Get Your Car Ready for Spring Break with Thule Bike Racks and Cargo Carriers
March 10, 2023
You’ve been planning your Spring Break trip for months. The annual pilgrimage to break away from the Midwest winter and enjoy some warmth and family time. But one question still remains.
‘How can we take our bikes with us?’
Or maybe it’s, ‘How can we maximize space in our car?’
Lucky for you, we have those answers!
Thule Bike Racks & Cargo Carriers
As an authorized Thule dealer, we carry a large selection of Thule bike racks and Thule cargo carriers. Even better, we specialize in hitch installations too! That means if you want a bike rack, but your car doesn’t already have a hitch, you can get it all done at once. You don’t have to buy the bike rack at one place and take your car to another.
A good bike rack or rooftop cargo carrier isn’t cheap. But when hauling your bikes, the last thing you want to happen is your bikes to get damaged or stolen. That’s why a high-quality hitch bike rack is worth the investment.
Why Thule?
In short, you get what you pay for.
Thule has built a reputation for high-quality products that are easy to use, feature-rich, and long-lasting. As if that wasn’t enough, Thule also offers great customer service and good warranties. Thule bike racks and cargo carriers are consistently rated at the top of the class.
What kind of bike rack to I need?
Deciding which model to get depends on a couple of important factors.
First, how many bikes do you plan to take with you? Keep in mind, this is a big purchase so while you may only have two bikes now, will you also want to take your kids’ bikes in the years to come? If so, you will grow out of a 2-bike rack and then have to upgrade.
Second, what features do you want? Can you live with a basic model that may be more time consuming to access your trunk? Or would the model that swings away and allows you to access your trunk without taking off the bikes make more sense?
In-stock Thule bike racks
Best Rated: Thule T2 XTR 2-Bike Rack
The Thule T2 Pro XTR was named best overall hitch bike rack of 2023 by Switchback Travel.
“Hitch racks is a competitive space, but what really sets the T2 Pro XTR apart from the field is material quality and the sheer number of features it offers. Simply put, this rack does it all,” said author John Ellings.
It can hold 120 pounds, which means you can haul all types of bikes, even some electric bikes. It also has 12.5 inches between bikes to keep them from hitting each other during transit.
The XTR model has wheels to make it easier to move when not attached to your vehicle, as well as an integrated locking cable. If those two features aren’t important to you, save $150 with the Thule T2 Pro X model.
Best High-End 2-Bike: Thule Helium Platform XT 2-Bike
Thule’s latest addition, the Helium Platform, came in at 11th in the same 2023 ranking listed above. It looks great is compatible with 1.25-inch and 2-inch hitch receivers, and features the same high quality.
However, the 37.5-pound weight capacity per bike holds the Helium Platform back, according to Ellings. That said, the model we have is the XT, which has a much better 45-pound capacity.
The Helium Platform will keep your bikes safe and secure, and it easily tilts back to allow trunk access.
Best Lightweight 2-Bike: Thule Helium Pro 2-Bike Rack
If the pricy platform style isn’t for you, consider the Thule Helium Pro 2-Bike Rack. It’s nearly half the price, but that doesn’t mean it’s half the quality.
At just 19 pounds, it’s incredibly light, but it can hold 75 pounds of bikes. It may not work with heavier bikes or e-bikes, but if you don’t have one of those, the Helium Pro 2 is a great option.
Better yet, it has the HitchSwitch system, which allows you to tilt it down away from the trunk for easy access.
Best Affordable 2-Bike: Thule Camber 2-Bike Rack
If you don’t need all the bells and whistles and you don’t mind doing a little more heavy lifting, the Thule Camber 2-Bike is just for you.
Like the Helium Pro, the Camber can carry two bikes up to 75 pounds total. However, it weighs 28 pounds, so it’s a little bit more cumbersome to install and remove.
Basically, the main difference between the Camber and the Helium is that the Camber is steel and the Helium is aluminum. In this case, choosing steel can save you $150 off MSRP.
Best 3-Bike: Thule Helium Pro 3-Bike Rack
When you need to haul three bikes instead of two, the Thule Helium Pro 3-Bike Rack is the way to go. Just like the Helium Pro 2, it’s aluminum which means it’s lightweight. It weighs just 20 pounds but can carry 112.5 pounds of bike weight (37.5 pounds per bike).
It features the same anti-sway technology to prevent bike to bike contact. When you need to access your trunk, it easily tilts down, even with the bikes attached.
Best 3-Bike: Thule Helium Pro 3-Bike Rack
When you need to haul three bikes instead of two, the Thule Helium Pro 3-Bike Rack is the way to go. Just like the Helium Pro 2, it’s aluminum which means it’s lightweight. It weighs just 20 pounds but can carry 112.5 pounds of bike weight (37.5 pounds per bike).
It features the same anti-sway technology to prevent bike to bike contact. When you need to access your trunk, it easily tilts down, even with the bikes attached.
Most Versatile 4-Bike: Thule Apex XT Swing 4-Bike
Hauling four bikes is an important task and it’s one that Thule is up for. The Apex XT Swing is the feature-rich model that makes it a breeze.
With a 150-pound capacity, you can carry four 37.5-pound bikes or fewer heavier bikes. This model has 7 inches of space between each bike to prevent them from hitting each other during travel.
The best feature of the Apex XT Swing is that it swings out of the way so you can open your trunk. Yes, even with the bikes attached. That saves so much time and effort when you need to quickly access your trunk.
Best Affordable 4-Bike: Thule Range 4-Bike
If you just want to haul four bikes in the most affordable way possible, but still want the quality that Thule is known for, the Range 4 is your choice.
It’s $250 cheaper than the Apex Swing 4. While you don’t get the swing feature, you still get 150-pound load capacity. This model was designed specifically to handle the tremendous forces on the back of an RV/travel trailer. That means you know you’re getting durability and stability to protect your bikes.
Best 5-Bike: Thule Apex XT 5-Bike Rack
The Thule Apex XT 5-Bike is the largest capacity bike rack that we have in-stock. If you really need to take bikes for the whole family, this will get the job done.
It weighs 35 pounds, so getting it on and off may be a challenge, but that’s because it’s strong and durable. The arms fold down when not in use. The HitchSwitch lever allows you to tilt it away from your trunk.
Best Rooftop Cargo Carrier: Thule Motion XT L Roof Box
If bikes aren’t your thing, and you need to free up space in your vehicle, a Thule roof box is extremely handy. The Thule Motion XT is a highly-rated cargo carrier that will provide years of use.
The Motion is Thule’s premium cargo box line and it’s easy to see why. It has an optimized design for best space efficiency, aerodynamics, and vehicle fit. This size has a 16 cubic foot capacity.
Thes SlideLock system has separate locking and opening functions to automatically lock the lid in place and indicate when the box is closed securely.
Whether you need Thule bike racks or a rooftop cargo carrier, Advantage Trailer has options for everyone. Come see them in person inside our showroom or give us a call at 630-580-5840 for pricing and availability. If you need a hitch installed to your vehicle, we’re happy to do that too.
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