How to build a bike rack that allows your hatch to open...and other cool stuff

One of the greatest frustrations with any receiver mounted bike rack is the inability to open the rear hatch on your vehicle. I built this bike rack in stages, but I am very happy with the finished product.

The rack is built around something called a hitch extension bar. They are typically used for a pickup truck that has a camper on the back, and needs the towing hitch extended.
The one that I used is 18inches long, and fits in my 2 inch receiver hitch.

From there, I built a frame for the rack using angle iron. Since these pictures were taken, I have switched out the angle iron for boxed steel crossbars which are much stronger.

The rack is held in place by a clamping system. It is based around the idea that bikes are somewhat balanced weight. Four long bolts are tightened down snugly to create a tight clamp around extension bar.

After that, I added two toolboxes for carrying biking helmets, random tools, a change of clothes, tie-downs, and a first aid kit for the inevitable crash.

These toolboxes are water tight, and would apparently done a great job of keeping out the moisture until I drilled four holes into the bottom to mount them on the rack. I advise you to caulk them well so your equipment doesn't pick up moisture and rust. I didn't do this, and had no problems with one of them, but have a rusty socket set in the other

I added a yakima wheelstrap for the rear tire

and this is a Saris fork mount on the other box for the front wheel.

This toolbox has a wedged groove running the length of it that makes it perfect for a bike tire. Truth is, when the tire strap is attached, the groove is irrelevant... but it looks cool!

So, If i just want to carry one bike and have all the equipment I need with me, here it is, and away I go. (Although with this set-up I still can't open the rear hatch. I do have more space in the back for cargo though, because my gear is all in the toolboxes instead.

This is where it gets fun. You see, up til now, all of this could have been done using a basket carrier rack. But, because we used the hitch extension, now we can add whichever type of carrier hitch rack you already have. In my case, this is a 4 bike rack made by outfitter.

So, I can now carry up to four bikes on the standard rack, plus one on my new rack we just built, without giving up roof rack space for kayaks.

This is a rack that also included a towing ball option, so in theory you could pull a utility trailer along behind as well. I wouldn't recommend more that a load of leaves however, because all of this is beginning to add up to a significant amount of weight on the rear of the vehicle.

Again, if you do want to be able to open the rear hatch without moving bikes around, you would not have the white bike in place. Just carry around the other four bikes.