UPDATED NOVEMBER 2025
Everyone has a different vehicle model and spare tire size (as well as different bikes), but typically, no, our rack is not designed to go on a vehicle with a rear spare tire.
Using an Extender
Some customers use an extender with the 2″ version of the rack to push everything further away. This is an option if you aren’t carrying too much weight. Typically, an extender reduces the recommended weight by about 50%. Also, you will most likely not get the famous QuikrStuff no-wobble-at-the-hitch when an extender is introduced into the mix.
We do not make an extender and our warranty does not cover usage of the rack with third-party extenders, adapters, or swing-away arms. This is because we don’t know the integrity of third-party products and we haven’t tested our rack with any of them.
We are not saying that using an extender is necessarily unsafe. Plenty of customers do use one with our rack. However, it’ll be up to you to determine if your bikes are safe.
And we are not saying that we won’t support you when it comes to minor repairs and replacing parts on your rack. We just can’t be held responsible for your rack or your bikes if there is catastrophic failure due to using the rack with an extender.
Solutions
With some vehicle/tire/bike combinations, the rack will work just fine, as shown in the photo below with a 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser. You might be able to determine this ahead of actually ordering and receiving a rack by looking at our dimensions FAQ.
Another idea is to use the rack with your spare tire and no extender. How? By removing a pedal from the bike closest to the spare, essentially putting the bike right up against the spare tire. We saw a jeep in Utah and took pictures of this idea. We can’t guarantee that it will work with your vehicle, but looking at our dimensions FAQ might help.
Customer Scott says, “I have a Jeep with an oversized tire and mine fits just fine. I just turn the cranks on my bike so the top pedal sits inside the wheel of my spare.”
And one final solution – you can leave the main rack empty and load up your bike(s) on the add-on(s). The main rack would serve as a spacer.
Note: QuikrStuff is working on a hitch that is 1.5″ longer than our current hitch. This may be ready by February 2026.
