Mountain bike storage ideas

Here's what I do:



It's super simple and I tow the F-150 behind my motorhome. The truck weighs 6,500 pounds so if you want to do this, you'll need something that can handle that weight.

I have been down this road, and here is the summary of my research.

The only Class A basement with storage tall enough to keep the rear wheel on a mountain, road, or tandem (we carry all three) is a Prevost H3 45. I currently have to remove both wheels to get them sideways in pretty generous storage bays in the Newell. I can also get them upright by removing the seatpost and front wheel. It's easier for me to just drop both wheels. I made covers for the frames to keep chain grease off the carpet in the bays.

The only towable vehicle I have found that will allow the bikes to sit upright inside with front wheel removed is Nissan Pathfinder. It is towable with manual tranny.

We use an Outback for a toad. On the rare occasion when I want to secure the bikes, I can drop the rear seat in the car, drop the wheels from the tandem and lay it in flat.

When we are parked for a few days and riding. I leave the bikes outside chained with Kevlar cable and the limited access padlock. I cover them with a custom made cover that goes all the way to the ground. To the casual observer, it's just bikes under a cover.

I hope this gives you some ideas from someone who completely understands what you are trying to do.

If you are willing to go the toy hauler route in either a towable or Class A then your options are far better.

As mentioned, for full timing, you'll want to preserve as much storage space as possible. I like the option of keeping them in a toad of some kind. I've seen a slice set up where a gent has a Extra Cab F150 with a shell, and he has the slide out bed that he has mounted various things to. Including two crossover bikes for him and his wife. Still had room in the truck for four people. 4X4 truck gave him some reasonable off road capability. He said he liked that the bikes remained clean while traveling. And he also said he had added an alarm to the shell tied in with he truck alarm. Eco Boost V6 he claimed gave him an honest 20-22 MPG on easy highway cruising, and usually above 17 while around town. And, when needed, he can cary 5 people. (Not too much room for big people in back, but it's perfect for his grandkids!).

He also claimed that the slide out bed option, allowed him to work on the bikes while standing, and other things too, as a makeshift workbench.

Just FYI - Good luck to you on your decision,
Smitty

We put a quick video together with the dimensions of the bike. We're also documenting our RV shopping experience if anyone would like to follow along and offer advice along the way.

RV Shopping Like a Noob - the bikes

themoreweexplore wrote:
We're beginning the shopping process for our first RV. We'll be living in it full-time. Here's the difficult spot we're in:

We have (2) $5000+ mountain bikes that we will be bringing with us. Obviously we won't be leaving them outside on a bike rack (far too easy and tempting to steal). Aside from a toy hauler Class A, does anyone have any good ideas of how to store the bikes? Since we'll be riding them several times each week, we don't want to have to take them entirely apart each time we store them. I'd be ok with removing the front wheel if needed, but if we could leave them intact, that'd be idea. The bikes are about 4' high, 6' long, and the handlebars are over 2' wide.
Any great ideas out there?

You didn't say what your RV preference or budget was and enough money will find a cure for any problem, like huge basement storage in a class A DP high end motor-home.
Now on the lower end, my neighbor has a well cared for, low mileage, 2008 Damon Outlaw for sale, that has Murphy bed in the garage. Also has an overhead bedroom above that with a staircase. Either way, one could move the bikes far ahead in the coach at nighttime if they wanted to use the garage BR.
This particular coach mentioned is on a W24 Workhorse chassis with the 8.1 GM engine and a six speed Allison transmission.

That is EXACTLY the sort of thing I'm looking for. That'd be perfect.

I know that a Keystone Alpine 5er has a similar idea. It's not a full huge toy-hauler garage, but big enough for the camping gear and bikes without taking up TOO much room inside. I could even get a little bike stand going in there.

Newmar came out with a new Canyon Star floor plan, the 3922 which has a small bike garage in the back.

I share the same exact concerns. A toy hauler would be cool for all the space for my toys, but now I'm at a HUGE trailer, a 40' + trailer, and a huge 1-ton for daily driving.

Storing the bikes in the Toad is one of my favorite ideas right now, unless I could find a coach with HUGE storage bins, or an external "shed" option.

I know we're in the class a forum, but on topic, does anyone make a little lockable "shed" that goes below the tongue on a 5er? That'd be a great place to store bikes when not in use. If it had little plastic walls that enclosed that area into a lockable container, that'd be cool.

themoreweexplore wrote:
Great feedback willald, thank you. I feel like you understand my needs.

Unless we go with a 5th wheel toy hauler, we'll have a 4x4 toad for getting to trailheads in the middle of nowhere. We have a hitch-mounted rack which is great for transporting the bikes, just not great for storing them long-term.

I'd be ok with a tarp to cover them from the elements, but I worry about leaving my bikes outside in the middle of nowhere, easily accessed, while I'm off backpacking for 4+ days.

Problem with a 5th wheel toy hauler, is that the garage in the back takes up a lot of space you could otherwise have as nice living space, that you will want for full-timing. That, and you'd have to have such a massive pickup to tow it, you may not like having to wrestle a 1 ton dually pickup into locations where your trailhead may be for biking or hiking.

I like the 4runner idea, provided you can find one that is flat towable. A 4 runner might even be light enough, that a big diesel pusher MH may not be necessary to tow it.

Will

Great feedback willald, thank you. I feel like you understand my needs.

Unless we go with a 5th wheel toy hauler, we'll have a 4x4 toad for getting to trailheads in the middle of nowhere. We have a hitch-mounted rack which is great for transporting the bikes, just not great for storing them long-term.

I'd be ok with a tarp to cover them from the elements, but I worry about leaving my bikes outside in the middle of nowhere, easily accessed, while I'm off backpacking for 4+ days.