Concern with attaching bike rack to TT bumper

[crispyc21]

I would like to get a bike rack for three bikes that attaches to the bumper of my travel trailer (2010 Sprinter Select). I started looking at a few online but when reading some of the reviews, some people mentioned that after attaching a bike rack to their bumpers, the additional weight caused the welds to come apart and their bumper and bikes would break off the trailer. Is this a common thing when attaching a bike rack to the rear bumper? My bumper already has the spare tire attaches to the bumper. Is their anything that can be done to eliminate that from happening?

[BurbMan]

Bikes on the back of the TT are do-able if done right. If you use anything attached to the factory bumper, you will be OK with straps like dodge guy and others have used. Those straps take the load from the bounce so it's not flexing the bumper as much.

the other option is to have a hitch receiver mounted to the frame rails of the TT, assuming the frame is sturdy enough to accommodate the extra weight. This is not an option on most ultra-lights.

I tried the ladder rig for a while, but did not like the way it bounced also, so ultimately we went with a Yakima rack on the roof of the Suburban. Bike racks that go over the TT tongue are also a good choice. A lot depends on what kind of TT and TV.

[tim_and_amy]

Yea, I for one agree with the do not do it crowd. I ignored the comments here, bought the receiver and bolted it on top of the bumper. Threw two bikes on there and had someone else drive my rig while I followed. Even with two bikes you can physically see the bumper rotate due to the bouncing.

Do your self a favor, get on amazon and order a front hitch receiver for your truck. Worth every penny. And fords are easy to install, just remove four bolts, drill some new holes in the current bumper bracket and install. I love mine.
FYI, you can make one that goes over the tow hook too if you don't want to take your bumper off.

[chracatoa]

I just leave the bikes on the bed with a tarp (a friend's idea). I use a ratchet strap.

For small trips I have them on the roof. Overall weight can be a problem for my 1/2 ton.

[Tequila]

I contacted Northwood. They say 50lbs on the bumper, and theirs seem heftier than most. I guess the bike is going on the front of the truck or inside. my bike is 60 lbs (electric)

[Community Alumni]

I had the original bumper replaced with a new full-width tube made from heavier steel (about 1/8" thick). I opted for a Swagman model "XC-2 RV" bike rack which is supposed to be an RV-specific design. The bike rack included a bolt-on 2" hitch receiver for a 4"x4" RV bumper. I'm pretty confident with the setup, but I still lock a steel cable around the bumper and bikes to keep everything together should something give way.

[Huntindog]

I haven't carried bikes but, backing into a camp one time with my wife spotting for me... I could see in the mirror that she was shocked.. Told me you gotta come see this. I got out and walked to the TTs rear, and was shocked to see my spare tire was gone.:E No idea where it came off or what mayhem it might have caused.

[dewey02]

Paul 61 wrote:
I got the travel tray from CW and modified it by using an old bike rack I had to put the bikes on the front of TT. Since the Ultra Lites can not take the frame flex with the bike bouncing on the rear bumper. With the bikes on the front over the gas tanks it appears to be rock solid no bouncing at all.

Did you mean the Trailer Tray?
Can you post photos of how you modified it with an old bike rack? Thanks.

[RandACampin]

These bike rack threads crack me up. I have had a ack on my rear bumper for years...no issues. As far as all the comments on bouncing, well this last trip we drove 100 miles to the campground on bumpy Georgia back roads. I have a Thule bike rack where the bikes hang fron the top bar. When we got to the CG I discovered that I had forgotten to fasten the top straps over the bike. The bike looked like it had not moved one bit.

The bike rack threads are a bunch of anectodal posts with little or no truth desogned to fear-monger. If you look a lot of the posters are just re-gurgitating internet myths.

Walk around the CG and start asking people with bike racks...I do and have yet to anyone tell me of a real-world problem.

[Paul_61]

I got the travel tray from CW and modified it by using an old bike rack I had to put the bikes on the front of TT. Since the Ultra Lites can not take the frame flex with the bike bouncing on the rear bumper. With the bikes on the front over the gas tanks it appears to be rock solid no bouncing at all.

[MarkTwain]

I went about four years carrying three bikes on a platform carrier attached to the steel bumper with a bolt-on hitch adapter. Worked fine. Bumper was welded at both the top and bottom edges. I have seen some bumpers welded maybe 3/4 up on the flat side and the metal flexes and breaks easily. Got some nice bikes a couple years ago and had a proper receiver installed (attached to the frame) for about $600. No more worries.

X2, why take the risk

[MarkTwain]

Cheap bikes!!!
I would not be particularly concerned about what might happen to your "cheap" bikes but rather, what damage might it cause to the back of trailer if it comes loose and what potential danger could I be creating for other cars/people behind me if the bikes broke loose:)

[wmoses]

Bigbird65 wrote:
These bikes are on my trailer but at the time of posting I had not been on a trip to judge the bike rack performance. This week we made a 3 day long camping trip to Cedar Hill State Park in Texas. When we got there the bikes were exactly like they were when we left home and same for when we returned home. I'm completely satisfied with the bike rack. I used a number of the small bungees to stabilize everything.

Thanks for the good feedback on the ladder rack. I already bought the small bungees and will be going to Tyler SP in early June with the bikes. Just checked out the website for Cedar Hill SP - nice lloking park. Never knew it had full hookups and they still have 117 sites available for next weekend meaning they can't be that busy ... yet.

[Bigbird65]

wmoses wrote:

Bigbird65 wrote:
OK, as an alternative to the bumper mount, give me your opinion of the ladder mount. Specifically a Swagman 2 bike mount.

For some reason it would appear that not many people who post on these forums have experience with ladder-mounted racks hence the lack of response to your query.

The Swagman 2-bike rack is similar to the one I bought from CW (possibly the same design) and funnily enough my ladder looks very similar to the one in the picture you included. I guess if you are asking the question then that was not your picture.

Anyway I have not made my first trip with that rack yet so I cannot comment on performance. I can say that my ladder appears strong enough, and the loading on it would be less onerous than that on a bumper mount. The CG of the bikes are closer to the ladder and the ladder support points are more spread out so the load is "flatter" to the RV and more in shear. Should perform well. The trick is to properly secure the bikes so that they (a) stay on, and (b) don't damage each other or the RV.

I will post my results after I have actual experience.

These bikes are on my trailer but at the time of posting I had not been on a trip to judge the bike rack performance. This week we made a 3 day long camping trip to Cedar Hill State Park in Texas. When we got there the bikes were exactly like they were when we left home and same for when we returned home. I'm completely satisfied with the bike rack. I used a number of the small bungees to stabilize everything.

[PAThwacker]

Our sub has 60" thule cross bars, can carry 3 bikes, and the 38" wide canoe . That is a an easy $800 worth of Thule racks or more. Carries a couple grand worth of toy$.

Id rather put bikes on a swagman.