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MtView's avatar
MtView
Explorer
Feb 20, 2018

Bicycles in a Pickup Truck (with everything else)

I'm starting to think about the upcoming camping season as the temperature hits 60 today during a New England winter. It's exciting and therapeutic - should have done it sooner LOL.

This year I want to bring two of the kids' bikes with us. How do you bring the bikes in a pickup truck along with everything else we need to put back in the bed like our Coleman stove, cooler, bins that don't fit in our TT storage compartment, etc?

This is my first pickup and I thought it would be easy, but it looks like the bikes take up a lot of space.
  • Two kids bikes should be easy in the back of the truck. I used to carry up to 5 (2 Adults, 2 Teens & 1 Kids) and still have room for coolers, etc. You need to consider this - PVC Bike Rack

    I now have a BH model TT with the bike door so I use the PVC Bike Rack inside the BH now.

    One other thing, if you build the PVC Bike Rack don't glue the joints as you go. One misaligned piece and you can throw the whole thing away and start over (ask me how I know this). I put it all together then just surface glued it at the joints.
  • Quality bicycles shouldn’t be on a truck front rack. In rain that’s a pressure washing.
  • Added hitch to back of TT for mine. Also used bike tights ie block fork mount in truck bed too.
  • I fought the "bike in truck bed" issue for years. Finally, I spent the money for a front hitch.

    It works fine and the bikes are in front where I can see them.
  • MtView wrote:
    I'm starting to think about the upcoming camping season as the temperature hits 60 today during a New England winter. It's exciting and therapeutic - should have done it sooner LOL.

    This year I want to bring two of the kids' bikes with us. How do you bring the bikes in a pickup truck along with everything else we need to put back in the bed like our Coleman stove, cooler, bins that don't fit in our TT storage compartment, etc?

    This is my first pickup and I thought it would be easy, but it looks like the bikes take up a lot of space.


    Install a front hitch on the truck.. Get a reciever bike rack..

    I have over 600lbs left on front axle when towing the travel trailer. This makes the most sense.

    Or you can get a trailer rear bumper support and put them back there. But thats iffy IMO..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Ys33KTxHg

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnzmesG4_bY