Hemi Joel
Minnesota
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Hi, I'm looking for recommendations on a bike rack to hold two bicycles to bring them with on road trips. I have a triple slide camper, and the roof access ladder is mounted on the rear slide. I'm not sure that I want to hang the weight of two bicycles on that. So I'm thinking of a receiver hitch mounted bike rack on a hitch extender.
Has anybody got experience with any of these?
Is there any particular brand and model that is best or most suitable for this application?
Anything I should be aware of before I buy something?
Thanks, Joel
* This post was
edited 07/11/22 09:53pm by Hemi Joel *
2018 Eagle Cap 1163 triple slide, 400W solar, MPPT, on a 93 Dodge D350 Cummins, DTT 89 torque converter, big turbo, 3 extra main leafs, Rancho 9000s rear, Monroe gas magnums front, upper overloads removed, home made stableloads, bags.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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I would think about a front receiver on the truck.
Many different styles of receiver bike racks. I would suggest looking at one that swings down making it easier to load. My rigid one on MH sucks!
Bud
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2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker
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mike/kellie
northern calif.
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We have a Thule T2 Pro XTR that fits a 2" receiver. We have a Torklift 48" hitch extension and it clears the rear slide even when extended ( barely). You need to consider the width of your tires for some models and also weight. I believe my rack will also carry most E- bikes, something we never considered.
2015 Host Mammoth triple slide w/ TorkLift Fastguns
2015 Ram 5500 SLT cab & chassis with Douglass 9' utility body
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Bedlam
PNW
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You will want to offset a rear receiver rack far enough back so you can open the slide without off loading the bikes. Have you considered carrying the bikes inside the camper or in the rear of the truck cab?
Chevy Sonic 1.8-Honda Passport C70B-Host Mammoth 11.5-Interstate Car Carrier 20-Joyner SandViper 250-Kawasaki Concours ZG1000-Paros 8' flatbed-Pelican Decker DLX 8.75-Ram 5500 HD
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Hemi Joel
Minnesota
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thanks for the replies so far. They won't fit in the camper. They might fit in the backseat of the pickup. I'd have to check on that.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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I think I’d hate cleaning 1000s of miles of bugs and road grime off the bikes with a front rack, unless they’re cheap bikes.
Idk if they’re heavy (e bikes) but we used a simple bike rack strapped to the rear ladder on our TC for 2 mountain bikes no problem.
Any ladder that holds my fat @ss will hold a couple 30-40lb bicycles was my justification…
Not as nice as the fancy bike rack type carriers. Required a couple bungee cords and carpet scraps/ towels. But under $100 vs $400-800 for the fancy racks made more sense to me.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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Slymer
Ontario, Canada
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For two bikes we went with mounting a Class 3 hitch on the front of the truck. Then used a cradle type rack where both wheels of the bikes sit in trays. I really like being able to keep an eye on them while driving. If there is an issue I will see it. Have been doing this about 4 years now without any problems.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/sportrack-crest-2-platform-hitch-bike-carrier-0401110p.html#plp
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Hemi Joel
Minnesota
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Do they get very dirty or beat up by rocks and bugs and stuff on the front?
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BB_TX
McKinney, Texas
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If you mount them on a rear hitch, be sure to have someone follow you on a short drive to watch them. I have seen some ride very smoothly. And I have seen some bouncing so violently I was wondering how long they would last. Most people don’t know what the bikes are doing unless they have a camera.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Hemi Joel wrote:Do they get very dirty or beat up by rocks and bugs and stuff on the front?
Same as your bumper, grille, hood, windshield...
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