Hauling bikes

[Sparky87k5]

The wife and I have decided we want to haul our bikes when we travel. I'm thinking of a front mounted 2" receiver hitch that we can install a 2 bike rack for the bikes. Any issues with engine cooling? Thought about hauling them at my rear hitch but then the bikes are always in the way when we want to use the camper. Am I missing anything?

[crosscheck]

Front mount receiver rack works great for us and we have been transporting bikes this way since our first TC more than 20 years ago.

Friends who bike a lot had a custom made rack mounted on their ladder but the bikes do not sit flat. Your ladder would have to be fastened well to the TC especially if travelling on rough roads. If you want a picture of it go to our blog site and look for "No Bugs, Warm Weather, Fall In BC", Sept. 2011. Our front mounted rack is there also.

Dave

[ab257]

We found it cuts about a mile per gallon off at highway speeds (at a 10 mpg that hurts,) plus, while the bikes pickup more dirt in back, they pick up more hard to remove bugs in front (we removed the seats and but both handlebars on the passenger side). We now carry them on the back ladder, but we have a side entry camper, so our back is free to use. We use a foam block between the first bike and the ladder, a second foam block between the two bikes, and a strap across the bikes from the two rear jacks. Extremely solid on bumpy roads.

[sprink699]

We have been using our Thule 4 bike rack and curt front receiver for about 2 years and it works great. The rack has a built in wedge so it is nice and tight in the front hitch, it also has a built in locking cable to keep the bikes safe. I noticed the truck getting a little warmer this summer than last when the bikes were on, but just when climbing grades. Not hot but warmer.

[steve68steve]

Didn't read all replies, sorry if someone hit this already:

You don't need a hitch and mount to carry bikes up front. We use the cheapy bike rack that we bought for my wife's car. It easily rigs to the truck via the same hooks and straps that hold it on her Honda Fit.

EDIT: the FRONT of the truck, that is.

[okan-star]

and VC21655

[okan-star]

Ca VC22406

[okan-star]

I sould say unless its posted that you can .
Wayne next time you drive 5 north thru Sac where 50 dumps in notice the signs giving permission to drive in left lanes of multiple ,towing ,thats the only place I can remember seeing that
Look at all the frustrated truckers locked into the 2 right lanes when there are three or more that dont dare to move out of them

[okan-star]

Reddog1 wrote:

flipskid wrote:
... i also have used a trailer to haul bikes etc with the camper. Best idea in my opinion except may need hitch extension and in Ca, cant go out of the first two lanes to the right with a trailer in tow.

I am not sure that is true, but it may be. I frequently flat tow my Samurai, and in slow traffic, I do use other than the first two lanes. With a passenger, I use the commute lane, and it is the third lane or more. Do you know the vehicle code that says first two lanes with a trailer? It could be that I have been just lucky in other than the first two lanes.

If I am towing my Samurai, I put the bike rack on the back of the Samurai. If I am not towing the Samurai, I might put the bike rack in the front. I really do not like putting the rack on the end of my 4.5" extension in the back of the TC.

You cant tow in combination in Ca in any of the 2 slowest or right lanes . Combination meaning towing anything .
I was suprised to learn this 30+ years ago while towing a boat early morning in the third from the right lane of four and was cited by CHP

[Geewizard]

I've used a Thule Revolver bike rack for about 6 years. Works very well for me. I had to put on a receiver hitch extension to get it positioned properly but that's no issue at all.

I also put on a front receiver hitch to carry another spare tire.

[Reddog1]

Buzzcut1 wrote:
Reddog. The only place you cannot tow a trailer or a car with your truck is in a Carpool or HOV lane as CA has a all vehicles towing max speed limit of 55

I know about the maximum towing speed of 55 MPH. I was not aware you could not drive 55 in a Carpool or HOV lane.

Buzzcut1 wrote:
and http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/hot_hov.html
Trucks and Cars with Trailers:
Any vehicle towing a trailer, large trucks, and other vehicles subject to a 55 MPH speed limit cannot use an HOV lane regardless of the number of occupants.

This I was not aware of. I have been lucky, but will not try to continue with the luck in the future. Thanks for the info.

Buzzcut1 wrote:
towing you should stay to the right except to pass anyways

That, I know.

Wayne

[owenssailor]

We had a Curt hitch on our 2003 Silverado and now on the 2012 Silverado. When we first carrier bikes on the front we used our old bike rack that held the bikes by the frame. It was a pain. The bikes swung around a lot with the wind. Also the bikes were not level which ended up having more of the bike in my vision field but the one wheel close to the ground. We now have a Swagman bike rack that supports the bikes by the wheels. This is much better. It is easier to load the bikes, easier on the bikes themselves yet they are not in my vision field.

After several thousand miles with this arrangement we are very satisfied.

As far as hitting a moose, deer or other vehicle - I think at that point bicycles would likely be the least of my worries.

Happy travelling

Peter

[Buzzcut1]

Reddog. The only place you cannot tow a trailer or a car with your truck is in a Carpool or HOV lane as CA has a all vehicles towing max speed limit of 55 and

http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/hot_hov.html
Trucks and Cars with Trailers:
Any vehicle towing a trailer, large trucks, and other vehicles subject to a 55 MPH speed limit cannot use an HOV lane regardless of the number of occupants.

towing you should stay to the right except to pass anyways

[Reddog1]

flipskid wrote:
... i also have used a trailer to haul bikes etc with the camper. Best idea in my opinion except may need hitch extension and in Ca, cant go out of the first two lanes to the right with a trailer in tow.

I am not sure that is true, but it may be. I frequently flat tow my Samurai, and in slow traffic, I do use other than the first two lanes. With a passenger, I use the commute lane, and it is the third lane or more. Do you know the vehicle code that says first two lanes with a trailer? It could be that I have been just lucky in other than the first two lanes.

If I am towing my Samurai, I put the bike rack on the back of the Samurai. If I am not towing the Samurai, I might put the bike rack in the front. I really do not like putting the rack on the end of my 4.5" extension in the back of the TC.

[flipskid]

I have had a front hitch since owning my truck-11 years. I used it for putting boats down twisty boat ramps to the ocean when you cant see behind you because of the camper:) When i use the front to carry the bikes, usually 4 of them, I do stress out a little becuase of the vision impairment and because of the rack movement. I take the seats off and stagger the weight of the bikes so heavyist near the grill. dont need all that weight hanging over the front. I use ratchet straps to gain a little stiffness since the rack/hitch combo does allow wobbling, also a stresser to watch. On my old camper when i wasnt towing also, i used the swing away rack on the back. Wash the bikes with the outside shower and some simple green. i also have used a trailer to haul bikes etc with the camper. Best idea in my opinion except may need hitch extension and in Ca, cant go out of the first two lanes to the right with a trailer in tow.