Bike rack recommendation for front of tow vehicle

We use Saris Cycle On (old style for a 2 inch receiver) where the bike tires ride in troughs; on the front of our Suburban. With our last vehicle we used a 4 inch drop between the receiver and the rack to get the bikes lower.

We have a Swagman S64650, similar to the one in the link posted above. We put the handlebars of my bike on the driver's side and handlebars of my husband's bike on the passenger side since his handlebars are taller. We have used it for 3 or 4 years with no problems whatsoever. Very happy with the hitch. The bikes never get in the way and I like being able to keep an eye on them rather the possibility of losing one off the back of the fifth wheel and not knowing it.

sorry double postered

I'm interested in this too. The front hitch for my Dodge Ram requires cutting the air dam which I'm not willing to do, but I did find bolt on grill guard or bull-bars, that replace the front recovery hooks (bolted to the frame).

Anyone carried a bike on a bull bar / grill guard? Seems the bull bars would be too low, but I dunno.

We use Saris Cycle On (old style for a 2 inch receiver) where the bike tires ride in troughs; on the front of our Suburban. With our last vehicle we used a 4 inch drop between the receiver and the rack to get the bikes lower.
The roads are so bad we have to tie down the wheels in the troughs. I wonder how you would keep the tires on the platform from slipping around.

Have used this Swagman 4 bike rack for almost 20 years. For our mountain bikes, had to get the top tube adapter from Thule, when we have the straight top tube touring bikes don't need it(the adapter bar). Fits into a standard 2" receiver. We use a security cable with lock to secure bikes so there is no movement on rough roads.



View from the drivers seat



Don't drop bikes too much or you will crunch tire if on rough roads that have protruding rocks,etc.

Dave

When I had the front bike rack, I had a local welding shop make a simple "L" shaped rack, with two forks for the bikes. Used it for a good 12 years or so, until the kids grew up and stopped traveling with us.

We had the bikes to high problem. Bought the Yakima Tube Top adapter bars to lower the bicycles.
Ed

That is what I have, I believe it is by http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-Racks/Swagman/S64670.html :)