Looking for help once we join the family again...

[2 in a Roo]

Dan, my TV setup is nearly identical to yours and my wife and I have had as many as three older teens with us.



Bikes for me have always gone into the bed. I take off the front wheels and use bicycle skewers to stabilize the bike. You can also use a truck rack and hang them upside Down if you wish. I use a TracRac and have had kayaks on top and suspended bikes below. (Thule evidently now owns TracRac, they cost nearly 2x what I paid for them.)


Getting a receiver welded onto the front of your truck may be a good idea too, I've seen bikes carried that way.



I'd keep them off the trailer though for the good reasons already posted. Chucks point about metal fatigue is valid.


We go to Hatteras Island every year and stay at Camp Hatteras. June is a great time to go. Where do you plan to stay?

[danrlewis73]

Originally Posted by 2 in a Roo

Dan, my TV setup is nearly identical to yours and my wife and I have had as many as three older teens with us.



Bikes for me have always gone into the bed. I take off the front wheels and use bicycle skewers to stabilize the bike. You can also use a truck rack and hang them upside Down if you wish. I use a TracRac and have had kayaks on top and suspended bikes below. (Thule evidently now owns TracRac, they cost nearly 2x what I paid for them.)


Getting a receiver welded onto the front of your truck may be a good idea too, I've seen bikes carried that way.



I'd keep them off the trailer though for the good reasons already posted. Chucks point about metal fatigue is valid.


We go to Hatteras Island every year and stay at Camp Hatteras. June is a great time to go. Where do you plan to stay?

Never thought about hanging them underneath the rack like that. [emoji848] I'd like to mount them on top of the bed, keeping the bed open for other stuff. But, I'm having trouble finding a system that will do what I want. I've got a soft, roll-up tonneau cover that I'd still like to use to keep the bed contents dry if we run into rain. The cover mounts to the inside of the bed rails. So, the top of the bed is still open for a rack of some kind to mount. I know all about metal fatigue. I've got a little background in Engineering. Just not wanting to design something that's already been done if I can get away with it. I think I'm down to two concepts. Either on top of the bed somehow (convenient but, more expensive) or inside the camper on the dinette (secure from theft and cheaper). But, I think I'll wait to have the camper in hand before deciding on a final once I can check clearances.

We're staying at the Cape Hatteras KOA. I believe that is right next to Camp Hatteras. [emoji846]

[2 in a Roo]

Originally Posted by danrlewis73

We're staying at the Cape Hatteras KOA. I believe that is right next to Camp Hatteras. [emoji846]

It is, our family went through a CAT 1 hurricane there in 1973. We were in a tent camper at the time.



You'll have a great time. If you've never been there I can send you some recommendations on things to see, places to eat. Good luck on your search.

[G37x]

this is what I use

[danrlewis73]

Originally Posted by G37x

this is what I use

Do you have to disassemble the whole thing to be able to lower the front bunk? Not just remove the bike rack, but the whole thing? It looks too tall in this picture.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by danrlewis73

Do you have to disassemble the whole thing to be able to lower the front bunk? Not just remove the bike rack, but the whole thing? It looks too tall in this picture.

Here is a link to that rack system:

https://www.strombergcarlson.com/pro...-model-cc-275/

[G37x]

Originally Posted by danrlewis73

Do you have to disassemble the whole thing to be able to lower the front bunk? Not just remove the bike rack, but the whole thing? It looks too tall in this picture.

Yes but it only takes 5-10 minutes

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by G37x

Yes but it only takes 5-10 minutes

Just use a fold-down rack with the Bike Bunk.