Aftermarket Bike Racks

[mrrealtor]

Has anyone installed a receiver hitch somehow to the rear of the trailer for an aftermarket bike rack?
I have a 4 bike yakima rack I was hoping to somehow use.


1972 Airstream International Land Yacht Sovereign

[Bigventure]

I would like to do the same thing. I was going to buy a receiver tube and make some kind of two hole straps to mount it under the bumper.

[lahrfarm]

I believe I read, on this forum, that it was hard on the AS to mount any weight on the rear. I dont really know, just what I read a while back.

[derf]

I've heard on previous posts that the frame was not designed strong enough for such additions! You may wish to verify before you install.

[mrrealtor]

I wonder if I were to weld a bracket directly to the frame itself and not the actual bumper and bring it to the rear if that would work?


1972 Airstream International Land Yacht Sovereign

[dwightdi]

Many frames in the Betrice years were 4 inches. The 31 footers had a long overhang. The frame is prone to bend or break, if you put additional weight on the back end and go down the bumpy US highways. Most times it is called rear end separation or tail droop. It is not easily repairable, so do not do it. I had one. Airstream even had a recall for that model to allow the dealers to install frame stiffeners and elephant ear patches to better bolt the frame to the Aluminum super structure, due to the problem of frame separation even without adding additional weight from bikes.

[AnnArborBob]

Not a good idea. Use the "Search" function on this site and do your research before attempting anything like this.

[mrrealtor]

Thanks. This is why I'm asking


1972 Airstream International Land Yacht Sovereign

[msmcv51]

How about a receiver hitch for the front of your tow vehicle. We have been using one for over ten years.

[mrrealtor]

I don't want to worry about night driving. I think I'm just going to build an above the truck bed bike rack.


1972 Airstream International Land Yacht Sovereign

[AnnArborBob]

We store our four bikes on a rack I made which fits under the cap in the truck bed. I have a bed slide to give me access and an 8 foot long bed and this works out great. The bikes are protected from the elements and thieves and are always with us when we are out and about (i.e., not stuck on the trailer.) We travel about nine months of the year.

[samanpatty]

Originally Posted by mrrealtor

Has anyone installed a receiver hitch somehow to the rear of the trailer for an aftermarket bike rack?
I have a 4 bike yakima rack I was hoping to somehow use.


1972 Airstream International Land Yacht Sovereign

I tried it on my 66 _ 24ft trade wind, not a good idea . Although I didn't do any damage as far as I know. the bikes bounced excessively and the weight bouncing that far back off the frame would eventually wreak havoc on the rear of the camper . I now transport the bikes in the camper without any issues .

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by derf

I've heard on previous posts that the frame was not designed strong enough for such additions! You may wish to verify before you install.

I'm trying to understand why adding a receiver hitch to the frame to carry a two bike rack would create a problem with the frame on the rear of the trailer. The two bike rack sold by AS, the Fiamma, attaches to the frame in the rear. While it is attached to the back of the AS for rigidity all the weight of the rack and the bikes is carried by the rear frame. Am I missing something?

[msmcv51]

We have been using a tow vehicle front receiver hitch for the past 13 years and it has worked very well for us. The truck frame is already strong enough to handle the receiver, bike rack and bikes.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by Hans627

I'm trying to understand why adding a receiver hitch to the frame to carry a two bike rack would create a problem with the frame on the rear of the trailer. The two bike rack sold by AS, the Fiamma, attaches to the frame in the rear. While it is attached to the back of the AS for rigidity all the weight of the rack and the bikes is carried by the rear frame. Am I missing something?

The centre of mass of the bikes and rack is located above and behind the mounting point on the rear frame. As you travel down the road the bikes and rack can move around, applying a twisting force to the mounting point on the rear frame. That is what can lead to separation of the frame and shell in some cases. The additional small brace from the rack to the rear shell simply stops the bikes and rack from moving, so that the force applied to the rear bumper where the rack mounts is vertical.