Forum Discussion

GMH's avatar
GMH
Explorer
Aug 13, 2020

Bike rack front vs rear

I want to carry two e-bikes with us. I have no trailer hitch on the rear of my Cougar or on the front of my F-250 yet. I do have a bike rack that plugs into a receiver hitch. To put a hitch on the rear would be a custom fab job which I would be capable of, but also could farm out. The front hitch is a bolt on available from Curt and others. I don’t like the idea of not being able to see the bikes at the rear and the spare tire may have to be relocated? Any real problems with the front option other than bugs? I will normally only be travelling in daylight hours.
Thanks, Greg.
  • Second_Chance's avatar
    Second_Chance
    Explorer II
    Aug 13, 2020
    Would a rear camera be an option for keeping an eye on the bikes in the back? Our bikes have ridden on an RV-approved bike rack in a chassis mounted receiver for over 36K miles without any issues. (Full disclosure: my wive follows in our car on travel days and we do have a camera on the back of the fiver.) On the other hand, I can't think of any disadvantages other than bugs for a front mount rack, either.

    Rob
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Aug 13, 2020
    How heavy are the bikes?
    We have two aluminum framed trail bikes and carry them on a pin box mounted bike rack. I can easily lift the bikes into the rack from the ground.
    The bikes ride smooth and are safe from being hit in a parking lot.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Aug 13, 2020
    Quality bicycles shouldn’t be carried in the front or rear. Dirt, water, bugs, sun damage etc.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Aug 13, 2020
    Since you don't have a hitch on the rear, I would go with the bolt-on front of truck mount. It would easier to do, and no need for camera, or moving spare.

    Jerry
  • GMH's avatar
    GMH
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2020
    Thanks All. If I went with a rear mount, then I WOULD want a camera.
    The bikes are not super heavy, but I don’t have a long box or slider, so I don’t want a pin box mount.
    I think I will go with the Curt front hitch as it is made in the USA, and it is the simplest solution.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Aug 14, 2020
    GMH wrote:
    Thanks All. If I went with a rear mount, then I WOULD want a camera.
    The bikes are not super heavy, but I don’t have a long box or slider, so I don’t want a pin box mount.
    I think I will go with the Curt front hitch as it is made in the USA, and it is the simplest solution.


    Bikes are not as long as your trailer is wide, there was one member that had a four bike rack on a short bed.
  • GMH's avatar
    GMH
    Explorer
    Aug 14, 2020
    rhagfo wrote:
    Bikes are not as long as your trailer is wide, there was one member that had a four bike rack on a short bed.

    Thanks, but I don’t care to be lifting these e-bikes up there although I think they would stay pretty clean there. (I don’t see the 5vr covered in bugs!)
    I ordered the Curt hitch this morning and should have it early next week. I printed out the very detailed installation instructions for it and it looks like a super simple job...only six bolts. The most time consuming part is cutting the hole through the front valence for the receiver.
  • Campinfan's avatar
    Campinfan
    Explorer III
    Aug 14, 2020
    I put a hitch on the front of my truck and a 3 bike carrier. There are no issues. I can see just fine and the headlights shine through the spokes at night. Mine was a bolt on, no drilling required. Pretty sure it is a Curt. The only down side is that when there are no bikes on it, I cannot see the bike rack, so I added a driveway marker (orange and white stick from Lowe's) to the the front so I remember it is there since the rack sticks out about a foot. Under normal driving, the rack is off, it is only on when camping.
  • topjimmy's avatar
    topjimmy
    Explorer
    Aug 14, 2020
    for Years I hauled 2 Mopeds on my Draw-tite front Hitch with a motorcycle carrier with no problems I like it when I can see them also some folks say it cuts down wind flow to the radiator but I never experienced that and yes they got bugs on them but so what just cleaned them up when I got to the next Resort

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