Like many of us here, I got a hidden hitch and bike rack for my RDX. I got the thule T2 rack because I wanted to be able to open the rear gate without having to take the bikes off of the rack. I installed the hitch today and put the rack on....SHT!! when folded up the wheel carriers touch the bumper (it can't fold up) and when trying to tilt down it also bumps my car (it can't tilt down).
I don't have an extender, and when I called etrailer to get one they told me not to because my tonge weight was cut in half.
So, I'm calling for help from any and all people that know about this, my hitch gives me 300lb of tonge weight without the extender, the rack itself weights about 54lb (that was from etrailer, I believe is lighter) two bikes at about 25lb/per and I am already over 100lb.

So, here are the questions:

1- Do I really need to consider anything that goes in the trunk in the tonge weight? spare tire, tools, etc? the representative a etrailer said so.
2- would you recommend having installing an extender on a hicth?
3- has anyone experiece the same problems? and how did you solve them?

 

Why even sell an extender if it will cause you to become a menace on the road? C'Mon, for a bike rack?? Unless you plan to hang your Ninja back there, I'd go for it. Just take the dang thing off before you autocross.

 

I have the Thule 4 Roadway bike rack and it works perfectly for me. Yes you do need to take the bikes off to bend down the hitch to get into the car but don't need an extender. I tried a couple of extenders actually and none of them were a perfect fit for my hitch so the bike hitch was always moving around when the bikes were on more than I liked.