Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Modifications and Upgrades
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-23-2015, 03:31 PM   #1
tommy_z
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Taylor,TX
Posts: 115
Swagman bumper rack - am I doing this right?

I'm trying to figure out the right way to set the bikes on the 2-bike bumper mount rack I bought. Are these sitting correctly?

Yes, that is a boat bumper to keep them from rubbing against each other.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	20150723_180129.jpg
Views:	326
Size:	104.6 KB
ID:	9117  
tommy_z is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2015, 04:04 PM   #2
therink
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 1,605
I have a similar rack on my bumper and load three bikes on it. The key is to eliminate bounce, which appears to be in check if your ratchet straps are good and tight.
My bumper was soft so I added 1/8" thick x 2" wide x 12" long pieces of stock steel (4 total) between the bumper surfaces (upper and lower) and the bike rack clamping arms. This added more rigidity to the thin structure of the bumper tube. Without the extra steel, the bumper tube started to round when I tried to tightened the racks mounting bolts/brackets enough to keep the rack tight. With the steel plating, I can tighten it well. I have used this for 5 yrs on two different trailers with no issues and the rack is solid.
__________________
Steve Rinker
Rochester, NY
2013 Outback Sydney 340FBH (12,280 lbs loaded-scale)

2015 GMC Sierra Denali 3500HD, SRW, Duramax, CC, SB (payload 3700)

https://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...65/340FBH1.jpg
therink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2015, 08:49 AM   #3
jimcam22
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: FL
Posts: 4
This is how I setup my bikes on the Swagman 2 bike bumper rack.





I bungee a 1" x 1/8" bar under the rack and thru the wheels to keep the bikes from bouncing.
jimcam22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2015, 01:04 PM   #4
Laredo240MK2015
Junior Member
 
Laredo240MK2015's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Victor, NY
Posts: 21
Bike mount

Where do you keep a spare tire?

Steve
__________________
2018 Bullet Premier 29RKPR
2015 Silverado Crew Cab 5.3L
Laredo240MK2015 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2015, 01:55 PM   #5
jimcam22
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: FL
Posts: 4
I have a Fifth Wheel. I keep the spare in the pass thru storage.
jimcam22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2015, 02:56 AM   #6
Fishhawk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 110
I use the Bal Hide A Spare mounted to the frame under the camper
Easy access to my spare , yet, out of the way
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laredo240MK2015 View Post
Where do you keep a spare tire?

Steve
__________________
DW of 48 + yrs
Buddy, very spoiled dog
2-bikes
2- guitars
Fishing stuff
Fishhawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2015, 03:21 AM   #7
rjsurfer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 452
That's why I like my Swagman I have, it has the two trays that support the wheels and two hooks that come down on the bikes top rail. The pressure on the top rails pushes the tires into the trays, no straps necessary.

Ron W
__________________
2019 Cougar 25RLS
03 Dodge 2500 Cummins
Disc brakes
700 watts solar
2000 watt inverter
rjsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2015, 03:43 AM   #8
Fishhawk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 110
Quote:
Originally Posted by rjsurfer View Post
That's why I like my Swagman I have, it has the two trays that support the wheels and two hooks that come down on the bikes top rail. The pressure on the top rails pushes the tires into the trays, no straps necessary.

Ron W
I have a similiar setup with my Swagman
No issues with bikes bouncing , and in addition
I like to tie off the rack and the bikes to the bumper hitch to eliminate excessive movement
5 yrs of hauling our bikes and no problems .... So far
__________________
DW of 48 + yrs
Buddy, very spoiled dog
2-bikes
2- guitars
Fishing stuff
Fishhawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2015, 06:20 AM   #9
hankaye
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Arrey,
Posts: 2,368
Howdy All;

Funny, I don't see any type of "Pull down bar in either of the 2 sets of posted
pix. Is it an "extra" ??? What kind of instructions are included with the unit
when purchased(?), or do they expect the purchaser to figure it out so if your
bikes fall out/off they can't be held libel?

hankaye
__________________
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949 ...

Home: 2008 Cougar 278 RKS
T.V.: 2004 F-250 4X4, Level III BulletProofed , Detroit Tru-Track Differential (915A550)
Dog: 2006 Border Collie (Rascal) aka Maximum fur dispersal unit. (08/04/2006 - 12/16/2017) RIP.
hankaye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2015, 10:43 AM   #10
SteveC7010
Senior Member
 
SteveC7010's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northville NY in the Adirondacks
Posts: 2,128
Quote:
Originally Posted by hankaye View Post
Howdy All;

Funny, I don't see any type of "Pull down bar in either of the 2 sets of posted
pix. Is it an "extra" ??? What kind of instructions are included with the unit
when purchased(?), or do they expect the purchaser to figure it out so if your
bikes fall out/off they can't be held libel?

hankaye
All they say is "Secure the bikes to the stabilizer post with rope or bungees." The stabilizer post is part of the basic unit.

http://www.swagman.net/wp-content/up...0605Instru.pdf

When we go out for extended camping trips, DW follows the trailer in her Jeep GC towing the boat. If there was any bouncing around of anything on the rear of the Cougar, she would call me on the radio and let me know right away. I've asked about it a few times, and it has never been a problem.

FWIW, I don't think bikes bounce around nearly as much as we think when they are on this type of rack or on the Keystone slide-out rack. It's the receiver mount bike racks that get to bouncing so much.
__________________

'11 Cougar 326MKS loaded with mods
'12 Ford F250 SuperCab 6.7 PowerStroke Diesel
Amateur Radio: KD2IAT (146.520) GMRS: WQPG808 (462.675 TPL 141.3)
SteveC7010 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2015, 01:58 PM   #11
hankaye
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Arrey,
Posts: 2,368
SteveC7010, Howdy;

Ok, Thanks for the link. Always easier to spot something if you know where
to look. One would think that having 2 of the upright bars would be more
conducive to stabilizing a pair of bikes ...

hankaye
__________________
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949 ...

Home: 2008 Cougar 278 RKS
T.V.: 2004 F-250 4X4, Level III BulletProofed , Detroit Tru-Track Differential (915A550)
Dog: 2006 Border Collie (Rascal) aka Maximum fur dispersal unit. (08/04/2006 - 12/16/2017) RIP.
hankaye is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:49 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.