Here are some pictures of our bike rack / travel tray / sewer hose carrier. We just purchased a new Skyline Koala 26SS travel trailer. We viewed a Forest River travel rack on another RV on the dealer lot. We ordered one for our trailer and had them do a custom installation. They had to cut off the original bumper and do some welding and reinforcement. We liked the travel tray because it can be folded down with the spare tire attached. I installed a front receiver hitch for our truck to have the option of putting the bikes up front. In the future we want to purchase an aluminum tool box and put that on the travel tray to store a Honda generator. I made a sewer hose carrier out of a vinyl fence post purchased at Lowes. It will hold a hose with couplings attached. Approximate cost, travel tray $600,instalation for travel tray $500, Swagman bike rack $160, front receiver hitch $150. The bike rack is solid and there is little movement.

Looks good but I hope you don't find yourself dragging any of that on the ground. Be careful pulling in or out of drives.

I have about 17 inches clearance to the bottom of the hose carrier and about 18 inches to the bottom of the bike rack. I will have to keep an eye out for obstructions in the road but I think I have adequate clearance. The clearance for the bikes front mounted is much less. Approximately 12 inches.

Looks good. I have the same rear carrier on my Prime Time (Forest River) trailer and use it to carry bikes instead of real bike rack like you installed. Your set up will be more convenient. One problem I had was I'd drag fairly often (the spare tire is the low point when the rack is folded down), so I had the rack raised 6". It may be worth looking at raising your bike rack--dragging your bike rack with bikes installed would get expensive quickly.

Not trying to rain on your parade, but why the extra storage for the sewer hose? Isn't the back bumper made with hose storage in mind? It's where I store mine, and yes, there is a little rust, but there would be regardless as the interieor is not painted. Just wondering.

Good point. I have not traveled with the rack in the down position yet. I will have to analyze the tire clearance when I get a generator and box next year.

Bike Rack / Travel Tray / Sewer Hose Carrier | Good Sam Community

beemerphile1
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
Looks good but I hope you don't find yourself dragging any of that on the ground. Be careful pulling in or out of drives.
Mister_Big
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
I have about 17 inches clearance to the bottom of the hose carrier and about 18 inches to the bottom of the bike rack. I will have to keep an eye out for obstructions in the road but I think I have adequate clearance. The clearance for the bikes front mounted is much less. Approximately 12 inches.
jrichard
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
Looks good. I have the same rear carrier on my Prime Time (Forest River) trailer and use it to carry bikes instead of real bike rack like you installed. Your set up will be more convenient.

One problem I had was I'd drag fairly often (the spare tire is the low point when the rack is folded down), so I had the rack raised 6". It may be worth looking at raising your bike rack--dragging your bike rack with bikes installed would get expensive quickly.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2014
Not trying to rain on your parade, but why the extra storage for the sewer hose? Isn't the back bumper made with hose storage in mind? It's where I store mine, and yes, there is a little rust, but there would be regardless as the interieor is not painted. Just wondering.
Mister_Big
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
Good point. I have not traveled with the rack in the down position yet. I will have to analyze the tire clearance when I get a generator and box next year.
popeyemth
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
With 12 inches clearance on the bikes you will likely drag in the first gas station you visit.
Consider "flipping" the hitch to the top of the bumper and raising the rack to clear.
Good Luck, Mike
Mister_Big
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
The stock bumper is only 4 inches. The sewer hose will not fit with the couplings on. The fence post is 5 inches and the sewer hose will fit in with the couplings on.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
popeyemth wrote:
With 12 inches clearance on the bikes you will likely drag in the first gas station you visit.
Consider "flipping" the hitch to the top of the bumper and raising the rack to clear.
Good Luck, Mike

Another thing to consider is the further away from the axle, the more clearance is needed.
BurbMan
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2014
Here's my build thread on adding a storage box at the rear.
Mister_Big
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
I took the above members advise and flipped the receiver up on top of the bumper. I cannot put the tray in the down position now. Not a big deal because I am not going to use it till next year anyway. I now have 26 inches of clearance for the bikes. After reading the post about the spare tire dragging when in the down position I will redesign over the winter. It would be better if the bumper would sit on top of the frame supports giving me more clearance for the spare tire in the down position.I will probably go to a 5 inch metal bumper to hold the sewer hose with the couplings on. And I will have the receive welded to the bumper rather than bolt on. Thanks for all the advise. Hopefully everyone can learn from this also.