Receiver Bike Racks

[docsouce]

I'm looking for advise on which receiver bicycle rack to buy. I have a 2020 Jayco 26XD Class C. It will be for 2 bikes. I searched and found a "CURT 18085 Tray style" which looked good but had some not so good reviews. So I figured the best info I can get is here with people that use them as I would. I would rather not use a ladder mounted type.

[DrewE]

I have a Yakima Roadtrip rack--hitch mounted, RV rated, four bike capacity, factory equipped with an anti-rattle pin (that bolts through the rack, securing it tightly to the receiver, besides being pinned on the other side). It has worked very nicely for me thus far, primarily on a 13K mile trip through Alaska and back. The bike does get rather dirty behind the motorhome, though that's no fault of the rack.

It looks as though this particular model may no longer be made.

[dedmiston]

way2roll wrote:
Truth be told, a lot of the MTB set sling their bikes over a tailgate - no rack needed.

One of my kids is getting a tailgate pad for Christmas. He doesn't read these forums though, so no surprises will be spoiled.

[way2roll]

ajriding wrote:
no, lol. You are at the completely wrong forum. Check the cycling forums. pinkbike dot com or many others Im sure...
If you want a truly great bike rack then look at your local bicycle shops. The people who ride bikes all the time will know what a good rack is versus the crappy one you found on an RV search.
Huge quality difference and huge performance difference from a walmark/rv store rack to a bike shop quality one.

Odd post. I've been an avid cyclist for 30 years and have worked at a bikes shops during that time. I've raced etc. and I own custom bikes from boutique builders. As far as I can tell the advice here so far has been pretty solid and perfectly in line with what the OP asked. Not sure where this is coming from. Are you suggesting that folks on an RV forum have no idea what they are talking about for a bike rack? Sounds a little elitist and condescending. Truth be told, a lot of the MTB set sling their bikes over a tailgate - no rack needed.

You also need to take into context that it might be pretty foolish for someone to pay for a rack that exponentially eclipses the cost of the bikes they are carrying.

[ajriding]

no, lol. You are at the completely wrong forum. Check the cycling forums. pinkbike dot com or many others Im sure...
If you want a truly great bike rack then look at your local bicycle shops. The people who ride bikes all the time will know what a good rack is versus the crappy one you found on an RV search.
Huge quality difference and huge performance difference from a walmark/rv store rack to a bike shop quality one.

[way2roll]

I should add that both Swagman racks I have owned had threaded pins and hole in the hitch itself so there is no slop. It's very solid. No aftermarket device needed.

[magicbus]

Slack in the receiver is what causes most problems. Best solution I have found to this is to drill a hole in the bottom of the receiver and weld a large nut over it. Then thread a bolt through it that you can tighten against the racks draw bar when installed. The bigger the nut and bolt the better. Takes all the slop out of the hitch and makes for a solid rack

Our Yakima hitch comes with this built in and it makes a big difference. We have the swing away model because we need to easily get to our rear doors, probably not needed for a class C.

Dave

[IAMICHABOD]

I use the RV ApprovedSwagman Traveler XC2 Bike Rack mounted in my 2 inch receiver on the rear of my Class C.

Very happy with it,easy to load.

As for the bouncing that others have talked about to make it less pronounced You need a good anti rattle device so you don't get so much play in the receiver,thus magnifying the movement and doing any damage to 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. Including the Roadmaster type, or blue ox totally useless.

Until I found the one at Hitch Rider.

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

[MikeDupont]

We've happily used various Yakima racks for years, tho not in a RV hitch.

[camp-n-family]

None of them will be good unless they are secured tight in the receiver so they can't sway and bounce around. Slack in the receiver is what causes most problems. Best solution I have found to this is to drill a hole in the bottom of the receiver and weld a large nut over it. Then thread a bolt through it that you can tighten against the racks draw bar when installed. The bigger the nut and bolt the better. Takes all the slop out of the hitch and makes for a solid rack. Helps to prevent theft too. Hope the explanation makes sense, I don't have any pics to show.

[Gonzo42]

Hollywood makes an excellent rack which can be refigured for different bikes

[jkwilson]

Swagman makes the Dispatch, Escapee and E-Spec that are good racks that are RV approved.

I have a Dispatch and carry two bikes on the back of our 5th wheel. I can see the handlebar of one bike in the camera, and it never even quivers. The drawbar is threaded and it bolts to the receiver so there is no movement.

I added lights to my rack. I felt like two bikes made it difficult to see the trailer lights from some angles. Just powered them with a trailer plug.

[willald]

Whichever one you get, read up on it carefully before you buy. Make sure it is one that is supported/recommended to be used on the back of an RV.

For a lot of the hitch mounted bike racks out there, the manufacturers do not recommend it to be used on the back of an RV for various reasons. Last time I looked into this, there was only like 2 or 3 units made that would allow it to be used on the back of an RV.

Agree 100% with you about ladder mounted bike racks. Not a fan of those at all.

[way2roll]

I love Swagman racks. Easy to mount the bikes, modular for various types of bikes and overall well built and easy to use. I am an avid cyclist and my bikes can run thousands of dollars. Been trusting Swagman racks for years and zero issues. No I am not affiliated with them at all, but I have worked in bike shops and know what's out there. Dollar for dollar swagman racks are my top pick.