bike hitch

[AUPANNER]

need some ideas- we have a 2017 Keystone Hideout and am in need of ideas - we would like to add a bike hitch to the rear bumper and we found one at Camper World but from the picture and what our bumper looks like, we think it would be impossible to attach. the rear bumper is square 4"x4" BUT half is under the main frame of the unit with only about 2" available which would not allow the bike bracket to be attached. See attached photos. the photos got posted upside down - sorry

Any ideas on how to attach a bike hitch or if you know of any bike hitches that would fit. Any and all suggestions gratefully appreciated.

[KeithInUpstateNY]

Search "RV Bumper Hitch Receiver" on Amazon. There are a number of different products similar to this: Swagman RV Approved Bumper Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00174ZHGU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MI2sCbDVJK7TJ

You could use it with a receiver hitch bike rack.

They can be mounted "upside down" with the thin plate on top of the bumper, but be aware that does reduce your clearance on inclines.

And you also need to be aware that that much weight may cause your bumper mount to fail. Check with your dealer for specs or to see about having it reinforced.

[66joej]

I believe Curt makes a hitch that bolts directly to your TT frame. This is what you want. Not hanging a bike rack on that flimsy sewer hose container.

[KeithInUpstateNY]

Curt and Draw-Tite both make frame mounted hitch receivers. I agree, a much better option.

[busterbrown]

As others have already alluded to, you don't NOT want to install a bumper mounted receiver on a trailer. It's NOT a matter of "if" it will fail, but "when" it will fail. The failure point is the thin sheet metal of the bumper.

More appropriate options are to fabricate and weld a hitch directly to the frame rails of your coach. Etrailer sell a few that are very universal to a trailer application. This is the one I had installed: https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Hitch/Ultra-Fab-Products/UF35-946403.html

Your other option (if your hideout is a travel trailer) is an elevated bike rack that bolts on to the a-frame. I bought and installed this one (https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Bike-Racks/Stromberg-Carlson/CC-275.html) last year. It performs better than a rear receiver hitch bike rack as there is more stability and less turbulence at the front near the tongue. My $$$ bikes thanked me!

[Canonman]

Just wanted to reinforce what Busterbrown said. DO NOT use the camping world bolt on receiver. When loaded, it will tear your bumper away from the frame. Go to a welding shop and have them weld receiver hitch to your frame. That's the only safe way to use hitch mounted bike racks. Our son-in-law found out the hard way about using the bolt on.
Trailer bumpers are barely strong enough to hold the sewer hose let alone a couple of bikes bouncing back there on a cantilever.

[Shane48]

I had searched a long time for a bike carrier for our travel trailer, and I also have read and seen the bad results of attaching a carrier to the bumper hitch. Ultimately, we decided to go with a Lippert Jack-It Two Bike A Frame mounted bike rack. We have put many miles on this unit with two bikes attached and it is as stable today as the day I installed it on the trailer. It does take a bit of doing to get the front bike mounted, so I usually stand on my pickup tailgate to place and remove that bike. We have a topper on our pickup, but this rack and bikes pose no problem with turning and all. It is comforting to be able to see the bikes, instead of wondering what might be happening if they were rear mounted on the trailer, in my opinion.

[KSH]

I just went through this same ordeal. Decided on having a shop weld a reciever to the rear, connected to the frame. Got a yakima rack designed for the back of an rv.

https://www.yakima.com/roadtrip

[busterbrown]

I just went through this same ordeal. Decided on having a shop weld a reciever to the rear, connected to the frame. Got a yakima rack designed for the back of an rv.

https://www.yakima.com/roadtrip

Smart decision. Less worry for you and every driver following behind you!

[Dblhack]

I had searched a long time for a bike carrier for our travel trailer, and I also have read and seen the bad results of attaching a carrier to the bumper hitch. Ultimately, we decided to go with a Lippert Jack-It Two Bike A Frame mounted bike rack. We have put many miles on this unit with two bikes attached and it is as stable today as the day I installed it on the trailer. It does take a bit of doing to get the front bike mounted, so I usually stand on my pickup tailgate to place and remove that bike. We have a topper on our pickup, but this rack and bikes pose no problem with turning and all. It is comforting to be able to see the bikes, instead of wondering what might be happening if they were rear mounted on the trailer, in my opinion.
We bought this one as well. It takes some effort to get the back bike on/off, but overall it is very solid and I am happy with the purchase.

[Northofu1]

I had searched a long time for a bike carrier for our travel trailer, and I also have read and seen the bad results of attaching a carrier to the bumper hitch. Ultimately, we decided to go with a Lippert Jack-It Two Bike A Frame mounted bike rack. We have put many miles on this unit with two bikes attached and it is as stable today as the day I installed it on the trailer. It does take a bit of doing to get the front bike mounted, so I usually stand on my pickup tailgate to place and remove that bike. We have a topper on our pickup, but this rack and bikes pose no problem with turning and all. It is comforting to be able to see the bikes, instead of wondering what might be happening if they were rear mounted on the trailer, in my opinion.

Thanks Shane, you made my mind up for me. :D

[linux3]

I worry about having the bikes on a hitch behind the TT. I can't see them.
My current method is to remove the front wheel and lay them in the bed of the truck. I have a tonneau cover and with the wheel on the handlebars are too tall.
I've looked at hitches that straddle the tanks. Don't look solid.

[KSH]

Before i got the hitch i had a piece of wood, slightly raised with some quick releases spaced out. That way the bikes stood up, without the front wheel and didn't scratch anything. I got tired of pulling the wheels on and off. I just took the 2x4 out of the truck when i didn't need it. Worked well.

https://www.amazon.com/MBP-Alloy-Release-9x100mm-Storage/dp/B07MDXZGMB/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548732725&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=front+fork+bike+mount&psc=1

[JRTJH]

One could mount two of those quick release fork clamps on a 2x4, remove the cushions from the trailer dinette, store the cushions on the bed, secure the 2x4 on the wooden bench of the dinette, place the bikes on the fork clamps and transport the bikes inside the trailer. It would be easy and much more secure than transporting them on the rear bumper.

[rhagfo]

I had searched a long time for a bike carrier for our travel trailer, and I also have read and seen the bad results of attaching a carrier to the bumper hitch. Ultimately, we decided to go with a Lippert Jack-It Two Bike A Frame mounted bike rack. We have put many miles on this unit with two bikes attached and it is as stable today as the day I installed it on the trailer. It does take a bit of doing to get the front bike mounted, so I usually stand on my pickup tailgate to place and remove that bike. We have a topper on our pickup, but this rack and bikes pose no problem with turning and all. It is comforting to be able to see the bikes, instead of wondering what might be happening if they were rear mounted on the trailer, in my opinion.

Thanks Shane, you made my mind up for me. :D

This is great solution for bikes on a TT, we have a pin box bike rack on our 5er, much better for the bikes.

https://i.imgur.com/BUlygfO.jpg

[leroyg]

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[BadmanRick]

FYI if you mount anything to the rear bumper of your TT this will void your Keystone Warranty. So I would have a frame mounted rear hitch put on.

[Rber1234]

I used a bolt on receiver hitch mount for a bike carrier and used it only one time before I removed it. Bent the bumper so bad the waste hose wouldn’t slide thru anymore. Frame mount is the way to go.

[n4qpcham]

I had the same mounting problem on my Montana HC 5th wheel. I got this rack from etrailer.com, Swagman 4 Bike Carrier RV Mounted Bike Rack Item #S80600. You mount the mounting bolts from the bottom up, instead of the top down, underneath the trailer. I also bought bumper reinforcement brackets from SafetyStruts.com or www.mount-n-lock.com. They cradle the rear bumper on three sides to keep the bumper from rolling and breaking the welded mount or twisting, because each bracket is mounted to the trailer frame member with three nuts and bolts. They claim to support 400 lbs., so you can "Put more gear on your rear" to quote the MnL web site. Had them a year so far carrying a Schwinn Meridian 3-wheeler and no problems.

[dpatroch]

We have a Hideout 175LHS. We mounted a different bike rack on the bumper and half way to our destination we had to stop and take the bikes and spare tire off as the bumper was almost torn off. When we got to our destination we were lucky and found a shop who repaired and reinforced the bumper. It held up on our return trip.

[kksfish]

I am also considering installing a frame mounted receiver on my fiver but wondered if anyone had noticed any difference in the way the rig handles due to this weight hanging off the rear? I have receiver mounted cargo thing that I have used to carry a generator and I can definitely notice when I have it on my truck!

[CWtheMan]

Keystone does have a bike rack option. I don't know if they would have one to fit your trailer or not. You could ask them. Here is a picture I took at a RV show last year.

http://www.irv2.com/photopost/showfull.php?photo=29906

[66joej]

Keystone does have a bike rack option. I don't know if they would have one to fit your trailer or not. You could ask them. Here is a picture I took at a RV show last year.

http://www.irv2.com/photopost/showfull.php?photo=29906

CW I believe this one is not available anymore. They offer the fold up one now on most models.
That particular slide out model was not one of Keystone's better ideas. Very flimsy attaching brackets. Mine bent rather badly with only lawn chairs and the spare tire on it. I determined the culprit was the spare tire hanging "way out there" and oscillating as we went down the road.JMO

[DocP]

CW I believe this one is not available anymore. They offer the fold up one now on most models.
That particular slide out model was not one of Keystone's better ideas. Very flimsy attaching brackets. Mine bent rather badly with only lawn chairs and the spare tire on it. I determined the culprit was the spare tire hanging "way out there" and oscillating as we went down the road.JMO

You're right, at least on the Cougar line. My 2018 Cougar 32RLI had the "new" fold-down rack on back (the spare tire was mounted underneath on a BAL "Hide A Spare"), and then my new 2019 Cougar 34TSB has a 2" hitch with a 300 pound capacity that is welded directly to the frame.

[Miloski]

If you have a bike rack that you use on your hitch receiver then consider installing a front receiver hitch to carry them. I go down the road with two bikes on front, two kayaks on the roof pulling 5th wheel, oops! I mean a 5'ver:lol:

[AlanSides]

Would something like this work for a 175BH without a rear bumper?

It has angle iron pieces to attach it.

What would it do if I put the angles on the outside over the ends of the frame and just bolted it on like a bumper?

This TT is covered underneath so there is no easy access to the frame.

[Lisa Colton]

I have looked at a bunch of options- including the installation on that poor bumper tube. I am no welder, but I had serious structural concerns with the rotational load that would be put on my bumper. Also tried to identify "spot welding". If this means the joint between the bumper and the trailer frame, ummmm
So for now, bike will be in the camper or tow vehicle. Long term, would seem like the bikes will need the stability of the main frame. No thank you to the horror stories of arriving without bikes and bumper and wondering if I killed someone- never mind my loss of property!!
Any advise is welcome-

[jasin1]

This was on another post about rear receivers….John has some links to rv receivers https://www.curtmfg.com/part/13703

[AlanSides]

The Stromberg universal hitch pictured above in my previous post was only $170 on Amazon and it is very heavy duty. Time will tell, but it mounted up well with 7/8" grade 8 bolts. Overkill really. The bike rack itself, if anything, is the weak point now but I figure it was designed for 2 bikes so "should" hold up.