Did my local shop install my hitch mounted rack properly?
Hello all. Not really sure where to ask this but figured here is as good a place as any. I have a jeep wrangler so a standard hitch mounted rack can’t clear the spare tire without an extender. I bought a KUAT hitch extender which the store installed. In the pictures below you can see that protruded out farther than necessary in order to insert the locking bar. In other words, I can push the extender back to be flush with the bumper of the car and secure it using the Alan wrench, however then I wouldn’t be able to lock it with the included lock. To be clear, the lock does not fasten the extender to the car, it is solely to prevent theft.
More questionably, the Saris Bones 3 Hitch rack appears to be protruding out substantially. The rack itself is secure into the extender, and the extender is secure into the hitch reciever. Neither move around when I shake them with my hand.
However, when bikes are on the rack, the rack does wobble a bit when going over a speed bump or rough terrain. I believe this is an issue with the stem of the rack itself. It feels secure and I don’t think the bikes are in danger of falling off, however they do move a scary amount when I go over a speed bump. Is a little bit of play on the stem of the rack to be expected? Do I just need a more expensive rack?
Please rate my setup and let me know your honest thoughts.