Bicycles for Back of 5th Wheel

2-MTnesters wrote:
We have the Swagman 2 bike rack. Also have THIS 2" to 1 1/4" reducer since the hitch on our 5th wheel is also 1 1/4". Our bikes are Schwinn Hybrid 21 speed. Travel very nicely on the Swagman rack and have never had any problems. Tim

We have the same bike rack and love it. Took us three tries with various styles to find this one which works so great. No worries with movement against the fiver or having the weight of the bikes pulling on the ladder.

Michelle.S wrote:
Here's my take on this. On our previous 5er it had that make believe 1 1/4 hitch. Installed a Swagman 2 Bike rack using a 1 1/4 to 2 adapter. Mounted the bikes and checked for movement. WOW did they move around in all directions. So our first trip I added a ratchet strap from the bike rack to the RV ladder and put sufficient pressure to cut down on the bike movement.
Since we've changed RVs to one with a real 2" receiver and now the bikes are solid without added the extra strap.
So my suggestions, get a real hitch installed or take your chances.

While no first hand experience I have always been skeptical of 11/4" set up as well

Here's my take on this. On our previous 5er it had that make believe 1 1/4 hitch. Installed a Swagman 2 Bike rack using a 1 1/4 to 2 adapter. Mounted the bikes and checked for movement. WOW did they move around in all directions. So our first trip I added a ratchet strap from the bike rack to the RV ladder and put sufficient pressure to cut down on the bike movement.
Since we've changed RVs to one with a real 2" receiver and now the bikes are solid without added the extra strap.
So my suggestions, get a real hitch installed or take your chances.

Here's what we've done:
Bought a couple of used/decent hybrid mountain bikes (less "pain" if they get stolen or damaged)
Received a dual bike cover for Christmas
We have a 2" hitch factory-mounted on the back of the trailer
Have a Bell bike rack (more about that in a moment)

I lock the bikes with a cable lock, to the hitch - when all else fails, the bikes should just scrape along behind the trailer rather than create a problem for other drivers....

We also have a hitch-mounted spare tire: I tied a rope to that, and looped it around the covered bikes to take out some of the bounce.

Back to the Bell rack: it had a plastic 2" to 1-1/4" adapter; and that appeared to be wearing down, allowing an uncomfortable amount of up/down play in the rack. Since we were going to be visiting my bro-in-law, I ordered a metal 2"-to-1-1/4" reducer and had it shipped to his house - THAT made a huge difference in the stability of the bike rack, plus gave about 4' extra, to get past the spare tire.

You might be OK without a bike cover - but our neighbor (from Ohio) at one RV Park, spent about a week getting his bikes to work again after they were bathed in grime and road salt on his trip - and just froze up with rust.... when we got home, the entire backside of our 5er was crusted with salt and grime, but the bikes looked like new.

We have the Swagman 2 bike rack. Also have THIS 2" to 1 1/4" reducer since the hitch on our 5th wheel is also 1 1/4". Our bikes are Schwinn Hybrid 21 speed. Travel very nicely on the Swagman rack and have never had any problems. Tim

Unfortunately I have a short bed truck and think a pinbox mounting of the bikes would be problematic.

Can't help you on choice of rack, I used to carry 2 bikes on the rear ladder. I can suggest that you get the lightest weight bikes you can afford, then go above and beyond the rack straps when securing them. I always used extra bungees and straps to make sure my bikes weren't bouncing around any more than necessary.

Hi sorry I can't recommend bikes but You want to make sure that the hitch and bumper are strong enough to support the hitch/bike carrier as the back takes the worse beatings and I have seen and heard about bikes falling off due to broken bumpers/hitches. They are some 5th wheelers who haul bikes using a pin box mounted bike carrier and they are several threads running regarding pin box mounted carriers.

I had a bike rack that came with my 5'er. I sold it without ever opening the box. Way too many times I have seen bikes barely hanging on to their rack on the back of long trailers. There is just too much movement back there for me to feel safe that I wouldn't lose one to be hit by someone following me or at the very least damaging the bike or the back of my 5'er.

A lot of people use them, but I'm a coward I guess.