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11-18-2015, 11:42 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
2008 30' Classic
On The Road To Wherever We End Up
, Traveling the USA
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 552
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Selecting the best option for front mounted hitch for bikes
TV is 2014, F-250 Super Duty Super Crew 4x4 with 20" wheels. I trying to determine the best hitch option for carrying two bikes. Rack is a Saris Freedom with tray mount.
Hitch Options:
Bodiak --- easily mounts to tow hooks, concerned it is too high. Reviews on the hitch are good, but for my truck and two adult bikes, I'm concerned it may impede my visibility
Curt -- there versions, below the front fasci rubber, mounted through the front fasci rubber, or mounted and comes through the air vent at about the same level as the Bodiak, I'm concerned the lower version is too low and the air vent version is too high and I hate to cut through the rubber fasci, but that may be the best option.
I would like to hear the input from anyone who has used any of these on a Ford F-250. If there are other front hitch options please offer those up.
FYI- truck cap has kayaks, bed is full, don't want anything in the trailer.
Thanks,
__________________
Jeanne and John, and always with us...Jake
2008 30' Classic Ltd Rear twin, 2014 Ford Super Duty
WBCCI 3100, unit 12, TAC USA-1, Escapees 129379
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11-18-2015, 12:30 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2016 28' Flying Cloud
Brandenburg
, Kentucky
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 898
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Not on an F250, but it's a front mount hitch with a Hollywood bike rack. There is a threaded rod through the front of bike rack that the hitch pin slides though to tighten the rack down so it won't vibrate.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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11-18-2015, 12:31 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2016 28' Flying Cloud
Brandenburg
, Kentucky
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 898
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Removed the seats for visibility and use lower driving lights.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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11-18-2015, 12:53 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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Are you familiar with the Airstream Fiamma rack on the back of the trailer. We've been using it for several years and it works very well, bikes stay clean, easy to use.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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11-18-2015, 12:57 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
2008 30' Classic
On The Road To Wherever We End Up
, Traveling the USA
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 552
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Not interested in the Fiamma, just front hitches.
__________________
Jeanne and John, and always with us...Jake
2008 30' Classic Ltd Rear twin, 2014 Ford Super Duty
WBCCI 3100, unit 12, TAC USA-1, Escapees 129379
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11-18-2015, 01:01 PM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Edisto Island
, South Carolina
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 225
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Sorry, not a F250, but I do use a front 2-bike Swagman rack on our 2008 Expedition. I also remove the seats for travel and have no issue with visibility. Generally don't travel at night, but obstruction to the headlights is minimal.
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11-18-2015, 01:10 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
2012 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Sparks
, Nevada
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,116
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I just ordered the curt for my F350, I'll update when I install it.
2015 F350 CC 4X4 6.7 Diesel
2010 27FB Silver Cloud "The Silver Spoon"
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11-18-2015, 01:21 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
2008 30' Classic
On The Road To Wherever We End Up
, Traveling the USA
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 552
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Bob, which hitch did you use and what is the height of the receiver bar from the ground?
Sheriff, thanks, please let me know and pictures would be great.
__________________
Jeanne and John, and always with us...Jake
2008 30' Classic Ltd Rear twin, 2014 Ford Super Duty
WBCCI 3100, unit 12, TAC USA-1, Escapees 129379
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11-18-2015, 01:23 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
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Been carrying my two Treks on the front of my Nissan Titan for ten years now. I pull the seats and drop the handle bars (one bolt on the Treks) and there is no visibility problem.
They do get "buggy" though and I douse them with Corrossion X on occasion as well.
Mike
__________________
Sorta new (usually dirty) Nissan Titan XD (hardly paid for)
Middle-aged Safari SE
Young, lovely bride
Dismissive cat
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11-18-2015, 06:54 PM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Edisto Island
, South Carolina
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 225
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Silver eagle, I use the Swagman XC2 and the bottom of the receiver is about ten inches off the ground.
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11-18-2015, 07:09 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
1987 25' Sovereign
Oregon
, Ohio
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 491
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I use a drop down hitch adapter on my F250 with front hitch. Vision is not obstructed and seats and handle bars stay on the bikes.
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11-18-2015, 07:23 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
2008 30' Classic
On The Road To Wherever We End Up
, Traveling the USA
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 552
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msmcv51, what type hitch do you have on the front?
__________________
Jeanne and John, and always with us...Jake
2008 30' Classic Ltd Rear twin, 2014 Ford Super Duty
WBCCI 3100, unit 12, TAC USA-1, Escapees 129379
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11-19-2015, 05:05 AM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
1987 25' Sovereign
Oregon
, Ohio
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 491
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I went to a parts place called Truck and Van Land, they got it in for me. It mounts to the front of the frame stubs. I had to drop the bumper and tow rings to install, then replace the tow rings and bumper. I will try to upload pictures later once it gets light.
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11-19-2015, 06:06 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
2008 30' Classic
On The Road To Wherever We End Up
, Traveling the USA
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 552
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Thanks, I am most interested in the height of the hitch from the grind and distance of your rack's upright support from the grille/bumper.
__________________
Jeanne and John, and always with us...Jake
2008 30' Classic Ltd Rear twin, 2014 Ford Super Duty
WBCCI 3100, unit 12, TAC USA-1, Escapees 129379
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11-19-2015, 10:31 AM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
1987 25' Sovereign
Oregon
, Ohio
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 491
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverEagle6
msmcv51, what type hitch do you have on the front?
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unable to upload picture. E-mail me at m.s.mcv@sbcglobal.net and I will send them back to you.
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11-19-2015, 11:35 AM
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#16
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Jim
2016 30' International
Big Lake
, Alaska
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 65
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I mounted one of these - Curt Front Hitch - 2" Receiver- Part#: CU-31018 - on the front of my F250. The bottom of the receiver is 10" off the ground. We used the bike rack with it last weekend and didn't like it much so I am having mods done to the bike rack.
We are using an older Thule that has a feature that allows it to swing down when mounted on the rear. That allows too much play and we didn't like the bike swaying back and forth as we are going down the road. The bikes also are above the hood and we didn't like it. I took the bike rack to a machine shop and they are going to weld up the hinged section to stop the movement and cut 9" out of the post. We'll see if we like that any better.
Not sure yet if this is going to solve the problem but with regards to the Curt hitch, is was easy to install with no modifications to the truck.
Jim
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11-19-2015, 12:34 PM
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#17
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New Member
1975 Argosy 26
Kansas City
, Missouri
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2
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Front Bike Rack
Have a trailer hitch mounted on the front of your truck. If you can't find one for your model, go to a farm store that does welding and they'll make one. There are many many bike carriers that fit in a trailer hitch. And, did you know, it's much easier to put a trailer in a tight spot when hitched to the front. You can turn shorter and see better. All farmers know that.
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11-19-2015, 12:41 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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I have the Curt front receiver on my Tundra. It was $100. It bolted up in literally 10-15 minutes. Unbolt the tow hooks, put the receiver between the frame and tow hooks, bolt tow hooks back- easy-
The bike rack ends up nearly dead level with the front bumper because it has a slight upward bend/curve. There are no issues with bottoming out or anything like that.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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11-19-2015, 01:41 PM
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#19
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GLCMRANGER - Sue
2016 25' International
Littlestown
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 330
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John: See my email I sent you. Suggest using the Curt adapter but upside down to get the carrier lower...
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11-19-2015, 03:44 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
2008 30' Classic
On The Road To Wherever We End Up
, Traveling the USA
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 552
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glcmranger .... Thanks Sue.
akjam ----- are you cutting off 9" from the rack upright because of visibility?
__________________
Jeanne and John, and always with us...Jake
2008 30' Classic Ltd Rear twin, 2014 Ford Super Duty
WBCCI 3100, unit 12, TAC USA-1, Escapees 129379
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