Mountain bike storage ideas

[themoreweexplor]

We're beginning the shopping process for our first RV. We'll be living in it full-time. Here's the difficult spot we're in:

We have (2) $5000+ mountain bikes that we will be bringing with us. Obviously we won't be leaving them outside on a bike rack (far too easy and tempting to steal). Aside from a toy hauler Class A, does anyone have any good ideas of how to store the bikes? Since we'll be riding them several times each week, we don't want to have to take them entirely apart each time we store them. I'd be ok with removing the front wheel if needed, but if we could leave them intact, that'd be idea. The bikes are about 4' high, 6' long, and the handlebars are over 2' wide.

Any great ideas out there?

[ncrowley]

I put a hitch in the front of my coach and locked the bike rack to the hitch. I have the bike rack where the bike tires sit into a base. I put the bikes on the bike rack and locked them onto the bike rack and hitch. I used heavy duty bike cable locks. You can then cover them if you want to. It works really well.

[Gjac]

This does not have to be a hard problem. I carry 2 bikes with me all the time inside. I remove the front wheels and seat with a quick disconnect and store the in one of my pass thrus. When my GS went with us out west this year I stored another bike in the trunk of the tow car. I would not like to hang them off the ladder or outside either. Some class A's and even some C's have a large pass thru in the rear that goes under the bed where it looks like 2 bikes can be stored.

[Linda_B]

We have a 2005 Ford Escape that we tow and use a SaveALoad bar from our old pickup. We took the bar apart so it is two pieces. You can get bicycle carrier attachments that go on the bars. We take the front wheels off, lower the seat, and put one bike in forward & one backwards attached to the bars. A bungee cord and a couple of well placed pieces of Velcro keeps them upright and stable. We have wheel bags to protect the spokes of the front wheels while they are off the bikes. We have cross bikes, but also transported a friend's "comfort" bike once. This has worked for us for over 10 years. It also makes it easy to transport the bikes to the trailhead and keeps them clean & safe. You do have to temporarily give up your backseat, but well worth it for us.

[katoomer]

Normally we pull a big trailer for dirt bikes, mountain bikes and everything else. When we travel without the trailer we throw ours in the basement. Just remove the front wheel
We have a large class A

[themoreweexplor]

Lots of good suggestions here, thanks everyone. A trailer would be super convenient, but I fear it'd make it too large to fit into campgrounds. Does anyone here do campgrounds with a trailer behind their class a? What do you do when you're in the campground?

[djedgar]

We understand Our choice was cl A & put bike in basement. Also look at frt eng (FRED) classAs. Several have large storage bays which could hold two bikes

We did rent a cl C and used the cab over bed for the bike. Rough when bike wet or dirty. But it kept it safe and with custom rack could store 2 singles and then curtain it off from the living qtrs

Good luck shopping

[abc40kids]

They make what's called a toy lock that will mount to your Class A, Fifth Wheel of whatever you decide on. Run a couple thick cables around the bikes and cover them up with a nice cover. I have a Fifth Wheel so I put mine ( maybe $500.00 each bikes ) under the front and lock them up good and they stay dry under the pin box.

If a Class A, I really like the trailer idea..... Problem solved and plenty of sheltered, locked storage for many other things and if you are full timing I'm sure the extra room will be used.

[BobGed]

My suggestion would be a Class A and an enclosed trailer large enough to carry a car, your bikes and associated gear. That way you also have a shop to work on the bikes when the weather is bad.

[Two_Jayhawks]

Welcome to the forum. Since you said full time I immediately thought class A. You might check out any coach built on a Freightliner Maxim chassis. The basement is absolutely large enough to store bikes if desired. Here is a link to a current model but I believe the chassis has been available for several years Link

[themoreweexplor]

The only solutions I've seen so far are either a class a or super c toy hauler or 5th wheel toy hauler. I'm planning on getting one of those, unless we discover some better ideas.

I don't want bikes in my living quarters. I don't want them exposed to the elements or theft. I'd be fine with an outdoor storage solution that covers them and keeps them out of sight (like a small rubbermaid "shed").

I like roam1's idea of looking for a rig with a basement that's big enough.

I've also thought of storing them in the toad. I'm just trying to brainstorm ideas in case there's anything I've missed.

[msmith1199]

You don't want them inside, you don't want them outside, you don't want to take them apart, you don't want them on a rack, you don't want a toy hauler Class A, but you want to take them? Hum, I'm going to have to think about this one for a while. Is this like one of those puzzles where you have to get the bent nails separated?

[donn0128]

Take the rack outside, chain it and the front wheels to a tree, the rest chained as necessary to the same tree. A tarp from HF to cover them with. Did it this way for years while the kids were growing up. Still do something similar with my mountain bike.

[themoreweexplor]

Where will I store/lock them when I'm living in my RV?

We have a hitch rack that's great for daily transport, but I don't want to leave it outdoors overnight, and I don't want bikes in my kitchen when I'm living in it. 🙂

[donn0128]

Consider a rack and place them inside for travel. Like thisWe had one of those racks similar to what you see outside stores that you place your front tire in that we would set in the isle of our trailer and then put 4 bikes in it. Worked great.

[roam1]

Some class A rigs may have a basement big enough