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.

[krobbe]

Fisherguy wrote:

Hmmm, now you've got me thinking... 😉

I put our bikes in the canopy (cap) in the back of the truck but it's getting crowded back there, I like your idea, just throw the cushions onto our bed and put the bikes on the nook. I assume that's velcro or something holding the rear tires?
Are the boards the bikes are attached to screwed down? We travel a lotta rough logging roads, our bikes would bounce around a lot if they weren't anchored. Did you make the brackets for the front forks?

I purchased the Sunlite fork mounts at a bike shop for $16 ea. I screwed the velcro and the fork mounts to the boards. The boards are permanently screwed to the seat panels and flip over when not in use. If going down rough roads, I recommend putting a screw or two into the seat panels. Only one time did a seat panel pop up and move slightly on me during a bumpy road situation.
Since our bikes are worth several thousand $, I use a yardstash portable shed from CW to store them in when at a campground. It'll fit 3 adult and 1 kids bike, but it is tight.

[BulldawgFan]

We use a ladder rack for the back of the tt. Works well and when not taking the bikes we have hung the zero gravity chairs there.

[Fisherguy]

krobbe wrote:
My setup:

Hmmm, now you've got me thinking... 😉

I put our bikes in the canopy (cap) in the back of the truck but it's getting crowded back there, I like your idea, just throw the cushions onto our bed and put the bikes on the nook. I assume that's velcro or something holding the rear tires?
Are the boards the bikes are attached to screwed down? We travel a lotta rough logging roads, our bikes would bounce around a lot if they weren't anchored. Did you make the brackets for the front forks?

[krobbe]

My setup:

[RAMwoodworks]

RAMwoodworks wrote:

Those are pretty slick. Better than tossing them on the front bed for sure.

I was going through the Mods thread and saw one where they installed a truck box for a pickup right behind the tanks on the trailer. They then put the battery, chocks etc in there. If I did that I could probably just screw the channel type racks to the top of that for the bikes.

Well that won't work. Even with a 1' wide box and moving the tanks forward a few inches no room for bikes. Looks like they go inside on a platform...

[RAMwoodworks]

am1958 wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:


As the old saying goes - a pic is worth a 1000 words. :W

Your wish etc.

Daughter's Stand:



Adult's Stand:



The bikes on the adults stand have the tires on the crosspieces and are arranged front to back. The kickstand rest on the longitudinal sections as you prepare to strap them on and as you tighten the straps the kickstands will rise up.

Those are pretty slick. Better than tossing them on the front bed for sure.

I was going through the Mods thread and saw one where they installed a truck box for a pickup right behind the tanks on the trailer. They then put the battery, chocks etc in there. If I did that I could probably just screw the channel type racks to the top of that for the bikes.

[am1958]

SoundGuy wrote:


As the old saying goes - a pic is worth a 1000 words. :W

Your wish etc.

Daughter's Stand:



Adult's Stand:



The bikes on the adults stand have the tires on the crosspieces and are arranged front to back. The kickstand rest on the longitudinal sections as you prepare to strap them on and as you tighten the straps the kickstands will rise up.

[RedRocket204]

Here is an additional option for transporting bikes in a RV trailer - Bike carrying solution....finally!

[1stgenfarmboy]

As soon as I got the new TT home I cut off the factory back bumper and installed one that I put a rack for bikes on, also have the spare mounted to the rack.

changed my loaded camper " but no water " tongue weight from 820 to 730 so all is good.

[C_B_]

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

Still don't have bragging rights Son Cedar Creek 362BBS is 11" longer than my 36CKTS.:(



C.B.

[Community Alumni]

RAMwoodworks wrote:
Not to send this thread astray but if I put one of these light duty receivers up front could I use it for backing my TT into a tight spot? Tongue weight is 542 empty.

How much easier is it when using a front hitch?

Check the limit on the hitch. You typically see a 500 lbs tongue / 5000 trailer limit. Using a front hitch with a high walled trailer can be a wash over backing. People find it easier to maneuver since you're going forward, but you limited visibility around the trailer since you can no longer use your mirrors. Also you have to spend the time dropping the trailer, flipping the truck around, and reloading. With a little practice you can back into the tightest of spots.

[SoundGuy]

am1958 wrote:
I made two "stands". One holds the two adult bikes and the other our daughter's. The stands are flat with rubber feet and have a ring at each corner for the cinch straps to attach to. The adult stand is 1" less than the distance between the seat in the slide and the fridge when the slide is in and the two bike are strapped to it vertically so they touch nothing else in the trailer. The daughters stand goes in the entrance way and holds the bike vertically like the adult stand.

It cost all of $30 and half an hour to construct them and we never have a problem. Once you've done it a few times the bikes can be loaded and unloaded in a couple of minutes by one person.

As the old saying goes - a pic is worth a 1000 words. :W

[am1958]

I made two "stands". One holds the two adult bikes and the other our daughter's. The stands are flat with rubber feet and have a ring at each corner for the cinch straps to attach to. The adult stand is 1" less than the distance between the seat in the slide and the fridge when the slide is in and the two bike are strapped to it vertically so they touch nothing else in the trailer. The daughters stand goes in the entrance way and holds the bike vertically like the adult stand.

It cost all of $30 and half an hour to construct them and we never have a problem. Once you've done it a few times the bikes can be loaded and unloaded in a couple of minutes by one person.

[Hondavalk]

Lwiddis wrote:
"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.

Fiberglass or carbon fiber??? :h