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.

[magicbus]

I just today installed my rack as we started packing to head south and can’t imagine it failing. In fact both my hitch and the Yakima feel overbuilt - which I find comforting. Of course a 5 bike rack is handling a lot of weight extended out from the hitch greatly multiplying the stress on the receiver and hitch. Actually I didn’t realize anyone manufactured a 5 bike hitch rack. Other than a frame attached platform I can’t picture anything that would handle that load.

Dave.

[blaczero]

magicbus wrote:

deltabravo wrote:
Video on Bike rack for RV Hitches

:B Skip to 8:35 and you will finally see the difference. Took em long enough to get to the point! That has a similar tightening system as the Yakima "non-RV" model. On the Yakima it only has a lightweight hitch pin as a bit of a safety, the "expander" on the hitch tube (much larger than just the ball on the model shown) actually locks it in place. I would imagine this would be helpful regardless of on an RV or a car.

Dave

It's a good idea to have that "expander" thing, but it'd just delay the inevitable IMO.

I have(had) a 5 bike Thule rack that catastrophically failed on my trip to FL. Bikes dragging on the highway behind the RV, fun.

I am currently looking for a rack that is not a rear hitch rack. Don't trust them

[covered_wagon]

GDS-3950BH wrote:

covered wagon wrote:
Thule Made in Sweden I think is very good quality. I use mine all the time. It is so solid I can use it to stand on going in and out the back door of my truck camper. It also has a built in tightening nut to stop the wiggles. It swings down when not in use.

I got an rv type bike rack for free and only had one single bar to hold the bikes. It was not right as the bikes would swing side to side. So I got the Thule and they all have two bars. Very high end with excellent quality stretch bands to hold the bikes. I would look at Thule.

Very high priced, paying for a name.

I bought it because it is well built. Bought off craigs.

Like I said I had an RV bike rack and gave it away it was not good. It was a commonly heard name brand.

Just look at Thule you will see why the name is good. I know I had to use a pry bar to be open my mind and look see finally why indeed they are popular. I think Yakima and Thule are the best.

[dodge_guy]

My Swagman is a non pivoting model, so you can't open the tailgate/hatch with bike on it. It's a small nuisance I'll gladly deal with fomit being so solid. I think I only paid $230 for it from Etrailer on Memorial Day weekend (sale). Carried 4 bikes to Colorado and back from IL and they never moved one bit. Love the positive ratcheting clamps they have to hold the bikes in place. And one of the bikes is a heavy fat tire bike!

[magicbus]

deltabravo wrote:
Video on Bike rack for RV Hitches

:B Skip to 8:35 and you will finally see the difference. Took em long enough to get to the point! That has a similar tightening system as the Yakima "non-RV" model. On the Yakima it only has a lightweight hitch pin as a bit of a safety, the "expander" on the hitch tube (much larger than just the ball on the model shown) actually locks it in place. I would imagine this would be helpful regardless of on an RV or a car.

Dave

[deltabravo]

Video on Bike rack for RV Hitches

[covered_wagon]

Would not believe how Thule designed their unlock and swing system it is the highest end design you will ever see. It is genius and revealing quality. Does not wiggle and is very strong. When you look at those knuckle joints with the unlock knob it is very impressive. Anyhow bicycling helps keep us old guys/gals young and feeling better. That's a fact.

[way2roll]

magicbus wrote:
You know what? I didn’t start out to buy something that screamed YAKIMA but it does what I want and need. Entirely worth the price.

@GDS-3950BH... if I recall correctly you like to make lite of those who buy anything better than an entry level trailer or a cabin in the backwoods of Virginia. You obviously have nothing to add to this discussion, don’t seem to have actually owned or needed a bike rack, so I have to wonder why you feel the need to post.

Dave

If you look through every one of GDS-3950BH's posts, he never has anything to add to a thread. It's a big poo poo to everything. Must be miserable being that negative all the time.

[magicbus]

You know what? I didn’t start out to buy something that screamed YAKIMA but it does what I want and need. Entirely worth the price.

@GDS-3950BH... if I recall correctly you like to make lite of those who buy anything better than an entry level trailer or a cabin in the backwoods of Virginia. You obviously have nothing to add to this discussion, don’t seem to have actually owned or needed a bike rack, so I have to wonder why you feel the need to post.

Dave

[GDS-3950BH]

bikendan wrote:

way2roll wrote:

GDS-3950BH wrote:

covered wagon wrote:

.

Very high priced, paying for a name.

Because it's a great brand. Like most things in the cycling world, you get what you pay for.

True That!

Plenty of other brands and designs out there that are just as good or better. But then if you're interested in making a fashion statement on the back of your car its your money, have at it

[bikendan]

way2roll wrote:

GDS-3950BH wrote:

covered wagon wrote:

.

Very high priced, paying for a name.

Because it's a great brand. Like most things in the cycling world, you get what you pay for.

True That!

[way2roll]

GDS-3950BH wrote:

covered wagon wrote:

.

Very high priced, paying for a name.

Because it's a great brand. Like most things in the cycling world, you get what you pay for.

[GDS-3950BH]

covered wagon wrote:
Thule Made in Sweden I think is very good quality. I use mine all the time. It is so solid I can use it to stand on going in and out the back door of my truck camper. It also has a built in tightening nut to stop the wiggles. It swings down when not in use.

I got an rv type bike rack for free and only had one single bar to hold the bikes. It was not right as the bikes would swing side to side. So I got the Thule and they all have two bars. Very high end with excellent quality stretch bands to hold the bikes. I would look at Thule.

Very high priced, paying for a name.

[mich800]

magicbus wrote:

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

I am not sure if there any quality carriers that do not have the anti-rattle/slack adjusters now.

[ajriding]

That CURT 18085 is just not what a bike enthusiast would use. You want the kind that does have a tray, but where the arms hold the tires and only the tires, not the frame. One thing in common to all bikes is they have a front wheel and a rear wheel, so tire "arms" will hold any bike.
That sad guy who worked at a bike shop for 30 years, demonstrates that don't trust everyone who works there. No, is not "elitist" to recommend a quality rack over a junky one. Good racks are good racks, bad ones are bad. My "resume" far exceeds that forum poster guy and my advice is to look for the best rack for the money you are wanting to spend.
I have seen a lot of junky bike racks doing poorly at their job on the back of RVs, and have seen quality ones. Even if you have a $12 walmark bike a good quality rack will still be more enjoyable and easier to use and much more functional.