where do you put your bikes?

[jepalmer]

I'm picking up an Open Range 349RLS this week. Our old trailer had a bumper with a bike rack attached to it, which won't work on the bumperless 349RLS.

Is the ladder strong enough for the bikes?

Any recommendations for a ladder or other type of bike rack?

Thanks.

[ependydad]

All of the above mentioned have been summarized in my blog article:
http://www.learntorv.com/2014/01/bikes-and-fifth-wheels.html

[shadows4]

Itching2go wrote:


Guess I should have done a google on Curt hitches before asking the question. I see there that it is indeed a bolt-on affair. So given that, my question is whether you needed to remove the air dam below the bumper for the hitch to fit, or does it come out below the dam? I'm pulling with a Chevy 3500, while I see you have an F350, so may be different...

I don't have a front air dam but I do have a blocker beam. It mounts where the blocker beam bolts up and to the blocker beam it self.

I paid my local mechanic $70 bucks to do the install. Mainly because I didn't have a large enough socket for a couple of the bolts. Took him about 45 min to install.

I am sure your Chevy would be different. Good luck, John

[hone_eagle]

Done most of these including laying them down in the bed,that was not a good idea .
Both bikes lost all the ball bearings from the peddle crank,maybe if you can keep the weight off the foot peddles ?
Front of truck was distracting but a good option when the trailer wasn't hooked up .

[Halmfamily]

Itching2go wrote:

Itching2go wrote:

shadows4 wrote:

Itching2go wrote:
I liked the idea of mounting a receiver on the front of the truck, but don't care for the loss of road visibility, and the fact that the bikes will be the first to hit the bugs, road crud, etc.

We mounted a hitch to the front of our truck. A Curt that mounted below the front bumper.

In this pic you can see there is no loss of road visibility.

It works for us.

Shadows... Thanks for the pics. Looks like a setup I'd be interested in. Did the Curt hitch you mounted need to be welded on, or did it bolt on to your frame? Is it a 'do-it-yourself job?

Guess I should have done a google on Curt hitches before asking the question. I see there that it is indeed a bolt-on affair. So given that, my question is whether you needed to remove the air dam below the bumper for the hitch to fit, or does it come out below the dam? I'm pulling with a Chevy 3500, while I see you have an F350, so may be different...

Quick easy 30 minute install on our GMC 3500. Did have to use a hammer to love tap it in, really tight fit. We use a Swagman XC 2/bike carrier in ours.

[rhagfo]

lpxguy wrote:

This will soon be our solution!

[Itching2go]

Itching2go wrote:

shadows4 wrote:

Itching2go wrote:
I liked the idea of mounting a receiver on the front of the truck, but don't care for the loss of road visibility, and the fact that the bikes will be the first to hit the bugs, road crud, etc.

We mounted a hitch to the front of our truck. A Curt that mounted below the front bumper.

In this pic you can see there is no loss of road visibility.

It works for us.

Shadows... Thanks for the pics. Looks like a setup I'd be interested in. Did the Curt hitch you mounted need to be welded on, or did it bolt on to your frame? Is it a 'do-it-yourself job?

Guess I should have done a google on Curt hitches before asking the question. I see there that it is indeed a bolt-on affair. So given that, my question is whether you needed to remove the air dam below the bumper for the hitch to fit, or does it come out below the dam? I'm pulling with a Chevy 3500, while I see you have an F350, so may be different...

[Itching2go]

shadows4 wrote:

Itching2go wrote:
I liked the idea of mounting a receiver on the front of the truck, but don't care for the loss of road visibility, and the fact that the bikes will be the first to hit the bugs, road crud, etc.

We mounted a hitch to the front of our truck. A Curt that mounted below the front bumper.

In this pic you can see there is no loss of road visibility.

It works for us.

Shadows... Thanks for the pics. Looks like a setup I'd be interested in. Did the Curt hitch you mounted need to be welded on, or did it bolt on to your frame? Is it a 'do-it-yourself job?

[Swamp_Man]

During my LE career, afterwards, and go to this day, I have used a 2" receiver and a receiver hitch made by Hollywood Bike racks. I ordered a rear trailer hitch with our trailer. Two things that you need to be aware of. NEVER trust the devices that the bike rack manufacturer puts the rack to hold the bicycle. Always us a rope or other tie down to help hold the bicycle. Always put a lock on the pin that holds the rack to the trailer or purchase one of the pins that had a lock built into it.

I second the motion on having a hitch on both the trailer and the truck. Makes it easy to transfer the bicycle from the campsite to where you are going to ride. At night I throw a cover over the bicycles (or if it looks like rain) to keep the moisture off the bicycles. I have used Hollywood bicycle racks for years and in fact I have one for the trailer and one for the non-towing truck at home.

[avvidclif1]

I put mine in a garage sale.

[Goostoff]

I just stick them in the trailer.

[way2nutz]

We use a Yakima rack. Scoured garage sales and found all we needed for about $70.

We're also able to carry a Thule pod between them, or our kayaks. I also use a goalpost in the front for the kayaks.

10k miles without any issues.

[Us_out_West]

I gotta get my 2 off the rear ladder.

[shadows4]

Itching2go wrote:
I liked the idea of mounting a receiver on the front of the truck, but don't care for the loss of road visibility, and the fact that the bikes will be the first to hit the bugs, road crud, etc.

We mounted a hitch to the front of our truck. A Curt that mounted below the front bumper.

In this pic you can see there is no loss of road visibility.

It works for us.

[lhenry8113]

Had a receiver hitch put on rear of 5'vr. Used a Saris rack for 2 bicycles--receiver hitch mounted-front and rear tire fit into tire wells and are locked in place. The upper part of the bike is also locked in place. The rack that I have also came with a 6ft locking steel cable so you can lock the bikes together as well as to the receiver hitch. The bikes traveled that way for over 10,000 miles with no problems. Lars