Bike rack on front of truck

[leggy]

I was wondering what set up you have if you carry your bikes up front. What are ant pros or cons to carrying them there?

[houstonstroker]

Someone wanted to see a pic and I was out of town. So here it is

[JCasper]

I just bought a 4 bike rack on CL for a great deal. I'll be adding it to my pin box tonight. I hope I have enough clearance to still turn.

[lgbrotz]

Carried my two bikes on front hitch for two years until very
helpful Police in Kerrville Texas realized I was a tourist. Got a $250 Ticket for supposedly speeding in a school zone. Tried to tell him I wasn't speeding and got the You Tourist always speed. You want to see what our jail looks like. Found out from our park owner that is typical and when park owner saw bike rack on front of truck he said that's why cop knew I would pay. Bikes have been on back of 5th wheel since.

[nremtp143]

I too carry mine on the pin box. Up and out of the way and can be watched while driving.

[Virginia_RVers]

I have my bikes mounted on the front with a hitch that mounts to the tow hooks and have had no problems with them riding up front. Sorry I can't recall how to post a pic for you to see.

[dadnjesse]

houstonstroker wrote:
I can haul my bikes both ways, front hitch or pin box. I have a short bed f-250. Sometimes we carry a generator on the pin box, in that case bikes go on front rack. Bought a low hanging bike rack at Wally World.

How do you get a generator on the pin box? Do you have a pic

[houstonstroker]

I can haul my bikes both ways, front hitch or pin box. I have a short bed f-250. Sometimes we carry a generator on the pin box, in that case bikes go on front rack. Bought a low hanging bike rack at Wally World.

[bobsallyh]

For 12 years our bikes have been carried on the front of our Dodge dually. I put a Hidden Hitch receiver on the front. Easy install. Then I use a Reese bike carrier that fits the receiver and can be used front or rear. A couple of bungee cords around the frames to the Reese carrier and good to go. They did want to rock side to side somewhat, so I simply drilled a hole in the side of the receiver, welded a 5/8th inch nut and run a bolt into it and snug the carrier stinger. Swagman also makes a part to take the rocking out of a stinger. They don't get any more dirtier there than carrying them anywhere else.

[C-Bears]

I have used the Bodiak for 2 years now. Both of our bikes are light weight and I really don't notice much bounce. I don't drive at night so they don't catch many bugs either.

One huge benefit of transporting them with the Bodiak is that if we are camped just for one night and not using the bikes I can pull the pin on the receiver and slip them off in about 5 seconds. Another advantage is if you are in one place for awhile and want to transport your bikes someplace away from the campground it is pretty easy to just slide the bike carrier into your trucks rear receiver and go.

[leggy]

Dakota98 - I don't think that will work well with short box.

I have been trying to get hold of someone at "Bodiak" all day as they have a mount that attaches to tow hooks, but so far no luck. I like the ability to not have the receiver on all of the time.

I have seen a lot of good reviews of the swagman rack. Thank you all for the input...I too wonder about bugs, I will just put DW's bike in front.

[Halmfamily]

I have a Curt front mount hitch and a Swagman XC bike rack. The swagman holds the bikes with zero movement and very little obstruction of the road. The only negative I've found is remebering the hitch is on the truck without them bike rack reminding me. I've scraped a couple of roads exiting businesses. No decrease in engine cooling either.

[tvman44]

Bugs is the only problem I have ever had.

[Dick_B]

We have carried our two adult bikes on the front of our Suburban for years. Two negatives: 1. the bikes bounce around when going over uneven pavement such as bridges where the road and bridge deck are not even, and 2. there is a glare off the bike frames from the headlights at night.
The answer to 1. is to attach about six bunge cords from the bikes to the grill work of the vehicle to minimize the bounce, and 2. never drive at night.
There is minimal obstruction from the handlebars but we are both tall persons. Rumor has it that this arrangement is not allowed in California but I don't know for sure.

[dahkota]

Major con: The bugs. If my bike looked like the front of my rig usually does, I'm not sure I would ride it.