How to carry two lightweight bicycles

jimwilly · 10-19-2005, 06:39 AM

What is the preferred method of carrying two lightweight bicycles when you camp with your TrailManor? I am in the process of purchasing my first TrailManor (moving up from a pop-up tent trailer). I currently carry the bicycles on the trailer hitch designed just for carrying bicycles. I gather this is not acceptable with a TrailManor due to the weight distribution requirements. Is this assumption correct? Can they be mounted on top of the camper? My TV is a Mountaineer so putting them in the body of a truck is not possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

hhoenig · 10-19-2005, 07:45 AM

We use a "Swagman" type(not a Swagman but works like one). It clamps on to the tow bar, holds 3 bikes. Works fine.
Henry

RockyMtnRay · 10-19-2005, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimwilly

What is the preferred method of carrying two lightweight bicycles when you camp with your TrailManor? I am in the process of purchasing my first TrailManor (moving up from a pop-up tent trailer). I currently carry the bicycles on the trailer hitch designed just for carrying bicycles. I gather this is not acceptable with a TrailManor due to the weight distribution requirements. Is this assumption correct? Can they be mounted on top of the camper? My TV is a Mountaineer so putting them in the body of a truck is not possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

The recommended method is by using a Swagman "Towing" bike rack. The base of these racks (they come in a 3 bike or 4 bike version) consists of a 3 inch long, heavy duty sleeve that goes around the hitch shaft of a Weight Distributing Hitch (the upright of the rack attaches to the base with removable pivot pin and locking security pin). So unlike the light duty hitch extenders you mention, these racks are fully compatible with most WDH (require a hitch shaft of about 10 inches or longer) and allow proper weight distrubution to be used to handle the relatively high tongue weights of Trailmanor trailers (for example, the tongue weight on my 2720SL is around 650 lbs). And yes, your assmption is correct...the hitch extenders with built in bike racks are not strong enough to handle either the total weight or the tongue weight of any model TrailManor (at least one that has normal options and typical user loading) And these hitch extenders do not provide for nor allow any weight distribution...and weight distribution is strongly recommended for your Mountaineer.

I bought the 3 bike "Towing" Swagman bike rack and found it works superbly for carrying my lightweight mountain bike when used on a standard round bar Reese WDH. The total weight of rack and bike together is around 30 lbs and that causes no noticeable effect on my truck's rear suspension or handling. I've had zero problems with interference between the bike and truck tailgate or various items on the trailer tongue such as the tongue jack. The only con is that hooking up and unhooking are a bit more difficult if the rack is installed into its base, and particularly if the bike is on the rack....though it can be done.

The other choice is to mount a carrier on the back bumper of the trailer...on the pre-04s, that could be done with a clamp on rack. On the '04s and newer, it requires a hitch receiver be installed into the bumper (typically by the factory). The problem of putting a bike rack behind the trailer is the weight of the bikes that far behind the trailer axle does somewhat reduce the inherent sway resistance of the trailer. Two very lightweight bikes on the back of the trailer (especially if it's one of the heavier models like the 3023 or larger) shouldn't cause noticeable sway problems; but keep in mind that some TMO members have reported noticeable increase in sway tendancy when 4 bikes were mounted on a 2619. Whether or not you will notice less stability seems to depend on the weight of the bikes, design of the rack (how far it extends behind the bumper), inherent sway control of the tow vehicle, and...probably more than anything else...sensitivity of the driver to trailer behavior.

Finally, Allen (and perhaps others) also make racks that hang off the back of the tailgate of an SUV but I'm not sure if the bikes on such a rack would or wouldn't have interference with parts of the trailer tongue (especially the tongue jack) during sharp turns.

**Bill** · 10-21-2005, 12:25 PM

We routinely use an Allen rack (model 102 I think) to carry two bikes on our Ford Explorer. Same vehicle as a Mountaineer, just a different badge. We have carried the bikes cross-country several times, and never had a problem, except that you can't open the tailgate of the Explorer with the bikes in place. We have never had to remove the rack or the bikes in order to maneuver, set up, or close the TM. It is my observation that if you get your rig so badly jack-knifed that the trailer contacts the bikes, you are just an inch away from having it hit the car - and you have bigger problems than the bikes.

Having said that, I note that on one trip, we carried three bikes on the rack. With three, hooking up (plugging in the electrical plug, for example) was a bit more challenging, simply because it was harder to reach the plug. But that was the only problem.

Bill