Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
I searched the forum on bike racks and didn't find anything newer than over a year ago. I thought I'd share what I've learned from my recent experience and research... As all of you already know, the ride on the back of a fifth wheel or travel trailer can be pretty brutal. The manufacturer of our unit (Grand Design) provided a frame-based, welded-on hitch receiver for accessories so, fortunately, I didn't have to worry about a clamp-on receiver tearing off a lightweight square bumper tube. What wasn't so easy, though, was finding a good, sturdy bike rack with a true 2" heavy-duty horizontal hitch tube (not one with a 1-1/4" tube and an adapter for 2") that would stand up to the forces at the back of the fiver. (My Bell bike rack with a 1-1/4" tube and adapter was going to fail soon if I didn't do something.)
After a couple of hours of internet research and a good talk with the local bike shop, we finally settled on a rack that fit the bill. The fact that the bike shop recommended this particular rack but didn't stock it only increased my level of comfort. (The bike tech said he'd dealt with a number of RVers and understood the issues.) What we ordered and installed is a Swagman 64663 rack. It's "RV approved" by Swagman and I'm very pleased with the design and build. It also keeps the bikes from chafing each other as happened with my old "hanging" type of rack.
P.S. - For the life of me, I don't know why, but the rack comes with one of the clamp-on hitch receivers for a square bumper... DO NOT USE IT! Toss it in the nearest metal recycling bin.
-- Edited by Second Chance on Wednesday 23rd of September 2015 09:24:36 AM
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2012 F350 DRW Lariat 6.7
PullRite OE 18K, Demco Glide Ride pinbox
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
You may like the bike tire holders better on the XTC2, but that model has a 1-1/4" receiver tube - not nearly as strong as the 2" receiver tube on the 64663.
Rob
__________________
2012 F350 DRW Lariat 6.7
PullRite OE 18K, Demco Glide Ride pinbox
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
You may like the bike tire holders better on the XTC2, but that model has a 1-1/4" receiver tube - not nearly as strong as the 2" receiver tube on the 64663.
Rob
It is designed for both! Yes I do like the tire holders, just another safety feature.
-- Edited by Cummins12V98 on Thursday 24th of September 2015 08:18:50 AM
Rob, Thanks for doing the research on the bike rack. I typically overdo the research on most all my purchases, but have been extremely busy getting the house in order to get on the market, that I just didn't have the time. Last week I bought the same bike rack and installed it on the trailer. I am very happy with it even though I haven't used it yet.
Rob, Thanks for doing the research on the bike rack. I typically overdo the research on most all my purchases, but have been extremely busy getting the house in order to get on the market, that I just didn't have the time. Last week I bought the same bike rack and installed it on the trailer. I am very happy with it even though I haven't used it yet.
Mike
Happy to be of service, Mike. Laura was complaining yesterday, though, that we haven't had the bikes off the rack since we got to Las Cruces... we've been too busy having fun with family. I've promised her that, after we take my daughter back to the airport in El Paso Monday, we'll get the bikes down and do some riding. There are some quiet, quaint (I'm trying to come up with some more adjectives that start with "qu...") places close by for biking.
Rob
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2012 F350 DRW Lariat 6.7
PullRite OE 18K, Demco Glide Ride pinbox
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
I've been using this rack for the last 8 years hauling two rather heavy bicycles (electric motors) for over 50,000 miles. It's a great bike rack but you do need to check it on occasion or you'll be like me, picking your bikes up off the road. The first time the clamp that holds one of wheel holders to the bar came loose and the wheel holder was able to work it's way to the end of the bar and then slid off.....taking one bike with it. There's now a 1/4 inch self taping screw on the end of each bar so the wheel holder can't slide all the way off. The 2nd time, we're going down the road, just past an exit on the interstate and a car pulls along side and mouths through the window that the bikes had fallen off. Amazingly, or miraculously, because we were going around a slight curve and going past the exit, the bikes, carrier and all, slid right out of the travel lane and into the breakdown lane so the cars behind us didn't have to dodge or drive over the bikes and carrier. After 6 years of use, the welds that held the carrier to the 2 inch receiver hitch finally gave out, the bikes and rack rotated down to the road surface and then the rack finally broke free of the 2 inch receiver part. Some welding later, and we've been back in business for the last two years. My bad, should have checked the welds for cracks....I do now. If you've got lighter bikes, ours are about 30 lbs each, your welds should hold up longer.
