Can Rear Door of 2002 Honda CRV Be Opened With Bikes Installed on Rack

Question:

I have a 2002 CRV EX1. I have 2 bikes 1 men, 1 ladies total weight maybe 50 pounds. Would the weight of both bike plus the rack be too much for CRV door hinge?2. Since 2002 CRVs spare tires is position to the right somewhat. Will the bikes also stick out to the right of the CRV when mounted, or adjustment can be make with the mounting point to center the bikes to the back of the CRV?

asked by: Stephen

Expert Reply:

In Yakima's installation instructions for the SpareRide, they state that opening the tailgate of the vehicle while the bikes are installed on the rack could result in damage to the vehicle. I'd recommend removing the bikes before opening the tailgate. The hinges of the tailgate are typically only rated for the weight of the door and spare tire itself with enough wiggle room to accommodate the approximate 25 lb weight of the bike rack.

The portion of the SpareRide rack that the bikes attach to can be offset so that the bikes are centered on the rear of the vehicle, even if the spare tire isn't centered. This is mentioned in the instructions after Step 3. I've linked the bike rack install instructions for you to look over.

expert reply by: Mike L