Hauling bikes with camper or rv....

[lolab15]

Hi Everyone, I am new to this forum and hope that I am posting this in the right section. I have noticed that with my camper I don't have much for options with a system in which I can bring upto 5 bikes behind the Van or SUV and have the camper or RV hitched onto a ball mount. Is there such a system, a complete unit. Basically one complete system that hauls your bikes behind the vehicle, can fold down / pivot to gain access to the back of the vehicle with the bikes still on but also hauls the camper or trailer at the same time.

Thanks,
Lolab15

[mkirsch]

Agreed. Nothing out there to handle 5 bikes AND tow. Heck I don't think there's even a bike rack to carry 5 bikes alone!

It's all about leverage. Even though the weight may be within the SUV's capacity, it is hanging way off the back, putting excess leverage on the SUV's receiver hitch. The effect will be of a trailer that's way over your SUV's capacity.

You need to put the bikes on the trailer or on the roof of the SUV, or both because you have so many.

In all likelihood you are close to maxxed out with your SUV just with the kids and the trailer. The bikes are going to make things a little interesting. If you'd managed to mount them to the rear of the SUV, it would make things VERY interesting.

[bikendan]

there is nothing out there that'll carry 5 bikes on the back of your vehicle and still be able to tow.
and your Pilot will probably have its hitch weight max exceeded.

a roof mounted bike rack is the best solution for that many bikes.

if you have a popup, then get a popup roof rack system. that'll solve the space issues and hitch weight issues.
Yakima or Thule would be my recommendation.

[atreis]

I carry 3 bikes on the roof of the minivan, and the other 2 inside the trailer. You can also get tongue mounts for bikes, but have to watch the effect on tongue weight.

[drsteve]

It's a popup? Just put a roof rack on the camper and call it good.

[C_B_]

Another option.


I've only got 2 on top but you could put 3.
Other two could go inside with other camping stuff.






C.B.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

I would mount bike racks on the roof of the popup trailer and carry them there, or mount rack on roof of SUV/Van and carry them there.

[carringb]

lolab15 wrote:
Hi Everyone, thanks for all the responses. I think miscommunicated my intentions. I have a foldout camper, I would like to place the bikes, upto 4 at a time, behind my Honda Pilot SUV. Basically in-between my SUV and the Camper. I was hoping there was something already in the market that is a one system unit i.e. can carry my bikes and at the same time can connect my camper to the hitch mount.

Doubtful you have enough rear axle capacity on the Honda to add 200+ pounds of hitch weight to the setup. This will also push the trailer back, which will make the effective tongue weight even higher.

[M_A_S_H]

Sounds like something like this possibly is close: Curt clamp on hitch

Only holds 3 though. I have one of these for the kids bikes and doing the following for my wife's and my larger (also nicer) bikes, as well as the half wheeler: Dinette rack

[Dick_B]

By foldout if you mean popup put four of the bikes on top of the RV. Put the smallest bike in the back of the truck. Also look at Dahon's if you need to buy any bikes in the future. They fold up to suitcase size.

[lolab15]

Hi Everyone, thanks for all the responses. I think miscommunicated my intentions. I have a foldout camper, I would like to place the bikes, upto 4 at a time, behind my Honda Pilot SUV. Basically in-between my SUV and the Camper. I was hoping there was something already in the market that is a one system unit i.e. can carry my bikes and at the same time can connect my camper to the hitch mount.

[boshog]

If you go with a bike carrier on the back of your RV be sure to get one rated for RV use. They are designed to handle the additional lateral forces.

I just went through this, spend several weeks trying to find the best way to haul two bikes along with the fifth wheel. I finally settled on adding a 2" receiver to the front of the truck and a RV rated platform bike rack. Now I have the option of carrying the bike on the front of the truck, rear of the truck, or on the back of the fiver.

[mbopp]

There's the option of installing a receiver hitch on the front of the SUV for bikes.

[scbwr]

Depending on the design of the frame of your trailer, you could have a receiver welded to the frame of your trailer. This may involve welding additional material for the receiver to be welded to. Then you could use a bike carrier designed for use with receivers. But you also have to pay attention to the fact that the weight of bikes carried at the rear of the trailer will reduce hitch weight.

A partial solution may be to use some folded bikes which can be very easy to carry. We have a pair of folding Dahon bikes which have been excellent. Greenzonebikes.com and 2ksilver.com carry some decent low priced folding bikes.

It may help in getting suggestions if you tell us what kind of rig you have.
Welcome to the forum!!

[ChooChooMan74]

5 bikes and a trailer will be nearly impossible the way you would like to do it. I am going to suggest with that many bikes, you will want to utilize both the roof and the tongue of the trailer. Although I have a truck, this is how I carry 4 bikes.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28939990.cfm
I do not have the longest bars with the 65 inch bars that I have. They also make a 78" bar, and I could probably squeeze 5, or possibly 6, with the 78" bars.

If you can do only 3 or 4 bikes on your roof, I would also suggest a tongue mounted bike rack. They can get expensive, but are a very safe alternative.