Bike Racks

[stargazer22]

Recently purchased an 06 Silverback 29 ft. and are enjoying it. We want to take our bikes with us next time out and didn't know whether to go with bumper mount or lader mount. Someone told me the rear bumper wouldn't suport the bike rack and 2 bikes. Any opinions/advice would be apreciated.

[aintgotnun]

I had a ladder mount on my old Prowler 5er and hated it. It was a relatively cheap one from camping world $35 if I remember right. 2 ten speeds and many many miles it bent up the aluminum tubing and the handlebars never stayed away from the back of the trailer. I would wrap the handlebars with some terricloth towels (the kind you buy in bulk at sams) while in transit so they wouldn't mess up the wall of the trailer.

If you were told your bumper wouldn't support a rack you might want to get another opinion.......Or you may want to consider taking it to a welder and fashion a mount to the frame of the trailer that the rack could then be mounted to. But from what I've seen of most TT bumpers they are plenty sturdy to support a couple of bikes. I've seen trailers with 4+ bikes on racks attached to the bumpers.

greg

[mn_308]

stargazer22, welcome to the forums!

I was told the same thing about not mounting direct to the bumper.
I started a thread awhile ago looking for suggestions, but for now will probably put them in the back of the truck...

[milzat]

Click on thumbnails.

A friend made this bike rack for me.

Good solid mounting.

Had friends follow us to Florida. They told me it never moved.
I do inspect the bumper-to-frame welds at every stop. No problems so far, but I'm still concerned about having a bike rack I can't keep my eyes on while traveling.

I'm contemplating building a rack that will mount to the trailer "A" frame, something similar to the TopPopRails.

[welshman599]

A neighbour mounted a 2" bolt on hitch receiver to his frame and uses one of those receiver- mount racks (thule brand, I thnk) that works real well and holds the bikes well away from the trailer. Rugged set-up too.

[flagstaff]

Star gazer one of the best set ups I've seen for a 5ver was a hitch tube on top of the pin box the a bike rack into that. It gets out of the truck or inside and you can see what's going on. I'll try to find a picture.

[flagstaff]

Star gazer it's on the pictures page Woody's 5ver mods. Or go to pictures and search bike rack. That looks like the ticket to me.

[Woody 01]

Here is mine I have a 8 ft. bed clears cab by 7"

[aintgotnun]

Steve,

That is a slick setup. Do you have any pics from the side with it hooked up? 7" of clearence? How about in a jack knife situation? I've been thinking of doing something just like that when my kiddos get bigger bikes. Right now I can get all for of ours in our "garage" in the back of mine, 2 little bikes and 2 10 speed mountain bikes.

greg

[Woody 01]

I have not taken any pics with it hooked up yet. But the 7" is the closest the rack gets to the cab while turning

[aintgotnun]

Originally Posted by Woody 01

I have not taken any pics with it hooked up yet. But the 7" is the closest the rack gets to the cab while turning

Cool, that's what I wanted to know. 7" is tight but doable. I'll have to start planning mine here in the future. Did you fashion the bracket that is mounted to the kingping box yourself or did you buy one?

Thanks,

greg

[Woody 01]

I bought the hitch tube at tractor supply. Then I welded angle on it and bolted
on to the pin box. it also holds my flag pole.

[aintgotnun]

If you get a chance could you post some close ups with the flag pole mounted? Is the angle 2"x3". That looks like a really neat mod.

thanks

greg

[Woody 01]

Here is my flag pole bracket. Note the PVC pipe to Isolate the pole from the 5er, it's 2.5 " angle

[aintgotnun]

cool,

might have to go hit the scrap metal pile this weekend to see what I can dig up

thanks