Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Insane to put a hitch rack on a Honda Fit?

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 42 Posts
B

Black_Cat

· Registered
Joined
·
43 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Sized XL 29er is too big to put in the back of the Honda Fit.

Roof rack means no access to indoor parking at work or at home.


Anyone found a light weight, sturdy hitch mounted rack for a Honda Fit?

With decent ground clearance?

I'll have just one bike on the rack.

Thanks!
 
#4 ·
It looks like you can put a class 1 on the FIT, so I'd go for it. It's definitely going to need a rack with a little slope to it to prevent ground clearance issues, but I'd just go to a LBS or a big box store that caries hitches and look around for one that works. And I'd much rather have a hitch rack than a hatch/trunk rack. You can even haul a light trailer with a hitch, can't do that with a hatch rack.
Hitch Lookup for 2016 Honda Fit All
 
#5 ·
I have a '14 Focus 5 door hatchback. It's a little bit bigger than a FIT but I can't see why you couldn't slap on a Class 1? I rock a Thule T2 rack as that hitch mount actually is elevated from the centerline of the receiver portion. It's nice and high off the ground so clearance has never been an issue. I have the 917XTR model which is a 1.25" drawbar and will not accept the additional 2 bike rack extension that is available on the 2" T2.

If I have to go big on transport, I also have a Yakima base rack but run 2 of the Thule SideArm racks which are what the T2 is based on. You can sort of see the height of the T2 in this shot but it's definitely elevated sufficiently.
 

Attachments

#6 ·
Depending on the trim of the car, a hatch mounted rack may not even be an option. I have an 07 Sport which has a small spoiler on the top of the hatch, and any rack straps would rip that thing right off. No go.

I currently put bikes inside mine, but I ride a medium frame and my wife a small, so fitment is no trouble. I'd prefer a hitch mount, but we've got a 2" Kuat NV for another car and I don't want to buy another hitch rack specifically for my Fit.

If you have a Fit of the correct year (the newer models, I think since 09) have 2" receiver fitment options from Ecohitch. They're more expensive than something like a Curt, but they're quality. My wife's Subie has one.
 
#7 ·
Are you saying someone is making a 2" receiver for a Fit?! Short of totally custom, I've never seen a "legit" manufacturer build something like that for today's small cars. Most cars of this genera aren't even rated for towing. Period. But that's for another thread. I'm just amazed that a 2" is available, that's all.
 
#8 ·
Go for it. I have a 1 1/4" Curt hitch on my BRZ and use a Saris Freedom Superclamp and regularly carry 2 fatbikes. My BRZ has a lot less clearance than your Fit does and it's almost never a problem with the hitch hanging low unless it's a rough dirt lot or very poorly maintained lot entrance when there are two bikes on the rack.
 
#9 ·
Oh My Sack! said:
Are you saying someone is making a 2" receiver for a Fit?! Short of totally custom, I've never seen a "legit" manufacturer build something like that for today's small cars. Most cars of this genera aren't even rated for towing. Period. But that's for another thread. I'm just amazed that a 2" is available, that's all.
Click to expand...
Torklift Central | Fit - Honda - Find Your EcoHitch - RVing and Towing

09 and newer. If given the choice, I'd go 2" in a heartbeat over 1 1/4". The bigger stinger allows for a much more wobble-free carry.
 
#10 ·
I don't see the point on a small car. For 1, I just watched the install video. Not sure if it's the same for a Curt or DrawTite on the Fit but what a pain in the ass that is! Maybe it's the nature of the car model, though. Second, both the 1.25 and the 2 are rated identically at 200/2000#. No different than a Curt or DrawTite. That car is no way rated to handle either of those weights at the tongue nor the total to begin with. Is it even rated for towing at all? Most of these tiny cars are not. Granted we're talking about relatively small amounts of weight between bikes and hitch carrier as long as the arm of that load is very short as a 2 bike rack typically is. My third and final thought is having experience with both 2" and 1.25" hitch racks, specifically the Thule T2 as I have both, their drawbar is solid and threaded and they come standard with a threaded bolt/locking hitch pin. It's installed with a 3/4" box end (tool supplied) and easily snugged and there is absolutely no freeplay in the hitch/receiver interface whatsoever and this is on my DrawTite receiver unit. I think I paid around $135 from one of the big online trailer parts retailers...maybe eTrailer.com, I forget.
 
#14 ·
Not for towing, but in general, a 2" receiver allows a lot more bike carrier options. I use a kuat that mounts in a 1 1/4" receiver. Has their anti-sway tightening thing, which is awesome by the way. I'd rather have it in the 2" though. a 2" tube just supports it better.
 
#15 ·
Black_Cat said:
Nice rack!

How do you like the Drawtite?
Click to expand...
It's fine. If you don't know, Drawtite, UHaul and Hidden Hitch are all the same.

I bought it mail order and it arrived with the paint worn off from shipping, so I repainted it with Rustolium satin black before installing. Not a huge deal because I would have painted it anyway to try to keep it from rusting for as long as possible.
 
#16 ·
Check out etrailer.com!! I had a hitch mounted rack on my GTI that was lowered 2 inches and never had an issue (except backing into parking spots and not being careful of the parking curbs). Almost all of the hitch racks raise up above the centerline of the hitch to gain ground clearance. I have the Kuat rack and it raises up probably 2-3" above the receiver of the hitch.

Also, a lot of times etrailer has free shipping which on a hitch and a bike carrier is a huge savings. Just make sure that when you order you get the right size rack for your hitch (1-1/4" or 2") but I would guess most, if not all, hitches for the Fit would be 1-1/4".
 
#17 ·
09 Fit owner here. I have a 1-1/4" receiver on my hitch. It's great and I love it. You definitely need an anti-sway mechanism. But I use it with both bike racks and a cargo carrier when I go camping and it works well.
 
#18 ·
No Fit, but I really like small cars. I've put a hitch on all my cars.

Here are a couple small cars sporting hitches:

PriusC


Yaris 3-door



CT200h



As far as sway, most bike rack's have their own anti-sway mechanism consisting of a bolt that secures the stinger to the hitch receiver. Tighten it up and it's good to go. I've gone through many cars and many bike racks. Never had a problem with any of them that wasn't related to human error
 
#20 ·
I put a receiver hitch on a 2010 Insight. It worked fine with 2 30ish lb bikes on it, I did interstate and mountain roads. No issues. The Insight was based off the Fit I believe. 1 1/4" unless you already have 2" racks. Don't try to tow anything, but bike racks are fine.
 
1 - 20 of 42 Posts
About this Discussion
41 Replies
26 Participants
Last post:
adamb52
Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
posts
16M
members
534K
Since
1990
A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion Downhill - Freeride California - Norcal Shocks and Suspension Passion