When we bought the 5th last spring I had the dealer weld a 2 inch receiver onto the bumper and frame. We attach a 4 bike rack when we travel. When I installed the back camera I noticed the bike rack with considerable movement when travelling. The weld is solid but I feel the bikes are moving too much. I checked the connection between the rack and the receiver. There is a little play which is magnified when moving at speeds. I have attempted to wedge cedar shakes in between but they vibrate out. Does anyone have any suggestions (shy of welding them together) to reduce the bounce of the bike rack. From my past experiences here someone will come up with a solution.Respectfully,AM

Antigua1767 wrote:When we bought the 5th last spring I had the dealer weld a 2 inch receiver onto the bumper and frame. We attach a 4 bike rack when we travel. When I installed the back camera I noticed the bike rack with considerable movement when travelling. The weld is solid but I feel the bikes are moving too much. I checked the connection between the rack and the receiver. There is a little play which is magnified when moving at speeds. I have attempted to wedge cedar shakes in between but they vibrate out. Does anyone have any suggestions (shy of welding them together) to reduce the bounce of the bike rack. From my past experiences here someone will come up with a solution.Respectfully,AMYOu can drill another hole in your receiver and weld a nut over it, say for a 5/8 or 3/4 bolt. Install bolt, tighten, jam bike receiver tight so no up/down slop.Or better yet, find another bike option. My buddy hauled his on the back and I used to watch those things getting beat to death on every trip we took. Literally shook one bike into pieces. You might get rid of the slop, but that isn't going to stop the beating.Most people don't realize just how much bouncing goes on behind the axles on most of these 5vers. One of the reasons I always cringe when hearing about people hauling their fur kids in the garage of the toy haulers.I built a receiver into the pin box on my toy hauler and all 4 bikes ride there, right above the bed of the truck. Much much smoother ride up there.

The hitch/bike rack manufacturers always recommend using a tie strap from the top of the rack to the 5th back wall to stop the bouncing because it is a welded component and will fail eventually.

I assume you have the type of bike rack which hangs the bikes from hooks on the rack with out supporting the wheels. If that is the case what you have done is the same as taking a 36" or so pry bar and hung apx. and 100 pounds on it, every time your rig hits a bump it is like someone pulling on the pry bar with all that force going into your frame. If you can support the weight of the bikes from the wheels at the height of the hitch and secure the bikes to the upright so they can't bounce it would be a improvement and better for your rig. This is a picture of a Fiamma bike rack mounted on an Airstream. Airstreams are prone to damage from bike racks mounted on the frame as yours is done. This bike rack is the only one Airstream approves, it demonstrates the concept of carrying the weight in a wheel tray at a lower height. Your rig more than likely can stand the stress better than an Airstream due to differences in design but lowering the weight bearing surface will provide you with a better experience.Hope this helps.Jim

Just tie the rack down in such a manner that it removes all of the slop in your receiver. Talking about seconds to do this and problem should be solved.

Bungy cord the bikes at outmost points to put tension on them. They move because the ends of the bikes are far from the hitch,so eliminating the bike acting like a lever stops the problem.

The Bike Rack Rocks and Rolls | Good Sam Community

Buck50HD
Explorer
Jun 14, 2013
rdemore wrote:
I just purchased and installed a Swagemen 4 bike rack for the back of our camper. I have been unsuccessful with other setups, and this rack looks very promising. I am going to reinforce the rack with 1" x 2" tube before we every leave the house, and I plan to tie it back to the bumper with ratchet straps to stabilize the rack. We are traveling in two weeks.

Another vote for the Swagman. I just assembled and installed an XC2 64650 and it is very well designed, high quality product. Threaded locking features at all joints to eliminate slop. It's a platform style for easy loading and shorter arm to reduce deflection. It also has a nice curved shank that brought it out far enough from the receiver and up a little to clear the bumper. It beats taking the front wheels off and strapping them flat on the bed, ahead and behind the 5th hitch.
Martyn
Nomad
Jun 12, 2013
rtazz17 wrote:
Antigua1767 wrote:
I picked mine(hitch clamp)up here at a local trailer shop. $6.95 Canadian. The rack is rock solid now.
Thanks for all the suggestions posted.....I knew one would work for us,
Respectfully,
Andy May
Im not saying its not rock solid but have you had someone drive behind you after you go over bridges bumps ect at 55 mph? Is it still rock solid? If so great,but I had mine rock solid or so I thought and my wife was traveling behind me and told me it was bouncing.Just playing devils advocate.Only took that one instance for me to figure out another way.If I cant see them I dont feel safe carrying them.

Well, I can't speak for Antigua1767, but my wife drove behind my 5er with the bike rack on using the clamp, and she said it looked rock solid.

Of course, I also have a high end Thule rack where the pin screws in through the pin hole rather than just with a clip. Makes it very tight horizontally as well as having the clip make it tight vertically.

Just our experience - yours may differ - just trying to help. :)
96Brigadier
Explorer
Jun 12, 2013
I had a 2" receiver mounted to the front of my truck and connect a four bike rack that way. The handle bars go in front of the passenger side, I make sure my seat is down all the way (given it is the largest bike) when we travel. None of the bikes are in my field of view and since they are at the front they barely move.
SailingOn
Explorer
Jun 11, 2013
johnm1 wrote:
Something to keep in mind for people suggesting the bikes should go on the pin box. I have a short bed (6.6ft) GMC and there just isn't the room to carry 4 bikes up on the pin box ... unless I ONLY drive straight. :)

This leaves the following choices:
1. Put them on the roof of the truck. I've done it and it's not too bad but it is a pain and risks damaging the roof of the truck (I've come very close to dropping the bike while up there). It's also VERY expensive to get it set up for 4 bikes!
2. Put them on the front of the truck.
3. Put them on the back of the RV.

just my 2 cents!

I have a 6.5 foot bed, and four bikes fit on the pin just fine. See my sig.
Clearly depends on the geometry of your rig.
Yes, when I jack the trailer too far the bikes will hit the cab. At about 75 degrees, the bike wheels will tap against the rear window and the bikes sway away; a nice warning with no damage done.
Also, when you leave the trailer behind for the day, the bikes are up high and hard to get to, more protected from casual mischief.
And, should you be on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, they won't add the 2-3' that pushes you into the next fare bracket.
army_guy1
Explorer
Jun 11, 2013
I had a hitch put on the king pin and has worked great for me. You do need to make sure you have the room in the bed of truck for swing.
rtazz17
Explorer
Jun 11, 2013
Antigua1767 wrote:
I picked mine(hitch clamp)up here at a local trailer shop. $6.95 Canadian. The rack is rock solid now.
Thanks for all the suggestions posted.....I knew one would work for us,
Respectfully,
Andy May
Im not saying its not rock solid but have you had someone drive behind you after you go over bridges bumps ect at 55 mph? Is it still rock solid? If so great,but I had mine rock solid or so I thought and my wife was traveling behind me and told me it was bouncing.Just playing devils advocate.Only took that one instance for me to figure out another way.If I cant see them I dont feel safe carrying them.
tnclays
Explorer
Jun 11, 2013
salem wrote:
So, just too be sure I've got this hitch clamp thing right. It goes where the bike rack goes into the receiver, correct, which keeps it from bouncing? The pictures were a little vague.

Slips over the rack, and tab with locknut and threaded bolt tighten up to receiver.
salem
Explorer
Jun 11, 2013
So, just too be sure I've got this hitch clamp thing right. It goes where the bike rack goes into the receiver, correct, which keeps it from bouncing? The pictures were a little vague.
Martyn
Nomad
Jun 11, 2013
salem wrote:
That "hitch clamp" posted by Martyn: Does anyone know if you can purchase those somewhere such as "Lowes," "Home Depot," etc. Thanks.

I've never seen them at HD or Lowes etc., but a local hitch shop may have them.

I ordered my three from Amazon - only took about 3 days to arrive.
lillyputz
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2013
Tack weld the four corners. No movement and can be removed, if need be, with out much trouble.

Lillyputz

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