Bikes on back of tow vehicle?

ZTab

Has anybody tried putting two bikes on the back of the tow vehicle using a standard trunk mount rack? Is there a way to do this clearing the jockey wheel crank? Or is there just not enough room - we have a 2014 with surge brakes and a Subaru Outback.I've tried to get measurements as to how far the bikes would stick out but it is hard to get this info online. Don't want to spend as much as the Tab rack costs, too unwieldly to put inside Tab, not sure what to do!

swei0009

Try this thread http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/40256/#Comment_40256
I have an Xterra with a trunk mount rack, and plan to see if it works, but the Xterra is higher and more vertical than the Outback.

in2mtns

Also using the Swagman (see photos in http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/40256/#Comment_40256 by Cyclonic).  

The system works well: We can drop off the T@B and carry the bikes onward to a trailhead or use the rack without the T@B around home.  The bikes go on/off quickly without too much lifting.  We use elastic bungees to help keep things even more stable. 

Minor hassles: (1) The Swagman *can* carry three bikes but as JBick points out it's a stretch.  (2) You cannot get into the rear hatch of the tow vehicle with the bikes upright.  You either have to remove the bikes and lower the bar or tilt & lower the bar with the bikes attached and this can be heavy.  Nevertheless, for our style of camping the benefits outweigh the hassles.

My wife and I rode the Jenny Lake to Jackson paved path trail in the Tetons a couple of weeks ago (~40 miles round trip).  Stunning views.  Highly recommended.

ZTab

I just worry about the extended tow bar, we are only towing with a subaru outback

dinzzy

This is is what I did to bring my bikes along.  I also installed a "Jack-E-Up" to remove the jack while towing.  It gives extra room for the bikes and keeps the Jack from dragging.

dinzzy

This is what I did to take my bikes.  I also added a Jack-E-Up to remove the jack during towing.