Bike rack for truck

[Chad_Jen]

I'm trying to figure out an option for a bike rack for the back of my truck since I don't want to have one attached to the bumper of the TT (given what I've read on here). Does anyone have any suggestions on where to get one or how to make one? Suggestions on other bake carrying ideas would be okay too.

[coolbreeze01]

This might work. www.dgmtailgatesupport.com/product.html

[jmtandem]

Thule and Yakima make racks for the roof of the truck, leaving the bed for all your other stuff. I know this is not what you are asking but it works, even for long tandems. Five bikes? You will use most of the bed for five bikes!

[Gdetrailer]

I made a bike rack which sits on top of the truck bed rails, this allows for the use of the bed plus I can keep my bed topper.

I used steel unistrut material which is typically used for holding electrical conduit and plumbing pipes to cement walls.

You can view my rack HERE (I will preface that this is a PDF file but the online storage forces you to use their crummy viewer) Additionally I have been having issues with the online storage which if it logs me out the documents are not viewable... So I can not guarantee how long the link will work.

Alternately if you want the use of the bed a quick way would be to fashion a platform which sits on top of the bed rails from 2x4s and plywood, then make a series of frames for the bikes (think like the ones you place the front wheels into).. Then tie down with rubber bungies.

[Chad_Jen]

@ mbopp - there will be 5 total (3 kids - 10 y.o. and under - and 2 adults)

[mbopp]

How many bikes are you carrying? I made a rack out of PVC pipe that holds 2 bikes in the truck bed.

[Chad_Jen]

Unfortuanately, Markie, only one of the bikes has quick-release wheels. (Not to mention that there will be 5 bikes total.) Thanks for the quick responses everyone.

[Bucky_Badger]

I had the dealer throw this in my deal when I got my truck...Works great

i'm sure they didn't pay that much

http://www.thule.com/en-us/us/products/carriers-and-racks/bike-carriers/truck-bed-bike-carriers/thul...

[rgolding]

We carry 2 recumbent trikes on aluminum rails above the bed of our 2500HD. I made it out of aluminum channel and use the pickup bed post holes to attach it. Totally removable or installed in about a half hour. Dissasembles into 5 pieces of aluminum less than 8 feet long. We carry the regular diamond frame bikes on a trailer hitch bike rack, that is on the back of the truck or the back of the trailer depending on if we are towing the trailer. Cargo straps are used on all bikes to hold them secure. Really don't like surprizes.

[Markiemark32]

Do you have bicycles with Quick-release front wheels (meaning able to pull front wheels without tools).

If so, a economical and efficient way to storage and travel can be seen here:
Bike Storage Solution

Bike Tights


Markiemark:C

[Drippin]

For carrying bikes in the bed of our truck I bought a couple of the bike rails that normally mount on the roof rack and mounted two of them between two 2x4 and set them in the bed.
If I am carrying more than two bikes I have a rack that I can mount on my front hitch.