Bike Rental Question

[gardendame]

Would someone please provide me with a link for bike rental prices at FW? We just bought a Pop-up, and want to go to FW. However, our camper has an ABS roof (a 2000 model and, so far, no cracks, blisters, etc.) and I don't think I should risk a rooftop bike rack. I can't think of a way to get 5 bikes to the campground, so was looking into possibly renting bikes while we are there.
So, can someone EITHER 1) provide me with rental rates for 5 bikes for 5 days, OR 2) tell me a good way to carry 5 bikes all of the way down to south Florida without drilling holes into the ABS roof of my Popup??
Thanks!

 

[EeyoreBrat]

Is there a spare Tire on the back of the popup? I know we did on ours. If there is you can use an over the tire bike rack and/or you can use a hitch style bike mount between the truck and trailer and/or one on the back on the trailer (which will require mounting a reciever to your popup's frame).

Eeyore Brat

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Bike rentals are done through the Bike Barn and the cost is per hour, not per day. You are not allowed to keep the bikes overnight. I am unsure of what the per hour rate is, but I am pretty sure it would not be cost effective to rent them even for every day over a 5 day period. Be sure to check with your camper manufacturer before putting any kind of bike rack on. Many trailer bumpers are not designed to carry the load a bike rack would put on them, even those with spare tires mounted on them. The type described previously which would go between your receiver on your tow vehicle and the camper will decrease the hitch weight capacity of your vehicle.
Be sure if you use this type you factor this in when determining your towing capacities.

 

[gardendame]

Wonder what it would cost for me to ship all five bikes to the campground??!!!

 

[LMC]

Do you camp alot? Would it be cost effective to have a hitch mounted to the rear of your pop up and then use a bike carrier off of it? It may also only hold 4 bikes so you would need to stow one somewhere else.
OR, you could take manual powered scooters for the kiddos and the adults can walk.
And, if I remember correctly, bike rental for 5 is expensive and I think you would come out better getting a golf cart for that day you would plan on renting bikes. You'd have the cart for 24 hours.

 

[We4mickey]

your best bet is to have your dealer mount a bike rack sys for you.I've had a rack on my pop-up ever since we bought it in 1998. We have never had any water leaks.This is my 2cents.

 

[tim5055]

Is there a spare Tire on the back of the popup? I know we did on ours. If there is you can use an over the tire bike rack and/or you can use a hitch style bike mount between the truck and trailer and/or one on the back on the trailer (which will require mounting a reciever to your popup's frame).

Pop Up spare tires do not have the support behind them to add the weight of even a single bike.

Do you camp alot? Would it be cost effective to have a hitch mounted to the rear of your pop up and then use a bike carrier off of it?

With almost all pop ups, anything mounted on the rear can create a dangerous sway situation. Weight on the rear will unload weight off of the tongue; in the case of a pop up it causes sway.

If you want to stay away from the ABS roof issues, there are three posibilities:

• A Swagman 5 bike rack mounted in a dual hitch receiver This would put 5 bikes between the vehicle and the pop up. Be careful not to exceed your receiver limits
• A Pro Rack 4 bike rack This will still leave you with a single bike to deal with and again you can exceed your receiver limits
• Put a Front Mount 2" Receiver Hitch on the front of your vehicle and put the bikes up front. This option is not available for all vehicles and can reduce visibility to the front in some applications as well as headlight illumination depending on how the bikes are situated.

 

[clkelley]

You could also run to the local Wal-Mart once you are at WDW and purchase inexpensive bikes there to use for the week, then donate them to another camper family or drop off at the local Christmas Charities.

Looking at WalMart.com they have kids bikes for as low as $35.00 and adult bikes as low as 60.00. They may not be the best bikes but should beat rental rates.

Carol

 

[geniegirl]

Are there places to park and lock up your bike if you ride it to the marina to go to the park or to the front gate to get on the buses or do you need to keep them at your site during the day and only use the bikes to ride around the campground.

 

[clkelley]

Yes, there are bike racks (and trees and fence posts) near every golf cart parking area near the marina, Trails End/Hoop-De-Doo, Meadows Recreation Area, and the Outpost bus stop.

Carol