bike rack for a HW27SC?

[EJdubc]

Any ideas on the best way to carry bikes on a HW27SC? I got a dual receiver tube mount for the hitch to mount my Thule rack, but doesn't work - hits the tongue jack on the trailer.

I am thinking bumper mount receiver on the back of the trailer would create sway issues?

I see Flagstaff has an option for a bike rack that mounts on the front of the camper and bikes are up high at the height of the top of the camper and rear wheels rest on the camper - does anyone have this (not even sure if they make it for HW27SC)?

Any other ideas? I have a Thule rack set up on the truck but have 2 kayaks on the roof there and no room for the bikes...

[GalsofEscape]

Yes, the bike rack you mentioned does work for highwall models, there are a couple of people who posted about this on the past. When we had our Rockwood 277 we looked at that rack but I did not think we could easily lift our bikes up there. If we really used the bikes alot, I would have bought the rack, but we don't so we ended up bringing bikes in a second car if we wanted them.

Do not put a receiver on the back bumper, the bumper is not made to take the weight. The added weight on the back may indeed affect the overall balance of the camper and may give you a less than desired towing experience depending on how many bikes you are talking about.

[EJdubc]

Thanks for the information. I was a little concerned about the height of the factory rack too, but seems worth looking into. Flagstaff doesn't show much online so I will ask my dealer to provide more information, specs, etc.

[Myron625]

By factory rack, I’m sure you mean this one:

https://www.amazon.com/ProRac-RVPB-0...6C6075RX1JQNJH

[exploreco]

We use the Pro Rac. Been a great bike rack. I think it would work fine on a highwall, but double check to be sure. Mine pop up seems to sit pretty high and I don't have any issues getting the bikes up there. I was not able to use the double mount hitch any longer when we got this new pop up for the same reasons you mentioned and had to find another way to carry the bikes. Found Amazon to be the best price and free shipping.

[thecrosses]

We have a HW276 (2016). I used the A-frame mounted Stromberg CC-275 bike bunk receiver along with a swagman 2-bike rack.
Couple issues I ran into, 1st the weight of the bike bunk was just under 50-lbs which along with the bike rack and bikes added quite a bit of weight to the trailer tongue. 2nd issue was the bike bunk horizontal piece was to long to fit the verticals back closer to the front of the camper bulkhead (recommended clearance If I remember correctly was around 2-inches).
To get it to fit the ideal area on the A-frame location, I had to cut around 17 inches out of the bike bunk horizontal width and re-weld. By doing so it also reduced the weight. Careful now how we load the camper, putting some of the heavier items rear of the axel will give me a tongue weight of around 450 lbs which includes bike-bunk, swagman bike rack and 2-bikes.

[rockfordroo]

Lippert now makes a bike rack that mounts around the jack. Don't know if it would fit on a high wall, but might be worth a look.

https://www.lci1.com/jack-it

[DanLE]

What are you using as your TV? May I suggest a front receiver on your TV? We've done that on a full sized Chevy Van we used as a TV in the past and it worked out well. Didn't obstruct road view or headlights at night in any prohibitive manner. We use a Swagman carrier that supports the bikes by their wheels rather than hanging them from their frames. When they're carried horizontally in that manner they're low enough to be below one's line-of-sight.

[Bhugo]

We have a roof mounted one that holds 4 bikes great. I use a step stool for the inside 2 bikes. It would be fine on any pop up. A small folding stool or ladder would probably be needed for a hw.

Sorry about the picture. You need to zoom in to see the rack up top.

[EJdubc]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas and examples! I wasn't hopeful there would be an option that would work, but seeing how others have worked out the bike rack challenge is encouraging. My TV is a Jeep Grand Cherokee so I don't think the front bumper is an option. Seems like mounting to the A frame using 1 one of these options would work.

Thanks again!

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by EJdubc

Thanks everyone for the great ideas and examples! I wasn't hopeful there would be an option that would work, but seeing how others have worked out the bike rack challenge is encouraging. My TV is a Jeep Grand Cherokee so I don't think the front bumper is an option. Seems like mounting to the A frame using 1 one of these options would work.

Thanks again!

You didn't say what year your Jeep was, so I picked 2014.

https://www.etrailer.com/fmr-2014_Je...d+Cherokee.htm

You can put in your actual model year Jeep and see what turns up.

[DanLE]

A front receiver is available for a Jeep Grand Cherokee, etrailer.com carries one: https://www.etrailer.com/FrontHitch/...eid=2012304655 You hadn't noted the model year of your Jeep so I just randomly chose 2012 for my search. There are positive advantages to having a front receiver; it all depends on one's needs and choices and the added options a front receiver makes available. Whether it's a bike rack, removable winch, or simply a front mounted ball mount to be able to "drive forward" when maneuvering your trailer or boat into a tight, tree obstructed, campsite or boat launch or even a close quartered storage location for your camper/boat where ever, what ever the circumstances, the windshield view and much greater maneuverability with the ball located close to the front turning axle really does have its values. To each his own; I've found the convenience of the much lower height of the receiver mounted bike rack on a frame hitch well worth the investment in my personal situation. We still bike regularly whether home or away and as an early 70's 'senior citizen' nowadays I would never want to put myself through the effort involved in hoisting a bike to either a pop-up roof or one of the newer HIGH trailer A-frame mounted bike carriers. In my younger days, Maybe; but give me the convenience of my low frame mounted bike carrier these days. ;-)

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by DanLE

A front receiver is available for a Jeep Grand Cherokee, etrailer.com carries one: https://www.etrailer.com/FrontHitch/...eid=2012304655 You hadn't noted the model year of your Jeep so I just randomly chose 2012 for my search. There are positive advantages to having a front receiver; it all depends on one's needs and choices and the added options a front receiver makes available. Whether it's a bike rack, removable winch, or simply a front mounted ball mount to be able to "drive forward" when maneuvering your trailer or boat into a tight, tree obstructed, campsite or boat launch or even a close quartered storage location for your camper/boat where ever, what ever the circumstances, the windshield view and much greater maneuverability with the ball located close to the front turning axle really does have its values. To each his own; I've found the convenience of the much lower height of the receiver mounted bike rack on a frame hitch well worth the investment in my personal situation. We still bike regularly whether home or away and as an early 70's 'senior citizen' nowadays I would never want to put myself through the effort involved in hoisting a bike to either a pop-up roof or one of the newer HIGH trailer A-frame mounted bike carriers. In my younger days, Maybe; but give me the convenience of my low frame mounted bike carrier these days. ;-)

Guess you didn't read post #11.

[Jczippy]

I’m also trying to figure out a solution for bikes on my HW296 that is finally coming this weekend. I would prefer not to have them mounted on the front of the TV. I thought the Stromberg option looked interesting, but I’m hoping to bring 3-4 bikes and that has a limit of 100lbs. Anyone have experience with Arvika racks? Similar to the Stromberg but there is an additional optional support that allows you to carry more bikes. Folds down so you can pull out the bunk. I’m waiting for my HW296 so I can do some measuring and figure out if it will work. Anyone have experience with these? Any feedback would be great.

https://www.racksforcars.com/15144/A...ke-Attachment/

https://www.racksforcars.com/2254/Ar...ailer-Bracket/


Thanks,
Jim

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Jczippy

I’m also trying to figure out a solution for bikes on my HW296 that is finally coming this weekend. I would prefer not to have them mounted on the front of the TV. I thought the Stromberg option looked interesting, but I’m hoping to bring 3-4 bikes and that has a limit of 100lbs. Anyone have experience with Arvika racks? Similar to the Stromberg but there is an additional optional support that allows you to carry more bikes. Folds down so you can pull out the bunk. I’m waiting for my HW296 so I can do some measuring and figure out if it will work. Anyone have experience with these? Any feedback would be great.

https://www.racksforcars.com/15144/A...ke-Attachment/

https://www.racksforcars.com/2254/Ar...ailer-Bracket/


Thanks,
Jim

Go to the top of the page and put "Arvika" in the search field and you'll find lots of threads where they are discussed. MOST people have had good success with them, only a few seemed disappointed.

[Jczippy]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Go to the top of the page and put "Arvika" in the search field and you'll find lots of threads where they are discussed. MOST people have had good success with them, only a few seemed disappointed.

Thanks. I’ve found general feedback, but any examples of these on a popup are hard to come by, let alone Rockwoods in particular. Concerned about fit and use with the propane tanks and bunk, and hoping to verify it will really fold out of the way. Just hoping others might be able to provide more detail otherwise I’ll see what I can figure out on my own.

Thanks,
Jim

[OttieJB]

https://www.amazon.com/Lippert-Compo.../dp/B01MYRM7MM