Flat towing using a dual hitch & bike rack

[Homer Vista]

Anyone flat towing using a dual hitch and a bike rack? I'm in the planning stages for full-timing towing a 2-3" lifted Cherokee Trailhawk and I have a Kuat bike rack. I'm interested in 1) how to get the hitch level with the Jeep with the offset and 2) what bike racks seem to work very well. The Kuat is nice but heavy, but it does have integrated locks. We'll be carrying (2) $5000 bikes and any ooops are unacceptable. Thinking a NSA tow bar and brake setup and Blue Ox baseplate. Thanks!

[Thomas ho]

you need a tandum axle trailer,alumalite is a a+ .

[Homer Vista]

Originally Posted by Thomas ho

you need a tandum axle trailer,alumalite is a a+ .

No, I don't.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Thomas ho

you need a tandum axle trailer,alumalite is a a+ .

The OP has a motorhome towing a Jeep toad and posted this in the Motorhome section.
How does an Alumalite tandem axle trailer relate?

[Dodge Guy]

Why not put the bikes on the back of the Cherokee. I’ve had 4 bikes on a swagman platform bike rack on the back of my Explorer. 1 bike being a fat tire and 1 a heavy cruiser and 2 regular bikes.

[BehindBars]

I modified a bike rack and a dual receiver and with it I haul 2 bicycles while flat towing a subcompact car behind an E450 motorhome. At times when I tow a cargo trailer hauling motorcycle(s), I then carry 2 bicycles on a bike rack on a front mounted receiver on the motorhome.

With some imagination you can hack together whatever combination you need, but in your case the simplest solution, if the Cherokee can handle it, is probably to mount the bicycles on the back of the toad.

[5picker]

I made one for my Uncle similar to this but with slightly more offset.
It worked well for him but he always complained the bikes got really dirty behind the motorhome and in front of the toad. Something to consider with $5k bikes. I think he had a Thule rack.

[ependydad]

I went through these exact thoughts when I was motorhome shopping. I ended up with the Gen Y Mega Hitch as I felt it was a strong/better attachment than a lot of the "double hitch" setups.

https://genyhitch.com/product-catego...-drop-hitches/

As for a specific bike rack, be careful as you shop- many bike racks aren't rated for use on the back of a motorhome. eTrailer.com does a great job giving a graphic of where each one can be used.

Ironically, I bought this thing and did the research and ultimately got a pickup truck to tow. I just put the bikes in the bed over the tailgate!

[IamProStreet]

Originally Posted by bikendan

The OP has a motorhome towing a Jeep toad and posted this in the Motorhome section.
How does an Alumalite tandem axle trailer relate?

I’m assuming he was suggesting putting the Jeep and bikes in the trailer to keep them out of sight and safe and not flat towing.

[Webefine]

Originally Posted by IamProStreet

I’m assuming he was suggesting putting the Jeep and bikes in the trailer to keep them out of sight and safe and not flat towing.

I agree with this. As a full timer I wouldn’t be without my enclosed trailer that tow with my Bronco, Ebikes and motorcycle inside. It takes some extra planning but having all those items inside along with room for other items required for living out of a RV is the only way I would do it.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Webefine

I agree with this. As a full timer I wouldn’t be without my enclosed trailer that tow with my Bronco, Ebikes and motorcycle inside. It takes some extra planning but having all those items inside along with room for other items required for living out of a RV is the only way I would do it.Attachment 283638

The OP has a gas van chassis Class C, not a huge and powerful Dynamax.
Not sure if their towing capacity is high enough.

[KEliasz]

I have a motor home that I flat tow a Chevy malibu. I use that splitter hitch and have a blue ox tow boar to the malibu on the bottom and bike rack on top with 4 bikes no problem. However. If I had thr Jeep I would put the bike rack on the Toad.

[RVwino]

Originally Posted by Homer Vista

We'll be carrying (2) $5000 bikes

If these are lightweight road-bikes, then lifting them up to a higher rack may not be an issue. But if they are 90 lb e-bikes, you may want to consider saving your back by putting the rack on the toad. There are also a number of hard-shell bike carriers on the market that provide more protection to your bikes from grime, water, salt, and theft.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Homer Vista

No, I don't.

Are your $5000 bikes mountain Ebikes?

[weirba]

We have flat towed a jeep for many years, with a double receiver. Blue Ox on the bottom and bike rack on the top. Works great!

Those that suggest to put the bikes on the toad, I disagree. For two reasons, one is that Jeep back doors swing open and you would need to remove the bikes any time you want in the back of the jeep. Second and more concerning is we keep the bikes covered in a bag and with them mounted on the jeep the tailights are covered and not visible to those behind.

The double receiver works great the bikes mount easy and are out of the way.

[BillWill]

Originally Posted by Homer Vista

Anyone flat towing using a dual hitch and a bike rack? I'm in the planning stages for full-timing towing a 2-3" lifted Cherokee Trailhawk and I have a Kuat bike rack. I'm interested in 1) how to get the hitch level with the Jeep with the offset and 2) what bike racks seem to work very well. The Kuat is nice but heavy, but it does have integrated locks. We'll be carrying (2) $5000 bikes and any ooops are unacceptable. Thinking a NSA tow bar and brake setup and Blue Ox baseplate. Thanks!

I have been using a dual hitch on my 2012 C Class for 7 years. I tow a Mini Cooper on a tow dolly and mount a bike rack with two bikes with the rack inserted in to the top section of the hitch. No issues what so ever.

[Jheiser]

Originally Posted by Homer Vista

Anyone flat towing using a dual hitch and a bike rack? I'm in the planning stages for full-timing towing a 2-3" lifted Cherokee Trailhawk and I have a Kuat bike rack. I'm interested in 1) how to get the hitch level with the Jeep with the offset and 2) what bike racks seem to work very well. The Kuat is nice but heavy, but it does have integrated locks. We'll be carrying (2) $5000 bikes and any ooops are unacceptable. Thinking a NSA tow bar and brake setup and Blue Ox baseplate. Thanks!

I tow a VW Tiguan on a dolly on the bottom hitch and two Himiway e-bikes on a bike rack in the top hitch. Currently, I have close to 25k miles crisscrossing the US using this configuration with no issues whatsoever. I use this double receiver hitch I got on Amazon. Roadmaster (077-2) Dual Hitch... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VASH0Q...p_mob_ap_share

I use a bike rack I got from Himiway bikes made for fat tire bikes and holds up to 140 pounds. The rack can be folded up out of the way when not in use. I use the rack on both the motor home when going down the road and on the car when heading to the trails. I use a 3” drop hitch to get the dolly leveled as needed. When I had my Trek bikes I used a dual bike Thule bike rack. It work great too.

[Larnold0000]

I wanted a dual hitch to tow a Mini Cooper behind my Sunseeker with a bike rack. However, I needed a 6” drop and I’ve not found one. One person told me to use the dual hitch up side down but I have been advised not to do that - anyone know where I could get one? I put the bike rack on the Mini Cooper now

[Jheiser]

Originally Posted by Larnold0000

I wanted a dual hitch to tow a Mini Cooper behind my Sunseeker with a bike rack. However, I needed a 6” drop and I’ve not found one. One person told me to use the dual hitch up side down but I have been advised not to do that - anyone know where I could get one? I put the bike rack on the Mini Cooper now

Check Harbor Freight. I recently bought a 5” drop hitch from them for another project. They just might have what you need. Another place that has a large selection of various drop hitches is Northern Tools.

Are you towing the mini four down or are you using a dolly? If you are using the dolly have you had any issues with dragging the bike rack when entering driveways etc?

[BehindBars]

While stopped for gas today I snapped a couple pictures of our bike rack/toad arrangement. It was a little cleaner looking with our previous class C but with the present Sunseeker’s bumper to hitch arrangement, I had to hack up the bike rack a little differently to make it all fit. Those are our original Schwinn bikes, almost 50 years old.