Where to put bikes?

[RAMwoodworks]

Just got our new Coachmen Viking 21RD and am of course gonna buy all kinds of accessories. One will be a bike rack. So where do I put them?

Add a back bumper receiver to the trailer?
I've seen multiple horror stories about the bumpers coming off. But hey they make cool brackets to reinforce your bumper. That only leaves getting a good quality hitch rack that'll clear my spare.

Over the tanks rack?
These crazy contraptions look rickety as all git out. Maybe one that has some kind of triangular mounting bracket might make it a little more stable. RV dealer had one of these in the showroom and it had way too many moving parts. The upper bracket moved a good 4 inches with gentle hand pressure.

On my tow vehicle roof?
TV will mostly be a Yukon XL that has the side rails on the roof but nothing else. Only worry there is the inevitable scratch to SWMBO's 'Black Beauty' hoisting the bikes up or down.

Right now 3 bikes max but could expand to 4. Nothing fancy just Roadmaster bikes from Wally Mart.

[Lwiddis]

Gee, C.B., wouldn't your family let you buy a big RV?

[Lwiddis]

"We carry ours on the front of the truck."

That's fine for you but I'm not putting my fiberglass flat bar road bike (17 pounds loaded except for water and me) as the leading edge of my Tahoe.

[Opie431]

I had an old comforter. I sewed it into a wallet shape and it covers the bike. The bike leans against a bed with a Rubbermaid container on the other side to hold it in place.
My husband can get it up the steps with no problem. I use some nasty words when I have to do it.
I watched a bike fall off the back of an RV and do not want to put ours there.

[rbpru]

I tried a few ideas, including hanging the bikes from the spare tire post.

I felt that the tires would hang to low to the round with my set-up plus I could not see them in the mirrors.

Rather than worry about them, I installed a 2 inch front hitch receiver so I can mount the bikes up front. It was not the cheapest option but it works for us.

[DavidP]

I have front bunks with a side door that you can access and put two bikes upside down (wheels up) on the bunk and two bikes go on the roof of my truck. I too use a step stool. My set up is a Thule fork mount and two wheel carriers behind the bikes. I could install 4 trays on the truck but the kids bikes are so easy to put in the camper and I don’t even fold up the bottom bunk. We have done some serious MTB riding over the years especially before kids so using a roof rack is second nature on any vehicle profile. The key is grabbing them low and holding them sideways and stand them up once you’re ready to set them in the trays. Removing is almost the same as you slightly lift and allow them to fall towards you holding them sideways as you back away or step off the ladder. A little practice and you will have no problems. Personally I would keep them off the back of the camper. I would opt for the Stromberg Carlson set up on the tongue if I did not use the roof of my truck. That rack is a solid platform for a good hitch or rack with trays either upright or fork mount.

[Lantley]

Nice setup C.B.!

[C_B_]

On top of the "little creeker"







C.B.

[NYCgrrl]

Dick_B wrote:
You could search this Forum for `bike rack' and read on. Also you could buy the foldup bikes which fold up into suitcase size and could be put almost anywhere. We used the 3-speed Dahon's for years.

This and into the TT they'll go.

[crazyro]

michigansandzilla wrote:
5 bikes for my family. We put them inside the trailer. It just seems to be the safest option.

Same here. We carry 5 bikes and at times we'll throw the two small ones in the bed of the truck (I have a cover and prefer to keep it on so we'll stick things in there that fit). Our trailer I'm assuming had a bike rack on the back bumper and it tore it. I had it rewelded but I wouldn't trust much weight there.

[hawkeye-08]

... and yes, for a lightweight trailer, you can use the front receiver to put your trailer away if you want.

[Hondavalk]

Halmfamily wrote:

leggy wrote:

hawkeye-08 wrote:
I put a receiver hitch on the front of my truck and carry our two bikes up there. Has not caused a problem with lights or overheating and they are not blocking my view. I use Swagman bike racks that have the hoops for the wheels to set in.

X2 I installed a Curt hitch from etrailer with a swagman but it just clamps on center of frame, very stable.

X3

X4 Curt hitch was a no drill bolt on installation. :B

[Lantley]

Once upon a time I used an Arvika bike track on the tongue of my TT


I now use the same rack on my fiver

[SoundGuy]

RAMwoodworks wrote:
Just got our new Coachmen Viking 21RD and am of course gonna buy all kinds of accessories. One will be a bike rack. So where do I put them?

Add a back bumper receiver to the trailer?
I've seen multiple horror stories about the bumpers coming off. But hey they make cool brackets to reinforce your bumper. That only leaves getting a good quality hitch rack that'll clear my spare.

4 Square Safety Struts may help with bumper support but do nothing to compensate for unloading the trailer tongue when bikes (and rack) are added to the far rear end of the trailer, particularly with a short trailer such as yours. 😞

Over the tanks rack?
These crazy contraptions look rickety as all git out.

Not if you buy quality ...

Arvika Bike Rack Systems

Canadian, not inexpensive, but your bikes will absolutely not move in the slightest. 🙂 Weight will be exactly where it belongs, over the tongue 🙂 - and you can see them. 🙂

Back when we towed our Spree with a 1/2 ton Silverado I built a bike rack using scrap plywood for the back of the truck - cost was $0 and bikes were absolutely secure. :B



As our boys grew older we no longer took the bikes along, a good thing since I replaced the Silvy with an Avalanche which had a covered cargo compartment and which wasn't long enough for bikes anyway. However, I kept the rack and modified it, hanging it off my garage wall to hold my four fresh water 7 gal Aquatainers between camping trips.



Recently I replaced the Av for towing with a '12 Silverado and can now once again use my $0 bike rack which now modified will accommodate a bike each for my wife and I along with my four fresh water Aqautainers. :B

If I were towing with an SUV instead of a truck with an open cargo bed and wanted to take bikes along for camping I'd unquestionably invest in an Arvika DFX trailer tongue mount bike rack. :B

[Lantley]

Over the tank is my preferred method for carrying bikes. Bikes are always in view, there is no bounce on the tongue like there is at the rear, bikes are easy to load/unload.
They don't block view/headlights or extend the length of the rig.

[michigansandzil]

5 bikes for my family. We put them inside the trailer. It just seems to be the safest option.