Interesting post and I really had an issue with this on our last 7900 mile tour of the country. I ride a lot. Over 5k miles when home on a very nice road bike. In the end I figured the type of riding I wanted to do was less than 10 miles from the park and at least get some exercise, better than none. The problem is a bike can take up huge amounts of space and extended periods of time w/o use.
So, with lots of research I went to a folding bike. Downtube makes a wonderful line, I bought the mini and it is just great. We leave for our next tour of duty in Jan and I more excited about the downtube than anything else.
I looked into folding bikes years ago bu the quality was horrible. This mini is all Shimano and an aluminum frame. It has a built in rear suspension as well. It folds into a bag that fits into the back seat of ny car. This alongside a undercover hard tonnau cover is making for wonderful set up. good luck.
...We already purchased a cover for the truck so I cannot put them in there. Any suggestions?
hi p&j!
some options...
1. roof rack for truck (thule, yak, saris)
best approach IF planning to carry anything else up there occasionally (canoe, kayak, skis) but overhead height goes way up, to ~ 10-11 feet
2. a free standing rack (beddy joe like this or diy using a 'block head' attached to 2x4)
this can go inside the trailer, sitting on the floor walkway area.
3. most fiberglass toneau covers will accept bike racks attached through the reinforcement points, using the roof top rack models (thule, yak, saris)...
check with the maker of your toneau cover or visit a good bike shop, or search the online bike rack vendors...
cheers
2air'
__________________ all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.johnson
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
Bikes go inside my Tundra shell most of the time. I also have a yak system on top. Wife and I ride a ton, have used yak system for 18 years, on many different vehicles.
If you want a high end folding bike, take a look at the Ritchey breakaway. Ritchey Break-Away
__________________
Mike Martin
1971 Caravel
2000 Toyota Tundra
Black unknown origin Dog
great looking setup! love the truck, I have the same one.
How's it pull the 25'?
what about gas mileage?
have you made any mods to the truck?
can you see around the trailer with the stock mirrors?
i know, lots of questions, but I've got myself talked in so many circles trying to make a decision on what i want, I don't which way is up.
We were running in those same circles for the last year.
I think we made the right choice, but so far we have only towed for 25 miles getting home. We did opt to put a Hensly on it. We were passed by a truck on the way home, and the thing seems to work.
We get 14 mpg without the trailer, and it looks like 10 with it. That 's not so bad, we were getting 12 with our popup. We are still going around on the tow mirrors, Our truck did not come with them, and no we cannot see around the tralier. We were looking at getting them added on later, but we are still trying to figure that one out. Everything else is stock.
We were feeling bad for just a moment, we thought we had planned for everthing, until we realized we forgot the bikes.
I think we are leaning tword putting them inside. I guess we have a few months to figure it out, since we are covered in snow here in the Chicago area. I guess that gives us a reason to sit inside the trailer and plan.
I have been working with a bike rack company in Canada for the past three months to cutomize a bike rack to fit my Airstream trailer. Basically it is an adjustable system to mount on the trailer front A frame with a rack to hold 2 or 3 bikes. I should be receiving the first prototype next week.
They are designing it to accomodate various Airstream models because they realize we cannot hang bike racks off the rear bumper. They are working to make it adjustable for mounting to allow for WD hitch brackets. The upper tray that holds the bikes over the propane tanks is removable for opening the front window. There will be support arm that attaches to the front jack plus a three point attachment system to secure the bikes to the rack. The extra weight gets assistance from the WD hitch.
So for me towing with a VW Touareg, I can mount the bikes without fear of scratching the car because its about half as high to lift the bikes. And I can still get in the trailer to use the fridge or bathroom while on the road.
For many years, I used a 2" receiver on the front of my vehicle and had a welder make a bike rack for me. That way I could use it in the front when towning and in the back of the TV if solo. Only downside was bugs. I still have it and if you want to see it let me know and I can email a picture to you. I'll sell it if you are interested. I don't need it anymore.
__________________
Rich
2006 Classic 34 Front Lounge
2004 GMC Duramax CC SB
Hensley Arrow
WBCCI #5401
AIR #4489
I have been working with a bike rack company in Canada for the past three months to cutomize a bike rack to fit my Airstream trailer. Basically it is an adjustable system to mount on the trailer front A frame with a rack to hold 2 or 3 bikes. I should be receiving the first prototype next week.
See my post 11 on this thread. This is the same rack I mentioned. It cost 600 bucks.What's the name of the company mojo?? The one I looked at last july would bolt right on to my excella. Has the price been lowered?
__________________
In any firefight,
nobody cares what you did yesterday,
or what you may do tomorrow.
The only thing that matters
is what you are doing right now.
See my post 11 on this thread. This is the same rack I mentioned. It cost 600 bucks.What's the name of the company mojo?? The one I looked at last july would bolt right on to my excella. Has the price been lowered?
Doorgunner, it's because of your original post I went on a search to find that rack. It's a company called Top Pop out of the Montreal area. Mine is being shipped now. Price $490 including shipping. They went to some extra effort to outfit for Airstreams to extend over the propane tank, etc. As soon as it comes in and I try it out, I'll post more info. If it works, they will probably put it into their lineup.
I don't have any other ideas (except one) but we do have an '07 Tundra Doublecab and an '08 Safari FB. Our Tundra is blue, yours looks grey.
We have a hard tonneau and they are a pain for carrying building materials (I use bungie cords on the tonneau locking rods to hold it down when the 4x8 sheets or 2x4's stick out), but helps gas mileage and I can lock things inside. Harder to get into a hard tonneau than a soft ("cut here").
One idea: put one bike on old blanket on bed, another on old blanket in truck bed and bungie in to keep from banging around.
We've gotten 11.5 mpg with this setup, but your truck is a bit heavier. I think the Toyota tow mirrors are a factory installation, but you can check with a dealer. They're fine, but they would be better if they were out about 2 more inches so I could see what's behind me better. You may have to go aftermarket (big bucks either way). There are cheap mirrors that sort of clip onto your existing ones. The advantage of a real tow mirror is the second, lower mirror, which tells you what's alongside of you and where the trailer is in reference to the road. It's well worth spending the money for that or else you're blind in traffic.
Here's a shot of the pick-me up with the Old Towne up top and bikes in the back...
Is this your first truck? Don't complicate things; dump that hard cover and use your truck like it was intended!
The quicker I can pack up and get out of town the better...isn't this why you bought a truck and not a SUV? To throw stuff in the bed! I have an old Thule rail system mounted on 2 x 4's that I can drop in the bed in a a few seconds, this holds the bikes, the boats go on the Thule cross bars on the roof.
Sometimes I am amazed by how complicated some folks will make things...
K-I-S-S
__________________
Life is Good-Camping all around New England
Good people drink good beer-Hunter S Thompson
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