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Old 04-10-2016, 02:30 PM   #1
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Hitch Mount Trailer Bike Rack?

Has anyone used a hitch mount bike rack? I have a pop-up trailer and do not want to mount it on the roof or storage box.

Hollywood Racks HR135 Tow N' Go 3-Bike Hitch Mount Trailer Towing Rack (2-Inch Receiver))
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Old 04-10-2016, 04:13 PM   #2
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Curt also make a clap on bike rack that I am looking into. I have not purchased anything yet.
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Old 04-10-2016, 11:18 PM   #3
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I have the following and it has worked very well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PLG7UK/

I also use a hitch extender to get the bike rack higher. Didn't like how low the bikes hung.

http://m.harborfreight.com/dual-hitc...der-69881.html

http://rvhappyhour.com/wp-content/up...7/IMG_1042.jpg
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Old 04-11-2016, 12:16 AM   #4
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The OP has a popup. Its bumper isn't strong enough for a setup like yours, since you have a motorhome.

That's why they're asking about a hitch mounted bike rack.
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Old 04-11-2016, 12:56 AM   #5
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I would not trust any bumper on any camper!!
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Old 04-11-2016, 01:45 AM   #6
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Quote:
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I would not trust any bumper on any camper!!
The OP is asking about a bike rack that slides over the drawbar, NOT on the bumper.
To the OP, the only negative to the Tow n' Go is that it won't work with most WDHs.
If you don't need a WDH, then it should work.
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Old 04-11-2016, 06:50 AM   #7
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We've used a Swagman 4 bike hitch mount (slides on drawbar between car and trailer) with a Coleman Utah and Ford Explorer. We have since switched to the Pro-Rack (back wheels sit on roof).

The Swagman made it very difficult to access the back of the car, needed for lunches and overnight stops. It also adds directly to the hitch weight limit of the vehicle. This mount is sturdy, but still found it necessary to tie down the bikes to limit the movement. I prefer the Pro-Rack, even though it means unloading the bikes at each stop.
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Old 04-11-2016, 11:32 AM   #8
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If you want to use the type that goes on the drawbar, just make sure you'll have enough clearance as the popup swings when turning. Back when I towed my Coleman popup with our Sienna minivan, I used a 2-bike mount like this that hung on the liftgate and used a 3 bike rack on the roof.
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Old 04-11-2016, 11:48 AM   #9
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If you don't need a WDH, here's another option:

https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-...an/S64975.html

I used a Reese version for 5 or 6 years with my Dodge Caravan/Coleman Sequoia setup.
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Old 04-11-2016, 12:08 PM   #10
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While I can't recommend a good rack to use, I can recommend you stay away from the Thule Apex Swing. Instead of having a pin or bolt that goes through the receiver, it has a hook that is supposed to lock into the hole in where the pin normally goes. I had this rack mounted on the back of my dinghy and discovered it nearly falling out of the receiver after a several hour drive. The bike wheels were less than an inch above the pavement. While Thule was great as far as replacing it, I simply don't trust it anymore.
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Old 04-11-2016, 12:43 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fr1rd831 View Post
I have the following and it has worked very well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PLG7UK/

I also use a hitch extender to get the bike rack higher. Didn't like how low the bikes hung.

Dual Hitch Extender

http://rvhappyhour.com/wp-content/up...7/IMG_1042.jpg
I used a setup like this with my popup and worked well. The Camper sets a little lower though but was never an issue. Hook your bike rack in the top slot and the camper hooks into the bottom one.
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Old 04-11-2016, 07:25 PM   #12
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http://mount-n-lock.com/all-products-category/product/69-4square-combo-pack-safetystruts-rv-bumper-mounted-hitch-for-bike-racks.
This is what I installed. Great bumper support.
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Old 04-11-2016, 07:54 PM   #13
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Here's your solution

We had a receiver welded to the frame/bumper of our Coleman Viking Clipper. Then slid in a receiver type bike rack. We used that for four years with no issues. It wobbled around a little but never had any damage to the bikes or pop up.
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Old 04-12-2016, 05:44 AM   #14
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gone,
I tried the hitch mounted to the back of the trailer also. (4 bikes). I sort of .. forgot about how it affected the weight distribution. Made for some interesting handling and had to move 2 bikes onto the roof at the front of the trailer. That is when I changed to the pro rack style.
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Old 04-27-2016, 08:59 AM   #15
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Back of pup bike rack mounting?
I know this subject has been discussed to death but I'll venture into it anyway. Has anyone ever attached a bike rack directly to the under frame of the pup? Not the bumper ( it's a joke at best, already repaired after 1st trip out when bought it NEW) I'm talking about the actual frame the pup and the "bumper" are attached to. Any ideas, photos. Thanks any help appreciated.
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Old 04-27-2016, 09:36 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ezitin View Post
http://mount-n-lock.com/all-products-category/product/69-4square-combo-pack-safetystruts-rv-bumper-mounted-hitch-for-bike-racks.
This is what I installed. Great bumper support.
I did something very similar to strengthen the bumper on my last TT. I used a heavy piece of angle iron and u-bolted it to the rectangular tubing the bumper is welded to and then u-bolted it to the bumper.
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Old 04-27-2016, 09:58 AM   #17
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The setup on our Coleman Utah utilized a plate welded to the frame and bumper supports and the receiver. I no longer have it to provide pictures. My F-I-L did the work and wa-a-ay over built so it was rock solid. The Coleman bumper was also more substantial than FR puts on.

As alluded in my post above, it has a LARGE impact on weight distribution since the bikes are a larger percentage of a pup's overall weight vs a TT. Not thinking, I started a long trip with 4 bikes mounted there and had to move 2 onto the front trunk of the Utah in order to balance it. I believe even 2 bikes would have been a problem back there without the two bikes lashed to the front of the trailer to balance it out. After that trip I switched to the pro-rack.

With the rear mounted rack I still had to remove the bikes to set up since the beds did not clear the bikes. I would recommend against putting a bike rack back there.
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Old 04-27-2016, 10:17 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Underthedog View Post
The setup on our Coleman Utah utilized a plate welded to the frame and bumper supports and the receiver. I no longer have it to provide pictures. My F-I-L did the work and wa-a-ay over built so it was rock solid. The Coleman bumper was also more substantial than FR puts on.

As alluded in my post above, it has a LARGE impact on weight distribution since the bikes are a larger percentage of a pup's overall weight vs a TT. Not thinking, I started a long trip with 4 bikes mounted there and had to move 2 onto the front trunk of the Utah in order to balance it. I believe even 2 bikes would have been a problem back there without the two bikes lashed to the front of the trailer to balance it out. After that trip I switched to the pro-rack.

With the rear mounted rack I still had to remove the bikes to set up since the beds did not clear the bikes. I would recommend against putting a bike rack back there.
Did the same on my Coleman, but caused very bad sway. That's when I went to the hitch mount I hyperlinked to in Post #9.
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2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
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