Ideas to carry bikes

[mrbreeze_az]

I am looking for an inexpensive practical way to transport our bikes (3 of them). Our old TT had a receiver hitch and we hauled them behind on a bike rack, which I was never too crazy about. No way to monitor them. New TT does not have reinforced bumper. I was thinking of a rack that would attach to the truck bed rails allowing cargo in the bed (generator, water, firewood, etc.) I would like to see your solutions. BTW, I have seen the tongue mounted racks but not sure if this will work for me. Thanks

[dewey02]

I guess it all depends on what someone considers expensive.
Here is my tongue mounted rack (which as you said may not work for you) but works well for my rig.

Stromberg Carlson Trailer Tray - $197.62 (free shipping) from RV Upgrades

MaxxHaul Bike Rack - was about $75 from Amazon (free prime shipping)

I bolted them both together. Solid as a rock. No bouncing, no swaying. And ALWAYS in view! When not hauling bikes, I can take out four bolts and use the Trailer Tray for hauling something else.

[owenssailor]

Halmfamily wrote:
We really like our Curtis front mount hitch for our truck and use a Swagman XC bike rack. Very solid and we can keep an eye on the bikes while going down the road.

We have the same arrangement. It works great.

[rbpru]

I am with the group that lays the bikes down in the bed with the front tires removed.

Crude but effective unless we need the bed. If we need the bed I remove the spare tire and clamp a carrier to the spare tire tube.

If they were high dollar bikes, I would buy a front bumper bike carrier.

[Addy15]

When we had the pop-up, we bought a Yakima roof rack for the bikes. When we got the TT, we had a new dilemma. What to do with the bikes? Everything we've read and researched indicates that bumper racks are not a good thing to do. So for awhile, we just put the bikes inside the trailer until we decided what to do. That worked OK for a few trips, but if we'd had more than two bikes, it wouldn't have worked. So anyway, my husband finally decided to just get some bed rails for the truck and now we have the same Yakima roof rack attached to the bed rails on the truck. Goes right over the tonneau cover. It's been working out very well.

[Halmfamily]

We really like our Curtis front mount hitch for our truck and use a Swagman XC bike rack. Very solid and we can keep an eye on the bikes while going down the road.

[twxsby89]

I have hauled them on the front receiver, and it is fine for daytime, but once the headlights are on, the reflection off the rims is awful.
I have 5 bikes to haul around, and I like the idea of the Curt receiver on the back of the trailer.
The two adult bikes are on the dinette, with shoes on the pedals.

[Go_Dogs]

This might sound redneck but, I put thick socks on the pedals and stand them inside the trailer. Prop with bungees and pillows/dog beds.

[RedRocket204]

Here is a very convenient and inventive solution... relatively low cost too.

Bike carrying solution....finally!

[dave54]

A couple of these bolted onto a 2x6, slipped into the slots in the pickup bed. Cheap, low tech.

At camp I remove the board and store under the trailer out of the way.

https://www.thule.com/en-us/us/bike-rack/truck-bed-bike-racks/thule-low-rider-821-_-4880

This is the Thule version. Other brands are available cheaper.

[mrbreeze_az]

Dick_B wrote:
For previous posts on this subject try searching this Forum for `bike rack' and read on.

Thanks Dick!
I did search first and found a lot of information. Was looking for more.

[Dick_B]

For previous posts on this subject try searching this Forum for `bike rack' and read on.

[Chuck_thehammer]

there is a company that make brackets that will mount a bike to each side of truck bed... up on the wheel arch.. and have one off the tail gate.

google a search.

found it..

http://www.discountramps.com/truck-bed-bicycle-support/p/BS-01/

[hawkeye-08]

I don't have room on my trailer tongue or over truck bed (have kayaks on rack over bed). We ended up with front receiver hitch and bike rack up there. I was not sure how I would like it, but it is fine (splatted bugs some on bike that need cleaning off occasionally). I might add some bungees to reduce movement but its been ok so far..

[IdaD]

I spent $20 on a curt receiver tube and bolted it to the trailer I-beam frame on the back end of the trailer. You can't see them while traveling but they're well secured to the rack and I use a bungee to limit the amount the bikes can move around underway. I am planning on the same thing on the other side to mount a genny rack.

[sparechange]

went through the same thing and ended up making a simply rack for the bed of the truck.