Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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Joined: 07/10/2002
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We carry our two bikes on a rack in the front of our Suburban with a custom receiver made by a welding shop. There are other ideas if you search for `bike rack' in the TT forum.
I think the best idea is to buy foldable bikes (our favorite is Dahon) and store them inside the TT for travel.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two electric bikes (both Currie Tech Path+ models)
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mr_andyj
Georgia
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Joined: 11/13/2004
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Lantley wrote:The no poster did not elaborate however no is correct. The OEM bumper is not sturdy enough to support a bike rack. You can get a welder to reinforce the bumper/replace it with a sturdier bumper or have the welder fabricate a rack or hitch to carry bikes. Even then you will need to be concerned about tongue weight and the adverse effects of carrying the
weight hanging off the back.
It can be done but it not as simple or straight forward as installing an off the shelf bike rack
.....So, that's a YES!?
you covered both the yes and the no.
The bumper can be made of quite flimsy thin steel, while other 4 inch square bumpers are made of thicker steel that can handle anything. I assume you are talking about clamping a rack on with a couple of supplied U-bolts? or are you clamping on a receiver hitch with same u-bolts and using a receiver bike rack?
Do it, and if the bikes are looking like they are mounted to a rubber spring, then you likely can just bungee one of the bike tires to the ladder and that will stop the sway and the bumper will be plenty strong to hold the weight. The issue is of how much twisting the bumper might do if it is the flimsy kind.
The best option is to mount a receiver hitch to the main frame of the trailer and go from there.
You can also replace the bumper with a strong bumper and then not have the issue of flymsy bumper.
Without looking at your specific bumper none of us know. You tell us your make and model camper like everyone knows what that is, It is not like vehicle like a F-150 where it is well known and common.
The ladder or even a spare tire, or anything higher up that you can make a second point of contact, is key to making it work. Otherwise you should do some welding to make a strong base.
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Lwiddis
Owens River area
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Joined: 08/12/2016
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That's where my bike rides, SDcampowner.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AMP Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
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wintersun
Monterey
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Joined: 12/22/2011
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Check the websites for the e-bike racks as these racks will handle 120 lbs with ease. The Hollywood, Thule, Yakima, Swagman, and 1up manufacturers will specify if the racks need a 1-1/4 or 2 inch hitch receiver or can be mounted on a bumper.
Easiest to mount the rack on the tow vehicle and not off the rear of the trailer. There are dual hitch receiver adapters so the tow vehicle can be attached to the trailer and also have a place to mount a bike rack that requires a hitch mount.
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CavemanCharlie
Storden,MN
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Joined: 03/01/2012
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Because we are going back and forth on Yes or No... I vote for no.
I watched a high end 5th wheel go down the highway one day. He had a strong bumper with a small receiver hitch attached to it from the factory. He had a decent looking bike carrier and he also had the biked reinforced to the ladder of the 5th wheel with straps.
Every time he hit a large bump the entire assembly would bounce up a down. ( A big amount of bounce too) . I actually backed off from him until I could pass safely because sooner or later this thing was going to break off and I didn't want to be near by while bikes were flying down the highway all over the place.
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the e-man
Virginia
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Joined: 02/08/2010
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For the first year we had our camper, we tried bringing them in camper and laying them in the bed of the truck. Both options worked but we didn't think they were very convenient.
Here are two good options for bringing your bikes.
Option 1: an over-the-propane-tank rack like Arvika (from 2-4 bikes) or Jack-It (2 bikes)
Option 2: a rack over your pickup bed. Check out Thule or Adarac
There are ways to add a bike rack to the back of your camper. You may need to investigate welding a mount to the frame. As others have mentioned, the bumper likely isn't strong enough.
You may even be able to find a rack for the front of your truck but this seems to be a less common choice.
If you search the forums for bike rack, you'll find many past threads with lots of thoughts and opinions.
Let us know what you pick.
2018 Grand Design Transcend 28MKS
2010 Ram 2500
Travel Trail Sail - Info on Travel Planning, RV Camping, Outdoor Living
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