Bikes on ladder

[goldmax]

Has anyone used the ladder on a Rockwood 2604ws to carry bikes?

[ToniandSal]

I don't know that I would trust the ladder to not come loose, or break off from the road vibration with bike(s) attached.

[TURBS]

I wouldn't

[PhoneDude 8289]

Don't do it

[goldmax]

Ok Thanks

[fluidone]

We have a 2604WS and use a bolt on 2" receiver mounted in the middle of the 4" bumper. Works like a champ for our 2 mountain bikes.

John & Bev J
2016 Rockwood 2604WS Emerald package

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by fluidone

We have a 2604WS and use a bolt on 2" receiver mounted in the middle of the 4" bumper. Works like a champ for our 2 mountain bikes.

A friend of mine proudly showed me his bolt on hitch and bikes there- literally the next trip out, he texted me that someone flagged him down on his way home and said that his bikes were dragging down the road because the bumper broke and twisted.

I'm not saying it'll happen to everyone- but I've heard of others experiencing the same.

[goldmax]

Thanks for all the info. This is our 6th travel trailer (2015 Rockwood 2604ws),I have always been concerned about rear bumper strength. As a daily truck driver I have seen some failed bumper mounts also. This one seems to be made well and I might give it a try.I carry ours inside and was looking for another option.

[fluidone]

I can see it failing if the hitch is overloaded. The bolt on I have is rated at 200 pound of load and is not rated to tow. Our bikes only weigh 25 and 30 pounds.

Working most of my life in steel construction it takes a lot of force to cause a 4 inch square tube to fail. Unless there is some internal defect there should have been indications of a pending failure. Bottom line is do a walk around your rig every stop. Mechanical stuff will fail and usually when you think all is well.

[winkhome]

If you ask FR they will tell you adding the hitch/bike rack to the bumper violates/voids your/the trailer's warranty. The recommend and sell the ladder mounted bike rack. I have not yet purchased a trailer, but the wife and I bike and it has been a matter of conversation on several occasions.

We think/believe we will be going with a Rockwood Mini Lite 1905, or it's Flagstaff twin.

There seems to be few good options. However if FR recommends the ladder rack for the bikes, I would think that buts the liability and warranty ball in their court.

as always - for what it is worth...

[rockfordroo]

You can always go with the welded receiver option.

In the thread below, see post #2 for the 2" receiver I had welded to my frame on my Roo 19 and see post #12 for the one I had welded to my Mini Lite 2503S. My dealer's certified welder did both of them.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...oo-107358.html

As you've seen in the posts above, certain folks always like to raise the warranty issue with doing this, however:

1. The warranty is typically only a year anyway, and
2. I feel the extra steel actually strengthens the frame.

I had the Roo 19 for 3 yrs with no issues and I'm guessing it's still going strong. I've had the Mini Lite for two summers now with no issues.

Good luck.

[RusLwt001]

A lot of threads on this subject but here is one of the recent ones. If you have a ladder on you trailer, I recently installed and tested the one in this thread. I carried two full size Trek bikes, For extra security, both from theft and from falling and dragging on the highway, I used a chain lock and secured both to one of the stairs of the ladder... a little extra, I guess. This bike rack works great and is one like FR sells for some trailers with ladders.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...unt-99311.html

I need to amend, there were several racks mentioned in this thread, please look at the surco rack I installed, tested and posted about in pages 3 and 4 of the thread.

[Hman0109]

Do you have a picture?

[RusLwt001]

Several pics in that thread.

[labcamper]

I spoke to the Forest River rep at the Hershey show and he said the ladder is rated for 350 bumpy pounds. And since a bike rake is an F R option, should be no problem and is a go.

[ToniandSal]

Originally Posted by labcamper

I spoke to the Forest River rep at the Hershey show and he said the ladder is rated for 350 bumpy pounds. And since a bike rake is an F R option, should be no problem and is a go.

That is good to know. Now, I can bring my Townie, unless I just opt to put it inside for the travel.

[bob caldwell]

Originally Posted by fluidone

I can see it failing if the hitch is overloaded. The bolt on I have is rated at 200 pound of load and is not rated to tow. Our bikes only weigh 25 and 30 pounds.

Working most of my life in steel construction it takes a lot of force to cause a 4 inch square tube to fail. Unless there is some internal defect there should have been indications of a pending failure. Bottom line is do a walk around your rig every stop. Mechanical stuff will fail and usually when you think all is well.

What's the wall thickness of tube?......What's the thickness of the brackets/ frame that the bumper is welded to?

[bmbdcj]

For what its worth we purchased a 2016 8328BS in May of this year. At the time of purchase we also purchased from our dealer a bike rack that attach's to the ladder (gravity type mount). After mounting and driving with 2 cruiser type bikes we found that our ladder was dented. It took us over 3 months to get a new ladder delivered and installed. From now on I will only mount/transport the bikes in the bed of the truck

[rockfordroo]

It's usually not the tube that fails, but the welds holding the tube to the frame.

[logspec1]

I had the bumper bike rack but it rocked a lot so I have followed FR recommendation and bought the ladder bike rack. Only problem I have is that it only holds 2 bikes. As the ladder is designed for climbing on it is more secure to the trailer and designed to hold the weight unlike the bumper which is really only designed to hold a sewer hose.