Where to put the stinkin bikes

[Hammerboy]

Been rackin my head to long as to the best way to carry our aluminum frame bikes to the point of overthinking. My wish is for a bike rack for two bikes. Sorry in advance for asking a common question.

1. Back bumper idea, would be my first choice. But...would need to reinforce the bumper or add hitch and hard to monitor them and would worry about them getting some road rash plus would need a rack that is Rv approved.

2. Pin box idea, had this on our last fifth wheel. It did work good but it brunt's the rain and the bugs and the least convenient to load/unload. I always stood on my tailgate while my wife handed me the bikes.

3. Front of truck hitch rack, also brunt's the rain and bugs. This is where i'm leaning right now.

4. Stowed in the bed in front of the fifth wheel hitch. This is what I have been doing this past year as I have been scratching my head on where to put them. It works but you need to remove the front wheels and it's tricky to get them to fit just right.

5. Inside the unit? Good maybe for one unit which we have done also, but with the two opposing slides in the main area it's also not convenient.

Any body regret the front of the truck idea? Another idea I haven't though of?

Thanks

Dan

[RWalt]

Hello,
We have been dealing with the same issue; how can we carry our bikes. I used to carry all four mountain bikes on a 2inch Yakima receiver bike rack. That was until it failed and I dragged all four bikes down the highway. We purchase a Thule 2inch five bike rack as a replacement then found out that neither Thule or Yakima warranties trailer use. However the Thule is much more robust and seems to be a better design. There is one company out of WI that warranties trailer use but they only allow two bikes on the rack while attached to the trailer. I don't have the name.

Instead of purchasing a new rack we have done the following:
Two bikes in the front of the fifth wheel.
One inside in a tire rack
One on the hitch but we have the bike rack braced with a nylon strap. I also have the lightest bike on the back.

We have run over 2500 miles with this setup and no issues. I was thinking of moving the inside bike to the rear but this is a fat tire bike and fairly heavy. The short bed precludes us from using the bed and I'm not a fan of cleaning the bugs off the bikes from having them on the front of the truck/trailer

I have heard others also having issues and most have the rack maxed out.
Best of luck.

[Lantley]

4 bikes on the pinbox. Always in view. No Bouncing

[Kevinwa]

I have a travel trailer, so I chose to mount the bikes above the truck bed. I build a rack, similar to the above cab racks that a few have posted, but it is sitting about 6" above the roll up soft tonneau. If/when I get a 5ver I will convert to the cab top rack, as the bike mounts I already have will work, and I would just need to buy new cab rails.

The reason I chose to go on the truck, and not on the trailer A frame would also be the reason I will choose to go on the truck and not a 5ver pin box. I don't like the thought of my expensive bikes just hanging up there when I a, off in town having dinner, or out on a hike etc. When mounted to the truck they go with me everywhere I go, so I feel that this is a safer way to store them. I know there is never a guarantee of no theft, but just thought the idea of them on the front of the trailer with the truck gone would be way to tempting.

[goducks10]

I fab'd up a bike rack for the back of my 5er. I take the front wheels off and slide them in between the bikes when loaded. That leaves me room for an 18 gal tote next to it as well. My bike rack fits into two 2" receivers I made.

[fivercamper]

We struggled with different ways to carry our two long wheel base recumbents. For awhile we carried them on a carrier on the rear of the fifth wheel. Bikes got dirty so we made custom bags to keep them clean and dry. Then the bags covered the taillights so I had to add extra lights to the back of the rack.

Got tired of all of that and made my own rack to carry the bikes inside the rig. At first, we stowed the bikes between the closed slides as shown in the photo below. That was ok except they were always in the way. Finally realized we hardly ever used the couch, so we took it out, moved the recliners to where the couch was and moved the bikes and rack to the rear of the rig. They stay out of the way when traveling and we can keep the bikes inside when not using them.

Not a solution for everyone, but it works for the two of us.

[kevden]

Our outback came with a reciever hitch from oem. I attached a hitch-haul rack to carry the kids bikes(3), firewood, and sometimes the outside rug. I use yakima bike trays on the roof of the yukon for the adult bikes. We have been thousands of miles with this setup without any problems. The bikes on the hitch-haul I strap down with several bungees and 2 or 3 ratchet straps. I check it at every stop and sometimes need to tighten the straps. I plan to install a rearview camera to keep an eye on things and help backing.

[rhagfo]

Halmfamily wrote:
We use a Curt Front Mount hitch on the truck with a Swagman XC2 bike rack. Very solid and I like having my eye on the bikes.

Just my thoughts the first place I wouldn't carry bikes is hanging off the back of the 5er, even with a wheels supported like our Swagman, too much bouncing.
Second would be on the front of the TV, more bugs than pin box, blocks air flow to the engine, possibly blocks head lights and turn signals. Subject to damage from being backed into.
I do like the roof rack, but not better than my Pin box mount.

[shadows4]

>

This works for me.

[happycamper1942]

Hammerboy wrote:

happycamper1942 wrote:
I have 2 folding bikes with full size wheels. By removing the pedals I can get them both in the back seat of my f350.Not convenient for daily use but great when I travel somewhere then stay for an extended period.

That's actually not a bad idea. I looked at my trucks back seat and I bet I could get 2 bikes back there if I remove the wheels and turn the handle bars 90 degrees so they parallel the bike frame.

Dan

I don't even have to remove the wheels just the pedals (the foot part only) and turn the handle bars ninety degrees.

[Hammerboy]

happycamper1942 wrote:
I have 2 folding bikes with full size wheels. By removing the pedals I can get them both in the back seat of my f350.Not convenient for daily use but great when I travel somewhere then stay for an extended period.

That's actually not a bad idea. I looked at my trucks back seat and I bet I could get 2 bikes back there if I remove the wheels and turn the handle bars 90 degrees so they parallel the bike frame.

Dan

[JohnG3]

Saw a two bike rack on a truck towing a 5th wheel that was mounted to the tool box behind the cab. One facing left, the other right. The front wheel didn't need to be removed.

A note on the rear mounting idea. A friend has a Class A diesel pusher and a couple of high end bicycles on the back. Somewhere between the Central California Coast and Oregon the bicycles and the rack were pushed into the back of the RV. Both bikes were totaled (insurance don't cover them). They did make several stops in large shopping center parking lots and didn't check the bikes so they had no idea where it happened.

[fj12ryder]

JMO, but there's no way I would hang some expensive bikes on a ladder rack off the back of a trailer. And a couple of inexpensive bikes could put around 40-50 lbs. hanging and bouncing off that ladder. I'm not convinced those ladders are secured well enough for hours of that kind of abuse.

[Njmurvin]

Not one post referring to ladder racks. My pre-owned trailer came with a bike rack on the ladder (for 2 bikes). I haven't tried it yet but have considered it. The ladder seems very sturdy and the rest of the AF is built like a tank. But, I'm guessing the lack discussion about ladder racks suggests it's not a good way to go. Has anyone had bad experiences using these?

[fj12ryder]

^^^^^^Short of putting them inside that's the best solution. And Geeza covers will keep them clean if you feel the need.