How To Mount A Bike Rack On A 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser Without A Rear Hitch

Question:

Hi, Hope your having a good day so far. I was wondering if you stock a bike rack to carry four bikes 2 x adults and 2 x kids bikes that would fit a 2016 model Land Cruiser Prado without a hitch installed. Would you have anything that could be attached to the spare wheel on the trunk door? Many thanks for your time and have a great day ahead. Kind regards,

asked by: Daniel O

Expert Reply:

I have a solution for you, however, there are not any 4 bike carriers available to fit the trunk of your 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. If you can remove your spare tire from the trunk of your vehicle, then I recommend going with Malone Hanger 3 Bike Rack - Trunk Mount - Adjustable Arms # MPG2139. This is a 3 bike rack that mounts to the trunk of most SUV's, but likely will not work with the spare tire in place.

To mount your 4th bike, you could use a roof-mounted 1 bike carrier such as Thule ProRide XT Roof Bike Rack - Frame Mount # TH598004; you will need a roof rack for this to mount to. If you have factory raised rails on your roof then go with Malone AirFlow2 Roof Rack # MPG216. If you do not have roof rails then go with Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform Rack # RR99AB.

Another option is to mount a trailer hitch receiver on the front of your vehicle and then use a hitch-mounted bike rack that can safely hold 4 bikes. Normally you would want a rear hitch, but there are not any available for your vehicle. For the front-mount receiver go with Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2" # 31198 which is a confirmed fit for your Land Cruiser. This offers a simple installation process that requires no welding. The Curt # 31198 has a vertical load capacity of 500lbs which will be plenty for 4 bikes. For a bike rack I would go with Thule Range 4 Bike Carrier # TH9057. This is lightweight at only 36 lbs and has a weight capacity of 150 lbs total. I also recommend getting the Hollywood Racks Bike Frame Adapter Bar # HRBA-PRO which makes it easier to mount a children's or women's bike on this Hollywood Racks carrier.

When deciding between the trunk-mounted method and the front hitch-mounted method, it really comes down to preference. The front-mount method will likely block some of your view and possibly the headlights and radiator. I recommend going with the trunk-mounted bike carrier (if you can remove the spare that is) as this would be much cheaper and a safer method. I have attached demonstration videos for these products.