manditory storage rack option

[tim&lynda]

We were told we had to get the slide out storage tray/ bike rack on our new unit. I used the tray to hold our two bikes on a trip...and there is no real way to mount / secure bikes properly. We have $600.00 bikes that we are trying to keep in nice shape and good working order....After a three hour trip i found that I had ribbed the paint off on bike as it was secured to the center post....i guess i didn't put enough foam between bike and center post....I must have looked like an idiot going down the road.

That wasn't the worst....the air flwo got behind the spare tire and bent the cross member holding the tire on to the spare tire cover...we almost lost teh spare tire on the high way...we did lose the tire cover.

We took traler to a weld shop and they said was a great concept (slide out storage tray) but not nearly heavy enough construction...so spare tire is not mounted and bikes do no go until I can figure something else out....anyone else have issues? figure out how to mount expensive bikes?

[hankpage]

This is a very common problem ... first: Get the spare off the bumper, it is not strong enough. ...... Second: I use 3/4" foam pipe insulation anywhere the bike frame can rub. ....... Third: Use ratchet straps instead of bungees, when tight there is no movement. (I do use a few bungees just in case) On long trips or if they get wet the straps will stretch so check and retighten often.

It took me a while to figure this out but it has worked for me for many years.

If you do a forum search for "Bike Rack" you should find many posts.

[Festus2]

Like Hank, I would not recommend having a couple of bikes and a spare tire on the back bumper. You might want to look at having a receiver welded onto your frame and get a good bike carrier to slide into it. There are a number of good quality bike carriers available from which to choose - Thule, Swagman, Yakima to name a few.
I'd put the spare tire in the bed of the truck or TV.

[therink]

Originally Posted by hankpage

This is a very common problem ... first: Get the spare off the bumper, it is not strong enough. ...... Second: I use 3/4" foam pipe insulation anywhere the bike frame can rub. ....... Third: Use ratchet straps instead of bungees, when tight there is no movement. (I do use a few bungees just in case) On long trips or if they get wet the straps will stretch so check and retighten often.

It took me a while to figure this out but it has worked for me for many years.

If you do a forum search for "Bike Rack" you should find many posts.

X2, remove spare tire and use ratchet straps tightly over the bikes to minimize the movement. I put my spare in the back of the truck.

[wgb1]

Tim, I have a couple of bikes one of which is about a 2000 dollar bike, the other around 1200. I didn't pay quite that much, but I can tell you I would be livid at any scratch on them (not so much my wife's as mine. LOL). Anywhere my bikes touch each other or anything, I use pool noodles or foam pipe insulation. Just cut a few short pieces and cut a slit down the middle then slide them over the bike frames anywhere needed. Then use bungies or foam covered wire ties to lash them tightly together. Be sure and add ties/bungies around the pool noodles as they have a way of shifting and even blowing off leaving the frames exposed to chafing. I am very anal and use plenty of ties or bungies and foam noodle pieces to ensure they do not rub anywhere. Also do not allow the metal hooks on the bungies to contact the bike frames. If the bike holder is mounted to the bumper, be sure and make sure the bumper is stout enough for the weight and all the bouncing going on back there. Most bumpers are too light weight for all the extra weight regardless of what many dealers will tell you. I simply do not carry my bikes like that, but instead mount each bike individually on Yakima Locking Blockheads mounted on the bed of my truck.