[GPzGuy]

I really can't recommend using a hatch strapped bike rack. I've seen them scratch several different vehicles, no matter how well they fit, the Bones included. Even if you try to keep the painted surface clean and the rack's feet clean, the vibrations going down the road between the surfaces always end up rubbing the paint.... especially where the strap 'S' hooks onto the edge of the hatch.

I've agonized over this for a while, and was ver close to getting a roof mount rack. But my Xterra came with the factory OEM hitch receiver, and I got a Thule Ridgeway hitch mount rack. I really really like this rack, especially after modification.

What I've done is drilled and tapped a new hole in the rack's tongue so that I can insert it further into the receiver and bring the bikes closer to the back of the Xterra. (Drill press drill a new hole with a 13/32 drill, cut the threads with a M12 x 1.75 mm tap.)

Right now I'm working on modifying my Thule rack so I can use it with a Valley multi-use hitch so I can tow my tent trailer and carry the bikes at the same time.

Hitch and bike rack thread

Picture of my Jamis 29er on my Thule rack:

And here you can see the rack mounted without a bike on it... I mostly always keep it on even when I'm not using it since it is so easy to tilt down and out of the way to open the rear hatch. This was before I modified the tongue so I could insert the rack in the hitch receiver further in:

 

[GPzGuy]

You know, the other thing I really like about my hitch mount: With the bikes on and strapped down, I can still tilt it back and open the rear hatch.