SteveRuff
Bacliff, Texas, USA
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Joined: 11/06/2004
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I have an Allegro Bay. We tow a Vibe and want to add two bicycles. I think we have decided to get a rack that attaches to the ladder at the rear of the MH. Do any of you have this arrangement and can you offer some advice as to brand and where to purchase? Thanks in advance.
Steve
Both retired. 1 year until son finishes college, then financial freedom! We lost Max, the Schnoodle after 16 wonderful years but now enjoy Nicklaus Von Schnoodle (Nicky), who is a full time job. Our new Allegro Bay 34 XB is wonderful.
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xctraveler
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 10/28/2002
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Hi SteveRuff,
I use a Tully roof rack on my tow'd (see signature) for the bikes. They are up out of the road grit and we have them with us when we want to go for a bike ride away from the campground.
When I want to do a lot of city touring or at a rally/convention I take them down and lock them to the ladder. I like the freedom to be able to choose to have the bikes with me when we go away from the coach.
Although I see plenty of bikes on ladder racks, I am not sure I want the weight banging on my ladder and the rear of the coach, also I sometimes need to go up on the roof to check things out and having the bikes there would be a hindrance.
Naturally YMMV 
Paul
Trucking down the road in a 2004 Southwind 36E on Workhorse Chassis with a 2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD stick shift tow'd with US Gear Brake System. Check out my journal
FMCA 352081
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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Joined: 08/11/2007
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Hi Steve,
I use a towing sleeve bike rack on my Allegro. Read to many horror stories about people loseing ladders off their motorhomes and 5th wheels from the weight of the bikes. It is a Swagman and just slips over the hitch. You will likely need a hitch extention. Got it at Camping World on sale for around $100. Had to get the extention at a hitch place.
Considering you are towing a toad, if I were you I would put a receiver on the toad and get a bike rack for it. Make things a lot easier for you.
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1995brave
San Antonio, TX
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Joined: 01/24/2006
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How about something like this.
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DrScud
On the Road
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Joined: 08/09/2005
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We prefer to have them on the back of the towed car. That way they are always with us when we do day trips. Many times we have parked the car and rode the bikes around the town we were visiting. Much more fun and interesting by bike than by car. I took our ladder of the coach anyway, so that option is out.
Jim & Sim - Fulltiming. - - Follow our adventures at: JimandSim.com
98 Foretravel U320 40', Cummins 450 HP/1450 lb-ft, HD4060 Allison, w/rtrder
2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo / M & G Braking / Demco Excali-Bar
Current location
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MAJESTYPOINTERS
MONROE, MI.
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Joined: 04/08/2008
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I have a Tiffin Alegro also. I have a toad (samurai) and also was looking to bring the bikes.
Long post but this is just what I decided to do and how I made my decisions.
You may have other concerns.
Looked at ladder racks and decided against them because my ladder is bolted to the roof and back of my RV and I did not want all that weight (two adult bikes) bouncing on my roof and rear wall. If you look your ladder it already extends 10in to a foot from the RV and the bike rack would extend this another 12in or more. Not a good idea in my opnion.
Looked at hitch mounted bike racks and decided against them because to still tow I would need a hitch extention to use the over the reciver style rack or a double reciver to use the slide in type. Both of these options would add more pieces (greater chance of breakage) and/or length to my tow ball that would change the weight rating at the ball.
The front mount bike was decided against because I have a hard time cleaning the bugs off the front of the RV and could not see having to clean the bikes too. A cover over the bike was not an option for me as it would block the air to the engine and posibly cause over heating.
Bike roof rack on the toad would not work for me as the bikes would be to high in the air to get to them easy and would also be hard to lift them up in the first place.
I did not want to go with the bikes on the rear bumper of the toad because I would never see them back there if something was going wrong and also the bikes would block the tail lights on my toad from drivers behind me.
The option I whent with was the two piece rear bumper mounted bike rack on the RV. The racks are made for the 4in square bumper so I had to modify the mounting to fit my flat 12in x 3in bumper. It was not hard to change, mainly just longer bolts and a triangle shaped suport to fill in the thickness difference. The bikes are high enough (my hitch is under the 12in bumper and this rack is on top) to get to my hitch and hook and unhook the toad without being in the way. The bikes now are suported by the tires and not hanging on the frame. A cover keeps the bikes out of the sun and rain. They will still get some dirt and dust on them even under the cover but it is not as bad as without a cover.
This is just what worked for me. Hope this helps
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dmason
Gaithersburg, MD
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Joined: 04/17/2008
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Saw one on the back of an RV yesterday, sort of a dual hitch extension, but it wasn't one hitch directly over the other. The second hitch (where he had his bikes) was to the street side. Looked different but more I think about it not a bad idea. However I think it's expensive 'cause it's probably means replacing your existing hitch with a new dual hitch. Don't think the second hitch was a add-on but part of the oringinal hitch. BTW I carry mine (foldable ones) in one of my slideout trays.
Richard & Mary Lou
07 HR Scepter, 42 PLQ
Plus four w/four down:
Casey, Honey, Brady, and Rusty
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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I have seen that and in fact have one version of the rack
However what I did was this.. I have a Draw-Tight bike carrier, this model is designed to mount on a tow hitch (you remove the ball, put the bike carrier on and replace the ball the ball holds the bike rack, or you can use the bolt included with the rack if you don't tow a trailer
Due to the height of the receiver on my motor home I use a "Drop hitch" receiver adapter, Blue Ox was kind enough to custom welt a "Tab" on it for the bike rack (so now it is a dual hitch adapter)
Draw tight makes several models some of which are designed to fit over a 2" square bar (Standard thing you stick into the receiver) if you don't use a drop like I do
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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PeppyPilot
NW Chicago Suburbs
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Joined: 06/24/2002
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No engineer here, but I would agree with the posts that discourage the ladder mounts. I see too much liklihood of expensive damage to the coach.
We went with the hitch mount (for 2" receiver) that we mount to the back of the Jeep.
Nice thing is that if we do not tow on a particular trip, we can attach the rack directly on the back of the motorhome.
We went with the Hollywood Roadrunner HR 420. At ~ $300 it was kind of pricey, but it holds 4 bikes and seems high quality.
We needed a hitch bar which extended back far enough to accomodate the spare tire on the back of the Jeep (minimum 13" from middle of attach bolt hole to most forward section of bike rack). This unit provides about 16" of clearance, so it could also be easily attached to 2" hitch mount on back of motorhome with no additional extension hardware needed.
So far, so good. Only one trip with it so far - about 800 miles round trip to FMCA convention in July. This weekend it gets another run to Michigan.
CJ, Pepe, Abby & Gretchen (in spirit)
2003 Itasca Suncruiser 33V
Workhorse W-20 chassis
2004 Jeep Liberty Limited w/Blue Ox
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kmb1966
Houston
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Joined: 09/18/2005
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I tried the ladder bike rack from Camping World. NO WAY. I brought it back before even attempting to drive with my bikes on it. One of several things was going to take place with the ladder bike rack in my opinion:
1. The weight of the bikes on the ladder was going to cause the ladder to bend.
2. The ladder was going to tear off the motorhome eventually.
3. The bikes were going to fall off.
4. The bikes were going to damage the rear of the motorhome.
5. All of the above.
I took that thing back. I noticed later on the CW website, nearly all negative reviews on the product. I should have researched better before buying it. Now I put the bikes in the toad.
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