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kuat vs subaru factory hitch

carls10carls10
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I just bought a kuat nv bike rack and have a 2010 subaru forrester with factory 1.25" hitch.  The 2 don't play nice together.  Has anyone had this problem?  Subaru says it Kuat's problem and Kuat says it's Subaru's problem.  Really it's my problem. 

 

Solutions proposed have been a hitch extender, which I don't think will even solve the problem.  Or drilling another hole in the receiver, but Subaru won't do it.

 

Anyone run into this problem?

Comments

  • Coach RichCoach Rich
    Posted By Carly Costanza on 14 Oct 2010 06:41 PM

    I just bought a kuat nv bike rack and have a 2010 subaru forrester with factory 1.25" hitch.  The 2 don't play nice together.  Has anyone had this problem?  Subaru says it Kuat's problem and Kuat says it's Subaru's problem.  Really it's my problem. 

     

    Solutions proposed have been a hitch extender, which I don't think will even solve the problem.  Or drilling another hole in the receiver, but Subaru won't do it.

     

    Anyone run into this problem?



    How do they not play nice together? A hitch extender is no big deal at all and is about $20-30.

  • carls10carls10

    The problem currently is that the hole on the receiver is very close to the end of the receiver.  The hole on the bike rack is also close to the end.  There is a clamp type mechanism that will not work because it is not enclosed in the receiver.  The holes I've seen on the extenders still seem to be in a place where the clamp will not engage.

     

    When I called kuat, they seemed to know that the Subaru hitches are a problem. 

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Carly - I have a 2007 Suburu Forester w their hitch and rear mount bike rack. I've been very happy with it. I keep a small socket wrench and allen key in the back of the car and can drop the bike rack or put it on in about 2 mins either way. Does 'kuat' offer something better? If not, and you can't solve the receiver issue, sell the kuat and get the Suburu rack.
  • carls10carls10

    @ Paul, from what I can tell, Subaru changed the hitch they use in 2009 and 2010.  Unfortunately, I just sold the Thule rack as it was scratching the crap out of my bikes.  I just wish if they knew it was a problem that they would tell you before you buy it and put it together.

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Ugh, I feel your pain. I replaced my second car in August w a 2010 Honda Element on advice from the forum. I can put one seat up, roll the bike right into the car w/o even taking the front wheel off. So the Suburu bike rack isn't getting near the use it did before.
  • John StarkJohn Stark

    Carly, I LOVED my Kuat rack.  Light, strong, easy to store, yada, yada, yada.  As advertised.

    When I got a bigger car I used an extender to adapt from my new 2" receiver down to my 1 1/4 Kuat.  The issue for me was when I put more than one bike on.  There was a TON of swaying, bouncing etc. because it extended out pretty far.  So much so that I was afraid the Kuat was gonna break.

    I ended up selling the Kuat (I was BUMMED) and getting a new Thule rack that was 2".

    Wish I had better news.

    John

  • carls10carls10

    I did find someone to drill a second hole in the bike rack.  It does now sit on the hitch snugly.  I'm sure I ruined any kind of warranty I had with kuat, but seemed like it was better to have it functional.  I have yet to use it, didn't get it done until Sunday PM.  Spent way too much time on this, especially considering the $$ that was spent on the rack. 

  • John StarkJohn Stark

     Good news, Carly!

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