Gear Review: Thule Gateway 2
Last week, I purchased a new trunk mount bike rack. I have an older Bell bike rack that I think I picked up at Walmart but it isn't stable for long trips or multiple bikes. I'd been looking around for a new rack but prices are pretty steep for most good bike racks. Neither of my cars have a hitch nor do they have cross bars. The setup for putting a roof-mounted rack on one of the cars would come in close to $400 with all of the equipment and then the racks. So multiply that by two for both vehicles and it is very out of my range. A trunk mount could be passed back and forth between vehicles if I found the right one.
Before I start, let me tell you that the bike rack I got last week was free. In fact, I actually gained money on it. Here's how it happened. About a month ago, my wife and I opened an REI visa since we shop there frequently and could get pretty much extra dividend money with the card's cash back on REI purchases. With our first purchase on the card, we received a $100 gift card to REI. I'm glad I didn't go spending it on stupid things like I usually do. At the end of June, REI had a member's sale where Thule racks were over 20% off retail. The Gateway 2 retails for $150 and was on sale for $117. So I purchased it online and used the gift card. There was free shipping for members on orders over $100 and members also received a $20 REI gift card during this period. All said and done, I made $3 out of the deal (before taxes).
I've been using the rack for nearly two weeks. I wanted something that could work on both my Prius and my wife's Jeep Compass. I had used the Archway (big brother of the Gateway) on my trip to Florida in May as my triathlon training partner had one and we used it to transport our bikes. I also knew the Thule brand. Whatever the case, it would be better than this Bell that I had been using for years.
The Gateway 2 fits well on my Prius. It is always interesting because the Prius is oddly shaped in the back. It sits nicely on the back window and bumper, giving enough clearance for the rear spoiler. When all six contact points are pulled tight, it really sticks to the back of the car. My wife's bike fits well and the anti-sway made it secure. My bike, on the other hand, takes a bit of work to secure. My odd shaped seat post and triangular tubes make the anti-sway not too useful. Well, I can't have it all with the bike, can I. I have to use a few bungees to make sure the bike doesn't sway. Still, I'd use bungees anyway as I'm anal about making sure the thing is safe.
I've travelled with the bikes on short trips less than 20 miles around my local area. Once on the road, the bike hardly moves on the car. With this rack, I've gone on the highway at speeds of up to 55. With the Archway to Florida, it held nicely for 15 hours of driving at 75+ mph. The Gateway also fits well on the Jeep. It is adjustable to many other types of vehicle. Using the Thule fit guide, you can set the spread to the correct number (angle) to fit cars from vans to sports cars with trunks. The Jeep's spoiler at the top was a concern to me as the straps have to run over the spoiler. The spoiler isn't weight-bearing. The Gateway loaded with one bike did not pull down on the spoiler. I'm thinking that cars with high spoilers or those modified for performance may not be able to use it, depending on the configuration. It should fit securely on most cars though.
Overall, the rack is very secure and easy to put on. The only real difference between it and the higher-end Thule trunk racks is the fact that you have to screw-tighten the cross bars into position. On other models, there is a push-button switch to flip up the crossbars. If this doesn't bother you, the Gateway 2 will work fine. I do need to take it on longer trips to test that out and I am curious to see if frequent use will cause starching. In the end, I recommend this rack to those looking for a trunk mount rack for a reasonable price (even if you don't get it for free). The Gateway 3 is the three-bike version of the same rack.
Before I start, let me tell you that the bike rack I got last week was free. In fact, I actually gained money on it. Here's how it happened. About a month ago, my wife and I opened an REI visa since we shop there frequently and could get pretty much extra dividend money with the card's cash back on REI purchases. With our first purchase on the card, we received a $100 gift card to REI. I'm glad I didn't go spending it on stupid things like I usually do. At the end of June, REI had a member's sale where Thule racks were over 20% off retail. The Gateway 2 retails for $150 and was on sale for $117. So I purchased it online and used the gift card. There was free shipping for members on orders over $100 and members also received a $20 REI gift card during this period. All said and done, I made $3 out of the deal (before taxes).
I've been using the rack for nearly two weeks. I wanted something that could work on both my Prius and my wife's Jeep Compass. I had used the Archway (big brother of the Gateway) on my trip to Florida in May as my triathlon training partner had one and we used it to transport our bikes. I also knew the Thule brand. Whatever the case, it would be better than this Bell that I had been using for years.
The Gateway 2 fits well on my Prius. It is always interesting because the Prius is oddly shaped in the back. It sits nicely on the back window and bumper, giving enough clearance for the rear spoiler. When all six contact points are pulled tight, it really sticks to the back of the car. My wife's bike fits well and the anti-sway made it secure. My bike, on the other hand, takes a bit of work to secure. My odd shaped seat post and triangular tubes make the anti-sway not too useful. Well, I can't have it all with the bike, can I. I have to use a few bungees to make sure the bike doesn't sway. Still, I'd use bungees anyway as I'm anal about making sure the thing is safe.
I've travelled with the bikes on short trips less than 20 miles around my local area. Once on the road, the bike hardly moves on the car. With this rack, I've gone on the highway at speeds of up to 55. With the Archway to Florida, it held nicely for 15 hours of driving at 75+ mph. The Gateway also fits well on the Jeep. It is adjustable to many other types of vehicle. Using the Thule fit guide, you can set the spread to the correct number (angle) to fit cars from vans to sports cars with trunks. The Jeep's spoiler at the top was a concern to me as the straps have to run over the spoiler. The spoiler isn't weight-bearing. The Gateway loaded with one bike did not pull down on the spoiler. I'm thinking that cars with high spoilers or those modified for performance may not be able to use it, depending on the configuration. It should fit securely on most cars though.
Overall, the rack is very secure and easy to put on. The only real difference between it and the higher-end Thule trunk racks is the fact that you have to screw-tighten the cross bars into position. On other models, there is a push-button switch to flip up the crossbars. If this doesn't bother you, the Gateway 2 will work fine. I do need to take it on longer trips to test that out and I am curious to see if frequent use will cause starching. In the end, I recommend this rack to those looking for a trunk mount rack for a reasonable price (even if you don't get it for free). The Gateway 3 is the three-bike version of the same rack.
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