Bike racks

[serenitygr]

Hi fellow campers! Looking for advice on bike racks. We need to get a new one to put on the back of our fifth wheel- the more bikes the better. (Up to 6) We had one at one time but it just didn’t hold up over our 3500 mile trip. I’d love to get recommendations from those of you who have experience with which ones are good and which ones are bad. Thank you so much!

 

[tiggerdad]

Hi fellow campers! Looking for advice on bike racks. We need to get a new one to put on the back of our fifth wheel- the more bikes the better. (Up to 6) We had one at one time but it just didn’t hold up over our 3500 mile trip. I’d love to get recommendations from those of you who have experience with which ones are good and which ones are bad. Thank you so much!

Does your RV have rear trailer hookup or will this need to mount to the tube bumper on the rear? Mine inserts in trailer hitch on back of my RV.

Whatever it is, please know there is a difference in bike racks for cars/trucks and those for RVs. Rear of RV bounces horribly and therefore those are stronger.

Mine holds 4, not sure I've seen one that holds 6 but you might me able to get two of them in bed of truck around the 5th wheel hookup and still have room for camper.

 

[serenitygr]

Swagman RV Approved 4-Bike Bumper Rack
This is the one we're looking at, although it's out of stock right now... The last one we had was the hitch kind- I like the idea of the bumper one- it just seems sturdier. And we can make a 4 bike one work....

 

[tiggerdad]

This is mine.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

6 bikes on an RV carrier is unrealistic.
The rear of an RV subjects the rack to a lot of movement up and down due to the road irregularities. This force is multiplied by the fact that the rack extends out the back. There are a couple of things that are a must for this type of rear carrier. Your hitch will need to be rated to carry the weight of the bikes and the forces they will encounter. Most of the RV manufacturers that include the 2" receiver on the back will meet this requirement. A bumper mounted bike rack will not. The rack will also need some sort of a tightening device on the hitch pin to take up any slack and not allow the rack to bounce up and down.
Unfortunately I learned many years ago how NOT to carry bikes

 

[serenitygr]

6 bikes on an RV carrier is unrealistic.
The rear of an RV subjects the rack to a lot of movement up and down due to the road irregularities. This force is multiplied by the fact that the rack extends out the back. There are a couple of things that are a must for this type of rear carrier. Your hitch will need to be rated to carry the weight of the bikes and the forces they will encounter. Most of the RV manufacturers that include the 2" receiver on the back will meet this requirement. A bumper mounted bike rack will not. The rack will also need some sort of a tightening device on the hitch pin to take up any slack and not allow the rack to bounce up and down.
Unfortunately I learned many years ago how NOT to carry bikes

Are you saying that we’d actually be better off with the hitch kind? That’s what we had before and we used the box of the truck for our two extra bikes. But obviously I didn’t know much at the time and the rack I got - while it held up for two trips- did bend and we wouldn’t have trusted it for a third go round.
We have a steel bumper and also a receiver for a hitch. I want to get what is the best and most trustworthy without breaking the bank ( the 700-800 dollar ones seem a little bit overkill for one trip a year max). I’m also looking at Tiggerdad’s hitch- same brand as the bumper hitch I was looking at. Where would I find out if our bumper was rated for something like this? Thanks!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I dont think I explained that very well. Some of the newer 5th wheels have a "receiver" hitch in place of a bumper. The one on our Grand Design 337RLS is rated for 3000#, Technically we have no bumper. This style is more than capable of carrying a 4 bike load. Our Thule 2 bike carrier goes into the receiver and then the bolt that it uses in place of the pin holds it from slopping around. I have seen some trailers that had the 2" receiver but were only rated for 300#, obviously that would be pushing it.
The trailer manufacturer should have a rating somewhere ?

On edit, now I am thinking I might not know the brand on our rack ? Its out in the back of the barn right now but I will go out and look. Either way you see the style of it. Not sure what the cost was since it was actually a gift to my wife from our youngest son who worked on and sold bikes for 6 or 7 yrs (so I know he didnt pay retail for it... LOL)

 

[tiggerdad]

Are you saying that we’d actually be better off with the hitch kind? That’s what we had before and we used the box of the truck for our two extra bikes. But obviously I didn’t know much at the time and the rack I got - while it held up for two trips- did bend and we wouldn’t have trusted it for a third go round.
We have a steel bumper and also a receiver for a hitch. I want to get what is the best and most trustworthy without breaking the bank ( the 700-800 dollar ones seem a little bit overkill for one trip a year max). I’m also looking at Tiggerdad’s hitch- same brand as the bumper hitch I was looking at. Where would I find out if our bumper was rated for something like this? Thanks!

I dont think I explained that very well. Some of the newer 5th wheels have a "receiver" hitch in place of a bumper. The one on our Grand Design 337RLS is rated for 3000#, Technically we have no bumper. This style is more than capable of carrying a 4 bike load. Our Thule 2 bike carrier goes into the receiver and then the bolt that it uses in place of the pin holds it from slopping around. I have seen some trailers that had the 2" receiver but were only rated for 300#, obviously that would be pushing it.
The trailer manufacturer should have a rating somewhere ?

On edit, now I am thinking I might not know the brand on our rack ? Its out in the back of the barn right now but I will go out and look. Either way you see the style of it. Not sure what the cost was since it was actually a gift to my wife from our youngest son who worked on and sold bikes for 6 or 7 yrs (so I know he didnt pay retail for it... LOL)

Here is the manufacturers hitch on my 5th wheel.


The bike rack I have (same one you're looking at I believe) came with pre-drilled hole, but it was very close to the end. Too close for my liking. It'll have more strength the further it is in the receiver. I drilled similar hole much further in to allow for more strength.

Like he said, I'd use something that keeps it tight. It came with a pitiful pin and key which was loose as could be. I utilize a bolt with washers and lock nut.

 

[Stork]

I put this on to help with the movement of whatever is in the receiver hitch; bike rack, cargo platform, or our motorcycle trailer. The noise when towing the trailer (or whatever is in the hitch) was unnerving while driving the Dually or the Yukon. Obviously, couldn't hear what's in the 5th wheel receiver way back there, but I know the movement would be damaging over time. Nor would it be good for the bikes or cargo shelf occupants. Our Jayco 5er book numbers are 300 lb tongue weight and 3000 lb trailer/towed item weight. Note: I've never towed the motorcycle trailer behind the 5er, nor will I.

 

[Sjm9911]

I dont have an rv, but do know that before mounting stuff that bounces around to make sure the bumper is welded to the frame. Otherwise you will losse the bumper and the bikes. The hitch is the better way to go with a more expensive better made rack. I have not sceen any for six bikes.

 

[Stork]

Found this online for you bumper pull fans....

 

[serenitygr]

Love all the advice and pictures! So talking to my husband- our 5th wheel came with no hitch - just the bumper, which he thinks says something about 300 pounds. ( I still need to check) He actually installed the hitch himself- bolted and welded to the camper frame. It’s held up well for two trips- with a five bike rack. After the first trip he had to reinforce our bike rack. The second trip it did fine up until we were parked in overflow waiting for our site. The transmission on the truck slipped into reverse when he moved it- he didn’t realize it and when he got out the whole thing started rolling backwards suffice to say- it could have been a whole lot worse and thank God for the post that stopped us. However our bike rack ( and a bike) were the casualties…
So I’m thinking the hitch is the way to go again- just a better stronger version and the pictures with reinforcements are super helpful!

 

[serenitygr]

Amazon.com : Swagman RV Approved Original 4 Hitch Bike Rack, Black, 2-Inch Receiver : Automotive Bike Racks : Sports & Outdoors
OK- here's the one I decided to order! Any comments/suggestions to keep this little bugger as secure as possible is very welcome!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Amazon.com : Swagman RV Approved Original 4 Hitch Bike Rack, Black, 2-Inch Receiver : Automotive Bike Racks : Sports & Outdoors
OK- here's the one I decided to order! Any comments/suggestions to keep this little bugger as secure as possible is very welcome!

I would put the heaviest bikes towards the hitch and make sure you secure them together so that they dont shift and bang on each other. Fortunately, one folding hex key set will work on both our bikes so its easy to fold and turn handlebars and lower seats to make them pack together. I also use a sharpie to mark the handlebars and seat post before I move them so when I am putting them back in riding condition I have an easy reference.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

View attachment 597388

Found this online for you bumper pull fans....

Typical RV bumpers are cheap steel and very thin. A long time ago I thought a hitch like this would work. It cost me a new bumper, damage to our bikes and a hole in the back wall of our trailer.

 

[jbrostek]

Since the hitch sounds secured to the frame it can probably handle some weight.

Tow Tuff Steel is the rack we got, and in hindsight I would have paid extra for the aluminum as this is a really heavy and takes really two of us to get it on the RV. It is rated for 500# capacity and handles 4 bikes with ease. You might be able to squeeze and extra bike on there.

If I did it again I would go with the Tow Tuff Aluminum.

 

[tiggerdad]

Female bikes lack usual straight crossbar which the bike rack needs. They make a bar you can use to substitute.