Trailer tongue bike rack mod

[tslarson]

Here is a bike rack mount I just finished building for the tongue of my trailer. This spring we updated vehicles from a Ford Explorer to a Ford F150 CC. We usually carry 3 or 4 bikes. I have a rear trailer mounted Swagman RV 2 bike rack to carry 2 of our bikes (I know I’m just at my bumper capacity, no need to discuss that in this thread) and then we carried 2 bikes on the roof of the Explorer. Since the Explorer is no longer, and I want to put a ladder rack on the truck to carry a small boat, putting the bikes on the roof of the F150 was not an option. Neither was putting them in the trailer, it seems on our way to our camping destination we need to get in the trailer for provisioning, etc…
In building a trailer tongue mounting system I had several criteria that must be met.
1. Must be of reasonable weight.
2. Must be able to access propane tank valves, I do have to remove the bike rack section to get the tank cover off. It is only one bolt, so it is easy.
3. Must be able to remove and install batteries. I saw someone else’s pictures of a rack they made, but their style would have hindered this.
4. Must be able to tip down the bunk without removing any of the bike rack. The bunk clears the rack when folded by about 1 1/2”.
I envisioned and inverted “T” style rack that mounts from the bottom of the trailer frame between the propane tanks and the batteries. Materials used were lengths of 2” square 11 gauge tubing, ¼” thick 4” X 6” plates, 3/8” diameter 2” id. X 7” square U bolts, 6” long 2” square trailer hitch receiver from Northern Tool. I fit the plates and bottom tube to the trailer and clamped into position, then removed and welded the plates to the tube. I then installed and positioned the vertical tube and determined the height. I then removed again and welded the vertical tube and trailer hitch tube to the top. Painted the whole thing and installed. I found that the bracket flexed fore and aft a little too much for me, and worried about the vertical to horizontal tube weld joint fatiguing and failing. I then removed the whole thing and welded some gussets to strengthen it. Installed again, and it is rock solid. Very pleased with the outcome, total cost of$ 80.00 plus another Swagman RV 2 bike rack (the sturdiest, bounce free rack I have ever seen). Welding- free.

Welding the Bike rack mounting bracket.

Ready to install.

Attachment to trailer.

Gusset addition.


See next post for more pictures.

[tslarson]

Installed on trailer.

Folded.

With bikes on.

[Jagiven]

Very nice. Looks very profesional

[Bobsanchez44]

Originally Posted by tslarson

Installed on trailer.

Folded.

With bikes on.

Very nice

[clubhouse]

Maybe something you should consider selling. Lots of demand for this solution and the only one on the market I am aware is Arvika but it's very expensive, totally proprietary, and not widely available in any retail locations. Your's appears to be a great solution to get a 2" receiver on the AFrame thus allowing any number of already available receiver mount bike racks to be used.

I wish I had welding/fabrication skills.

[Recondite]

Beautiful job!

[glsimms]

Originally Posted by clubhouse

Maybe something you should consider selling. Lots of demand for this solution and the only one on the market I am aware is Arvika but it's very expensive, totally proprietary, and not widely available in any retail locations. Your's appears to be a great solution to get a 2" receiver on the AFrame thus allowing any number of already available receiver mount bike racks to be used.

I wish I had welding/fabrication skills.

I agree!!!

We need to start a petition......

[Threebutchers]

Nice job...well thought out...

[lx22f/c]

Looks good. Nice work

[dewey02]

You have provided more understandable information in just one post than arvika has on their entire website over a 5 year period. GREAT JOB. If you build more, I'll be a customer.

[tslarson]

[QUOTE]Maybe something you should consider selling. Lots of demand for this solution and the only one on the market I am aware is Arvika but it's very expensive, totally proprietary, and not widely available in any retail locations. Your's appears to be a great solution to get a 2" receiver on the AFrame thus allowing any number of already available receiver mount bike racks to be used. [QUOTE]
Each one would have to be custom fit for each trailer as to where the vertical tube would have to be. That would need to be adjustable to sell the rack. Also each person my want a different height.

[tslarson]

Just got back from the first camping trip using the bike rack. Towed about 300 miles. Rack worked very well! Very little flexing while going down the road.

[jamesj]

Can you make a sketch of your design with dimensions?

I like this idea, as I can only take 2 bikes on the ladder on our 28DSBH.

[tslarson]

I gave most of the spec's of the rack on my first post. The width and heigth are all dependant on where you mount the rack on your toungue, and how high it has to be to make it over your propane tanks. In my case I made the bottom square tube 25" to span the mounting plates properly and the overall height needed to be 33" to give enough clearance over my propane tanks and still be able to open the door to access the tank valves.

[donurs6465]

Creative thinking on that bike rack. Very good idea.

[campingdog]

How did this impact your tongue weight?

[knowles24]

Here's my custom version of a tongue mounted bicycle rack. I have built 2 units so far and love them! They are very overbuilt and holds 4 bikes easily. Clears the bed of the truck in the worst possible turning scenario. The bikes don't budge. It took me many many hours to design and build these, but the ease of loading (compared to rear ladder bike rack) and the peace of mind I have (compared to the bumper mounted bike rack) made it well worth the time, money, and effort!

[knowles24]

Here's pictures of the second one I built.

[Threebutchers]

We have the same bikes - that's where the similarities stop.

Looks like you've welded before....very nice work.

[knowles24]

Originally Posted by Threebutchers

We have the same bikes - that's where the similarities stop.

Looks like you've welded before....very nice work.

Thank you! My friend is the welder and I designed and cut them. We have contemplated building some on a custom order basis, but we'll have to see how things go. To me, loading and unloading the bikes before and after a trip used to be the absolute worst part of a camping trip. I have thoroughly enjoyed this method as it only takes me a couple minutes now. I feel much safer hauling them this way too!