MichDoc
Michigan
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Joined: 01/02/2006
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You might want to contact the manufacturer. Ours approved the use of the bike rack, but only as long as we removed the spare tire carrier. We just carry the spare in one of the cargo compartments now. Been working fine for five years.
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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Joined: 07/10/2002
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You could search this forum for `bike rack' and read forever.
I am against racks on the bumper of a TT but 5ers seem to ride better and the bikes don't bounce around as much.
We use a rack on the front of our TV.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two electric bikes (both Currie Tech Path+ models)
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traxtermax
UPSTATE NEW YORK
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Joined: 05/26/2004
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I'm totally unimpressed for all the reasons mentioned above; plus, it appears the relatively low ground clearance and "excessive tongue length" would seem to "bottom out" in some situations.
Edit: added a few words for clarity and fixed a typo.
* This post was
edited 01/20/11 12:06pm by traxtermax *
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C.B.
APPLETON WI USA
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traxtermax wrote:I'm totally unimpressed for all the reasons mentioned above; plus, it appears the relatively low ground clearance and "excessive tongue length" would seem to "bottom out" in some situations.
Edit: added a few words for clarity and fixed a typo.
Ground clearence isn't a problem. Tongue length isn't excessive in fact it is just right so carrier can be folded up 90 degrees when not in use. Last but not least it wasn't built to IMPRESS anybody but to only do what it was built to do. Carry 2 childrens bikes not a Harley!
C.B.
CBVP2004~FORD~F350~CC~LARIAT~SRW~SB~4X4~6.0D~
AUTO~PULLRITE 16K SUPERGLIDE~DEMCO GLIDERIDE~
PRODIGY CONTROLLER~C-BETR MIRRORS~EMS-HW50C~
Butch/Barb=2013-Cedar Creek 36CKTS
Kris/Katy=2006-Cherokee 32B
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topflite51
In The Desert of Nevada
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Joined: 05/13/2004
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MichDoc wrote:You might want to contact the manufacturer.
Best advice. If one is able always go to the horse's mouth, in this case the manufacturer. Everything else is a guess and by golly....
">David
Just rolling along enjoying life
w/F53 Southwind towing a 87 Samurai or 01 Grand Vitara looking to fish
Simply Despicable ">
Any errors are a result of CRS.">
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Bob Shaw
Newnan Ga
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As someone who has had to swerve to avoid bicycles tumbling on the road from a broken bumper hitch, please don't do it. As I can attest, they do break. I'm just tglad I wasn't towing my trailer at the time...It could have gotten messy.
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Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
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Check outTopoprails Bike Rack It is the ultimate bike solution for most travel trailers.
Bikes are always in view, no bounce, very sturdy. My 3 bike model is going on 4 seasons without issue. During camping season I leave bikes on rack 24/7
19'Duramax w/hips,12'Open Range,Titan Disc Brake
BD3,RV safepower,22" Blackstone
Ox Bedsaver,RV760 w/BC20,Glow Steps, Enduraplas25,Pedego
BakFlip,RVLock,5500 Onan LP,Prog.50A surge,Hughes autoformer
Porta Bote 8.0 Nissan,Sailun S637
Correct Trax,Splendide
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K3WE
Missouri
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Joined: 05/24/2005
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Classic thread...
"I've done it for a zillion years and no problem" (that's worthless, I did it for one trip and the bumper started to cave in)
"Contact the manufacturer?" Not very good either- if they give you advice, they have a certain liability. They have no clue what you might do, or who designed the bike rack. If they are smart, they will say "we warrant that it's a bumper and can hold your sewer hose".
Spare tire vs. Bike rack- yes, that makes sense, but then again, someone said the "leverage word".
I'm sure not all bumpers are the same and I'm sure there's acceptable set ups. But (big but) but The fact is that your average RV bumper is very thin and very weak and that folks have lost bikes.
I ditto those who say get something that is genuinely structurally sound that connects to the frame. We replaced our bumper with a piece of square steel tubing (I think it's 3/16 thick) and welded a genuine receiver onto that. The bikes now run fine back there.
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JJBIRISH
Butler, PA, USA
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Joined: 10/06/2002
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Bumper Mounted Bike Rack. Good idea or bad
In a single word, BAD…
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
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BigPoncho
Tallahassee, Florida
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It's bad if using original bumper in most cases. The 4" square tube has a thinner wall so the hose and fitting can fit inside it. In 2 weeks I'm taking mine in to have a 5" square tube welded on with a 2" receiver welded on top. I also use the Thule T2 rack as used in the pictures above. With the new bumper, I won't be worried about the bike coming off. You just have to think through things. TO the poster above with the Thule T2, you may want to think about drilling a hole thought the end of the square center tube as with that rack, the cross bars that support the bikes do have a tendency to loosen and "walk" rearward and can walk right of the end. I also cable lock the bikes through the frame.
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