Coachmen Clipper 16FB - bike rack

[cindypmd]

We are purchasing a Coachmen Clipper 16FB and are having a hard time finding a bike rack that we can use. We are towing with a Ford Escape and don't have enough extra hitch weight to add a bike rack to the back of the Escape. Coachmen says that if we add a bike rack on the rear bumper of the Clipper, the front tongue or add a receiver to the back of the Clipper we will void our Chassie warranty. Has anyone used any type of bike rack or carrier with this model and how did it work?

[danimal53]

We're picking up our clipper 17bh in a few weeks, and I have a trunk mount style bike rack (with straps that basically clip to the top and bottom of the rear hatch). But we have a 5000lb max tow vehicle, so you may have trouble staying under your 3500 limit. Other than trunk mount rack, I've seen racks that mount to the A frame of the trailer, basically clamps to the frame and goes up and over LP tanks (or in front of), but again you're still cutting it close with the weight. Here's one on etrailer.comhttp://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Motorhome-Bike-Racks/Stromberg-Carlson/CC-275.html

[bwashin]

We have the same 16FB travel trailer. We were told the bumper can't handle the weight of a bike rack and bikes. We're hoping to put them on the back of the car with a trunk mount style bike rack.Don't know yet if that will work.
We also had to upgrade our car to one that could handle 5000lb. Our other car was max 3500lb. Much safer now.
We are taking our first trip with our trailer. Going north/midwest. Any advice/places to go/not to do, etc.

[SilverEscape]

If you haven't purchased the trailer yet, I'd sit down and run the weight numbers and read your Escape manual as that trailer is likely too big for your Escape. We owned an Escape with the tow package and the manual specified not pulling a trailer with more than 30 sq ft frontal area; which that trailer exceeds. Addditionally, the dry tongue weight of that trailer is 318#. I think you're going to have a thought time keeping it at 350 pounds when the trailer is loaded and the Escape max tongue weight is 350.

Lastly, our Escape could tow 3500 pounds with a 150# driver and zero cargo. Any other passengers and cargo needed to be subtracted off what you could tow; reducing your towing capabilities. So you're not going to be able to load that trailer to its max.

Take a close look at your Escape manual and look at the towing section for frontal area and what the towing capacities include. And look at the payload sticker inside the driver's door as well.

We had a pop-up trailer with our Escape that was 3000 pounds loaded and it was tough to keep the tongue at 350 pounds. And it really was at the max limits of the Escape. I was so happy when we upgraded to a vehicle with 5000# tow capacity as it was night and day difference towing that pop up. I think the Escape is intended to tow pop ups, boats, utility trailers, snowmobiles, etc. but I really don't believe they intended it for travel trailers (thus the frontal area limitation).

If you went with a pop-up or something like a Trail Manor, you could consider putting the bikes on the roof of the trailer. My hubby used to climb into the trailer roof and undo a bike and set it down over the edge. The drawback would be stopping for overnights, as at least with our PUP, while we were within the weight capabilities of the trailer roof, you couldn't have that much weight on it while raising it which would mean removing bikes to be able to set up.

[Pod_People]

ok, changed my preferences

here are the pictures to go along with the above post( I hope)







I hope the pictures work this time!!
Vann

[Pod_People]

We did some modifications to our rear frame so that we could use a rear mounted bike rack. I did a lot of research on various forums before undertaking this -as said above, it is almost universally advised NOT to use a rear mounted rack because of the added stress to the frame. Our trailer was out of warranty, so voiding the warranty by welding on the frame was not a concern for us.

Our R Pod had an existing 1 1/4" receiver mounted to the cross bar at the end of the frame. The crossbar was welded on each end to the ends of the front to back main frame members.

We used a local welding shop to add weld new triangle shaped gussets between the top and bottom of the existing 1 1/4" receiver and the trailer frame. We needed a 2" receiver for our bike rack. Then he welded a 2" receiver below the existing 1 1/4" receiver to accept the bike rack. He also welded an 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 square cross bar that runs sideways from frame to frame. this is welded to the back end of the 2" receiver with a right angle connector. We use 2 strap tiedowns, one to each corner eyebolt on the trailer to help stabilize the rack.

I have followed the trailer with 2 bikes and watched--there is no wiggle, wobble or sway. We have used this setup for several long trips across the country with no problems. I took the trailer back to the welder and had him inspect everything after our last 6000 mile trip-there were no obvious cracks or breaks.

here are some pictures that help show what we did.





I hope these pictures work--if not, they are located at this page that shows a lot of our trailer mods

https://plus.google.com/photos/111319885746168705351/albums/5995280008984464529?banner=pwa&authkey=CO6m8a2Up6a3Sw

travel safe

Vann

[SkiMore]

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.

[rexlion]

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.

[colliehauler]

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

[cindypmd]

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.

[rexlion]

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.

[colliehauler]

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

[MFL]

Hybrid travel trailer

[cindypmd]

What is an HTT?

[cindypmd]

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.