Bike Rack on Alpine Ladder?

[2togoNebraska]

Is the factory installed ladder on the back of a 2012 Alpine secure/strong enough to attach a rack for 2 bicycles?

[bsmith0404]

I wouldn't install anything on a ladder. I know people do it, but they are only held on by screws. Different story if they were bolted with washers and nuts or even toggles to spread the load over a larger area and have to pull a section of wall/roof out to come off. With screws, it's only the bit around the threads that has to pull loose. It's not meant to hold that weight/bouncing/jarring going down the road.

[therink]

I wouldn't do it either. The static weight of the bikes moving down the road would eventually fatigue the ladder and it's mounts.
On my rig, I beefed up my bumper and installed a bumper mounted rack like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000SL...WEL&ref=plSrch
I carry 3 bikes and is solid as a rock and has held up for 3 years.

[X-Treme]

I put one on mine and have used it for thousands of miles with no problems. I figured if that ladder can hold my 250lb fat ***, it'll be fine with 50lbs of bikes on there.

[ChuckS]

I wouldn't do it.. Our 2014 Alpine developed a stress crack at lower right mount point.. Dealer repaired.. And I had only climbed the ladder a few times.. Weigh under 200 pounds.. We put two full size bikes inside the fifth wheel in between the two main slides.. Cover with a few blankets and pillows to not scratch anything in the fifth wheel.. Bikes stay in place and easy to get in and out with slides open


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