Bike rack for Cedar Creek 34RLSA

[cbari]

I have a 2013 34RLSA with the 1 1/4" hitch receiver, and I am looking for a good bike rack. I would like a platform rack, like the Swagman XTC2, but I'm not sure about clearance for the handlebars and the rear of the camper. Anyone have any experience with hauling bicycles on the back of your Cedar Creek?

Thanks!
Carroll

[Duckogram]

Indeed. I haul a Trek and an Easy Racer recumbent on a Hollywood folding rack.
My hitch is the last of the 2" models so I had to use the adapter. I also had my local welder attach the 1.25 - 2" adapter permanently. Then I had him add a weld blob on the top where the rack slides into the receiver. Broke out the old file and made a permanent shim which eliminated all bounce. I followed that up with an anti rattle locking pin. The bike wheels ride in hoops and the frame is locked down with the slide bar in the center. Voila.

[ret2006]

I have the Swagman XC Cross Country rack, two bicycles on it. Have about three inches clearance from handle bars. It's the pedals you have to watch on the bottom. I have only about an inch clearance unless I position the pedal low then I have about 3 inches.
I will get a picture in a few days.

[Wayne & Kimmy]

Originally Posted by ret2006

I have the Swagman XC Cross Country rack, two bicycles on it. Have about three inches clearance from handle bars. It's the pedals you have to watch on the bottom. I have only about an inch clearance unless I position the pedal low then I have about 3 inches.
I will get a picture in a few days.

Hi Ret2006, can you post those pics of the bike rack on your CC? We have the 36CKTS with 1.25 receiver and are trying to figure out which rack to get and how well it will work. Leaning toward a Swagman model also. Would love to hear about your experiences with yours.

[Ford Idaho]

I have been looking at racks as well, I feel this one will work well as two bike is all that will go.
It folds well for a small storage foot print.

Amazon.com: Swagman XC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (1/1/4 and 2-Inch Receiver): Sports & Outdoors

[Lloydg]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

I have been looking at racks as well, I feel this one will work well as two bike is all that will go.
It folds well for a small storage foot print.

Amazon.com: Swagman XC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (1/1/4 and 2-Inch Receiver): Sports & Outdoors

X2! That's an excellent rack. I have one and love it. I don't use it on my 5er, but use it on my Escape and there is no interference with the rear lift gate. Camping World has it on sale for 149.99 right now and lists as RV Approved.
XC Hitch or Bumper Mount Rack - Swagman 64663 - Bike Racks - Camping World

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by Lloydg

X2! That's an excellent rack. I have one and love it. I don't use it on my 5er, but use it on my Escape and there is no interference with the rear lift gate. Camping World has it on sale for 149.99 right now and lists as RV Approved.
XC Hitch or Bumper Mount Rack - Swagman 64663 - Bike Racks - Camping World

I will need to get a bolt on 2 inch receiver to mount on the bumper of the lite.
Picked up the bikes yesterday.

[ret2006]

Originally Posted by Wswkmw

Hi Ret2006, can you post those pics of the bike rack on your CC? We have the 36CKTS with 1.25 receiver and are trying to figure out which rack to get and how well it will work. Leaning toward a Swagman model also. Would love to hear about your experiences with yours.

I forgot to get the pictures, thanks for reminding me. Sorry I couldn't find any with the uncovered bikes on it. Hope this helps.

[Lloydg]

Just a caution if you're leaving from snow country to warmer climates. Road salt is murder on your bikes. Last year I had my bikes on the rear rack and went to a car wash when I got to Florida and washed everything. When we got home it was still freezing and did not wash them and ended up with rusted hardware and stuck brake cables. Dumb mistake on my part. This year, one bike is in the basement of the 5er and the other is going to be wrapped in plastic shipping wrap and stored in the pick-up bed.

[Wayne & Kimmy]

Originally Posted by ret2006

I forgot to get the pictures, thanks for reminding me. Sorry I couldn't find any with the uncovered bikes on it. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the pics - looks pretty good!

How have things gone with hurling the bikes? I know the Swagman has those clamp-down ratchet mechanisms that help hold the bikes down, but I've read so much about if bikes might hit the trailer (handlebars, pedals), bounce, "whiplash" effect due to length and distance from tow vehicle, etc.

Many were concerned about after-market bumper mounted receivers and all, but with the CC having the receiver frame mounted from the factory, I would think by design that things would work well. With the receiver only being 1.25", it clearly wasn't designed for much more than bikes,

[Wayne & Kimmy]

Originally Posted by Lloydg

X2! That's an excellent rack. I have one and love it. I don't use it on my 5er, but use it on my Escape and there is no interference with the rear lift gate. Camping World has it on sale for 149.99 right now and lists as RV Approved.
XC Hitch or Bumper Mount Rack - Swagman 64663 - Bike Racks - Camping World

That is exactly the one I was looking at getting! it is one of many things on my list...maybe Santa will hook me up

[ret2006]

Originally Posted by Wswkmw

Thanks for the pics - looks pretty good!

How have things gone with hurling the bikes? I know the Swagman has those clamp-down ratchet mechanisms that help hold the bikes down, but I've read so much about if bikes might hit the trailer (handlebars, pedals), bounce, "whiplash" effect due to length and distance from tow vehicle, etc.

Many were concerned about after-market bumper mounted receivers and all, but with the CC having the receiver frame mounted from the factory, I would think by design that things would work well. With the receiver only being 1.25", it clearly wasn't designed for much more than bikes,

Pulled my CC about 3,000 miles with the bikes on the Swagman. Several trips on I-65 through Birmingham which is really rough, bouncing up and down about 16 miles each way and the bikes made it fine. Swagman is a great choice.

[Ford Idaho]

Thank You Lloydg for the heads up at CW.
Just ordered it.
My preparation for the zombie apocalypse continues.

[Lloydg]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

Thank You Lloydg for the heads up at CW.
Just ordered it.
My preparation for the zombie apocalypse continues.

You'll like it. Maybe I should ask CW for a commision.

[Wayne & Kimmy]

Originally Posted by ret2006

Pulled my CC about 3,000 miles with the bikes on the Swagman. Several trips on I-65 through Birmingham which is really rough, bouncing up and down about 16 miles each way and the bikes made it fine. Swagman is a great choice.

Thanks for the info - I greatly appreciate it!

[cbari]

RET2006, thanks for the pictures! I am leaning toward the Swagman. Just got back from a three week trip to Florida, and my bikes were bounced all over the place with my current rack, which hangs the bikes by their crossbars.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by cbari

RET2006, thanks for the pictures! I am leaning toward the Swagman. Just got back from a three week trip to Florida, and my bikes were bounced all over the place with my current rack, which hangs the bikes by their crossbars.

One of the things I did not want is to have is the bike wheels spinning around at mach speed when running down the road.
The one I ordered today the weight of the bike is on the tires.

[Lloydg]

IMO, hanging bikes from the crossbars is very hard on the frames. That's why I have a Swagman. I have another rack that holds the bikes from the crossbars and I use that for a work stand.

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by Lloydg

IMO, hanging bikes from the crossbars is very hard on the frames. That's why I have a Swagman. I have another rack that holds the bikes from the crossbars and I use that for a work stand.

X 2 Although I use a Hollywood because my recumbent does not fit in a Swagman.

[Ford Idaho]

So the Ups guy just dropped off the Swagman had to put it in the basement till the weather warm's up enough to put it on.