If back bumpers are so fragile while are so many spare tires mounted there?
I have a tandem that I 've carried on the back of three of my last four RV's. The spare rides in the back of the truck. The bike weighs a little more than the spare but not much. I guess I could be flirting with disaster, but it doesn't seem much different than a spare to me.
My bike rack consists of 2 tubular receptacles on each side of the bumper. The wheels of the bike sit in the receptacles.
That's nice! Is that homemade or did you buy that somewhere?
All homemade, including bike rack. Works great. Bikes ride nicely, I can see them the while time, don't interfere with anything in the bed, or come even remotely close to the cab.