Bike carriers

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Steamy1

if you add spacers, then is there the possibility that the rack is out of alignment? The instructions does not say anything about grinding, but it does not say anything about spacer bolts either.

Hi, you might have seen in the video that the tubes will need to be flexed a bit to align with the mounting brackets. So a little outward flexing shouldn't hurt anything. I would do it.

[interstateflyer]

I installed an Airstream/Fiamma rack on my International 19 last week. It went pretty smoothly.

You'll need to buy 4 #10 stainless steel screws, #30 and 1/4" drill bits, anticorrosion compound (for the screws) and watch the Airstream install video on YouTube. You'll have to fill in the blanks at time but it's a heck of a lot better than relying on the the printed instructions.

One large mountain bike fits nicely.......two....not so much.

Fiamma sells racks that support a wider spacing for the wheel channels. I'm looking into buying the deeper u shaped support piece that will allow more distance between bikes..

[GAStreamin]

Originally Posted by Aage

Until they offered the Fiamma rack, for many years Airstream warned that carrying things on the back of the trailer was NOT a good idea. Not sure why they changed their corporate mind after many years of warning against doing that, but they did.



However, when you say you are carrying 5 gallon jugs in the rear storage, I hope you mean empty ones, since each one weighs over 41 lbs filled. The effect of that weight is also magnified by the fact that it is behind the axle.



The "moment of the arm" affect of that water's weight can be devastating to your frame.



Note: if I am misunderstanding what it is you do with the jugs, please ignore these comments.

I agree. I like the idea, but somehow it makes me nervous. After dealing with what rear end separation can do, I am on the fence with this one.

[Pivot429]

We put two 29er mountain bikes on ours and incredibly they only touch in one place. Really kind of unbelievable how they nest together. Try moving the rear tire to the end of the channel on both bikes.

Sent from my HTC One using Airstream Forums mobile app

[Hibby]

We finally broke down and bought the Swagman XP5 for our bikes... I am intending to use it as a received mount on the front of the truck rather than on the rear of the trailer. I'll take photos when I get it. I'm sure it will catch most of the highway bugs.

http://www.swagman.net/products/sing...xp-racks/xp-5/

[loislane]

Hey All,
I just got a quote on having the fiamma rack installed on my 23ft - the dealer said it would take 6 hours of labor - does that sound right to you guys who have installed it? Also they said they'd only installed one other rack so I'm not that confident. Anyone near St. Louis have any recommendations for an installer? My husband may try it - its really time that is our issue.

Let me know,
Lois

[Al and Missy]

Reese/Drawtite front receiver - $159 from Amazon, 20 minute no-drill install
Hollywood HE-1000 2-bike rack - $249 from local bike shop. Very well made, strong and stable

I can also use the front receiver when parking the trailer in the driveway. Gonna get a wheel foot for the tongue jack to take some load off the front end.

Al

[matthorr]

It took me about 3 hours to install (including grinding a bit of the bumper storage lid to clear the bolt heads). It's pretty easy to do, I was taking it slow to make sure I drilled the holes correctly the first time. To get our 2 mountain bikes on there we moved the tires channels all the at to opposite sides - back one full left and front one full right. The bike then fit without hitting each other.

Sent from my HTC One X using Airstream Forums mobile app

[loislane]

Hey Matt - did you relocate the license plate? I watched the airstream video and they said you needed to do that but it seems a little overboard to us

[almcate]

This is probably a dumb questions, but what the heck. Would it be possible to mount a receiver hitch to the rear frame of the AS that could attach a receiver bike rack on the rear of the AS or could be moved to the receiver on the TV?

thanks, Al

[interstateflyer]

Originally Posted by loislane

Hey All,
I just got a quote on having the fiamma rack installed on my 23ft - the dealer said it would take 6 hours of labor - does that sound right to you guys who have installed it? Also they said they'd only installed one other rack so I'm not that confident. Anyone near St. Louis have any recommendations for an installer? My husband may try it - its really time that is our issue.

Let me know,
Lois

It took me around 3 hours. Most of the time was spend putting the tubes together. Drilling, bolting and screwing went pretty quickly. I would think that I could get it down to 2 or 2.5 if I hurried.

[interstateflyer]

Originally Posted by loislane

Hey Matt - did you relocate the license plate? I watched the airstream video and they said you needed to do that but it seems a little overboard to us

Airstream had to say that. I wouldn't worry about that unless you get a fix it ticket.

[jpons]

The consensus is that this would put too much weight on the rear of the Airstream which could cause problems with the Airstream frame, chiefly rear sagging.

I think some people have done it, not sure what their results have been.

-J

Originally Posted by almcate

This is probably a dumb questions, but what the heck. Would it be possible to mount a receiver hitch to the rear frame of the AS that could attach a receiver bike rack on the rear of the AS or could be moved to the receiver on the TV?

thanks, Al

[almcate]

Thanks Jpon... read through some other threads and see the logic of the motion and torque of the receiver hitch messing with the frame/body juncture. Seemed like a good idea in the abstract, but the forum wisdom makes better sense. Probably not that much more expensive for the "approved" rack spreading the stresses across the body and frame. Living in the AS full time, I've been holding off on bikes just because of the hassle of where to put them with living space and storage space at a premium without a home base. Pretty much everything we take does double duty in some respect. Collapsible bikes was one thought, but still a storage and security issue. Would be nice to have a double duty rack to use with the TV, but maybe just putting in the truck bed loose for a quick side trip will work as well.

[matthorr]

Originally Posted by loislane

Hey Matt - did you relocate the license plate? I watched the airstream video and they said you needed to do that but it seems a little overboard to us

No I didn't move the license frame. I haven't been pulled over (yet...). Fiamma sells a fabric bag cover for the bikes that holds a license plate and/or reflector (an Italian requirement) Bike Cover - Fiamma

[loislane]

Thanks to the help of folks on the forum Jim was able to install the bike rack with no problem in under three hours - NOT the six hours the dealer quoted us....

[interstateflyer]

Originally Posted by matthorr

No I didn't move the license frame. I haven't been pulled over (yet...). Fiamma sells a fabric bag cover for the bikes that holds a license plate and/or reflector (an Italian requirement) Bike Cover - Fiamma

Has anyone tried the cover on an A/S?

I'm wondering if it obscures the tail lights at all. Seems like it would.

[TCwheels]

Originally Posted by almcate

This is probably a dumb questions, but what the heck. Would it be possible to mount a receiver hitch to the rear frame of the AS that could attach a receiver bike rack on the rear of the AS or could be moved to the receiver on the TV?

thanks, Al

Check out this setup from silverbp. He built a frame for the receiver and installed it under the bumper box. I'm doing the same thing. The CW doesn't seem to be supported with data from newer units and my FC20 doesn't have much frame length behind the axle.




WBCCI #7246

[socool69]

hi I need to find a cover for my fiamma carry bike

do you have some ideal
'need to be strong winter seasohere

thank you

[Suzbp]

Lois I have appointment for install next week at a dealership that does installs all the time and they said the install time is approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Sounds like your quote either doesn't do this often or is overcharging you!

Suzanne