How do you carry your bikes?

[clubhouse]

Had a 2" receiver installed by a custom hitch shop. For ~$300 they fabricated a Frame to Frame supported receiver. They laughed when I came in that I still had the rear bumper on my TT. They mentioned 90%+ of these they do are after the stock bumper failed from a bolt on receiver being used to carry bikes.

IMO having a receiver welded to the frame is the best option. I asked Jayco for their opinion and they advised against it, claiming frame modification could affect warranty claims. I gambled that it would be OK, after towing with 4 bikes back there for 1000+ mile this summer I don't see any issues with frame flex or fatigue.

[bbrown]

Well now, after reading these posts about the welded rear bumpers tearing off....I'm gonna reinforce mine. I have a spare tire on the bumper and a bolt on receiver to carry two bikes usually. I figured the welds were more than adequate but not so sure now.

[Im4tunate]

I recently purchased a 2014 X23b and also plan on installing the Swagman Bike rack that mounts to the bumper. Before doing so, I want to reinforce the bumper to make sure there will be no support issues. The 2 aluminum bikes I will travel with weigh a combined total of 76 lbs. The 2 bike mounts weigh 22 lbs, which gives me a combined total of 98 lbs with the bikes. The bumper is made of 16 gage tube steel, and the frame its mounted to is made of 12 gage channel steel. My idea is to weld a steel triangle gusset to each frame/bumper joint (see attached for visual) This is where I need help. I have great welding skills and plenty of steel, but I'm not an engineer, so I don't know if my proposed method of support is adequate. If anyone with this skill has any recommendations, I'm open to all suggestions. I just want to make sure I'm properly reinforced before hitting the road.

[snookwhisperer]

Problem with the bikes on the trailer, is that you can't take them out of your camping area.
In the truck you can go to trail heads or to parks, etc.

[clubhouse]

Originally Posted by snookwhisperer

Problem with the bikes on the trailer, is that you can't take them out of your camping area.
In the truck you can go to trail heads or to parks, etc.

What? Once I unhook the TT, simply take the bike carrier out of the receiver on the back of the trailer and put it in the receiver on the back of the truck. Moving bikes around independent of the TT is never a problem, it's hauling bikes with a travel trailer that causes a little more effort.

[jdorant]

Originally Posted by clubhouse

What? Once I unhook the TT, simply take the bike carrier out of the receiver on the back of the trailer and put it in the receiver on the back of the truck. Moving bikes around independent of the TT is never a problem, it's hauling bikes with a travel trailer that causes a little more effort.

Same problem here... Getting the bikes to camp while hauling the TT. Not worried once I get there.

[snookwhisperer]

So you need a receiver on the trailer and the truck, what, just put the receiver on the front of the tv and be done with it.
No reinforcing the trailer bumper. Also, most bike racks state they are not approved for rv use.
You hear the horror story's about using the trailer bumpers for bike racks and still you try? Go figure.

[clubhouse]

Originally Posted by snookwhisperer

So you need a receiver on the trailer and the truck, what, just put the receiver on the front of the tv and be done with it.
No reinforcing the trailer bumper. Also, most bike racks state they are not approved for rv use.
You hear the horror story's about using the trailer bumpers for bike racks and still you try? Go figure.

Well I didn't try to hang bikes off the TT bumper and wouldn't recommend it. I had a receiver fabricated and welded/installed to the rear TT frame cost $300. From what I have seen front of truck mount receiver set-ups are still ~$200 and then I have to install it. Basically either option are similar priced and require you add a receiver, either front of TW or Rear of TT, so I don't see what the difference is where you put it.

I considered the front of truck option, however I also use a receiver mounted cargo carrier occasionally too. Didn't think that would work out as well on the front to the truck vs the rear of the travel trailer.

You are correct about "most bike racks" not being recommended/approved for RV use…however Swagman has several that are tested and approved for RV/Travel Trailer use. They have options from single bikes up to 4 bike carriers that can be used on TT.

[Salsa03]

I bought myself a Thule Bed Rider and I can haul along 4 bikes in the bed of my Sierra.... Love the setup I have

Advantage as said earlier is that I can carry the bikes anywhere, with or without the TT, and only 1 piece of equipment is needed



Only picture I seem to have of the bikes in the bed..... taken with my old TT...

[kuzbro]

Ordered a heavy duty 2" hitch adapter along with a Swagman bike rack from Amazon.com., so far after, eight months and 7,000 miles, works pretty good. Removed the spare tire and mount that was on the rear bumper. Spare tire now in basement, right rear side.

[belljl45]

Heady, I'm going threw the bike rack issue and have a trundra as well! 2012 not the sr5 but could I get the same system that you have? thanks for your help!

[Threebutchers]

Aluminum Bikes - combined weight of all bikes and rack is under 90#. Weight dispersion across the full bumper...no bouncing stress.

[Plowtoy]

I ended up buying a "bolt on" 2 inch reciever for our bikes. I was going to make one that bolts to the tongue like I saw on this forum, but I was having trouble sourcing the square tubing (I didn't look that hard :-)). We ended up buying a differant camper and decided that I didn't want the extra tongue weight on this one, so they are on the rear bumper. I asked the guy at the RV dealer about this, and he said he sells alot of them, and has very few issues.
Our bikes are about 35lbs each and the bike rack is about 30lbs. The rack is a Sportworks and it only holds two. I did modify it so the weight was more over top of the hitch, and not out like it was origanally designed. I thought it was too much leverage to be that far away from the bumper.
I also installed the reciever ontop of the bumper as shown in the diagram.
I did add a rachet strap to put downward pressure on the rack itself to keep the bikes and rack from flopping over bumps, which I felt would put extra leverage on the bumper. I took the bikes on a 200 mile round trip this past weekend and my brother inlaw followed me, said they hardly moved...

[howie]

Mine are in the bed of the truck. (Up to 4 of them sometimes when my nephew goes) Along with all the other "stuff" the wife insists we must take.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by howie

Mine are in the bed of the truck. (Up to 4 of them sometimes when my nephew goes) Along with all the other "stuff" the wife insists we must take.

Do you attach them, stand them up or otherwise secure them? Or do you just lay 'em in there?

I ask because I'm thinking of just laying mine and DW's in there... I don't haul anything else in the truck, so space is not an issue. And my bikes are ridden, so they are pretty beat up, I don't think laying them in the truck is really going to hurt anything so long as I take a little care to make sure they're settled and won't move too much...

[ADK]

Has anyone using the front hitch mounted bike rack had issues with overheating?

[howie]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Do you attach them, stand them up or otherwise secure them? Or do you just lay 'em in there?

I ask because I'm thinking of just laying mine and DW's in there... I don't haul anything else in the truck, so space is not an issue. And my bikes are ridden, so they are pretty beat up, I don't think laying them in the truck is really going to hurt anything so long as I take a little care to make sure they're settled and won't move too much...

They are standing up, but no special rack or rail is used, maybe a bungee cord. I typically place stuff against them to help hold them in place. Firewood, cornhole boards, 5 gallon water jug, cooler, road trip grill, pop-up canopy and the kitchen sink
Like yourself, ours are ridden. And they are older and beat up. So I am not concerned about getting a ding or scratch on them.
I did see a homemade rack that sat on top of the truck bed that held the bikes. I have the pic saved at home. I may try to make something like it also.

[33 RLDS]

The description on amazon says to be used with a continuously welded bumper. What do they mean by that?

Originally Posted by Threebutchers

Aluminum Bikes - combined weight of all bikes and rack is under 90#. Weight dispersion across the full bumper...no bouncing stress.

[SouthCo]

I just lay them down in the bed of the pickup. I have plenty of room so they are not in the way.

[Threebutchers]

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

The description on amazon says to be used with a continuously welded bumper. What do they mean by that?

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