Bike rack

[dindy]

Hi all! I was hoping someone could help me out with a bike rack question. We are a family of 5. We got our pop-up camper late summer this past year. We also all have bikes (well, the youngest one still on the back of mine). We are planning on taking the long trek from PA to Disney in April and definitely want to take the bikes with us. I have not yet invested in some type of bike rack yet, and just wondered what everyone recommended. I've seen the ones on the top of the camper, and I've also seen some where you can get a special hitch with a rack and still connect it to the camper... it's all so confusing to me! Plus, we have a mini-van, so I'm a little nervous about towing capacity. Any input would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks
Lindsay

 

[blondinkaya]

Hi, Lindsay! Welcome!

Unfortunately, I cannot answer your question, but hopefully someone who has some experience with transporting bikes will be able to give you some input.

 

[VACAMPER]

This is all the real info i have that might help you

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1798670&highlight=bike+rack

 

[campingdawgs]

We were never able to come up with an ideal solution. DH didn't want to drill holes in the top of the pop-up and the pop-up bumper wouldn't support a bike rack. DH ended up getting a three bike rack that goes over the trailer hitch (four wouldn't fit because the trailer tongue was so short). He then bolted metal channels behind the propane bottles and strapped the two smallest bikes to them. Sounds complicated, but it seemed like everything was complicated with that camper!

 

[tim5055]

Please verify your towing limits before you add more weight as many minivans are near theri limits once you hook up a pop up.

Here is my bike rack page.. I currently use one that slides over the hitch receiver, but you will never find one for 5 bikes. You will have to go to a roof mounted rack for that many bikes.

 

[bama_ed]

Ditto what Tim says about verifying weights of bikes and rack on top of what you are already towing.

We use the Prorac 4-bike rack for pop-ups http://www.prorac.com/tenttrailerpro.php. Note from the description you can get two more attachments to carry up to six bikes (we have 5 just like you do). Its height is adjustable which is nice. The back tires rest on the storage compartment just like shown in the pictures. We take off the front wheels and throw them in the closed up pop-up just inside the door.

Don't use a rack on the pop-up roof if you have to drill a hole in the roof. Doing so voids any warranty if you still have one and will be a future source of water intrusion.

We love taking our bikes to the Fort on every trip (nearly annually because we're from Alabama). Save the money on the cost of a golf cart and treat the family instead to the Hoop-Dee-Doo dinner show. Your kids would enjoy it. Good luck!

Bama ED

PS-on the prorac website the extra brackets and straps (one per bike) are on the application products page. We also got the tire pads (one per bike for the rear tire) so the tires wouldn't leave black marks as they bounce a little despite pulling the straps tight. Usually the first stop down the road I re-snug the straps and straighten things out and it's fine. Never had a problem with it. We ordered ours through the Popup Explorer website http://www.popupexplorer.com and go to the Pux Store link.

 

[YensidCamper]

One of the few mods I didn't do myself that I had a dealer do was add the yakima bike rack bars to my Coleman ABS roof. No leaks no problems with roof whatsoever for 6 years now. It is expensive but I have taken 4 bikes to Disney and back and all around the southeast without trouble. My AC unit prevents putting 5 bikes on my rack. We love the set up and it works great.

We tried the hitch mount but even three bikes will get in the way of turning for us and you can't raise your hatchback on the van.

 

[dindy]

Thanks for all of your responses. It's nice to know what other people has used or tried to use in the past.

since I can't repost quotes....
Tim 5055-
Thanks for the advice. We did have to check on our towing limits before we bought our camper, which had even limited our selection on what camper to buy in the first place. With all the snow we've been getting, and now having a camper, I'm actually thinking about trading in the minivan and getting another suv. Just wish the nicer 7 passengers weren't so expensive!

How do you like the rack you have now- does it impair your turns at all?

Bama ed-
That bike rack looks great- we will definitely look into this system! Thanks for the advice on the accessories that you needed as well!

 

[tim5055]

Tim 5055-
How do you like the rack you have now- does it impair your turns at all?

I love our current rack, but no longer use it between the truck & pop up. I am lucky that my pop up is one of the few I have ever seen that had a factory reciever on the back for these type of accessories. We now use it on the back of the pop up.

But, even when we used it between the truck & pop up we had no problems. But, it only holds 3 bikes.