Loading the Fiamma Bike Rack

[Shiny16]

How much does your ladder weigh?

[raidergal]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

On our 4th AS; 3-25's and now a 28'; allways had a Fiama with 2 mountain bikes. No brake light issues, no tire issues, and for the minor inconvenience of getting camping stuff in/out of rear compartment, for the most part, the Fiama bike rack works pretty darned well for it's purpose...if you don't find a bike that fits the Fiama, thats your issue; not Fiama's....IMHO

Great answer, we carried 2 e bikes across country last year (2019) never had any problems. Our bikes have very fat tires. Granted we did take one of the seats off for a better way of tightening everything down. Worked well and then we had 2 or 3 cable locks woven into obvious places for security.

[HappyHapgood]

16 pounds. I want to get it out of the back of the car. It doesn't fit inside the AS unless it is on the floor (PITA) and I want the weight as far to the rear of the AS as possible to reduce tongue weight (I have PLENTY of tongue weight).

Overall goal is to reduce weight and tongue weight. Between switching to the Fiamma and aluminum LP tanks I hope to drop 70 pounds. But since most of the weight is coming off the back I want to shift as much back onto the rear as possible. Getting the ladder out of the back of the SUV helps. Shifting my tool bag from under the front bedroom to under a dinette seat will also help. Oh, and carrying the wine and liquor bottles in the back instead of under the bed should also move, um, well, just a little bit of weight :-0

Originally Posted by Shiny16

How much does your ladder weigh?

[Shiny16]

You are getting right up to the limit on the Fiama rack. Be cautious about how much weight you add by modifying it.

[HappyHapgood]

Yes, it will be just below the limit. But the ladder will be “inside” the nearest bike, and therefore significantly less of a lever arm that 77lbs of bikes.

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by HappyHapgood

Yes, it will be just below the limit. But the ladder will be “inside” the nearest bike, and therefore significantly less of a lever arm that 77lbs of bikes.

Before I would try to add anything to the rack I would first install it according to directions then take a look at the gizmos they use to connect the bikes. You might find an easy way to use them and just order a couple extra from Fiama.

[HappyHapgood]

That’s exactly my plan (plan 17B). Ordered 2 short and 2 long ones. Based on too much time staring at pictures online and trying to extrapolate dimensions... I think it’ll work.

Originally Posted by Shiny16

Before I would try to add anything to the rack I would first install it according to directions then take a look at the gizmos they use to connect the bikes. You might find an easy way to use them and just order a couple extra from Fiama.

[CruisingMike]

This is a very informative thread. Thanks for sharing all your feedback and pictures. We just had a bike rake installed this past week and are looking forward to using it.