transporting bikes

[marybrat]

We have an F150 supercrew cab with a short bed. We have looked at in-bed bikes rack, make-your-own-with-PVC bike racks, ladder mount, and slide-over hitch racks. We want to travel with the trailer and our 4 bikes. Any suggestions??? Please help!!!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

With my F150 Supercab, I put on a Slant side Tonneau cover which lifts like a trunk but is soft. I lay the bikes down, close up the tailgate and they are out of the weather for the trip down. Your bed is about 6 inches shorter than mine, so you may have to take off a front tire on the bikes to fit them if they are adult size.

 

[Elliott]

I have the exact same truck and pull a 23 foot TT at this time. I have a hitch mount rack that I put on the Expedition before we had the TT. It can fit up to four bikes easy. I mounted a receiver under the bumper of my TT and it fits right on. It does make me 3 foot longer and the bikes are out in the weather but I use the bed to haul other stuff that I really don't want to get wet. Any bicycle shop should be able to order the rack if they don't have it in stock. I think it is a THULE. This is the site: www.thuleracks.com/thule/carrier_bike1.asp They can be kind or pricey but not losing your bikes is worth it.

 

[auntie]

We have a bike rack that fits into a receiver we had mounted on the back of the trailer. It carries 4 bikes. We also use it when we use bike trails near our home..and it fits right into the reciver on the truck.

Also ...When arriving at camp and removing bikes..we would leave the bike rack attached to the trailer..and slide thin long pieces of PVC..(that we keep stored in the rear bumper of the trailer) through the slots in the rack where the bikes used to rest. It is a great spot to hang wet towels, or suits without having to put up a clothes line.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Best to check with the manufacturer of your RV before mounting a receiver on the bumper or frame of your trailer. In my case, I was told by Jayco that the trailer was not designed for this and it would void my warranty.

 

[handman64]

I also have the same truck and travel with four adult bikes.
I stand the bikes up in the bed positioned toward the front with the front wheels turned 90 degrees. I use tie-down straps to secure the bikes and the bikes nest very well. This also allows me to close the tailgate.
This position leaves plenty of room in the bed for other camping items.

 

[marybrat]

Thank you all for your help. I don't think we can attach anything to our bumper in the back of our trailer. We are thinking of making the PVC pipe rack. It looks like we can make that and then stand the bikes in the bed with the wheels turned just a bit. I would like one of the racks that slides over the hitch mount, but I don't think our hitch can take the extra weight. Anyway, thanks for all the thoughts!!

 

[marybrat]

Has anyone transoprted bikes inside the camper?

 

[disney6family]

We transport our bikes inside our camper because we pull our TT with a Suburban (we need the room to stretch out that a PU just didn't give us)
We store DH/DW along the side of the bed that is in the front of our trailer, 2 DS bikes along bottom of this same bed - with the bikes perpindicular to each other and along the bed they never move. The two other bikes we store in between bunks in back. This allows us access to the fridge, cupboards, etc when we stop for lunch each day of travel.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

We store DH/DW along the side of the bed that is in the front of our trailer,

I tried storing DW along side the bed in the trailer, but she kept complaining at the rest stops - going too fast, ride too bumpy, no AC, couldn't see anything, the list goes on and on. It was a much better trip when I stored her in the front seat of the truck with me - alot less complaining.

 

[marybrat]

I tried storing DW along side the bed in the trailer, but she kept complaining at the rest stops - going too fast, ride too bumpy, no AC, couldn't see anything, the list goes on and on. It was a much better trip when I stored her in the front seat of the truck with me - alot less complaining.

Ha! Ha! I love it. Very funny!

 

[disney6family]

Made my day!

 

[marybrat]

DH made a rack out of PVC this morning. It looks great. We are going to transport the bikes in the camper tomorrow for our trip to the Thousand Islands. The rack is so light, it can easily be put in the camper. Then we plan to use it at camp to park the bikes. We will also use it at home to park them on the patio. The one he made fits two bikes, so he has to mkae another one for the kids' bikes. Having two separate ones will allow us to move them wherever it's convenient in the camper. I will let you all know how well they work on the drive.

 

[iradi8]

We had a piece welded onto the back of our 5th wheel so that we could use a bike rack.

Now, we have a 5th wheel toy hauler so lots of room in the garage for the bikes. Would be nice to have a pvc rack, though, to keep them steady! Can you post a pic?