Hauling Bicycles

goofycat · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Santa Rosa, CA

We recently purchased a Class A motorhome and are considering either a ladder-type attachment on which to place two bicycles on the rear roof ladder or, alternatively, using a carrier that fits into the square tow hitch on the back. Any suggestions as to which way is the most efficient in terms of retrieving the bikes and/or trying to keep road junk off the bikes? Seems to me they would be kept cleaner with the ladder approach. Any particular brand of attachment that you suggest?

Thanks,

Barry
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DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

If you are strong or your bike is light, the ladder might be easier. I travel with an electric scooter bike which is quite heavy, so I had to use the carrier that goes in to the trailer hitch. The only issue with carriers is..... you do get a ramp with the carriers, which is good, but sometimes you will be parked in a way that makes the ramp be very steep, and sometimes you will be parked in a way where it's not that steep. I couldn't figure out why the ramp wasn't always the same "steepness" because the carrier stays at the same place (I'm sure that an engineer on here can give me a very thorough explanation as to why this happens, if there are any on here...), but that is the only issue I had with carriers.

JJ
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TannerBee · Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 702 Location: Rock Hill, SC

We use a bike rack that fits the receiver hitch. Very simple to use and cheap enough - less than $100 at Wal-Mart. If you load two bikes, you should figure a way to put a little cushion between the points on the bikes that can bang together as you go down the road. An old piece of inner tube or something, pinched between the bike frames and held with shock cord. I can't help you with keeping them clean - I just get on and ride.

I got my wife a tandem bike for our 20th anniversary a couple of months ago (very romantic!) and took it with us for a short trip last weekend. Because it is so long, the receiver-hitch-bike-rack wanted to rock back and forth quite a bit. A couple of well-placed cargo straps from the rack out and down towards the coach frame took care of that.

JJ, come on, girl! If the parking surface slopes down from where the ramp fits onto the rack, the ramp will be steep. If the parking surface slopes up, the ramp will be less steep. Confused

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goofycat · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Santa Rosa, CA

Good points! My concern is that I might not be able to lift the bikes onto the ladder attachment (back problems), so the tow hitch option might be the way to go.
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DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

Dick_B · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:20 pm Post subject:

You could search this Forum for Bike Rack and read on or do what we do which is put a receiver on the front of your RV and carry the bikes up there. They will stay cleaner than on the back. Ever notice how dirty the back of an RV gets?
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SunnyBrook 27FKS
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Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife
Two bikes

tripinon · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:40 pm Post subject:

We use a bike rack that fits into the hitch and you can add an extension for a hitch to your tow. Our rack holds three bikes and we just place them (two) so they won't rub against each other.

The hitch can also be leveled out: just remove a pin so you don't have to raise and lower the bikes nor struggle with them to put them on the rack. We also have the bike rack for the ladder. Too much lifting so we use that one for other things.

Now I'd let you know what the brand name is, but it's below freezing outside and I'm watching football. Maybe later. Very Happy

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DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

A company called Blue Ox makes a lot of these carriers....

JJ
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tripinon · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:19 am Post subject:

It's still cold outside but. . .

try www.allenracks.com

I have the model 530RR and am pleased with it. A problem I had with the website is that it hung up when I tried to get into that model number. You might also be able to Google Allen Bike racks, model 530RR and find dealers in your local area.

Happy Pedaling Very Happy

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SNHIPP · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 5

We also had a problem lifting bikes onto the ladder-style rack. Sometimes we ended up not using the bikes for a few days, dreading to have to lift on and off the ladder rack.
Our solution was a standard bike rack off the end of the car. This way while camping, we can take our car to bike trails, etc., along with the bikes. And it's pretty easy to get them on and off the rack. We're not confined to use our bikes only at the campground.

Highwayguys · Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 4

Need a 3-wheel due to disability problem.
How would you mount it to rear of motorhome?
It does not fold and weighs 70 lbs.
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DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

Go to this website:

http://www.blueox.us/Carriers/carriers.htm

And check out either Sport Carrier I or Mobility Carrier.

Either of those might work....

JJ
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Wolfgang · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 35

Rola also makes quite a few hitch-mounted bike racks that are easy to load/unload:
http://www.smartrvparts.com/accessories/bike-racks-carriers
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vincee · Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 87 Location: Buffalo, NY

I have the ladder mounted bike rack because I carry my motorcycle off of my class 3 hitch mount. They can be a pain to lift and not to sound like a wuss but you get your hands dirty and greasy too. Go with a name like Thule (best hitch mount I saw) or Yakima vs. Blue Ox because I feel that Blue Ox retails to the RV industry and if you own a RV you must be rich and can afford it. Thule makes a model that the "arm" that the bikes sit on folds down so you don't bash your shoulder into it walking by. I think the main vertical arm folds also, but this would be a feature more for SUVs or pick-ups that need access to tail gates. Hitch mount carriers seem to have alot of wobble to them and you can buy add on stabilizers that go over the mount tube and tighten up to the hitch. I have one on my motorcycle rack and carrying a 525# bike there is no side to side wobble. One more thing, I us cut up pieces of swimming noodles (those long styrofoam tubes) bought at the Dollar Store as bumpers on my bikes when they are on the ladder bike rack. Can't beat them to keep the bikes from banging into each or the bike rack and the bikes don't get all scratched up.

Wolfgang · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 35

Love the "swimming noodles" idea. Thanks! Will implement right away Smile

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