Traveling w Bicycles

[RWalt]

Hello, what is the best way to travel with bicycles on a 5ver?
We used to carry them in a bike rack behind our 5ver but the rack broke and ended up dragging 4 bikes down the highway. Since then we have learned that both Thule and Yakima have warnings against using their racks on trailers (front or back). I have thought about only storing two on a back rack and placing two inside the unit but this could be a pain when we pull over for just an overnight. Our TV is a short bed and there is no room for them in the bed

[blofgren]

SabreCanuck wrote:
We now have a factory mounted bike rack on the 5'er but what we used to do is remove both wheels from the bikes and store the bikes under the tonneau cover. I haven't measured, but I'm pretty sure would still fit in front of hitch.

If you have quick-release on the bikes, it's well..... quicker. but, you can use a wrench and remove wheels pretty quick.

I often wonder why people spend so much money/time with bike racks when removing wheels and storing is just as simple.

I would do this if I could but we simply don't have enough room.

My wife's uncle is a great fabricator and made us a custom made frame mounted hitch for the trailer and we are just now in the process of looking for a good rack for it.

[lpxguy]

[oldtrojan66]

BB_TX wrote:
If you already have a bike rack, you can make a very inexpensive frame to mount to the pin box. No bouncing here. And up and out of the way.

I have a setup similar to this. A friend welded a receiver to angles, I drilled holes. I like that I can see them while traveling. I have a Swagmann two bike carrier.

[larry_barnhart]

We have a fold up bike and a fold up 3 wheeler. both go into the basement for traveling.

chevman

[Us_out_West]

shadows4 wrote:
We went with a Curt front hitch also. Don't remember the brand of carrier we use. Haven't had any problems at all. Here is a pic of ours.

We carry our bikes this way also. No more lifting the bikes high onto a carrier...previously mounted on the rear ladder but that is another story.

2" receiver with a Swagman 2 bike carrier.

[Cummins12V98]

This receiver I made worked on out last MobileSuites but since they extended the front cap over the kingpin on the newer models that system won't work on our new MS.

REALLY liked the Swagman XTC2 carrier.

[SabreCanuck]

We now have a factory mounted bike rack on the 5'er but what we used to do is remove both wheels from the bikes and store the bikes under the tonneau cover. I haven't measured, but I'm pretty sure would still fit in front of hitch.

If you have quick-release on the bikes, it's well..... quicker. but, you can use a wrench and remove wheels pretty quick.

I often wonder why people spend so much money/time with bike racks when removing wheels and storing is just as simple.

[fuzzdr]

We also use a pin box mount Arvika bike rack. It is strongly made and works well. The bikes do not move and can be seen in the mirrors at all times. I would buy Arvika again and have done so.

[93Cobra2771]

I have a dinette - mounted quick release skewers to a 2x4 which mounts to seat on dinette. Bikes stay inside camper and out of the weather while traveling. Has worked great for a number of years.

[mbrower]

I carry mine on the pin box attached to a receiver. Three bikes is about the max I can carry without hitting the cab. I have a long bed so a short bed would carry less. I'm happy with the set up and have had no problems.

[shadows4]

We went with a Curt front hitch also. Don't remember the brand of carrier we use. Haven't had any problems at all. Here is a pic of ours.

[Veebyes]

Rather than the bikes traveling outside in the weather ours ride inside, either in the truck or trailer. The trick is that they are folding bikes, www.downtube.com If traveling in the trailer there is no need to fold them. They lay against the sofa with one of the runner mats between them & sofa.

In the truck they are folded but it takes about 6 blocks of foam squished between them to stop the rattling. With the bikes inside there is still room for the Honda 2000 & some other stuff. Nice having a crewcab sometimes.

[IAMICHABOD]

Not to hi-jack the thread but as a side note that may be helpful.

What some of the problem is that they bounce a lot and if the rack is not tight in the receiver that added movement only amplifies that bounce.Stressing not only the mounting point but also the bike rack.

I have tried almost every Anti Rattle device on the market, most have been no good or so complicated and cumbersome that they are useless. I have a whole tool box full of them.

Until I found the one at Hitch Rider. This will keep everything tight.

Their Hitch Vice is the best and easiest one I have come across and it really works.

[sayoung]

we have the folding bikes with bags from Camping world and just put in bed of truck.