Bumper bikes

[WizardOfAZ]

Considered a bumper bike mount on my Bambi 20FB but after all the advice against went with an over-the-truck-bed mount using RetraxPro XR. A bit pricey but met all the requirements. Limits what I can put in the truck bed, but gives some good protection and helps me not decide to overload. So far I like it. The cover, crossbar and associated parts, and bike racks total something under $3k.

Supposed to be a picture here.

[lookingin]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

I made a similar hitch. It hung below the tray but attached to the side rails like yours.

I did not like the way it performed (too much bounce), And, because of the increased chance of sway, I took it off. It's still laying around somewhere. I need to repurpose it for some other use.
Attachment 338621

The hitch looked extended to far out. You could build it in such a way to tuck in inside under the RV furthest possible, when you mount the bikes loosen/turn the handle bars of the closest bike to the RV sideways, then when you put the rack on, insert the rack shaft as far inward as possible being careful not to hit the body. This will bring the center of gravity as close as possible to the AS. Use the lightest most stable rack system, such as 1up, then try with very light bikes, say no more than 25lbs each.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by tim c

. . .
. . . I welded a receiver hitch under the bumper so I could tow a couple of jet skis behind the AS. We put somewhere around 1200 miles on that trip. The setup really worked well. The only minor problem I had was if you were doing over 80 on the interstate around some of the curves in the mountains the jet skis would want to sway a bit more than I felt comfortable with.
. . .

Were you vying for a Darwin Award?



Lucky to avoid a major sway incident, not to mention that your B-train towing rig is probably illegal IMO.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Were you vying for a Darwin Award?



Lucky to avoid a major sway incident, not to mention that your B-train towing rig is probably illegal IMO.

Darwin Award; good one! I was thinking same thing...hope there's more than one; I see some others here that are at least runner ups with some of the stuff they post!

[OTRA15]

The Darwin Awards system does not have runner-ups. If a person lives, there is no award!

https://darwinawards.com/

https://www.google.com/search?q=Darw...com&gws_rd=ssl

Keep breathing . . . life is short!

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by ctaulborg

Any reason not to go with an over the bed type bike rack?

No.
But for those of us who use a hard tonneau, it's not practical. The Retrax is great, but it doesn't leave enough room under it to store certain generators. And you still have to lift the bikes up on the top.
I think the best option for pickups is a cap, look like grandpa but carry all the toys inside.
Best choice is a van, but it's hard to justify a van so you can carry a bike/scooter.

[tim c]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Were you vying for a Darwin Award?



Lucky to avoid a major sway incident, not to mention that your B-train towing rig is probably illegal IMO.

Sure is funny how some people are, and then those that dogpile on. I see pickups pulling campers with boats behind them all the time. Against the law??? Check the law, Nebraka, Colorado and Wyoming are almost the same, only a 5 foot difference in total length. (Too bad states cannot be more uniform on their laws for length whether hauling oversize loads on your semi or your total length of load...) I have been involved with pulling trailers my whole life. Pay attention to detail including the law and what works good for other people and learn what works and doesn't. Love you guys!!

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by tim c

Sure is funny how some people are, and then those that dogpile on. I see pickups pulling campers with boats behind them all the time. Against the law??? Check the law, Nebraka, Colorado and Wyoming are almost the same, only a 5 foot difference in total length. (Too bad states cannot be more uniform on their laws for length whether hauling oversize loads on your semi or your total length of load...) I have been involved with pulling trailers my whole life. Pay attention to detail including the law and what works good for other people and learn what works and doesn't. Love you guys!!

I see it in MT also...ever see one of these trains get into a pickle at the gas pumps and have to back up?? Tied us up for half hour while he unloaded both trailers and had to maneuver to pull the last trailer out and maneuver to reconnect...all the while the wife was yelling at him.

[tim c]

Maybe when he hooked his trailers back up he should have unloaded extra baggage...

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by tim c

Sure is funny how some people are, and then those that dogpile on. I see pickups pulling campers with boats behind them all the time. Against the law??? Check the law, Nebraka, Colorado and Wyoming are almost the same, only a 5 foot difference in total length. (Too bad states cannot be more uniform on their laws for length whether hauling oversize loads on your semi or your total length of load...) I have been involved with pulling trailers my whole life. Pay attention to detail including the law and what works good for other people and learn what works and doesn't. Love you guys!!

Hi, just curious; Is towing over 80 MPH legal? Many states only allow double towing with fifth wheels.

[tim c]

80 mile an hour speed limit in certain states on the interstate. I was only trying to see how my trailers handled at certain speeds, higher and lower. It took over an 80mph speed in a simulated passing situation for my second trailer to sway just enough to notice it as the rear trailer came back into line with the whole setup. I do not like to be surprised. This has proven to be a really nice setup for us. I do not recommend it to anyone unless you do your own homework, and then you also have to feel confident in your own abilities. As for filling up with fuel, you really have to plan ahead and don't get yourself into situations that are difficult to get out of. People like to add their two cents on the forums, and that is a good thing. We can all learn quite a bit here.

[out of sight]

80 mph is the highest speed limit for trailers in the US. I have tested my rig at that limit, towing on the ball. There was no perceptible sway. Never once did my ESC activate.

Airstream claims their trailers can be towed safely at any legal speed and I find that to be true. Mechanically, the weakest link in the system is the tire speed rating, 87MPH if you are using Goodyear Endurance tires.

[JamuJoe]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

No.

But for those of us who use a hard tonneau, it's not practical. The Retrax is great, but it doesn't leave enough room under it to store certain generators. And you still have to lift the bikes up on the top.

I think the best option for pickups is a cap, look like grandpa but carry all the toys inside.

Best choice is a van, but it's hard to justify a van so you can carry a bike/scooter.

Really? I guess ‘practical’ is a matter of opinion, like all else in this forum. Undercover Ridgelander hard tonneau, Rhino Rack bars, 1Up Fat tire rack, Rad Rover e-bike. Very satisfactory and practical for me. Yes, I remove the bike to lift the tonneau. Yes, I fit a Yamaha 2400is and other gear beneath the tonneau. To each his own.

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