montana 3720RL bike rack?

[L0veless]

left Michigan now were out here in wonderful UT,(Zions)
want to put a bike rack in the rear, this unit just has the sewer hose square tubing bumper.
would like to add a receiver but I cant seem to find one that I can drill in to the frame rails underneath and bolt on. would like to do this now and get some bikes to ride around on. any ideas? oh yea my span is 67" between frame rails.
also called Reese and they don't make anything.

thanks

[JRTJH]

CURT Hitch makes an RV hitch that will fit your trailer frame. However, before you buy it or have it installed, you might want to read the warnings and the operator's notes at the beginning of the installation instructions. If you can live within those guidelines, it's an option, if not, then I'd go to the "second choice" which is to find a competent welding shop and have them make recommendations. Most have the expertise to weld a hitch receiver on the back of your Montana.

You can view the CURT hitch here and download the installation instructions on that site: http://www.curtmfg.com/part/13703

[busterbrown]

I second the "weld" option. I purchased this (http://www.etrailer.com/RV-Hitch/Ultra-Fab-Products/UF35-946403.html) universal RV receiver hitch from Etrailer and had a local welding shop fabricate the install. It tucks up under the existing rear tubular bumper like a hidden hitch would. Looks like a factory component.

12032

12033

[L0veless]

the best bet is to wait till I get home and have a shop cut-off the hose storage and weld on a receiver for the bike rack.

thanks for the help

[rhagfo]

Well better yet than hanging the bikes off the back, and taking the whipping I have watched before on others going down the road, I chose to mount of the pin box.

The receiver is fabricated from a purchased 18" receiver tube and two pieces of 6"X4"X1/4" about 8" long.

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_228975_0_05024c7321096b4297fcbcfbeb5f5ecb.jpg

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_228975_1_dd543ef049f2e75865c1e16a0cb4fa1b.jpg

[Todd727]

Nice. I like how protected the bikes are. They are out of the way too.

[Tbos]

the best bet is to wait till I get home and have a shop cut-off the hose storage and weld on a receiver for the bike rack.

thanks for the help



You don't need to cut off the hose storage bumper just need them to fabricate and weld a receiver to the frame that will allow your bike rack to plug in.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

[goducks]

Dbl check that the bike rack you're buying will work on an 5th wheel or TT. I've looked at several from Thule and SOB's and they all have a disclaimer for no TT/5er use.

[L0veless]

thanks guys ,
some great ideas here, will wait till I get home to do this.

I have the bike rack already and it does state not for use on "trailer bumpers" which I guessing they mean the hose storage tube.

[Cbrez]

Russ and Paula, love your receiver solution. Is that a custom fabrication or commercial off the shelf? I have a short box and slider hitch, so I am not sure I can carry bikes forward of the RV cap, but I don't have a rear bumper and would prefer not to weld a receiver to the rear undercarriage.

[mtofell]

I've always been pretty against ladder bike racks but with no other easy option I got one and am pretty happy with it. It just clamps onto the ladder and can hold two bikes. In addition to the the straps that came with the rack I secure the bike up a couple ladder rungs with bungee cords to help distribute the weight to a few other ladder mounting points.

[rhagfo]

I've always been pretty against ladder bike racks but with no other easy option I got one and am pretty happy with it. It just clamps onto the ladder and can hold two bikes. In addition to the the straps that came with the rack I secure the bike up a couple ladder rungs with bungee cords to help distribute the weight to a few other ladder mounting points.

Well unless they are 20# Iron Man $4,000 bikes I would worry about the weight damaging the ladder.
That is the reason I went with the pin box mount.

[Tbos]

If a ladder can support 200 lbs climbing it they should be able to support bikes "properly" mounted.


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[mtofell]

The bungees are mainly to keep things from bouncing around but also to help distribute weight. 200# on the ladder is just that.... on the ladder. Two bikes hanging out away from the ladder on the rack get their impact on the ladder magnified due to something in engineering school we called a moment arm.

[JRTJH]

RV ladders are designed to support a "static load" they are not designed to support a "bouncing load" that heavy cargo would impose on the ladder structure and the mounting points during travel along our "fantastic roads".

Keystone, in this situation, as in most, doesn't provide any "meaningful information" about the ladder limitations. It's unfortunate, but, it is what it is.

The Jayco motorhome owner's manual has this warning: "If your RV is equipped with a roof ladder, do not leave items attached to it while traveling. The ladder has a weight limit of 350 lbs. when using it to access the roof.
DO NOT exceed this weight limit."

Considering how a roof ladder is attached to an RV, with #2 Roberts screws, DICOR sealant and "hope that the screws actually hit a rigid structure", if I were to use the ladder to transport anything, I'd very carefully inspect and repair any loosening of the screws. Keep in mind that the likelihood of vibration damage to the mounting surface, the roof and the ladder itself would be significantly increased with bicycles hanging on a cantilevered rack mounted to the ladder.