Clarity - Any ideas on a bike Rack?

Discussion in 'Clarity' started by cowgomoo, Jan 9, 2018.

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  1. craze1cars

    craze1cars Well-Known Member

    My only point is you’re probably on your own for figuring out wiring if you actually intend to tow with this car. It’s a low production car with specific statement that car is not rated for towing. This means very few others will want it, so few will even explore the idea of offering a harness for it. If you want trailer wiring I am quite certain you’ll be buying a generic kit and splicing your factory wiring. Someone has to be first for everything. This time I think it’s probably you!
     
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  3. bill_m

    bill_m Member


    Thanks[/QUOTE]
    Of course if it is just you and a friend going biking, you don't really need a rack! You can: fold the back seats forward, take off the front wheels, and put one bike in the trunk and one across the back seats, and throw the two front wheels into the trunk. More specifically, you position the bike in the trunk with chain and gears up, turning the handlebars and pushing the left half of the handlebars through the opening onto the back seats towards the left, with the wheel pushed towards the right rear. Open the rear doors and place the second bike on the back seats once again left side of the handlebars forward (first push the front passenger seat forward for more room to maneuver). Reverse when taking them out.
    One bit of caution, especially when taking out the bike in the trunk: You don't want the sharp gears of the bikes to touch the insides or outsides of the car. it would be frugal to place a tarp to protect the rear bumper as you remove the bike. You don't want to cut the bumper with the sharp gears while you pull the bike out above the trunk bottom. In other words, you need to be very careful to avoid touching the body of the car. Two people doing the maneuvering helps! This caution is much less necessary if you buy coverings for the gearing, which also protect against chain oil on the backs of seats or trunk.
     
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  4. Yay, my Ecohitch from Torklift, on the evaluation program, has arrived. I have been loading my wife's scooter in my trunk to haul it around, now I will be able to use the cargo carrier. I look forward to getting the hitch installed. The Clarity version of the Ecohitch hitch is smaller and lighter than the one we put on her LEAF.
     
  5. ozy

    ozy Active Member

    Can you let us know how this works? I notice that the hitch costs around $300. Does this include installation? If not, who installs it? Can most bike racks fit in this type of hitch? Please post a picture once you're done.
     
  6. Pushmi-Pullyu

    Pushmi-Pullyu Well-Known Member

    I was going to mention that. You'll definitely want to use some sort of waterproof (or rather, oil-resistant) covering to protect the fabric of the seats and the trunk lining; protection from the oil/grease on the bicycle chain and gears.

     
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  8. ClarityDoc

    ClarityDoc Active Member

    Aren't there implications for your Honda warranty, given that they say "no hitch"?

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  9. insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Actually, the Owners Manual doesn't say "no hitch." Here's what I found on page 375, which offers some wiggle-room for something like a hitch holding a bike rack:
    > Your vehicle is not designed to tow a trailer. Attempting to do so can void your warranties.
     
  10. Agzand

    Agzand Active Member

  11. Torklift

    Torklift New Member

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  13. Phil C

    Phil C New Member

    Hmmm... good to know but this might apply in US but not sure it will work within Canada... If this is really clear that it won't affect the warranty, Torklift hitch is the best choice that I have. Clean and solid
     
  14. Pushmi-Pullyu

    Pushmi-Pullyu Well-Known Member

    That's true; installing a 3rd party hitch won't void the entire warranty.

    On the other hand, if a Honda service shop determines that some damage to your vehicle is a result of installation of some non-standard equipment, they may decide that such damage is not covered under warranty.

    I doubt that will run much risk if all you're doing is carrying bicycles on a bike rack on the hitch. But if you're actually using the hitch to haul a trailer... that is, in my opinion, enough of a risk that you'd best get an automobile insurance rider for towing a trailer. Doubly so if you're new to towing and have never learned how to back up when towing a trailer, or if you're unfamiliar with how towing affects driving at highway speed.

    I don't want to be alarmist, but there is a bit of a learning curve, and those new to towing have a tendency to ignore the trailer and drive as if they weren't towing one. When towing, you should always keep in mind the trailer is there, increase your following distance to allow for greater required braking distance and more gentle braking; and be aware that some States have a lower maximum highway speed when towing. (Check out speed limits before setting out on your first highway trip while towing.) Also be aware that all but the smallest trailers will give your car greater problems with wind gusts and slick road conditions. When you park, try hard to find a place where you won't have to back out of the parking space; where you can drive off in the forward direction, at least until you master the art of backing up while towing a trailer. (In fact, some practice at that in an empty parking lot before your first trip is probably a good idea.)

     
  15. SavageClarity

    SavageClarity New Member

    Got an answer from Saris about their Bones 2 bike rack.

    Hi T,

    Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Bones 2 or any of our trunk racks are going to work on the Clarity. Our engineers noted the plastic shell on the trunk and the soft bumper as not being strong enough to take the weight of a rack and a few bikes.

    A hitch rack would be your only option for this vehicle based on our tests.

    If you have any other questions, please let me know.

    Thanks,
    Sam

    Customer Support Specialist
     
  16. jorgie393

    jorgie393 Well-Known Member

    Going to order a TorkLift EcoHitch. We won't have much load in general: 2 mountain bikes at most. Any comments on 1.25" vs 2"? Site says 2" more stable but less clearance.
     
  17. aapitten

    aapitten Active Member

    I've got the two inch and am happy with it. I installed it right before winter so I'll admit I've hardly been able to use it, but clearance has never been an issue with just the hitch. That being said, at first it did look a bit silly having such a big receiver on the Clarity. I'm used to it now though. I figured it is easier to get an adapter to go smaller than bigger and the bike rack I had was a two inch. I can't comment on the smaller one as I've never used it.
     
  18. KentuckyKen

    KentuckyKen Well-Known Member

    I got the 2” (free since I was an early beta tester) just because I already had a 2” hitch mount bike rack. Also I already had a 2” anti-wiggle collar that I tighten down to prevent any back and forth rocking.
    Just get whatever size fits what you already have so you save $ from not ordering new stuff.
     
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  19. jorgie393

    jorgie393 Well-Known Member

    Thanks all. Just installed my torklift exohitxh 1.25”. Directions were very clear, no issues.

    I was glad I had the following items on hand:

    -Trim plug removal tool set
    -Some spare trim plugs (since I broke one anyway—eg Amazon B07918F45L)
    -Torque wrench with range that covered the specified 85 ft-lbs



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  20. Tomrl

    Tomrl Member

    I'm going to install an EcoHitch, was wondering if you plan to install mud flaps at some point if it would be more convenient to just do them at the same time?
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2019
  21. Robert_Alabama

    Robert_Alabama Well-Known Member

    Probably helps a little. We removed the rear wheels to have more room to install the rear mud flaps (probably not absolutely necessary, but helpful to have more room). Having the car off the ground to do the trailer hitch would be a good time to remove the wheels as well.
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2019
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  22. jorgie393

    jorgie393 Well-Known Member

    I just put in the ecohitch. You would save a tiny amount of labor by doing the mudflaps at the same time (removing two easy screws, and one pop rivets, on each side of the front end of the bumper fascia). You don’t have to raise the car up to do the hitch (though you can)so that’s not an issue either.

    So I don’t think it matters If you do them at the same time or the hitch first.But what I would not do, however, is put the mudflaps on and then do the hitch later. You would have to remove the mudflaps again to do it I think, and that is the most elaborate part.


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  23. Tomrl

    Tomrl Member

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