Hello All,We have a 2" receiver mounted to the rear bumper of our Travel Trailer and we recently purchased a 4 bike carrier from Wal Mart. We took it on it's first trip and it destroyed the paint on our bikes. No matter what I did it managed to scrape them. It was $150 rack so I thought it was OK but I guess not. We are returning that and looking for another option. The Thule looks great but is awfully expensive. Can anyone make a recommendation for a 4 bike hitch mount carrier? The difficult part seems to be that we have 2 adult sized mountain bikes, and 2 kids bikes that all need to fit. Having the kids bikes always seems to put their bikes near our chain or pedals etc. Should I just spend on the Thule or is there another less expensive option? Thanks!

For previous posts on this popular subject try searching this Forum for `bike rack' and read on. To minimize the responses try searching the results for `four' or `four bikes' or `thule' or `saris', etc.I, personally, would not want to carry four bikes on one rack due to the overhung load and the bouncing around of the bikes due to the bad roads.

Probably out of your price range, but we have a Swagman 2 place rack that we use on the back of our truck when not towing. I also would be leery of our bikes bouncing around on the back of a trailer. But this Swagman 4 place rack is similar to our 2 place rack. Ours is going on 10 years old and has held up very well.

I'm not sure where you live but Thule and Yakima gear out here show up on craisglist as often as the in-laws to a free buffet.We bought a looked new but used 4 bike Thule for a fraction of the price of new. The previous owner wanted it out of their garage toot sweet.

Um, now you know why Thule actually GETS those prices for their units.I second the recommendation to try to find one used.

Swagman XC. This unit holds both tires in place with on bracket holding bike in place. Our bikes don't move and inch. Little pricey but worth it.

Hitch Mount Bike Carrier??? | Good Sam Community

RobertL0
Explorer
May 03, 2015
Great advice here. Just make sure your registration plate isn't covered by the bicycles. Some have to move them.

IAMICHABOD wrote:
Some really good advice here,and some good bike carriers too, I have a Swagman that is rated for use on a RV. What some of the problem is that they bounce a lot and if the rack is not tight in the receiver that added movement only amplifies that bounce.
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
May 03, 2015
Some really good advice here,and some good bike carriers too, I have a Swagman that is rated for use on a RV. What some of the problem is that they bounce a lot and if the rack is not tight in the receiver that added movement only amplifies that bounce.

I have tried almost every Anti Rattle device on the market, most have been no good or so complicated and cumbersome that they are useless. I have a whole tool box full of them.

Until I found the one at Hitch Rider. This will keep everything tight.

Their Hitch Vice is the best and easiest one I have come across and it really works.

I also use pool noodles that are split to put around any part of the bike that may come in contact with another bike or the rack and use velcro strips to keep them on,pull them tight and press.
LangsRV2
Explorer
May 03, 2015
We had the same problem with cheap bike racks. Nearly destroyed a $600 bike when the brand new rack bent almost in half on bumpy Oklahoma turnpike roads. It's just not worth it to risk using a cheap rack. We bought a used Yakima for $50 (less than the cost of the new cheap one!) it's solid steel structure holds the bikes perfectly and solid. We always put the larger adult bikes closer to the rig with the light weight kids bikes on the end.
kpratte
Explorer
Apr 26, 2015
TomHaycraft wrote:
Yakima has never let me down. Pricey, but when my holds up to $4,000 of bikes at times, scratches or damage is not an option.

HoldUp 2 with option to extend for 4 bikes.
I've got the Thule equivalent and love it. Only issue is weight, the rack ways in around 50lbs. If I want to extend it, it's another 50lbs, so 100lb bike rack on the end of really long lever holding over 100lbs of bikes, yikes.

I had a friend weld c-channel into the 2" receiver and welded that to the frame. Essentially the receiver is at the bottom of a "T". It keeps the receiver from twisting and pulling off the bumper.

- Ken
Dadoffourgirls
Explorer
Apr 24, 2015
On my previous trailer I used a 4 bike carrier in a receiver that ripped the bottom of the trailer frame off. Four bikes is a lot of weight on back of trailer.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Apr 24, 2015
AngryBert-63 wrote:
Thule and Yakima both state in their manuals that they are not designed for use on the back of trailers or other towed vehicles. They won't honor the warranty if used in this capacity.

I believe Swagman is the only brand that actually rates their bike rack for the back of a travel trailer, and then only specific models. Their disclaimer is very similar:

'1. Purchaser is advised that the load created by rack and bicycles will exceed the strength of trailer or 5th wheel bumper, mounting location or
the bike rack. The rack is not under warranty if mounted in this location.'

While that is true, the reason is many people bolt a receiver to the bumper on the trailer and think they can use the bike carrier on this. The bike carrier ends up getting ripped off when the bumper breaks. It is possible to integrate (weld) a receiver hitch into the frame of the trailer and IMO is the only way to do this safely.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Apr 24, 2015
TomHaycraft wrote:
Yakima has never let me down. Pricey, but when my holds up to $4,000 of bikes at times, scratches or damage is not an option.

HoldUp 2 with option to extend for 4 bikes.

Same rack I've got, awesome, and won't scratch your bikes.
Winnebago_Bob
Explorer
Apr 23, 2015
Thule and Yakima both state in their manuals that they are not designed for use on the back of trailers or other towed vehicles. They won't honor the warranty if used in this capacity.

I believe Swagman is the only brand that actually rates their bike rack for the back of a travel trailer, and then only specific models. Their disclaimer is very similar:

'1. Purchaser is advised that the load created by rack and bicycles will exceed the strength of trailer or 5th wheel bumper, mounting location or
the bike rack. The rack is not under warranty if mounted in this location.'
russkerri
Explorer
Apr 23, 2015
Someone gave us a tip to buy a rack that holds more bikes than we actually need to carry, which gives you a little more space on the rack. I was told you'd have to do some ninja moves to get 4 bikes nicely mounted on a 4-bike rack. Seems to work for us! (We don't use this on our TT since our bumper isn't set up for that and doesn't have a hitch)
RedJeep
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
I have used a four bike bicycle rack on the back of a travel trailer for thousands of miles. only once did the bumper fall off due to the bouncing and weight.