Carry bikes in truck

Nice job....how about putting two eye bolts in the plywood so you can use a rubber bungee to strap through the rear wheels to hold them down?

That's why I posted it here, some good ideas are coming out.

Putting the bikes in backwards has the handlebars protruding into the area you might want to use when climbing in for other items. Handling the bike from the front wheel or handlebars is a bit cumbersome. An advantage would be that the bike wouldn't lift in a panic stop, and might not need to be secured at the back wheel.

As for moving the base out to load it, that may be an issue if you want the bikes with the trailer attached. With my setup, it is actually easier to allow the bike wheel to rest on the tailgate before getting in and putting it in the final position. I did try moving the base with a PVC pipe under it and that worked reasonably well, but still had to retrieve the pipe.

I could have gotten fancy and designed a self latching device for the front wheel, that could be released by pulling a cord, but I'll try this for a while.

Thanks for the replies keep the ideas coming.

I don't have a rubber mat just a slick plastic bed liner and that might be an advantage
One could slide the plywood base out to the tailgate edge to mount the front wheels then slide it back in to roll the bikes in
If turned around you might be able to load and fasten the bikes without getting in the bed under the low camper shell

Just thinking out loud as I'm planning one of my own but it might be easier to use turned around so the bikes are rolled in backwards.
Thanks,Mike

The rack is best used in a pickup with a cab height topper. Of course you wouldn't use it with a 5th wheel. My hybrid bikes are too tall to go in standing up.
The base is 3/4" plywood, 23-1/2" x 63". I could have made it several inches smaller each way, but larger is more stable. There is a small amount of wasted space behind and under the bikes that can be used for soft bagged luggage. About a foot of space to the right of the bikes needs to be cleared for access to the front mounts. I will pack the lighter, easier to move items there.
The idea of locking the bikes is good. I need to provide a method of tying down the bike rears to prevent them from lifting in a panic stop. Maybe I can incorporate a lock in that mechanism. I previously used Harbor Freight movers blankets on the bikes to protect them and the truck. I plan on continuing their use.
I need to add handles at each end of the base to make it easy to move. I also want to provide carpeted bumpers where the base contacts the truck bed. The base would probably never move on the rubber mat, but I will provide positive attachments anyway.
Yes, Photobucket is miserable.

Love the small wheel idea and the mounts for the removed front wheels-hate the pop up ads on PhotoBucket
Thanks for posting

Very nice! What is the length and width of the base of your
bike stand? If you do not mind I would like to copy your great idea.

Very nice! We carry our bikes in the camper/topper, but on each side of the bed. Your arrangement might actually free up some space. I'm gonna check in the A.M.
Now, lock them with a cable of sorts!! We happened to return to our truck as some feller was trying to get inside--they weren't cabled down. Also, we try to cover everything in the back of the camper with a black plastic cover. The windows are tinted dark and if a thug is quickly checking stuff out, he might not see much.
Again -- good job.

What happens when you go over a street cut or some other bump and the fifth wheel changes its orientation with the truck bed. That 5-6 inch gap everyone recommends is to keep the trailer from hitting the truck rails. You can assume that 3 or 4 inches of that are routinely used while pulling the fver.