Coachmen Clipper 16FB - bike rack

Yes "technically" you will void the warranty. This is a single axle trailer and balance is a real factor. May I suggest a THULE or Yakima brand roof rack? We put four bikes inside our HTT and works alright. I really like the Clipper though we would go with the BH.

We can't use a roof rack because neither my husband or I are able to lift the bikes up that far. He has had total shoulder replacement and I am only 5' 1" tall and 64 years old. We are trying to find an alternate solution.

What is an HTT?

Hybrid travel trailer

Could you put the bikes in the trailer? Another option would be to put them on the front of the Escape.

If the mfr is unwilling to stand behind the addition and is recommending against it, that is worth paying attention to. A number of people have lost their bikes when their rear mount failed. The back of the trailer bounces a lot and extra weight puts much stress on whatever attachment method one uses.

We could put the bikes inside the Clipper but that would negate the reason for having it. We want to have somewhere to sleep if we travel long distance and need to stop without finding a motel. The front mount on the Escape is an idea, but because of the profile I'm not sure it's the answer. We are also looking into folding bikes to use just for travel.

Would the folding bikes fit inside the Escape? They would be more secure and out of the weather.

Having only one bike to haul, I kept mine in the back of my Highlander for several years of travel with a TT that wouldn't support a bumper mounted receiver. Now my Aliner came from the factory with a rear receiver (a feature that helped me decide to buy it), so I'm carrying it there nowadays.

One more possibility: a good welding shop could look at your trailer and tell you if they thought they could beef up the frame to mount a rear receiver. It might cost a few hundred, but perhaps worthwhile. By 'good welding shop' I mean a place that does a lot of structural work on trailer frames (even big-rig tractor-trailers) or fabrication.

cindypmd wrote:
We could put the bikes inside the Clipper but that would negate the reason for having it. We want to have somewhere to sleep if we travel long distance and need to stop without finding a motel. ....

You could chain them up outside while you sleep. It's kind of a pain, but there are worse things.