Obviously many ways to build them. I have a 5th Airborne air ride pin box and did not want to drill holes in it. So I made a pin box mount using the pin box mounting bolts. Simple. And no drilling at all. And no angles to calculate or cut. Note the frame is close to, but not touching the pin box.
My father-in-law has built 2 of them now as I changed pin boxes. First for an angled pin box and I took pictures of the process as "we" (aka, HE) built it:
http://learntorv.com/diy-fifth-wheel-pin-box-bike-rack-pictures/
He then later made me another one for a Trail Air pin box where the top of the pin box is parallel with the ground. I actually have that one for sale since we upgraded trailers and I've gone back to a fixed pin box. So, let me know if you have a Trail Air pin box. ๐
http://learntorv.com/diy-fifth-wheel-pin-box-bike-rack-pictures/
He then later made me another one for a Trail Air pin box where the top of the pin box is parallel with the ground. I actually have that one for sale since we upgraded trailers and I've gone back to a fixed pin box. So, let me know if you have a Trail Air pin box. ๐
Built mine to fit my 07.5 DRV with trailAir pin box. Tool box actually opened with bikes mounted.
Well I didn't actually fabricate my own, but did the layout and cut the angle iron to the correct angle assembled the parts for the wielder. Once it was wielded I cleaned up and painted with a good quality rattle can paint. I cut the angle iron with a 4" angle grinder.
Laying out the cut angle was simple, I leveled the 5er front to back, placed the angle iron on the pin box and took a level and drew a level line on the angle iron, just that simple. The one thing I missed a bit was the extension froward, should have been about 3" further.
With the bikes behind the cab, they are safe, in your view, don't bounce around and see very few bugs.
Laying out the cut angle was simple, I leveled the 5er front to back, placed the angle iron on the pin box and took a level and drew a level line on the angle iron, just that simple. The one thing I missed a bit was the extension froward, should have been about 3" further.
With the bikes behind the cab, they are safe, in your view, don't bounce around and see very few bugs.
Here are a couple of pictures from about 14 years and two trailers ago. This was a novelty concept back then but it worked. I used the frame mounted bike rack that held 4 bikes and that allowed the shorter kids bike to be above the truck cab for extra clearance. Other than the bike rack the rest was fabricated by a local shop. I brought in a drawing of what I wanted and they made it from there.
It worked for the time but wasn't the most convenient loading, I always stood on the tailgate while my wife handed me bikes. I think the poster who has the rack that lowers would be the way to go.
Currently now that our kids are older its usually just the wife and I so I put our two bikes in the rear seat area of the truck with the seats folded up and that is much easier not to mention safer for the bikes in terms of theft, bugs, and rain.
Dan
It worked for the time but wasn't the most convenient loading, I always stood on the tailgate while my wife handed me bikes. I think the poster who has the rack that lowers would be the way to go.
Currently now that our kids are older its usually just the wife and I so I put our two bikes in the rear seat area of the truck with the seats folded up and that is much easier not to mention safer for the bikes in terms of theft, bugs, and rain.
Dan
They can be fabricated very easily. I made mine and carried bikes on the pin box for 7 years without a problem. They are up, out of the way and you can keep an eye on them. The rack itself was bought from discountramps.com as a three bike, folding carrier. The rest is hand made.
