How to Fit A Bike In A Jeep Wrangler

Mountain bikes and Jeeps go together like lime and tequila — they’re a perfect match for the outdoor thrill-seeker. Their both great at delivering an exhilarating off-road experience on wheels. But can you fit a mountain bike inside a Jeep Wrangler? The answer is yes, but there are some limitations and it may not be an easy task.

However, with some tools and a little bit of patience, there are several ways to transport a mountain bike inside your Jeep without a bike rack.

Fitting A Bike Inside A Jeep
2-Door Jeep
4-Door Jeep
Useful Tools for Transporting A Mountain Bike
Using A Bike Rack

Fitting A Bike Inside A Jeep

Before you start, keep this in mind — the inside of a Jeep Wrangler only has enough room for one mountain bike. If you’re planning on carrying more than one bike, you’ll need to use a bike rack. (Here are some of the best bike racks for Jeeps.)

First, you’ll have to remove your back seats and make sure all the space in the back of your Jeep is clear — your bike will be taking up most of the room.

2-Door Jeep

If you have a 2 door Jeep Wrangler, fitting a mountain bike inside is challenging.

We recommend keeping a bike multi-tool with you at all times because you’ll need to remove the front tire in order to fit your bike inside. There’s no way around it. Once you’re at your destination you’ll have to reattach your wheel.

4-Door Jeep

If you have a 4-door Jeep, you’ll have a much easier time fitting a mountain bike inside. You should be able to contort the bike into a position where it fits inside — wheels attached. However, it may be difficult and you may still want to remove one wheel in order to get a better fit.

Useful Tools for Transporting A Mountain Bike

Here are a few tools that are useful to keep on hand (or necessary if you need to remove your bike’s wheels).

A bicycle multi-tool set. Most bike owners will have one, but if you don’t, we recommend getting one. It’ll make the task of removing and assembling the wheels much faster.

Straps. You’ll want to secure the bike inside your Jeep so that it doesn’t move. Straps are perfect since they keep the bike in place and prevent any damage to the car.

Plastic sheets or waterproof covers. Just think of all the dust, mud, and water you will bring into the car after using your bike. You can protect the Jeep’s cabin using waterproof materials like a plastic tarp.

Cleaning tools. If you prefer not to cover the cabin with a tarp, then you can wash your bike before getting it back into your Jeep. A bucket, a soft sponge, a few microfiber cloths, and a cleaning solution will be enough to get your bike shining again.

Using A Bike Rack

Even though transporting a bike inside your Jeep is definitely cost-efficient, it comes with some hassle.

There is an easier option, but it comes with a higher price tag (but still relatively affordable). Many Jeep owners that go biking often prefer to have a bike rack. There are a few upsides to using a bike rack:

You can transport more than one bike at a time.
Most bike racks are easy to install.
You can choose if you prefer to mount it on the roof, on the hitch, or the spare tire.
You will be able to use the whole cabin for yourself and your family.
You will still have space for luggage in the rear hatch.
The Jeep’s cabin won’t get dirty or damaged by the bike.
You won’t have to remove the wheels of the bike.

If you’d like to go the bike rack route, you can see our choices for the best bike racks for Jeep Wranglers. Our top choice is the Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Rack.

It’s up to you if you’d like to do it inside or outside, but the good news is that it’s relatively simple and affordable to transport your mountain bike inside your Jeep Wrangler.