Trailer hitch bike rack

[BigGuyBigCar]

If anyone other than me cares, a Thule Expressway bike rack holds four bikes, mounts to a 1.5 or 2.0 inch trailer hitch, works great. Attached or removed in less than a minute. Comes with a built-in cable and lock. Cost is around $300.

[gpfarrell]

Thanks much! I've been thinking of something just like that. Thanks for passing the word.

[RoyLPita]

I have a Thule 2 bike Rack for my MM.

[BigGuyBigCar]

I had a roof rack system that left permanent marks on my two other cars, something I very much wanted to avoid with the Marauder!

[jdando]

Here is a picture of the Thule Expressway installed.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/hitch1.jpg

jeremy

[1stMerc]

I had a roof rack system that left permanent marks on my two other cars, something I very much wanted to avoid with the Marauder!

To late for me, not a roof rack but a trunk mounted one indented the paint on my trunk lid. Have had the rack for about 14 yrs and now i think it's time to part with it and get a trailer hitch and rack.

[1stMerc]

Just ordered a Hidden Hitch lll and Thule Express 2 biker today. What kind of alterations or how did you reattach the Proguard? With the way the hitch looks thinking will have to drill holes in hitch and attach it to there. Any suggestions 04 MM.

[BigGuyBigCar]

1stmerc - I don't have a Proguard installed. Maybe RoyLPita or jdando can answer, if they have both Proguard and hitch.

[RoyLPita]

It is either one or the other. I have the hitch and so does Carfixer. In fact, he sold his Proguard because it would not work with it.

[jdando]

Sorry, hitch only here.

jeremy

[1stMerc]

Thanks for the info guys. Hmmm, there maybe another Proguard up for sale soon.

[Dragcity]

O.K., I know it's a few months old....

I am thinking of a trailer hitch for my MM... I need to transport 4 bikes while on our Cape Cod vacation....

I have been searching the web, don't understand why I didn't START here, DUH !

I think I might as well just go with a Class III hitch. Any suggestions (pictures) ?

And why can't we use the ProGuard? Can't we just Drill through it and "Sandwich" the Proguard between the hitch and frame????

If not that, remove a rectangular section of the ProGuard to acomodate the hitch making contact with the frame????

Do the Class III hitches bolt on, or weld on, or both????

I need this yesterday.


HELP !!!!!

[RoyLPita]

Mine is a class 2 and it takes the small hitch receiver.

[Dragcity]

Anyone have any experience with "Curt" Trailer Hitches. I found a class III for $122 and can have it in time.

And Why can't I keep the Proguard??????

I see two options for keeping the Proguard, as stated in prior post.....

More help please........

Quick !

[Daily 03]

There is a thread someplace where Cruztaker notched his Pro Guard so that it fit around his hidden hitch.

[jdando]

More info here.....

http://www.etrailer.com/products.asp?model=Maurauder&category=hitch&year=2003&make=Mercury&t1=&h=e

from the site...."All installations are bolt-on and require no welding. Some installations require drilling but most newer applications use existing holes in the vehicle frame."

[BigGuyBigCar]

My class III (bolted on, by the way, and not hidden), takes up so much room I don't see how you could cut away enough of the ProGuard to make everythig fit and still have the ProGuard functioning.

Hitch end is about 4" in from the farthest out part of the bumper. From Jeremy's picture you can see that anything morer recessed might have the vertical bar of the bike holder up against the bumper.