bike rack

JMO but it really depends on how good your bumper is attached to the frame and what type of bike rack you'll be using. I would buy the best bike rack you can afford. The kind that secures the bikes solidly and also a rack that doesn't wiggle. Too often you see bikes wiggling on the rack. That's the kind of movement that will create problems. Also you need to see how well you bumper is attached to the frame. You may need a couple gussets welded on for extra strength.

The problem with 4 bikes hanging off the rear is the cantilever affect. I think the best thing would be to have one of those fold down racks like you see on Forest River Wildcats. They're welded to the frame and support 250lbs.

Ok. So I see it's a bad idea. Would 2 be bikes be ok. I can make room in th bed for the two kid bikes

One thing to remember is putting one of those bike rack on the A frame will increase TW, I've seen this too many times people installing them without rechecking TW.

Ours was reinforced. Still I didn't carry more than 2 bikes on a long trip.

I hear everyone bring up the bouncing issue, but my wife has followed me several times and said the bikes never moved at all. Must depend on the trailer.

CommuterCruiser wrote:
Love our Arvika bike rack. Ours is on the front of the trailer but I understand they also make rear mounted racks. Here's a link to images of Arvika bike racks ... not inexpensive, but so far we've used ours 4,000 miles with another 5,500 miles cross country starting next week. Easy to get the bikes on and off and quality build.

Arvika Bike Rack Images from Google

I would think those that go over the A-frame in the front would be the way to go and if not big enough I would put the small bikes inside the trailer or in the TV bed of a pickup. As mentioned there is a world of difference in the dynamics from a spare on the bumper to a bike rake hanging to the rear of the bumper and how secure one is over the other.

If you decide to hang something extra off the bumper I would highly recommend a rear view camera also to watch what is going on and not just take things on faith. Loosing something and causing an accident could probably hold you accountable for failure to secure a load, etc.


Larry

samsontdog wrote:
My Son had 3 bikes on his bumper which was reinforced to the frame and the bikes
ended up dragging on the pavement bumper and all

Same thing happened to me. Scrapped two bikes and third one had to replace a wheel and tire.

We used to carry four bikes and a small generator off of the TT rear bumper. The welds cracked on a long trip leaving the whole contraption dragging on the freeway. We reinforced it and other than the crappy handling it did fine.

My Son had 3 bikes on his bumper which was reinforced to the frame and the bikes
ended up dragging on the pavement bumper and all

The back end of my TT bounces around so much it opens the cabinet door between the twin beds in the back. I would not want to put four bikes back there. I might risk two. How about two more in the front of the TV like we do.

Love our Arvika bike rack. Ours is on the front of the trailer but I understand they also make rear mounted racks. Here's a link to images of Arvika bike racks ... not inexpensive, but so far we've used ours 4,000 miles with another 5,500 miles cross country starting next week. Easy to get the bikes on and off and quality build.

Arvika Bike Rack Images from Google