bike racks do or don't

[phillip wright]

Just got my hands on a 1994 Eagle 12 and want to tow 4 adult bikes.
I thought about a rear rack but know that some pups will be thrown out of balance. Hitch mount...would it put to much tongue weight up front?
Roof mount ...or can it even be done on this model ?

 

[Mpking]

I saw one in the internet for sale that clamps around the hitch tube, and comes up with a bar that is almost level with the roof. It's got the fork mount on it. You hitch the forks to that, and there is a pad that the rest ties sit on. It was sized to hold for bikes.I've also seen people home make this. It's what I'm going to try when I have some free time. When I get to work, I'll see if I can post a picture.

 

[Mpking]

Here's some of the home built stuff I've seen:
From the very simple:
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/showthread.php?51604-DIY-Bike-Rack-for-Pop-Up-Camper

To the slight more elaborate:
http://www.popupportal.com/index.php?topic=56043.0

Then there are the purchased ones:
http://www.bikemania.biz/vehicle-racks/renniks-pop-up-camper-bike-rack/

This one from Etrailer is pretty cool too:

http://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Motorhome-Bike-Racks/Swagman/S80550.html

Etrailer also has load bars you can put on the trailer.
http://www.etrailer.com/Ladder-Racks/Swagman/S80510.html

At this point, I'd personally looking at the aluminum Swagman rack (From etrailer) but not drilling into the roof, but going around the trailer with a longer Ratchet strap.

Anyways, my point is you want to avoid loading the rear bumper. From all I've read, it's not really designed to support that much additional weight, plus as you mentioned, throwing it off balance.

 

[Mpking]

Etrailer had a KB article on this question actually:
http://www.etrailer.com/question-40607.html

The also point out this exists:
http://www.etrailer.com/p-D210.html
Curt Multipurpose Ball Mount with 2" Receiver for Bike Racks and Cargo Carriers - 7,500 lbs

 

[DocBrown-JAY]

We had a '93 Jayco 1208 PUP that we bought new. One of things they touted in their sales literature was that every Jayco PUP roof could support cargo racks for bikes, canoes, etc. Of course they had their own and we bought them because I didn't want to chance mounting them myself at the time and damaging the roof. We also bought the Jayco bike rack which was a mistake because it scratched up our bikes. But the cargo bars were great.

The brackets were mounted to the edges, not the roof itself. The rack bars in this link are very similar to the ones installed on our old PUP.

http://www.orsracksdirect.com/sportrack-tent-trailer-camper-racks.html

I'm not home right now, but If I find a photo of our pup with the bikes on I'll post it.

 

[phillip wright]

Thanks for the info..

 

[emjayuu]

Etrailer had a KB article on this question actually:
http://www.etrailer.com/question-40607.html

The also point out this exists:
http://www.etrailer.com/p-D210.html
Curt Multipurpose Ball Mount with 2" Receiver for Bike Racks and Cargo Carriers - 7,500 lbs

I will take pics of my Curt hitch with trailer and bike rack once my pop up comes back from the dealer.