Hauling bikes to camp can be a challenge. How many bikes and what your TV and TT is can even further complicate how to get them to camp.
After hauling bikes on the back of the camper (never do that again), hauling them on the front of the truck (it has issues, DOT lights and tranny heat) I ended up making a rack for the front of the A frame. Been through 2 campers and 3 trucks to get to this point.
For "my" situation this fit the bill and covers all my prior issues.
The front bikes rack however have certain needs.
1. The trailer A frame has to be strong enough to handle the added weight and allow the rack to be attached to it and no compromise the A frame. Not all TT A frames are created equal.
2. The truck needs to have adequate load carrying capacity to handle the increased tongue weight.
3. The truck receiver and the WD hitch need to have enough capacity to handle the increased tongue weight.
4. The rack system needs to be high enough to all the bike tires not hit the rear fender of the truck in a full turn. (you do really not want a new cash point)
5. Realize you will be picking up some passengers when mounted on the front of the TT. Any insects plastered on the front of the camper, some get hit by the bikes first. To some, this is not a show stopper, more a realization. I have seen some folks just create a bike cover to go over the bikes and they gets rid of the passengers on the bikes. Now the cover carries them...
6. Your A frame, front of camper design, battery box location, LP tank cover, power tongue Jack setup all play a factor in how the A frame mount will fit. I needed to work with 2 Grp 27 batteries on the tongue and the Upfront mount I saw on their site would be an issue as it looks like it spans where my battery tray is.
Bike Rack on front of TT
That link above has a lot of pic's of the build process. After using this location, for us, this is the best way to go. Again, see the 6 needs above. My TT has a 6" C channel iron frame and I have a pivoting LP tank cover. Lift lid and reach in to turn gas on with bike rack in place.
Cost. In my case I started with a Swagman 2 bike carrier that holds by the tires (a need in my opinion) That is going to be ~ 130 to $160. I forget exactly what it cost as I had it a long time. I can take it off the TT and put it in the truck receiver if we need to do a day trip from camp with bikes. Or use it for any home bike hauling.
The A frame rack I made up from left over steel I had. My time, I work cheap....$.0.00
If you can find a quality A frame rack for $300. with the bike rack, that is a good price. You will be hard pressed to be able to buy one custom made from a fab shop at that cost. Labor rates of $45 to $65/hr and it will be way over #300
A difference I see with the Upfront design is, mine has a 3rd leg in the front of the LP tank. Mine is more stable. Not to say theirs is not stable enough. Just mine is very rigid. A bike being 6 feet up in the air create a good lever on the mount way down at the A frame.
Mine added 120# to the tongue weight. 2 adult bikes, Swagmen rack and A frame mount.
Hope this helps you think through if this fits in your case.
John
