Installing a bike carrier
I have a Class a motor home with a 10,000# hitch, towing a vehicle 4-down with a Blue Ox system. The curb weight of the tow vehicle is approximately 4,300#'s. I would like to add a bike carrier direct...
Forum Discussion
Problem with the dual receiver approach you're talking about for carrying bikes, is if you look closely at the documentation that comes with most hitch-mounted bike racks, most are NOT supported, recommended to be used on the back of an RV like that. I seem to recall only finding one or or two that allow that.
That, and the other issue you may run into, is that when the bikes are on there, you may not be able to unhitch and fold up the tow bar. Bikes may get in the way. Not sure if that'd be an issue for you, but it was for us and was main reason we chose against that approach. We frequently like to unhitch the towed vehicle and fold up the tow bar before we get to our campsite. That would be really difficult, if you had to remove all the bikes then, too.
Also, as already said, you will probably find that there are times you'd like to carry, bring the bikes on your towed vehicle. Sometimes you will want to bring the bikes places you won't want to take the Motorhome.
I highly, highly recommend you look into a roof rack, for your towed vehicle. Sooo much better for the bikes, and is very quick and easy to get the bikes up there and to get them back down. Keeps the bikes completely out of the way, too.
We went the route of a hitch-mounted bike rack on the rear of the towed vehicle several years ago. Eventually, just got to where we hated that approach, and recently (several months ago) ditched the hitch mounted rack, bit the bullet and got a roof rack. Soooo much better, and really, really wish I would have gone this route from the get-go. Yes, roof racks are not cheap, but well worth it, and you can get a lot of the parts for them via Craigs List, and save a bunch of $$ that way.
That, and the other issue you may run into, is that when the bikes are on there, you may not be able to unhitch and fold up the tow bar. Bikes may get in the way. Not sure if that'd be an issue for you, but it was for us and was main reason we chose against that approach. We frequently like to unhitch the towed vehicle and fold up the tow bar before we get to our campsite. That would be really difficult, if you had to remove all the bikes then, too.
Also, as already said, you will probably find that there are times you'd like to carry, bring the bikes on your towed vehicle. Sometimes you will want to bring the bikes places you won't want to take the Motorhome.
I highly, highly recommend you look into a roof rack, for your towed vehicle. Sooo much better for the bikes, and is very quick and easy to get the bikes up there and to get them back down. Keeps the bikes completely out of the way, too.
We went the route of a hitch-mounted bike rack on the rear of the towed vehicle several years ago. Eventually, just got to where we hated that approach, and recently (several months ago) ditched the hitch mounted rack, bit the bullet and got a roof rack. Soooo much better, and really, really wish I would have gone this route from the get-go. Yes, roof racks are not cheap, but well worth it, and you can get a lot of the parts for them via Craigs List, and save a bunch of $$ that way.
