Bike racks, so many choices
I plan on installing a front hitch on my 2011 F350 for a bike rack to carry 2 bikes. Chosing the hitch was easy as there are not to many choices but the bike racks are a whole differnt story. Which bi...
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I have carried bikes three ways on my truck camper. Front receiver, rear ladder rack, rear receiver.
For the receiver uses I have an old two bike rack that was a discount-brand Yakima (Rhode Gear I think), that has two features I use a lot. First it can be used with either a 2" or a 1 1/4" receiver (I have used it on three vehicles, so far), and it allows for it to be tilted away from the vehicle by removal of a reciever-style pin. This feature allows access into the camper when I have bikes on the back, and it may allows access into a vehicle hatchback with bikes on the rack.
I only use the ladder rack when I need to carry three bikes - it is a lot more trouble to load up than the receiver rack.
I will never use the front receiver again to carry bikes. You will never be able to tie the rack tighhtly enough to eliminate enough sway that it isn't distracting. I seriously hated driving with the bikes wobbling in my line of vision. Theoretically the front is the ideal location - you can monitor the bikes during travel, they don't interfere with towing or whatever elese you might want to do in the rear, etc. I was disappointed that my front receiver investment was unsuitable for my intended use.
Most often, I have a receiver rack on the back, and the rack slips into that. I carry firewood on the rack, then the bike rack ois just behind that. One tie to a rear jack mount on the camper reduces sway and motion in the rack.
For the receiver uses I have an old two bike rack that was a discount-brand Yakima (Rhode Gear I think), that has two features I use a lot. First it can be used with either a 2" or a 1 1/4" receiver (I have used it on three vehicles, so far), and it allows for it to be tilted away from the vehicle by removal of a reciever-style pin. This feature allows access into the camper when I have bikes on the back, and it may allows access into a vehicle hatchback with bikes on the rack.
I only use the ladder rack when I need to carry three bikes - it is a lot more trouble to load up than the receiver rack.
I will never use the front receiver again to carry bikes. You will never be able to tie the rack tighhtly enough to eliminate enough sway that it isn't distracting. I seriously hated driving with the bikes wobbling in my line of vision. Theoretically the front is the ideal location - you can monitor the bikes during travel, they don't interfere with towing or whatever elese you might want to do in the rear, etc. I was disappointed that my front receiver investment was unsuitable for my intended use.
Most often, I have a receiver rack on the back, and the rack slips into that. I carry firewood on the rack, then the bike rack ois just behind that. One tie to a rear jack mount on the camper reduces sway and motion in the rack.
