Thule Helium Pro Hitch Mount 3-Bike Rack

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About This Item

With a lightweight design and maximum bike stability, the Thule Helium Pro Hitch Mount 3-Bike Rack is easy to install and reliable. Each bike is placed 7” apart for protection and secured tight with the ratcheting straps and integrated anti-sway buckle. The HitchSwitch lever tilts the rack away for access to the trunk of the car.

FEATURES:

  • Lightweight aluminum construction
  • Integrated anti-sway buckle prevents bike to bike contact and be removed when not needed
  • 7” of distance between each bike for safety
  • Ratcheting cradle straps secure the bikes
  • Compact cradle design accommodates a wide variety of bike sizes and frame styles
  • SnugTite stinger makes it quick to install and easy to lock the rack to the car
  • Integrated cable lock locks bikes to the rack
  • Arms fold down when rack is not in use
  • HitchSwitch lever tilts the rack down allowing access to the rear of the car

SPECS:

  • Max number of bikes: 3
  • Dimensions: 39” x 11” x 37.3”
  • Folded dimensions: 21.9” x 11” x 37.3”
  • Load capacity: 112.5 lbs.
  • Max bike weight: 37.5 lbs.
  • Weight: 20 lbs.
  • Fits 1.25” and 2” receivers
  • Compatible with One Key System and carbon frame
  • Includes bike lock and receiver lock
  • Brand : Thule
  • Country of Origin : United States of America
  • Style : 9043PRO
  • DSG Pro Tips
  • Web ID: 19THUAHLMPR3BKXXXHTC
  • SKU: 19973262
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REVIEWS

3.7
61%
Recommended

39 Reviews

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Wanted To Like It……

Lovely light bike rack, but very disappointed. The “holders” slide around on the arms of the rack. Whether there is 1 bike or more on it, there is sliding that happens.. I know another person with this same design of the Thule rack that ha the same issue. Had to rig better ties to transport bikes. Ended up purchasing another rack. When I brought it to my local bike shop (where I bought it) to get some advice, they were stumped too.

Pluses And Minuses!

I have always counted on Thule for many racks etc. over the years and when I picked this rack I was looking forward to using it instead of my old roof racks because my current car is higher and a rear rack is so much easier to use. Although the assembly instructions weren't the best I figured it all out and got the rack together. It was easy to put onto my car and it was easy to get my bike on (I started with just a single bike, in the forwardmost position). This is where the trouble began--I started on a long drive at highway speeds and after about an hour when I looked back it looked like my bike was cockeyed, so I pulled over and took a look. What I found was that the cradle on the left (the "rear cradle" which holds the seat post and the rear of the top bar) had (due to wind on the rear tire presumably) moved about 2" backwards. Picture attached. I had a heck of a time getting it back in place because the round-head screw that is supposed to keep it from doing that was there (this is a star screw and I don't carry star bits or drivers with me) so I had to force it back over that (which I was able to do using a handy stick I found by the side of the road as a punch and a rock as a hammer). Luckily I had some bungee cords with me which allowed me to connect the seat tube tightly to the vertical section of the bike rack above the trailer hitch to keep the rear of the bike from moving; but when I got to my destination I found that the cradle at the FRONT of the bike had moved forward over the round head screw that's supposed to hold it in place (presumably having been leveraged by a twisting motion centered on the now "locked" rear cradle). Picture attached. So this is just a very bad design flaw: a round headed screw is like a ramp, and you can't stop something from sliding with a ramp, you stop something from sliding with a wall! The screws are 8-32 so I stopped at the hardware store and bought some 8-32 x 38" socket cap screws (which have vertical sides on the head rather than a round head) as well as some longer 8-32 screws and some 1/4" aluminum spacers and put them on and they of course prevented any further movement of the cradles because the offer a positive vertical "block" against movement. Pictures attached. I have no idea why Thule isn't using this type of setup in lieu of the round head screws which just can't hold the cradles in place. I would have trouble recommending this product unless this design flaw was fixed. NOTE- I spoke with Thule about this and was told that, given that my bike does not have a completely horizontal top bar (which results in the rear wheel being higher than the front wheel), the rear wheel somehow will catch more wind than if the bike had a horizontal top bar which may be what caused the movement, and that the resolution would be to buy the Thule Frame Adapter which would get the bike to be level. But whether or not that is the case, it just seems obvious to me that using round headed screw to stop the cradles from sliding horizontally is absolutely the wrong approach and that they should be using some sort of vertically -sided screw (like a socket cap screw) to provide an absolute positive lock against sliding.

Verified Purchase

Light Weight- Easy To Assemble

I purchased this a month ago and can’t wait to go mountain biking

Nice,just More Detail..

Nice rack,just need the bike to be more stable on rack,plastic brackets??

Verified Purchase

Mission Accomplished - Light Weight Rack

I was looking for a light bike rack that I could easily install and take off by myself. The Helium delivers against this objective. It is very light weight and easy to manage. The bike(s) seem secure. The only issue, which is minor, is related to the strap. I assume the primary purpose is to keep the front wheel from swaying/moving. The strap is too long, especially when only hauling one bike. Three short (1 for each bike) would be far more manageable. Again, this is a small point and overall I am very happy with the product.

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