Need help with bike rack options

[PhillyAreaNolesFan]

Hi all, I just got HW277. I will be towing with a Ram 1500 that has a hard tri-folding Tonneau bed cover. I need to haul 5 bikes. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[burch42]

This is what i had done for when i had the TT, left me the ability to use the truck bed and access to it. When not towing there was nothing in the way..

Yakima rails and thule attachments.

[kinma13]

Bike rack

[kinma13]

I've heard this type can work but I think on a hoghwall that might be hard to get up there

[Manymoto Pop up]

I built same as the picture. Bough materials for a 2280 2013

[rockfordroo]

5 bikes is tough.

I had a Reese version of one of these for 4:



Be aware it will reduce the amount of tongue weight you can have on the hitch.

If you're towing with an SUV, you could strap a rack on the back for the extra bike.

Don't go with anything on the back of the HW. It will lighten your tongue weight too much and cause sway big time (I know - I tried this before I got the Reese!). This video will make it abundantly clear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jk9H5AB4lM

[bikendan]

Really the only solution for hauling 5 bikes, towing a popup, is a truck bed system or a roof system on the popup.

[doc73]

When I had a pup I bought a bike rack and put two legs on it and ratchet strapped tot he pup's roof. It worked very well for us. I used one of the racks that looked like a flat ladder that held the bikes by the tires, not the ones that use the upper frame bar.

[Herk7769]

How I solved my problem:

[Mountndream]

most manfactures don't make a 5 bike racks. Your best solution will be a Yakama or Thule Rack system. This can be placed on the pop up roof or your truck bed

[3hooligans]

My solution was a Yakima system anchored on the bed rails outside the tonneau.
We carry five bikes. Much easier on the bed than the roof. Also less wind drag behind cab.

[bikendan]

Like I said previously, the only solution for the OP's 5 bikes, is a setup like above on the truck or the popup's roof.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by doc73

When I had a pup I bought a bike rack and put two legs on it and ratchet strapped it to the pup's roof. It worked very well for us. I used one of the racks that looked like a flat ladder that held the bikes by the tires, not the ones that use the upper frame bar.

I did the exact same thing with our first pop-up. There was no AC on the roof to get in the way. Then we got a new pop-up that had an AC on the roof and the bike rack was no longer usable.

[doc73]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

I did the exact same thing with our first pop-up. There was no AC on the roof to get in the way. Then we got a new pop-up that had an AC on the roof and the bike rack was no longer usable.

We were lucky, the AC was out of the way. But out pup was huge. Had two queen ends and a shower / bathroom.

[exploreco]

We like the Pro Rac set up too. Even though I have a truck, the bed is full usually. I know it has the capacity for 4 bikes. At this point we still put the little ones bike in the bed of the truck. Doesn't address the 5 bike issue for the OP, but I always like to show the Pro Rac

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by exploreco

We like the Pro Rac set up too. Even though I have a truck, the bed is full usually. I know it has the capacity for 4 bikes. At this point we still put the little ones bike in the bed of the truck. Doesn't address the 5 bike issue for the OP, but I always like to show the Pro Rac

No black tire tracks on the roof?

[exploreco]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

No black tire tracks on the roof?

No, none that I have noticed. It came with a couple of clear tape squares to put down where the wheels would be, but I did not put that down. Haven't had any issues, on my roof at least.

[Dodaman]

Originally Posted by exploreco

No, none that I have noticed. It came with a couple of clear tape squares to put down where the wheels would be, but I did not put that down. Haven't had any issues, on my roof at least.

I also use the ProRack. I don't have a truck just the minivan, so I have to move things around a bit to get the tongue weight correct. It is a bit of a pain to set up properly, but it does the job well. I used to have a roof rack for bikes, but now I used a roof box to carry items. When I do get a truck, I will definitely be using the bed setup others have posted. With the correct length bars, you can easily fit all five bikes. Have fun

Ps, I also use those clear strips to keep tire marks off the roof. I used them right from the start. It is good to know others have not and are not seeing tire marks. Those plastic strips get dirty and ugly very quick. I'll be taking them off this year and see how it works.

[kinma13]