Bike carrier: Improving a Thule 990

[Jérôme Daoust]

I collected the modifications here...
http://www.expandingknowledge.com/Jerome/Bike/Gear/Transport/Carrier/Hitch/2008_08_29_Thule_990_Mods/Main.htm

Since then, I had my aftermarket class 1 hitch receiver (limited to that on a Suzuki SX4) modified into what would probably be a class 2.5, by having a professional welder add a steel tab between the end of the receiver (near the receiver opening) and the car's frame to eliminate the up/down flexibility. And I had the welder reinforce the rack itself by adding a 2" plate at the inside corner of the horizontal bar that leaves the hitch receiver and the vertical bar. In attachment is a sketch of where the latest mods were added (in red).

 

End result...

I can step onto the bike carrier with my 170 lb (77 kg) and the carrier does not have obvious flex.

When I carry 110 lb of ebikes on it, it can take big bumps and the bikes don't bounce more than the car.

[Jérôme Daoust]

Can the Thule 990 bike rack secure a set of TAG FRX5 wheels (same as
on an OB1) ?
I'm wondering if the straps that clamp down the base of the wheels are
long enough to run over the deep rims.
Schematic of the straps:
http://groups.google.com/group/optibike-owners-group/web/Thule_990_straps.jpg?hl=en

Probably OK, but would be great to hear from someone who tried.

Related topic:
Rims: Mavic Crosstrail or TAG FRX5 ?
http://groups.google.com/group/optibike-owners-group/browse_thread/thread/baa802c73ed01e54

[Jérôme Daoust]

From a picture in the files section, I estimate the tire and rim depth
of the TAG FRX5 to be 3.55"
http://groups.google.com/group/optibike-owners-group/web/FRX5_and_Tire_Depth.jpg?hl=en

From my Thule 990, I measured the maximum clamping dimension to be
3.75".

So it should work, but confirmation would still be nice.