Bike rack with spare on back

[jmart273]

I've seen mixed reviews on bike racks, especially ones mounted to the 4" square bumper in the back. I have a spare tire back there which limits my options even further. I got 3 bikes to take on our camping trips and am trying hard to coming up with a viable solution.

Right now my idea is to lay them down in the bed forward of the fifth wheel hitch, below the height of the bed. I don't like this, as it takes up bed room for other things.

I saw this one on Amazon, which has mixed reviews:
https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Sports-Deluxe-3-Bike-Spare/dp/B000ELSSWW

What are you guys doing with your bikes?

[JRTJH]

I'd urge you to do some reading on here about the "fragile rear bumper" before you start spending money for additional "stuff" to hang off the bumper. The bike rack you linked on Amazon fits over the spare tire and is supported by the spare tire mount. Stromberg Carlsen manufacturers many of these racks and they recommend not installing anything but a trailer tire on them. They specifically warn against using the rack for a tire/wheel such as a PU spare because of the excessive weight. You can read the discussion in the FAQ section at etrailer.com.

Additionally, Dyers RV sells several models of "bumper mount spare tire rack". Each of them is listed in the specifications as "Maximum weight 100 pounds". So, adding the type of bike carrier you've identified would definitely overload the OEM tire carrier.

[GaryWT]

If you can weld something to the frame and attach a hitch, that might work. Having 3 bikes where you cannot see them would make me nervous.

We do not have bikes so I have never come up with anything myself.

[busterbrown]

Your best bet would be to have a hitch receiver welded and/or fabricated to the frame rails below the rear bumper. That's what I did as a local welding show reinforced the install with some angle iron. Looks like a factory option. This (http://www.etrailer.com/RV-Hitch/Ultra-Fab-Products/UF35-946403.html) is the one I had fabricated. The receiver head tucks up under the bumper almost like a hidden hitch. Wouldnt doubt it would hold several hundred lbs of cargo. My 4 bike carrier has plenty of space behind it to accommodate the bumper spare. We don't full time so no worries of theft.

[itat]

A few options:
- weld a hitch to the frame of your 5er
- find a way to put them inside
- get a hitch for the front of your truck
- mount horizontal crossbars over the truck cab.

Some creative folks have also custom made a receiver to weld to the top of their pin box.

[Pull Toy]

+1 for ITAT!

Put a mount on front of your truck. Worked great for me .... way back when, (Kids and grandkids all grown). If you can't find a direct mount bike rack, put a front tow hitch on P.U. and mount to that.

Good luck,

[lawdog130]

I purchased a 2" receiver for the front of my truck that mounts to the frame. I use an Allen receiver mount bike rack and love the set up. As others have mentioned I would NOT mount anything on the 4" bumper unless it is reinforced.

[jkohler70]

I plan to get some SafetyStruts before camping season. It looks like a promising way to secure the bumper.

https://mount-n-lock.com/all-products-category/product/38-4square-safetystruts-prevent-rv-bumper-failure

[jmart273]

I purchased a 2" receiver for the front of my truck that mounts to the frame. I use an Allen receiver mount bike rack and love the set up. As others have mentioned I would NOT mount anything on the 4" bumper unless it is reinforced.

How much did that cost? Does it look weird? How is it turning/parking etc? I worry about making my truck longer in the front, but this seems like the most viable option.

[gearhead]

Curt Mfg. makes several different models. I put one on my Ram. So far I've carried only 1 bicycle on my Swagman rack. Be aware the wind will push the bicycles toward the truck. I need to address that issue soon.
Amazon has much better prices.
http://www.curtmfg.com/Category/11/Front%20Mount%20Hitches

[LarrySharon]

Check out this: safetystruts.com also there is a rvtravel video on youtube dealing with this item and available at amazon.com as well. No experience with this item maybe someone else has experience with this item. Happy RV'ing.

[rhagfo]

You might consider placing them on the front of the 5er. Great location as you can keep an eye on them in the rear view mirror.
I had this receiver fabricated out of a couple scrap pieces of 4"X6"X1/4" angle iron, and a store bought 2" receiver tube.

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_223768_0_05024c7321096b4297fcbcfbeb5f5ecb.jpg

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_223768_1_d946aa13b694921f18e6061ca1d23f68.jpg

[theeyres]

You might consider placing them on the front of the 5er. Great location as you can keep an eye on them in the rear view mirror.
I had this receiver fabricated out of a couple scrap pieces of 4"X6"X1/4" angle iron, and a store bought 2" receiver tube.

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_223770_0_05024c7321096b4297fcbcfbeb5f5ecb.jpg

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_223770_1_d946aa13b694921f18e6061ca1d23f68.jpg

This is what I did for two bikes and it worked great.You think it might interfere with turning and hitting the truck but they never get close and plenty of room for up to four bikes. No bouncing around like the back of a fiver.

[lawdog130]

How much did that cost? Does it look weird? How is it turning/parking etc? I worry about making my truck longer in the front, but this seems like the most viable option.

I got mine at e-trailer for less than $150. I believe it is made by Draw-Tite. It bolts directly to the frame with supplied hardware. No drilling for mine as it uses existing holes in the frame. Took me about 1/2 hour to install. It is barely noticeable when the rack isn't installed. Also no issues with driving with it. It took a few trips to get used to seeing the bikes bouncing out front though.

[rhagfo]

I purchased a 2" receiver for the front of my truck that mounts to the frame. I use an Allen receiver mount bike rack and love the set up. As others have mentioned I would NOT mount anything on the 4" bumper unless it is reinforced.

How much did that cost? Does it look weird? How is it turning/parking etc? I worry about making my truck longer in the front, but this seems like the most viable option.

I would think twice about hanging bikes off the front. Way too easy to have damaged by others.

[lawdog130]

I would think twice about hanging bikes off the front. Way too easy to have damaged by others.

I put the bikes on the rack for the trip and take them off at the campsite. Just curious as to why you think the bikes are more vulnerable on the front vs. the rear. I have been doing this for years and never had an issue.

[rhagfo]

I put the bikes on the rack for the trip and take them off at the campsite. Just curious as to why you think the bikes are more vulnerable on the front vs. the rear. I have been doing this for years and never had an issue.

People backing to them while in a parking, you also have the issue of blocking lights and turn signals.

[carwheel_09]

I also carry bikes on the front. High quality carrier and some seat time to get used to it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NorskeBob]

Check out this: safetystruts.com also there is a rvtravel video on youtube dealing with this item and available at amazon.com as well. No experience with this item maybe someone else has experience with this item. Happy RV'ing.

Getting info on the safety struts.

This is how our bumper is mounted. Looks like a decent mounting method. Box frame welded to the RV frame and rear bumper welded to the box frame. Top picture.

On my last RV I mounted a Curt hitch to the box frame. It worked well - but it is heavy and I cut some of the steel off so I could mount it closer to the bumper. I did it after the warranty had expired. Bottom 2 pictures.

[NorskeBob]

Received some information on a newly designed safety strut for use on my rear bumper. If I used it I might mount 4 of them. One on each side of the bumper attachment to the box frame. The weak link may still be the thickness of the steel used for the bumper. It would only be used for a bike rack/platform I used on our last RV. Tow Tuff TTF-2762KR Steel Cargo Carrier with Bike Rack

New design top and old design bottom.

After giving it more thought:
I will install a front hitch on my truck - Curt 31023.
Truck can handle the weight better than the trailer and I can see the load in front.
Purchased a Swagman XC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack - will take up less room than the bike rack shown.

[Olsen29]

In the picture above, I can't see how the diaganal locks help this type of Jack. Maybe length wise it would help you​. But great set up. Thanks for sharing.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[jkohler70]

I attempted to use Safety Struts, but the tubes connecting the bumper to the frame proved too thin. The directions were to tighten the self-tapping bolts to 100 ft-lbs. There isn't enough steel. Once I got to 30 ft-lbs, the bolts just turned and the threads slipped.

[JRTJH]

I attempted to use Safety Struts, but the tubes connecting the bumper to the frame proved too thin. The directions were to tighten the self-tapping bolts to 100 ft-lbs. There isn't enough steel. Once I got to 30 ft-lbs, the bolts just turned and the threads slipped.

Your experience is typical of today's "boastful advertising" and failure of many users to read the small print. Safety Struts are designed to work on "substantial steel" bumper supports. They simply can't make a "silk purse from a sow's ear" when used on 16ga mild steel tubing that's commonly found on today's ultra-light and lite trailers. When the frame manufacturer cuts 30% of the weight out of the frame, that's 30% less steel for the self tapping screws to catch. Think of blowing your nose on a single ply of Scott's toilet paper vs blowing your nose on a 2-ply Scott paper towel. While they're both made of paper, they are substantially different and depending on intended use, are not interchangeable....

It's the same with rear bumpers on today's trailers. While Safety Struts work well on an "ADEQUATE" rear bumper, they can't make the "tin foil" tent strong enough to support the whole turkey.

ADDED: Keystone recently changed frame manufacturers on some of their "ultra-light" trailers. BAL is now manufacturing the frames (if I read the reports correctly). This is just my opinion, but in the past, Lippert has been a supplier of "mediocre" frames. They aren't "garbage" but they have some "elementary welds" and some pretty glaring quality control issues. They have gotten better in recent years, but the "Lippert reputation" for second class products still hangs on. Looking at the comparison of the Ultra light frames to the past models, I think this: If Keystone is wanting frames so light that Lippert won't even produce them, then, WOW, they must be some pretty "at the very edge" in terms of weight and strength. Trying to add extras to today's ultra-light trailers isn't the same as adding those same extras to yesterday's "heavy weight frames"..... Definitely something to "ponder" if you're wanting to hang a hundred pounds of bikes off a bumper that was designed to be strong enough to carry a 35 pound spare tire for 12 months. Remember, after the warranty ends, it's no longer Keystone, Lippert, BAL or the dealer's problem...

[jkohler70]

I received a nice response from the company. Somehow I misread the directions. Possibly because I've resisted giving into reading glasses! They only recommend 15 - 20 ft. lbs., so I'm going to give another go at getting them mounted.

[tech740]

I really like mine mounted to the king pin. I have a short bed and have no issues with 4 bikes