Bike Rack for Front Hitch....Experiences?

[iwski]

I have put a front hitch on my 2011 Dodge 3500 with the intention of hauling bikes, firewood, etc. I am looking into bike racks, but would like to carry 4 bikes (2 adult, 2 child). Does anyone do this on the front? I have seen numerous examples of 2 bikes, but not 4 bikes. Here are the concerns of mine that I'm curious if anyone has experience with:
-Headlight interference
-Sticks out a long way from bumper ~48", ground clearance, etc
-Visibility when driving (bikes visible above hood)
-Bugs on the bikes!

Is it a better idea to put just a 2-bike rack on front and find another spot for the other 2 bikes like a ladder bike rack?

I'm looking at the Highland SportWing 4-bike and the Swagman XTC4. I had never seen a SportWing and did not realize a rack existed that uses the inside of the rim to hold the bike level and stable. Great idea, reviews say they're well built. Since there is not much rise on the main tube, I'm really concerned about ground clearance. The Swagman XTC4 looks like it's a little more dependable and the main tube is on an angle for what appears to be better ground clearance. Put the taller adult bikes closest to the truck and the kids bikes out front because they're shorter and the mounts are higher.
These photos are owned by etrailer.

Highlander SportWing first, then Swagman XTC4. Last photo is an identical truck to mine with a front 2-bike rack.

[stevenal]

Pulling a boat? One year I mounted the Yakima bars on the boat so we could carry four adult bikes and still be safe driving at night.

[Nautique200]

I'm also considering adding a second receiver to my rear bumper of the camper. Something similar to what I have seen on the new Torklift bumpers that Lance is putting on their camper. http://www.torklift.com/video/ultra_deck_plus/ultra_deck_plus.mp4

[Nautique200]

I just ordered the Kuat NV 2 bike rack. There is an extension you can buy to add two more bikes. I went this route because my bikes are expensive and I don't want them being damaged by the bike rack. Secondly, my kids bikes are still small and I can carry them off the ladder rack still. If I like the way this Kuat fits on the front of my truck I'll spend the extra coin and add the extension to my bike rack.

[iwski]

billtex wrote:

iwski wrote:

I've been weighing out a lot things since a previous poster said a driving rain washed out all his bearings for him...yikes. I'm hoping when I'm pulling the boat I'm not driving into a rainstorm and if I have no trailer I'll put the rack on back to protect the bikes more.

Poster did not say what type of bikes these are. Our Mt bikes see much more abuse when ridden than they do hanging out in front of the truck.
Anything behind the TC gets filthy due to backdraft...so that's not good either if this concerns you.

If we are talking high end road bikes, I would use a stretch cover, or find some way to get them inside (back seat of truck?) or in a hard travel case on the roof...
(You could always put a plastic bag around the crank...this would work)

I do beleive you are over thinking this though...plenty of us are happy with front hitch.
It is VERY convenient to get bikes on/off...and really...that means you are more likley to bring and ride them.

Good luck,
Bill

Me...overthinking...I'm an engineer.....so it's not possible. Well, you may be right. Analysis paralysis sometimes. I've thought about the plastic bag idea or something like that. I assume that putting a cover on the bike would mess with the cooling of the truck too much. It's a mid-line road bike and a low end mountain bike along with kids bikes. Noone local stocks these racks so I'm trying to do my homework ahead of time....and cause a lot of mental anguish....

[billtex]

iwski wrote:

I've been weighing out a lot things since a previous poster said a driving rain washed out all his bearings for him...yikes. I'm hoping when I'm pulling the boat I'm not driving into a rainstorm and if I have no trailer I'll put the rack on back to protect the bikes more.

Poster did not say what type of bikes these are. Our Mt bikes see much more abuse when ridden than they do hanging out in front of the truck.
Anything behind the TC gets filthy due to backdraft...so that's not good either if this concerns you.

If we are talking high end road bikes, I would use a stretch cover, or find some way to get them inside (back seat of truck?) or in a hard travel case on the roof...
(You could always put a plastic bag around the crank...this would work)

I do beleive you are over thinking this though...plenty of us are happy with front hitch.
It is VERY convenient to get bikes on/off...and really...that means you are more likley to bring and ride them.

Good luck,
Bill

[iwski]

Nautique200 wrote:
Great post, I am in the exact same spot. Like you said, we just added the front hitch to our truck and I am now in search of the bike rack. We have two adult bikes and two kids bikes to haul. My wife and I have very expensive full suspension bikes so I plant on keeping these two bikes closes to the truck and using the kids bikes as a sacrificial shield for my bike!

Let me know what you end up buying for a rack.

Yeah we are in a very similar situation. I pull a boat too (sorry it's a Malibu) which is the main driver for getting a front rack. I've been weighing out a lot things since a previous poster said a driving rain washed out all his bearings for him...yikes. I'm hoping when I'm pulling the boat I'm not driving into a rainstorm and if I have no trailer I'll put the rack on back to protect the bikes more. With my hitch extension I'll still be able to open the camper door to let dogs in/out...but so much for being able to use the doggy ramp with bikes on the back. This rack folds up near vertical when empty, but does not tilt downward when loaded, like for opening an SUV hatch. Looks like I could modify one of the fixed pins to be removeable to allow the rack to tilt, but not sure if that's a good idea to have a tilting rack that puts the weight of the leaning bikes onto the upright supports.

I'm leaning more toward a Swagman Quad 2+2 which can be pulled apart to use a 2-bike rack and it has cradles instead of loops for the tires. I never thought this venture may be a $468 investment, oh well. My Curt front receiver is 15" off the ground to the bottom of the hitch. I don't have all the dimensions but have been able to piece together that the Quad 2+2 has a 7" rise at the joint plus maybe another inch along its length. The cradles are about 10" apart so it's right about 48" long from the hitch pin. At 23" of ground clearance sticking out 6-7' beyond the front axle.....that's a little unnerving. No major offroading with a 4,000 lb camper but occasionally there are dips to go thru in primitive areas like I prefer. I think I'd rig a skid plat on the front so the rack wouldn't auger in the dirt if you did happen to catch it.

Swagman Quad 2+2 4-bike rack from etrailer.com

Some dimensions from the Q/A

Note: The 23" dimension on the image cannot be correct. In the description of the rack, it says 17" to the nearest cradle and 23" to the nearest upright. That makes a lot more sense.

[Nautique200]

Great post, I am in the exact same spot. Like you said, we just added the front hitch to our truck and I am now in search of the bike rack. We have two adult bikes and two kids bikes to haul. My wife and I have very expensive full suspension bikes so I plant on keeping these two bikes closes to the truck and using the kids bikes as a sacrificial shield for my bike!

Let me know what you end up buying for a rack.

[billtex]

stevenal wrote:
A possible solution to rim glare:

Bury the bikes in the snow?
Brilliant!

[stevenal]

A possible solution to rim glare:

[RideSlow]

Carried bikes on front of trucks, vans, and currently a 3500 CTD QC 4x4. Usually some sort of Elmer Fudd outfit. No more than 2 bikes. Pull the seats, and bungee them up good. Never lost one, never messed up the finish. Mount up some sort of hoop mount, brace it on the bumper, and tie the top to something solid under the hood. Sorry no recent pics.

[Butch50]

wintersun wrote:


With your SUV I would go to a roof rack where they are out of the way, do not affect towing or parking, and are less likely get stolen.

Reread the OP first sentence in his first post. He added a front hitch on his "2011 Dodge 3500". He is not planning on hauling them on a SUV. I believe he posted pictures as examples of different type of bike carriers.

[whizbang]

I drove highway speeds into a driving rain with two bikes mounted on the front.

The water blew out all the grease in ALL the seals. I had to repack all the bearings including the cranks. It was a total pain in the rear.

I will never put bikes in front again.

[billtex]

sprink699 wrote:
We carry 3 bikes when we go, we have a Thule 4 bike rack on the front. It's the newest model they have, has a adjustable wedge that you tighten up when you put the rack in. That thing doesn't move, also has a lock on the tightening knob so it doesn't get taken, built in cable lock to secure the bikes. Take the seats off and no problems. We have done a lot of night traveling and don't have any complaints. Good luck.

sprink...which model is that?
Our rack is getting pretty old (and is not sold any longer)...I am thinking of replacing-that sounds like a good replacement.
Is it heavy?
Is it 2"?

Tx, B

[sprink699]

We carry 3 bikes when we go, we have a Thule 4 bike rack on the front. It's the newest model they have, has a adjustable wedge that you tighten up when you put the rack in. That thing doesn't move, also has a lock on the tightening knob so it doesn't get taken, built in cable lock to secure the bikes. Take the seats off and no problems. We have done a lot of night traveling and don't have any complaints. Good luck.