that the entire rack sits about 2 inches lower. This required a bit of measuring a work to get just right since the mounting location is inset (you can see the original inset on the far side plate. I marked off the holes and inset and used a Dremel with the routing attachment to make the new insets.

This solution allows me to use the tailgate when the rack is folded up. Please note that I have the single bike rack.

 

i have the one up and with two bikes on there it folds back enough for me to let the tailgate down and get into the bed.

 

I just picked up a Yakima Swingdaddy for our Teardrop. It'll work great on the Taco.







SB