Bike Rack

[rwussise]

We have a 2011KD and take our 3 grandsons with us. Has anyone had experience with and know where to purchase the bike rack for this model. If so, what is the part no or mfg information for the bike rack.

Thank you,

[ArkyDoodle]

I spoke with the manufacturer of our bike rack and was told, under NO circumstance should you ever mount a bike rack to the rear of a trailer (something about harmonic rocking motion causing the rack to fail!). Since the TM hitch is unseen from the driver's seat I put a FRONT mounted receiver hitch on my vehicle (F150) so I can keep an eye on my bikes. You may be able to modify your TV hitch so that you can mount the bike rack between the TV and TM.....

[FujiPedaler]

There was a long thread on this subject not to long ago.

However, after having our Yakama 4 bike carrier break and drag our two bikes down the interstate ($400.00 Damage), we discovered that most bike racks are not warranted for trailer or Mobile home rear mounting use.

There are very few manufacturers that are available for this use. We bought a "Rola" found on Amazon.com.

When you are looking be sure to read the warranty for uses. The two biggest names in bike racks are Yakama and Thule and neither are for use on trailers.

I think if you run bungy cords from both bikes to the outside of the rear bumper you would be Ok with a rear mount. That will keep the bikes from doing the ole two step when you go over rough roads. JMHO

Originally Posted by Terryl

I think if you run bungy cords from both bikes to the outside of the rear bumper you would be Ok with a rear mount. That will keep the bikes from doing the ole two step when you go over rough roads. JMHO

Bungees won't protect a rack from the stresses of being bounced on the back of a travel trailer.

Plan for the worst scenario. I had two motorcycles lashed down in the back of a 15000 lb toy hauler a few years ago. Outside of Baton Rouge we hit road construction. They had scraped the road bed without ramping the cut with asphalt. A flatbed trailer in front of me blew all its tires as it dropped off the pavement.

I panicked slowed my trailer with our Ford F350 dually. Didn't blow any tires, but when we got to our destination a 900 lb Nomad was leaning against the wall, still strapped in.

It's amazing how much movement occurs on trailers even on normal roads. I consider the receiver on the back of a TM to be an artifact of when they would hook two or three together and tow then to dealers. I suspect they lost a few that way...

I agree with Mister P... Lot of motion and one couldn't lock steel cables tight enough to secure bikes with rear mount. I'd carry on front of tow vehicle.
I do still wonder why they couldn't be carried on top of one of the shells. Of course you'd have to unload them before raising the shell.

[eddugo]

I adapted my receiver bike rack to go on my trailer tongue. I have to remove them before opening, but it's worth it - smooth ride, not much road dirt.

[Bill]

Ed -

That's a nice piece of work! And the swing tongue probably made it a bit more challengig than otherwise. I assume there was some welding involved?

Bill

[trailbiker]

I agree, Nice Work! Can you open the trailer after you fold the arm on the rack down or do you have to remove it? Only downside is see is you could be adding 75 to 100 lbs to your tongue weight.

[eddugo]

The rack has to be removed to pull out the front slide. It attaches with 2 pins under the hoops for the bike tires and the front is held to the tougue by the bolt that holds it in place in the hitch receiver. Yes, there is welding. I welded clamp on pins that go on the back of the rack and also the sockets they fit into. I also welded apiece of angle iron to the onque to catch the front 1 1/4 square tube that would go in a receiver. The angle is welded ahead of the swing hitch so it swings away with the coupler. I posted more construction pics on another thread somewhere on this forum. All welding was done with a Lincoln wire feed. The 1 1/4" to 2" hitch adapter rides in my tool box and it takes 2 minutes to reinstall so I can use the rack in the receiver on my TV. I tow with an F 150 and use a Anderson Hitch so the extra 100 pounds draw weight doesn't matter.