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Weighing a mere 20 lbs, this Thule hitch bike rack is easy for one person to lift and install in a trailer hitch receiver. Anti-sway cradles fold up, so they're out of the way while you're loading your bikes. Tilts with bikes unloaded.
Features:
Specs:
Note: The distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the face of the hitch must be 1-1/2" or greater to use this rack.
Dual Folding Arms with Anti-Sway Cradles
The Thule Helium has dual arms that provide excellent support for your bikes. They slope up to provide ground clearance for steep driveways and bumpy roads.
To fold the arms down, pull up the HitchSwitch lever at the top of the mast. This leaves a smaller footprint, so you can keep the rack on your vehicle to park in your garage. And when stored in this configuration, it doesn't take up as much space in your garage.
HideAway anti-sway cradles with rubber straps hold your bikes firmly in place. Each set of cradles has two straps that secure your bike along the top tube and one that secures the seat post or downtube. This multi-point contact helps keep your bikes from rocking back and forth, reducing bike-to-bike contact. The soft rubber cradles rotate around the rack's arms to accommodate bikes of different styles and shapes.
The cradles have grooves on the surface that prevent your brake and shifter cables from getting pinched.
Ratchet straps hold your bikes firmly in place on the cradles. You can remove the lower straps and fold the cradles up against the arms to make it easier to slide your bikes onto the rack.
Easy Tilting for Cargo Area Access
The rack tilts down without your bikes loaded. This means you won't have to remove the whole rack to access your cargo area for grocery runs and other errands.
To tilt the rack down, pull up the HitchSwitch lever at the base of the mast. When you're ready to go, lift the rack up until it snaps into place with an audible click.
The Helium is made of lightweight aluminum that weighs less than 20 lbs, making it one of the lightest racks on the market and one of the easiest to install. All you have to do is slide the shank into your hitch and turn the knob until snug. Turning the knob deploys an anti-rattle wedge in the shank to help take play out of the hitch connection. It also sets the integrated SnugTite hitch pin into place, securing the rack to your receiver.
You can install the rack in a 1-1/4" hitch or in a 2" hitch. To use it in a 1-1/4" hitch, simply remove the adapter with the included Allen key.
The lock on the hand knob secures the rack to your vehicle. Once locked, the hand knob will spin freely so a would-be thief can't operate it.
The integrated cable lock threads around your bikes' frames and inserts into the lock at the end of the left arm. The cable stores inside the mast when not in use. The locks are keyed alike, so you only need to use 1 key. Additional One-Key System locks (sold separately) let you make all your Thule products keyed alike.
Available Adapter Bar
If you have a women's bike, kid's bike, or any other bike without a straight, horizontal top tube, you will need an adapter bar (sold separately) to properly mount your bike. The bar fits between the seat post and handlebar stem post of your bike to create a top tube so your bike hangs level on the rack.
Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (86 Customer Reviews)
Weighing a mere 20 lbs, this Thule hitch bike rack is easy for one person to lift and install in a trailer hitch receiver. Anti-sway cradles fold up, so they're out of the way while you're loading your bikes. Tilts with bikes unloaded.
The Thule Helium Pro Bike Rack for 3 Bikes is a great bike rack, that I use on the rear of my 2018 Audi 2018 Audi Q5. Attached to the trailer hitch also purchased from “etrailer”.
Highly recommended product and great company to deal with. Thank you.
I have used this for a year and I love it. I bought it primarily because of the lighter weight and it does not disappoint. And the shape is fantastic for storing in the corner of the garage. Having the built-in straps is also a fantastic convenience. I read some that complain about them but that is user error. All that's needed to release a strap that doesn't loosen when the release is pressed is to adjust the angle of the tight side of the strap (move the bike) so that the release lever can be fully pressed.
The directions for installing could be a bit better. I used a third party's YouTube instructions and it took me less than 45 minutes to install. What I like about this rack in practice is how easily it folds, both to fold down the bike holding portion or to lean away for tailgate clearance. It's also lightweight and easy to attach to a trailer hitch receiver. In use, a rack that hangs bikes is never going to be as stable as a platform rack, but it holds the bikes just fine. I haven't tried 3 bikes yet but that's a nice feature if you do need it. All in all, this is an excellent lightweight bike rack for everyday use.
The unboxing and installation was very simple. Thule is a quality manufacturer and the Helium Pro 3 is no exception. Only one small thing I noticed was after loading the rack onto my 2” hitch and locking it down, I did notice a small bit of wiggle where the tilt-up hinge locks. But I’ll be placing the nicks on the rack today and going for a ride. I’m sure it will work great.
As I got older, installing heavy bike racks is too difficult. This Thule Helium Pro is much lighter and easy to install. There was some fairly easy assembly and then it’s ready to go. I haven’t used it yet so I can’t judge how stable the bikes are and how easy it is to tighten the straps. However, both my wife and I are very pleased with its construction, size and weight.
It is very difficult to place the bikes and there is no space between the bikes.
I recently purchased the Thule Helium Pro 3 Bike Rack and love how simple it is to operate once put together. I've only had it for about a week and have used it twice. It is great not to worry about pins any longer.
My only beef is with the instructions to put it together. I took all the parts out of the box and started to read the instructions. The rack comes in two parts - the hitch part and the rack part. In handling the hitch part, I noticed there was tape on it and didn't think twice about removing the tape. I found out the hard way the tape was keeping a metal bar in place (where the rack can be reclined to open your tailgate). There was also tape to keep the locking mechanism in place. After I removed the tape, the parts fell out and I had one heck of time adjusting the hook to the bar. I ended up taking it to a local bike shop to fix and connect the rack piece to the hitch piece. In the end, I'm not sure if this was supposed to be like this or not. Either way, I wish instructions came with words along with the pictures and told me not to remove the tape.
Package was delivered ripped open, rack sticking out of box. Looked like a used package. Disappointed
Brooke M.
1/30/2024
That isnt what we like to hear. I am so sorry that it arrived in such bad shape! I will make sure a customer service team leads is made aware and reaches out to you.
Thanks for the video review of the product, it was very helpful!
Since 2011 this is the 3rd time I have shopped at etrailer. The reason I purchased this new Thule Helium model 9043PRObike rack is that the old Thule Helium model 971XT I bought back in 2011 broke (tightening lock knob mechanism inside the stinger assembly - 2nd time it has broken on me) and I needed a new rack quickly. etrailer.com indeed delivered swiftly! In the meantime I have put in a warrantee claim with Thule on my old rack. I’m sure this will take a while to resolve.
I have already used this new 9043PRO rack and am really please with the rack’s functionality as compared to the old one! Specifically the ease and speed to place and lock it onto the hitch itself. Also like the new design straps as well as the bike locking cable design.
Over the years I really appreciate the efficient, consistent and great customer service I have received in all my interactions etrailer!
Ken
6/28/2021
After many uses this 9043PRO performs as well as ever. Also I am considering getting a carbon bike and per Thules web site, this rack is compatible with carbon frames. Very pleased with this purchase.
Very light. Good option for my wife to install and transport bikes.
Really well made, robust, well finished, works simply and well. Handles my three bikes easily: two road and one hybrid. Like the integrated bike lock and really like the hitch stabilizer and locking mechanism. Well designed.
Shout out to etrailer staff. Great customer service, proactive OEM contacts to confirm availability and delivery dates, and keeping me informed re delivery.
Great product ultimately!
It took 2 of us 3-4 hours to install the hitch and the new bike rack... overall, it wasn’t complicated, but a little nerve wracking on a new car (so a lot of checking and re-checking instructions), and we had to run to the hardware store to buy a torque wrench.
Also, you have to sort of pry off the bumper from the clips. Apparently there are tools for it, but we used an old plastic spatula knife that worked well (metal will scratch the bumper).
I love this bike rack. A woman can easily put it on and off and carry it to wherever it's stored between usage. It's easy to get bikes on and off and I love the easy tilt to open my hatchback when bikes are not on it. I studied many options before purchasing this and am very happy with the product. etrailer videos and assistance made me feel pretty certain before it arrived that it would be perfect. I have not tried to put 3 bikes on it, but purchased the 3 bike option since it was only a bit more expensive and gives plenty of room for 2 bikes and at least I have the option of getting a 3rd on there if needed.
The rack has worked fairly well for us, but it has a disturbing tendency to bounce, and at one point, one of the straps got loose and a bike came part way off on the highway, causing the kick stand to get ground down to a fine point before we noticed. We now use extra care to make sure the straps are positioned so they won't come loose, but just how to do that is not clear from the pictures-only instruction manual.
I received my THULE Helium Pro 3 today and I installed it and the only disappointing part of the Bike Rack is the Weight. Thule makes its sound like it so light because it’s aluminum and it’s not.
Great product! Especially like the lock function so that I can enjoy the bike ride without worrying of losing my bike rack.
I appreciate the fact that etrailer.com had a video on this product which helped me evaluate it and understand how to install it. They accurately represented the bike rack and its installation. I love it! They provided customer service way beyond the sale! A rare happening in today's world.
Lightweight and easy to use. Exactly what I was looking for! Love the locks as well so I can leave my bike on the rack overnight without worry.
This bike rack is nice. Very easy & quick to attach or remove from the vehicle. Only complaint is that the bikes sit very high, and that makes it difficult to load on rack.
very light, it takes seconds to assemble. I would of given 5 stars if straps to secure bike were designed better. I have to use additional straps to secure it.
It performs as advertised. It is light for a 3-bike rack and is easy to install. The bikes seem secure and stable when attached.
super rack and great price that included shipping and bc it was shipped to DE there was no sales tax. the item was shipped promptly, arriving in 3 days time; Odelia the customer service rep in Mizzou was outstanding in helping me with the transaction.
This is a great bike rack. It’s extremely easy to use and holds bikes securely!! I highly recommend it!
Great product, easy to assemble. Fits on installed hitch with ease and locks firmly. Plan on using it for family bike outings.
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Amy
1/29/2022
Great! I love this bike rack.