Easy way to carry heavy electric bike? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

RE: Easy way to carry heavy electric bike?

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

OK. That one was funny. I went to "post" the above posting with the pictures and I was informed that my comment had been "flagged" as a "Spam Comment" and that an administrator would have to approve the post before it showed up on the forums. So, I then had to go in through another window and "Approve" my own comment.

There just ain't much justice for us.

Liz,

I did go back and find where that carrier in the pictures was listed for sale. I believe the original poster is still an active member, although they don't get on all that often. Perhaps you can send them a private message about their carrier, provided you are interested, or ask them where they purchased theirs.

If you do have the ability of putting a receiver on the front of your motorhome, someone might even be able to build you something similar.

There is something else that I noticed on this rack. It slips into the receiver on the motorhome and it includes an "extension" where one can hook a "ball hitch" (see the second photo to see the ball outboard from the scooter), but I don't know if your tow bar operates off of a ball hitch. That's just something else to consider. I've never pulled a toad, so I have no experience in that respect.

Here is the link: RV Hitch Scooter/Motorcycle Carrying Rack for Sale

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Saturday 20th of April 2013 12:38:37 PM

LizB · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have an eZip electric bike which weighs about 50 pounds without the battery. I tried using a bike rack on the back of my CR-V but cannot lift the bike onto it (it's high). I will be driving a DP and towing a CR-V. Does anyone know how I can take my heavy bike with me? Thank you.

Liz

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

They make bike racks that have a flat channel under the wheels instead of under the frame; and some of them have an additional channel ramp to roll the bike up. They're mostly made for motorcycles but should work just fine for a bike.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Liz,

Considering the weight of the bike with the battery, I'm of a mind to think that one needs a bike rack/carrier that supports the weight from under the wheels. Otherwise, any "bouncing" action might cause damage to the bike with that kind of weight bouncing on the back.

Secondly, I'm of the mind to believe that a "receiver-mounted" carrier is better than one that fastens to the rear door of a small hatchback/SUV, and again that is because of the weight.

I went to Currie Technology's website with the hope of finding accessories for the eZip, but their "parts and accessories" link only took me to the bikes and scooters. Perhaps, if you call them, they might be able to advise you of a method of carrying. Then again, they may only consider attaching to normal vehicles and not RV's.

With the towing of your car, your receiver is used for that, but there is a product out there that can be attached to the rear of the RV that one loads their "bike" on and raised it before hooking up to the toad for traveling. Some of the others here will have more knowledge of that carrier, so I will let them speak of it. It is one that is designed for motorcycles, but the same company may have smaller ones that will accomodate smaller "bikes."

Good luck. I'll do some more "looking" myself and see if any local bicycle dealers have any ideas. Oklahoma City has one dealer that supposedly sells the eZip bikes.

Terry

LizB · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you Neil and Connie and Terry and Jo for the helpful suggestions!

Can you put a hitch receiver on the front of a Newmar Dutch Star? I hadn't thought of that.

Liz

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm not a motorhome expert, and that is why I was asking the question of you. The two motorhomes that we checked out in our search for our RV was a 40' and a 42' Tiffin Phaeton. In the case of both of those, what would be considered the "front radiator" area of the coach slides out so that one can have access to the generator and such. If a receiver could be installed for the use of the bike carrier, it is very likely that the carrier would have to be removed from the receiver so that the "slide" could come out.

There are others here that probably have a lot more knowledge of whether a receiver could be mounted on the front. That all said, I don't recall ever seeing one on any of the coaches we've seen on the road.

When I was looking around earlier for something for the rear that would be like the motorcycle lifts that I have seen on motorhomes, I did come across this link below to a YouTube video:

Thule RV Lift Bike Carrier

You would need to check the weight capacities of both the carrier and to whatever it is on the RV to which one attaches the carrier. For some reason, when I watched the video, the Thule carrier did seem to look a little flimsy. Is there an option of removing the battery from the bike before putting it on the carrier? If there is, that would help you out, weight-wise. Here is a link to several of the other Thule lift carriers:

Thule RV Lift Carriers

Terry

LizB · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Terry:

I think the best bet is, as you and others have said, a tow mount/receiver-mount/hitch rack. I did some research and found a few. My MH is currently at Camping World; my car will be there later this week getting a tow bracket, etc., installed. I will follow up with CW and see what they can offer. They have a few racks that look like they will work. My primary question is whether they can be put between the MH and the toad. I will soon find out! If that doesn't work, I'll look into a front mount and other alternatives.

Thanks again and have a great day!

Liz

P.S. - The bike without the battery weighs 50 lbs.