Find the Best Bike Rack For Your Jeep Wrangler Now
Spares, swings, or hitches — which mount keeps your bikes safe (and your Wrangler usable)?
Your Jeep shouldn’t force you to choose between bikes and access. You want a rack that stays solid, protects your frames, and doesn’t turn every bump into a symphony of rattles.
Picture loading up for a weekend trail and realizing your tailgate is locked behind your bike rack. Not fun. This roundup gives you clear picks—no fluff—so you can hit the trail sooner and cleaner.
Top Picks
Thule Spare Me 2-Bike Spare Tire Carrier
You get a refined spare-tire carrier built to Thule's high standards with integrated anti-sway cages and locking options to secure both the carrier and the bikes. The design saves hitch and roof space while offering dependable stability on long trips.
Overview
The Thule 963PRO Spare Me is a heavy-duty spare-tire-mounted 2-bike carrier designed for vehicles with exterior-mounted spares. It lets you use the spare tire mounting to hold the carrier, freeing up roof and hitch space for other uses. Thule emphasizes bike protection and security in the design, which is reflected in the stay-put cradles and integrated locking features.
Key features and design highlights
Benefits and limitations
If you want professional-level stability and theft deterrence for frequent use, this is one of the most complete spare-mounted systems available. It carries up to 75 lb total and is backed by Thule’s reputation and limited lifetime warranty, which gives peace of mind for long-term ownership. You should verify bike frame compatibility (some frames may need Thule frame adapters) and confirm the spare-to-car interface matches your vehicle before purchase.
Practical tips
Kuat Pivot V2 Swing-Away Hitch Extender
You get a high-quality swing-away hitch extension that restores rear door access while carrying full bike loads, with a patented FlatLock cam to virtually eliminate wobble. It’s a premium add-on for heavier racks and e-bike setups when you need hatch access without unloading bikes.
Overview
The Kuat Pivot V2 is a swing-away hitch extender engineered to let you pivot a loaded bike rack away from the rear of your vehicle so you can access tailgates or doors without unloading bikes. It’s designed for serious users who run full-capacity racks or heavy e-bikes and need reliable, repeatable rear access.
Key features and engineering highlights
Benefits and limitations
You’ll see the biggest benefits if you need full rear door access (campers, vans, and newer SUVs with swing-open tailgates) while transporting multiple bikes. The Pivot V2's tightening and flat-locking design make it one of the best options to reduce bounce on long trips. The trade-offs are cost and added weight; it requires a 2" Class III hitch and increases the overall length of your setup, so check clearances and parking/garage constraints before installing.
Practical tips
Yakima SpareRide Spare Tire Bike Rack
You get a well-engineered spare-tire bike rack that emphasizes security and build quality, featuring SKS locks and protective cradles for an easy loading experience. It’s a great option if you need a durable, long-term solution that fits many stock spare tires.
Overview
The Yakima SpareRide mounts to your rear spare tire and converts it into a two-bike carrier with a focus on security and durability. It’s built with heavy-duty steel, protective TireTread pads, and SuperCush cradles to make loading easier while preventing bike movement and damage during transport.
Key features
Benefits and limitations
You’ll find this rack reliable for frequent use: it holds bikes securely even on uneven roads and provides peace of mind with included locks. The robust materials and Yakima support (limited-lifetime warranty) make it a good long-term choice. On the downside, the assembly sits higher than some alternatives, which can make loading more challenging for shorter users or heavier mountain bikes; many users recommend a small step or two-person loading for heavier setups.
Practical tips
Hollywood Racks SR1 Spare Tire 2-Bike Rack
You get a pragmatic spare-tire mounted rack with foldable arms and rubber cradles that make mounting and stowing simple. It’s a solid mid-range choice for SUVs and Jeeps where you need a dependable rack without extra frills.
Overview
Hollywood Racks SR1 is a bolt-on spare tire rack that aims to balance ease-of-use with broad fitment. It installs over the spare tire and provides two support arms that fold away when not in use, making it a convenient option for vehicles with side-mounted or rear-mounted spare tires.
Key features and usage
Benefits and limitations
For occasional riders and families that want to carry two bikes without a hitch or roof installation, SR1 is a practical pick. It’s particularly useful when you want a lower-cost spare-mounted solution that still holds bikes stably. However, the exposed bolts can develop surface rust over time if not cared for, and the strap layout takes a few runs to master—users often trim and melt extra strap length after fitting.
Practical tips
Allen Sports Deluxe Spare-Tire Carrier
You get a spare-tire mounted rack that keeps bikes high and away from the road and exhaust, which reduces grime buildup. The patented cradles and long carry arms make loading a variety of frames straightforward while protecting bike frames during transport.
Overview
The Allen Sports Deluxe 322DN is a spare-tire mounted 2-bike carrier designed to mount bikes high on the vehicle, keeping them away from road spray and hot exhaust. Its patented design aims to make loading and securing bikes simple and protective, which is why it remains a popular choice for vehicles with exterior spare tires.
Key features
Benefits and use cases
You’ll appreciate this design if you want to preserve hitch space and roof real estate for other gear. It’s especially useful on Jeeps and SUVs with rear-mounted spares where traditional hitch solutions are inconvenient or unavailable. The high carrying position is great for keeping your bikes clean on long drives but be mindful of the total 70 lb load limit and avoid loading heavy e-bikes.
Practical tips
MaxxHaul 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack
You get a simple, no-frills hitch-mounted rack that carries two bikes and stores easily when not in use. It performs well for casual use but benefits from tightening and anti-wobble measures on long highway trips.
Overview
The MaxxHaul 50025 Hitch Mount is aimed at riders who want a straightforward, affordable way to transport two bikes on a vehicle with a receiver hitch. It supports up to 100 lb total (50 lb per bike) and fits both 1-1/4" and 2" receivers, making it compatible with most cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans. Installation is straightforward and the rack folds for compact storage.
Key features and practical notes
Benefits and limitations
You benefit from a lightweight, budget-friendly solution that stores neatly in a garage or trunk. For everyday lake trips and short road journeys it performs admirably. However, to get a rock-solid ride at highway speeds you'll want to use a ratchet or additional hitch tightener and secure wheels/frames with extra bungees or straps—users report improved stability after doing so. It also expects bikes with a horizontal top tube; you'll need a frame adapter for some step-through and alternative-frame bikes.
Practical tips
JOYTUTUS 2-Bike Spare Tire Rack Folding
You get a compact spare-tire rack that folds away and includes anti-wobble design elements plus an integrated lock, making it an attractive all-in-one option. Fit and finish can vary by vehicle; some users report interference with the hatch on certain setups.
Overview
The JOYTUTUS spare tire bike rack is a folding two-bike carrier designed for spare tires roughly 31.5"–32.5" in diameter. It focuses on providing a secure, quiet ride via ratchet-style tightening, rubber protective strips, and a lockable assembly so you can leave bikes mounted with greater confidence.
Key features and real-world considerations
Benefits and limitations
If your spare tire size matches the specified range and you need a compact folding rack with built-in security, this unit offers a compelling feature set at a mid-level price. That said, some buyers report that the mounting posts are too long for certain vehicle rear hatch geometries, which can create interference or require modification. Installation is generally manageable, but you should be prepared for minor adjustments and test-fits.
Practical tips
Final Thoughts
Best overall: Thule Spare Me 2-Bike Spare Tire Carrier (9.5/10). Choose this if you own a Wrangler with a rear-mounted spare and want a refined, low-profile solution that saves your hitch and roof space. It offers integrated anti-sway cages, solid build quality, and locking options to secure both the carrier and your bikes. Actionable step: confirm your spare diameter and mount compatibility, then order the Thule Spare Me to get stable, long-trip performance without sacrificing rear access.
Best when you need hatch access or carry heavy e-bikes: Kuat Pivot V2 Swing-Away Hitch Extender (9.2/10). This is not a bike carrier by itself but a premium swing-away extender that restores tailgate access while carrying full loads and heavy setups. It uses Kuats FlatLock cam to virtually eliminate wobble and is ideal if you pair it with a heavy-duty hitch rack for e-bikes. Actionable step: ensure you have a compatible 2" hitch with sufficient tongue weight and gross trailer hitch ratings before buying the Pivot V2 and a matched high-capacity hitch rack.
