Forum Discussion

pcoplin's avatar
pcoplin
Explorer II
Apr 15, 2015

North Shore bike rack

I bought a 2-bike North Shore rack from my buddy. He's upgrading to the 4-bike rack. Problem was, the bottom tube was to small to work with the camper.

So I used 2x2x0.25 (receiver tubing) to make a longer one. Used a 42inches of tubing, and the rest was drilling holes, and inserting their nutsert for the hitch locking pin. Took about an hour. I welded spliced two pieces of tube together, but if you buy a piece of tube from a steel yard at the proper length, you only have to transfer drill the holes you need. I used 1/2 inch bit for the rack side, and a 5/8 bit for the hitch pin.




Rack folds up nice.




THere's 3 adjustments by a hitch pin, but none of them allow me to open the camper door with the bikes on.






There's another hitch pin you pull to allow the rack to tilt back. If your truck is low the rear tire will rest on the ground, or in my case the hinge bottoms out and holds off the ground.




In reality this was all for my 3 y/o daughter. I've been carrying her bike on the dinette seat. :)

Truck Campers

9 Replies

  • pcoplin's avatar
    pcoplin
    Explorer II
    Jun 10, 2015
    Just wanted to update this. I recently got this:



    so I don't need the extension for the North Shore rack.

    However, I'd still like a way to carry the bike when towing the trailer (hauling a Jeep). So I decided to try to hang off the ladder.

    I can't use a standard ladder rack due to my seat tube and suspension configuration. So I had some cut-off waste from shortening factory Yakima bars (coated 1 1/8 tubing). I attached the bars to the ladder with some quality hose clamps.






    However, with the bike hanging this way, it creates a little more leverage to allow the ladder to flex side to side. So in true Griswald fashion, I attached a ratchet strap to complete the custom look. Now it's solid I'm not worrtied about it.

  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2015
    I have a bike bag for my bikes. It works very well. It came from walmart.

    The issue with my previous bike rack was the whip effect. Extension 4 feet, rack upright about 4 feet, bikes maybe 100 pounds, then a whip action when hitting the equivalent to a speed bump at 65 MPH. It ripped the metal beside the weld where the upright part welded to the stinger. I have no reason to believe this is a common issue, but with the safety cable from the bikes to the ladder will prevent to bikes from bouncing down the highway. The cable would not prevent the whipping action.Kinda like safety chains on a trailer. I use them, but never had a trailer hitch break.
  • pcoplin's avatar
    pcoplin
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2015
    Thanks all for the input. :)


    I'm not worried about the strength of the extension. It's 0.25 wall tubing, and I've shimmed the receiver so there's no play anywhere. I can jump on the extension with the rack in place.

    Firegaurd, the bike rack is only for bike-only trips with a buddy. I don't plan on bringing it often. And if it's raining, I won't be riding the bike. :D
  • tellurideoutlaw's avatar
    tellurideoutlaw
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2015
    I've got the same rack but it's the 4 bike. Works great, much better than a tray style for 4 bikes. I have a 42" extension on my camper, a traditional 4 place tray rack puts the last bike 8' from the bumper! Way too far, leverage and clearance concerns. These north shore racks are very well built and there's no concern for the rack failing. I'd definitely beef up your extension though, I made my own similar to the super truss design. Imagine a 200 lb adult standing on that extension you made as it goes through a highway dip at 60, things will bend/break!
  • FireGuard's avatar
    FireGuard
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2015
    Looks like a nice setup.
    However, I wouldn't put a nice expensive bike on the rear, that is a collection point for dirt and road grime. Have you ever seen the back of a TC after driving in the rain?
    Thats the beauty of a crew cab truck.
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Apr 15, 2015
    With that much cantilever I would be concerned about the bounce. Don't put that front wheel to close to the camper or it may be banging on the back door going down the highway.
  • pcoplin's avatar
    pcoplin
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2015
    Reddog1 wrote:
    Photos were too big. If you do not make an entry in the photo height, and put 800 width they will be okay. The height you entered made the photos too wide. A photo width of 640 is preferred, but 800 is acceptable.

    I did add some spacing to make the photo viewing easier. The spacing I added is not required, and can be edited out if you wish.

    Wayne
    Moderator


    I'm not sure what the issue was, I put 600x800? Thanks for fixing them though.
  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2015
    You might consider a cable from the bike frame to your ladder as a safety should your bike rack fail.

    I had a similar rack for several years, it too was on a 48-inch extension. I hit a bridge/asphalt joint and the whipping action ripped the bottom of the tube off. Two bikes and most of the rack were tumbling down the highway at 65 MPH in 5 PM in work area traffic. Fortunately, they hit no vehicles, went to the side of the road and no car crashes. By the time I found an exit and got back, no bikes and traffic was moving normally. It could have been a major disaster. I now have a different type rack, with less weight up high. The bikes also have the cable so if the rack fails, the bike will stay with the TC, and not bounce down the road. The cable is not tight, so there is some movement with the bikes.

    Wayne
  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2015
    Photos were too big. If you do not make an entry in the photo height, and put 800 width they will be okay. The height you entered made the photos too wide. A photo width of 640 is preferred, but 800 is acceptable.

    I did add some spacing to make the photo viewing easier. The spacing I added is not required, and can be edited out if you wish.

    Wayne
    Moderator

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