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.

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.

My spare is on the back bumper of the TT. So, we put the bicycles on the roof of the Suburban. Scratching is a real risk. Gotta pay attention. Bicycles are a lot of fun and good for short errands. Ours are Roadmasters as well. Talk all the junk you want but, we have had those bikes for at least ten years and they are still doing great.

I carry mine on top of the Tahoe most of the time. Use a two step stool which makes loading easy. Be CAREFUL with trees etc. I use a homemade sign on my dashboard to remind me. My rack requires removal of front wheel. Want to steal and use my bike? Need to buy a front wheel.

It would seem like you need to check the strength of the rear bumper. Some are only designed to carry a max of 100#. Mine is pretty rugged and has good attachment points to the main frame. I have a spare tire mounted, so I had to put an extension on my hitch to get out beyond the spare and ladder. I moved my spare to the far left. I then mounted a receiver hitch on the bumper with the extender and a double bike carrier (Swagman, I believe). The extension gets the bike carrier out beyond the ladder and spare. I also bought one of the clamps to tighten up the joints so the hitch and bike carrier do not move at all. This set up works great for me. I'm not sure that I would recommend a four bike rack with this set up. It would place quite a torsional force on the bumper. Perhaps you could also mount two bikes in another location.

I originally bought racks for my roof rack crossbars. However, the crossbars are slightly curved, the bikes were at an angle, and they looked unstable. Besides, putting them on the roof was a pain.I installed a front receiver and used my existing bike rack. No issues whatsoever and the receiver was the same price as the roof mounted bike racks.

Where to put bikes? | Good Sam Community

krobbe
Explorer
Apr 29, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 29, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 29, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 26, 2017
My setup:
RAMwoodworks
Explorer
Apr 26, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 26, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 26, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 26, 2017
Here is an additional option for transporting bikes in a RV trailer - Bike carrying solution....finally!
1stgenfarmboy
Explorer
Apr 26, 2017
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_
Explorer
Apr 26, 2017
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.

Forum Discussion

Where to put bikes?

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

BIKES

Bike rack on bumper?

where to put it all, bikes, toad, etc etc...

Bike Rack

Bike racks in the rear