Finding the best Subaru Crosstrek bike rack can be tricky because there are multiple racks in the market that might all seem suitable. But the reality is that only a few among them would be compatible with your car and even fewer would suit your specific biking requirements. 

Hence you need to select a rack that offers the features you need and similarly you want to be very careful when it comes to compatibility with your vehicle. We have listed out a short guideline to help you narrow down to the most suitable and the best bike rack for Subaru Crosstrek in 2022.

Also available Best bike rack for Subaru Forester in 2022

Step-by-step guide for selecting the Best Bike Rack for Subaru Crosstrek in 2022

Before moving on to the type of racks available in the market, we need to consider the relevant features of the Subaru Crosstrek.

Step 1: Understand Subaru Crosstrek specifications.

Subaru crosstrek is a small SUV with a hatchback competing with different SUVs. Crosstrek can handle challenging terrains given its all-wheel drive feature and extra ground clearance. It’s perhaps the most competitively priced SUV in the market which also offers fuel economy. The good thing from a bike rack point of view is that it comes with integrated roof rails. This makes it compatible with most roof racks and you would not have to purchase and install the rails separately.

Step 2: Know the type of bike racks that exists out there and their compatibility with Subaru Crosstrek.

A wide variety of bike racks is available for different vehicles and different types of bikes. So there are many ways to categorize them, for example, you can categorize them based on the number of bikes they carry for example 4-bike racks or 5-bike racks. 

Another way to classify them is by the types of bikes they carry, for example, fat tire bike racks or e-bike racks. But a more common and broader way to categorize these bike racks is by their mounting styles. These types are given below along with their compatibility with Crosstrek.

• Trunk bike rack (Work with Subaru Crosstrek)
• Roof bike rack (Compatible with Subaru Crosstrek)
• Hitch bike rack (Compatible with Subaru Crosstrek if the right hitch receiver is installed)
• Spare tire bike rack (If you have a spare tire carrier)
• Truck bed bike rack (Not compatible with Subaru Crosstrek)

A Subaru Crosstrek bike rack mounted on a hitch would require a hitch receiver. So while buying a hitch receiver you have to consider its compatibility with Crosstrek. Some popular hitch receivers you can research include Curt 13382 for Subaru Cross Trek 2018-22 (except Hybrid), DrawTite 76084 for Subaru CrossTrek 2016-2021, and Draw Tite 24959 114 hitch receivers for Subaru XV Crosstrek 2013 to 2015.

Step 3: What are your biking requirements?

By biking requirements, we majorly mean 3 considerations. Firstly, you should consider the number of bikes you want to carry on the bike rack. This way you can search for say, “Subaru Crosstrek bike racks for 2 or 3 bikes”. Secondly, you should consider the bikes you want to carry. 

Some bikes are heavier such as mountain bikes and e-bikes. If you are sure about their weight, you can choose the bike rack that has a load-carrying capacity suitable for your bikes. And lastly, consider if you want your bikes to be locked on the rack. This is usually required if you have to leave them unattended for a while. 

Step 4: Select from our shortlisted racks for Subaru Crosstrek

You can find many bike racks in this section that we have shortlisted specifically for Subaru Crosstrek. You can pick the one that meets your requirements. 

Thule Upride: Best Roof Bike Rack for Subaru Crosstrek

The primary advantage of going for Thule UpRide is that you would not have to purchase separate roof rails for Subaru CrossTrek and Outback. It is fully compatible with factory-installed roof bars. Go for this rack if you are looking for a ‘zero contact frame’ rack and ideally only want to carry one bike.

The UpRide Thule roof bike rack weighs 18.5 pounds and can carry a load of 44 pounds. This bike rack fits 20 to 29 inches wheel bikes that have tires up to 3 inches wide. You can buy a fat bike adapter to fit a bike with tires of up to 5 inches. It is a strap bike rack with no frame contact because of the hook that keeps the front tire in one position.  It is very easy to use and can be switched from one side of the car to the other. It can be used for many bikes even for non-traditional ones, bikes with rear suspension, carbon frames, bottle cages, etc. …Complete Comparison of Thule Roof Bike Racks

Kuat Sherpa 2.0: Overall & Best Hitch Bike Rack for Subaru CrossTrek

Kuat Sherpa is one of our favorites in the hitch bike rack category. This rack scores better than most others on the R score metrics due to many reasons. This rack is quite durable and does not rust thanks to the powder-coated finish. It also maintains its impressive aesthetics for years and looks great when installed on Subaru Crosstrek. 

It is lightweight as compared to other hitch bike racks and is available in 1.25” and 2” hitch sizes. The installation is simple as explained in our How to install a bike rack on SUV article. Moreover, it works for many bikes because of the adjustable ratchet arm. We highly recommend this 2-bike Subaru Crosstrek bike rack. 

Saris Bones Ex: Best Trunk Bike Rack For SUV and Cars

We love Saris Bones for its high compatibility with different vehicles and for its appearance. This trunk-mount rack works even with vehicles that have rear spoilers and this makes it one of its kind. This Subaru Crosstrek bike rack is also compatible with Forester and Outback. 

Saris Bones is a lightweight rack that weighs only 12 pounds. This rack is easy to install and easy to store. It has high strength and would carry your bikes safely. We really appreciate the design and aesthetics of this rack. It has a unique structure that holds bikes in such a way that they are separated from each other yet take up minimum space. 

We recommend this bike rack for people who own 2-3 bikes and do not want to spend an extra amount on buying a hitch receiver and getting it installed. This rack has anti-sway features for a great bike-carrying experience. The only problem is that it lacks a locking system. But you can protect the bike rack and your bikes by buying the locks separately. 

Read review: Saris Bones

Economical Trunk Bike Rack for Subaru CrossTrek

One of the best sellers on Amazon, the deluxe 104 by Allen has a number of customers who are using the bike rack for a Subaru Crosstrek. Almost everyone who used it with a Subaru Crosstrek was able to fit it conveniently and is satisfied with the rack. Some have been cautious by using tape or cloth in places where the rack comes in direct contact with the SUV’s paint job. Allen gives a lifetime warranty on these racks but given its sturdiness, there is a low chance you would have to use it …Complete review on Allen 4

Allen Sports 102 and 104

Thule Gateway | Subaru Crosstrek Bike Rack for 3 Bikes

Allen Ultra Compact: Most Economical Trunk 1-Bike Rack

Best Hitch Receivers for Subaru CrossTrek

We have shortlisted popular hitch receivers for Subaru CrossTrek as below

How to install a hitch receiver for a bike rack on a Subaru CrossTrek

FAQs

How to put a bike rack on a Subaru crosstrek?

It would really depend on the kind of rack you desire to put on a Subaru crosstrek

• In order to install a trunk bike rack on a Subaru cross trek, you would initially have to place the rack at the tailgate. Then the rack is secured with different straps. Make sure you tighten the upper and lower hooks and do it again once you have placed the bike on it. We have a complete step-by-step guide on how to put a bike on a trunk bike rack.
• For installing a roof rack on your Subaru, you would initially have to install the crossbars and then fix the bike rack on them. Some of the roof racks would come with different front wheel holders which need to be purchased and secured separately.
• As for the hitch bike rack for Subaru, these are straightforward to install if you have a compatible hitch receiver. Simply place the rack arm into the hitch receiver. Once the holes of the receiver and rack are aligned, tighten them. You need to make sure it has a lock washer sitting before the bolt head, followed by the flat washer. In the last step use the pin to lock it into the right space.

Subaru outback bike rack

In order to select an Outback rack, you can follow the same guideline mentioned above. Both vehicles are different in many aspects but those relevant to bike racks are very similar.

Subaru crosstrek and Outback both have roof rails installed. Apart from the Touring model, all outback come in with a standard set of roof rails with crossbars.

Subaru outback like Crosstrek can get a hitch receiver installed – Usually a class 3, 2-inch receiver. All the hitch racks recommended above are compatible with both 1 ¼ and 2-inch receivers.

Each rack type has its merits and demerits so you have to weigh them in order to make the right decision considering your requirements. Hitch bike racks are the safest to carry bikes. They accommodate e-bikes and other heavy and uncommon frames as well. However, bike racks for SUVs with no hitch save you money buying hitches. Similarly, roof bike racks require the installation of roof rails which means added expense, but if you want to make the most out of that space, they can be a great option too. We have analyzed different Thule roof bike racks and have compared them for your ease.