Best Bike Rack for Jeep Wrangler [Thule Wingbar Evo, Thule ProRide XT Combination]

I remember the first couple of rides up in Tahoe. I needed to get my jeep, my day pack, my tent and my bike there for our trip and I was a bit at a loss of what to decide on for my rack system. After too many hours of research I found the Thule WingBar Evo Roof Rack + Thule ProRide XT system to be my rock.

Note: I have a 4 door hard-top wrangler. So if you have a 2-door wrangler or a soft-top, I would highly recommend that you doublecheck if this system will work for your roof.

Why a roof mount over hatch mount?

So I found that getting into my back hatch was important to me and needing to squeeze all of my things through my seats were not the best choice for me. Almost all hatch racks that were available unless I hitched my jeep wrangler would keep me from going in from the back hatch. Of course the main concern is height of adding my bike rack for jeep wrangler on top. 

When I am riding on highways it is something to get used to, but you simply don’t need to worry because I remembered that the roads are made for 18 wheelers that are 14 feet tall. So with that, my jeep ends up being about 10ish feet and change. All tunnels are able to fit underneath. 

Now the question of if I can fit into a parking space is different. I always dismount the bike if I am taking it into a hotel that has a low ceiling for parking. But again, I think that taking the bike off from time to time is far less important to me than not having access into my hatch.

Features of Thule WingBar Evo

• 2 Load Carrier Feet & 2 Wingbar Evo Load Bars
• Upper T-Track with QuickAccess Interface for easy installation and removal
• WindDiffuser Technology for noise minimization
• BoxBeam internal Structure for Bar Strength
• Thule-One Key System

Features of the Thule ProRide XT

• Frame Holder and Wheel Tray
• QuickTurn Wheel Tightening System
• Durable Mounting Hardware for factory Cross Bar cycling bicycle frames
• Soft Claws to not damage bike body
• StableWheel Technology
• Mountable on all Thule systems

Why the ProRide XT system?

So when you’re choosing a bike rack for jeep wrangler, you have the choice of the Thule UpRide and the ProRide XT (along with other systems). With the ProrideXT, the reason why I chose it was that I didn’t want to deal with needing to take my wheel off every time that I wanted to mount my bike on my jeep wrangler. All I need to do is get on my stool, and within about 5 minutes the entire bicycle is on the car, mounted and I trust that it will stay regardless of my speed. The UpRide, which is the most feature-heavy ride system has an extra component that rather than mounting to the body of the bicycle, it mounts to the wheel.

The problem that I had with the UpRide even though it is touted as being the most stable is precisely that. The bike is mounted on the wheel rather than the body – which is the most stable part of the bicycle. Further I feel better about locking my bike to the body rather than the wheel which can be removed. It seems like extra hardware where I just don’t see the value in the upgrade.

Does the bike rack make noise?

When I am on a highway I hear absolutely no whistling, and no extra wind noise. I actually forget that the bike is up there and need to check from time to time the bicycle rack is still on the Jeep Wrangler. There also is no sway on the race and the jaws clench tightly but safely on the body of the bicycle. I was a bit worried because my bike is carbon fiber and it may bring damage to the bicycle or it may need to be too tight for the body and that’s just not the case. It doesn’t need to be extra tight for it to be safely snugged, without rocking on the car.

What about mileage for your bicycle rack?

If there was an effect on mileage, I didn’t notice it. My poor jeep already struggles on highways and the main way that I account for mileage is to drive slower.

Do you have any concerns about having a Roof Rack on Top of a Jeep Wrangler?

Now that I have a bike rack for my Jeep Wrangler, the main thing that I have trouble with is when my girlfriend goes on to get her bike rack off. She needs the stool to get the rack off. There may be a tad of storage space lost to add the stool, but I still see more value add in that than cutting out my back hatch access for my climbing pad, day pack, stove and tent when I need it.

What about weight for the bike rack?

I never really considered it, but the bike rack can carry up to 75 pounds. Along with that, in terms of durability, what I know is that this rack is going to outlast to my next car and the car after that. It’s been in countless rain and snow storms and has not one sign of wear, tear or rust.

One last note about the Thule ProRide XT

I love my bike rack because of the locking mechanism on-hand. There is a set of keys that allow the jaws to clamp shut and stay shut. It’s durable and able to stay shut in case anyone wants to make a quick go at my bike. It also just reassures me that the bike is mounted correctly when driving. One special touch that I like about my Thule Bike Rack is that if lost my key (Okay, I lost my key before) then it is very easy to get a replacement and my bicycle is not stuck. Take a look at your key when you get it and you can get a key code for it. Not only that, I also mix up my roof rack keys and my snow board rack keys and it’s very easy to make sure that they’re organized with the codes. 

Conclusion

When choosing the best bike rack for Jeep Wrangler, choose wisely. From this review, you should have first hand knowledge of why we feel the Thule roof rack system is the best option to choose. Put simply, this rack is an investment that will outlast your Jeep, your next one and even you. We are happy with this choice and know that it will be around for many trips to come and feel this is the best bike rack for jeep a Jeep Wrangler