Bike Rack for 8289WS 5er

[markb5900]

We got our new 5er home.
It has the spare tire mounted on the back bumper, we would like to put a big rack there.
Thinking of just putting the spare in the bed of the truck.
Anyone else mount a bike rack there or how do you carry your bikes?
Only need to carry two at the most.

[Rrickim63]

Please consider some alternatives. You have just asked one of the most controversial questions on this forum. I'm sure others will chime in. Even if you put a bike rack on your rear bumper (which i highly discourage) ,the forces on the bikes is amazing. At a minimum, you may lose the bikes from the bouncing they will do. You also run the risk of frame damage to tt. I was lucky and lost a bike that was secured and did not hit anyone behind me.

[Rrickim63]

Possibly consider putting the bikes in trailer or look for a front hitch for bikes on your truck.

[Fivealive]

You'll enjoy your trips better if you don't have to worry about the bikes dancing down the freeway. X2 for front hitch or pinbox mounted carrier. I carry bikes inside the trailer- no worries.

[ependydad]

You have a handful of options for bikes and fifth wheels. See if reading this helps:
Learn To RV: Bikes and Fifth Wheels

Ultimately, I had my father-in-law build me a pin box bike rack:
Learn To RV: DIY Fifth Wheel Pin Box Bike Rack - pictures

When I upgraded my pin box from a fixed pin to an air ride pin, I lost my bike rack. Just yesterday, he measured to design a new one.

[305RESGUY]

I don't have a 5er. But on my first travel trailer (a Pal), I got about 45-miles with a spare tire mounted bike rack with one bike before someone beeped and yelled I had better pull over and check the bike. I echo others re: "too much bouncing" with spare tire mounts. Had I gone 5-miles farther I would have lost my expensive Trek and maybe caused damage to another vehicle on the highway.

I also echo others re: putting the bike(s) inside the trailer when traveling if you only have 2. Much safer - and no worries, too.

[Loneeagle]

I've been through it all...I think. At least 3 different bike rack configurations. I finally opted to get a folding bike. I got a schwin holdup. Pretty compact and carry it in the back of my truck.

[18CrewDually]

Like others are saying, stay clear from mounting anything to the stock bumper tube. Here's what I did. I have built three of these so far for friends with no complaints. Get a good fold down bike rack (mine is a Thule) and loading the bikes are a breeze. I fit 4 bikes on mine.

[freddy2]

don't do it have the same trailer I have 2 foldup bic in the basement also a zodiac down the two

[Canonman]

Originally Posted by markb5900

We got our new 5er home.
It has the spare tire mounted on the back bumper, we would like to put a big rack there.
Thinking of just putting the spare in the bed of the truck.
Anyone else mount a bike rack there or how do you carry your bikes?
Only need to carry two at the most.

Definately stay away from mounting a bike rack on the rear bumper. Most racks are made to be used with a receiver type installation. There are "bolt on" receiver attachments for the TT bumper. Son-in-law did it and was lucky he got home with the bikes still on the TT. The top of the bumper was cracked along the welds that attached it to the frame. According to a welder friend of ours, when asked if the bumper could be reinforced to handle the weight and stress, his response was that the "sewer hose tube (not really a bumper at all) was made of such thin metal that it would tear away from any welded support." The welds wouldn't break the metal would just sheer due to the twisting stress of the bikes and rack bouncing up and down. We removed our bumper mount receiver and invested in a real frame mounted receiver ($350) for the bike rack. So did the SIL but it cost him another $150 to repair his bumper. It was a tough pill to swallow, $350 to carry the bikes but we sure didn't want to be the cause of some freeway disaster if it all came loose because we were trying to save a few bucks.

[5er_tom]

I had a 2" receiver installed on the front of my truck. I used a platform on the hitch to carry the bikes. Yes, I know It looks strange, but it a great solution. I could see the handle bars to keep am eye on the bikes to be sure they were secure.

My two cents says it is the best way to go.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[Fivealive]

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

I had a 2" receiver installed on the front of my truck. I used a platform on the hitch to carry the bikes. Yes, I know It looks strange, but it a great solution. I could see the handle bars to keep am eye on the bikes to be sure they were secure.

My two cents says it is the best way to go.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

Doesn't really look strange! Good place to carry the weight. I'm considering putting one on my F-250. It's a bolt on install. Also working on a way to suspend the honey wagon from the bike carrier to haul it to the dump station.

[Rsharrer]

Just finished installing a front mount hitch on my 2014 F-250. Purchased the hitch and a bike rack from etrailer.com. Haven't had a chance to use it yet but install was easy and the rack seems to hold our two bikes securely. Our 8289ws just would not handle the weight on the rear bumper.

[Det107]

We had a 2" receiver welded to the frame on the back of our 5er then bought a good bike rack. works great. I think our kids think we're spending their inheritance, I knew they were smart like their mom.

[B and B]

I have the same Fiver, mounted my Arvika bike rack on the back bumper. Put bikes on and promptly took them off. No way I am carrying my mountain bike on the back, way too unstable. Due to the nature of revolution hitch a Pin Box bike mount will not work.

I sold the Ravika on kijji, bought a Thule system for the F150 Screw, bikes on the roof of the truck now, works well, no issues other than a few bug splats.