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kb0zke · 03-12-2016, 05:44 PM

We're full-timers, currently in a MH that tows a Jeep. On the Jeep is a bike rack with our two bikes. If we switch to an Airstream, the bed of the pickup will be pretty much taken up with the tools, etc. that is in the basement. There will be a cap on the bed. I haven't looked at all of the Airstreams for sale, but so far I don't think I've seen one with a receiver for a bike rack on the bumper. Such a truck is 6' 7" tall, so putting bikes on the roof of the cap doesn't seem like a reasonable solution. So how DO I take the bikes?

Mcwey · 03-16-2016, 06:11 PM

We put ours in the Airstream but a rack would sure be much nicer! However, at $500
I can put them in and out a few times!
Monty

SCOTTinNJ · 03-16-2016, 06:17 PM

Some do it, but airstreams aren't made to support a receiver in the back. Search for rear separation.

Fiamma does make a rack for the back though.

kb0zke · 03-16-2016, 06:25 PM

Thanks. I've heard that some people have some sort of dual receiver (over/under) that lets one put the bike rack on the upper receiver and the trailer hitch on the lower. Would that be an option? Remember that we're talking a late 90's/early 2000's 34' coach, gross weight approximately 10,000 pounds.

dkottum · 03-16-2016, 06:28 PM

Lots of threads on this

We have had the Airstream Fiamma bike rack on the back a few years, easy to use and no problems.

GammaDog · 03-16-2016, 07:19 PM

I recognize you said you have a cap. If you ever switch to a hard tonneau you might carry the bikes on top of it. Here's our set up:

http://www.airforums.com/photos/show...&cutoffdate=-1

It's an advantage sport rack designed to ride in the bed. I've adapted it with brackets that bolt into my Tundra's cargo rail.

kb0zke · 03-16-2016, 07:22 PM

Yes, the truck will have to have a cap since the truck bed will be filled with the tools, etc. that currently live in the basement of the MH.

Silverflames · 03-16-2016, 07:23 PM

Some folks put a hitch on the front of the truck, and then a bike rack on the front. I'm going to be doing that in the near future.

msmcv51 · 03-16-2016, 07:36 PM

We have been using a front receiver hitch bike rack for 12 years. I believe when you have a truck that there is no other way to go, but that's me.

Jim Foster · 03-17-2016, 08:01 AM

Front receiver works well for us.

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

switz · 03-17-2016, 10:01 AM

The major issue with the Fiamma rear mounted bike rack on many models of Airstreams is the rear window in the bedroom is also the emergency escape hatch and the bikes block the operation of that functionality.

SCOTTinNJ · 03-17-2016, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb0zke

I've heard that some people have some sort of dual receiver (over/under) that lets one put the bike rack on the upper receiver and the trailer hitch on the lower. Would that be an option? Remember that we're talking a late 90's/early 2000's 34' coach, gross weight approximately 10,000 pounds.

I would not do that with a 34' trailer unless you are sure your receiver can handle the additional weight of bicycles and associated hardware. That's all pure tongue weight at that point.

dkottum · 03-17-2016, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switz

The major issue with the Fiamma rear mounted bike rack on many models of Airstreams is the rear window in the bedroom is also the emergency escape hatch and the bikes block the operation of that functionality.

Only when the bikes are mounted, but if it bothers you just keep a hammer in the bedroom. That'll get the window out of the way. The rear mount bikes are so convenient, it's worth a work-around to carry them there.

We have used a rear mount Fiamma rack on our campers for 20 years, wouldn't do it any other way. Tried carrying them in the pickup bed, works okay but not convenient. Too many bug splatters to carry them in front. Adds undesirable hitch weight to carry on trailer tongue. Too hard on interior finish and no room for us to put them inside.

BoldAdventure · 03-17-2016, 02:08 PM

After looking over all the options and considerations, and learning about the shell separation issue, I broke down and bought the Fiamma from Airstream yesterday.

Was not seriously expecting to drop 2K on bikes over the past month, but there it is. I just couldn't come up with anything better than they Fiamma. I don't want $800 bikes on my truck in a Walmart parking lot.

On the back of the Airstream, I can use a heavy duty chain and cover them and not worry about them being in the way when not in use. Which currently they are.

**Rocinante** · 03-17-2016, 02:41 PM

Another "yes" vote for the Fiamma bike rack. We love ours. We mount the bikes with one facing left and the other right, slightly staggered to make room for pedals, handlebars and such. It's a bit of a Jenga puzzle, but once you have it worked out, mounting and dismounting the bikes is a breeze.

Wingeezer · 03-17-2016, 02:49 PM

I can appreciate that folks d not want to put very expensive bikes up front, but we just carry a couple of old beat up mountain bikes and so it has been a perfect option for us and we hve carried them on the front of the truck using a front-mounted 2" hitch receiver on three tow vehiclesover the last 18 years. Never had any issues really.

The only minor problem with our current tow vehicle (HD2500) is that I need to throw a tarp on the ground and get under the front of the truck to pull the hitch pin to remove the hitch. Only takes a few seconds though.

Also, I cut down and re-welded the bike rack so that the bike seats and bars are just about level with the top of the truck hood when the bikes are installed. They are still plenty hgh off the ground.

Brian.

mojo · 03-17-2016, 03:21 PM

The Fiamma rack is nice, but the rack is permanently mounted to the trailer and you are limited to whereever you park it.

The Arvika rack slides off the mounting posts and you can have a metal shop make up a bracket so you mount the rack to your hitch and carry the bikes elsewhere.

But the best solution, if you have a pick-up truck is this over the bed rack that still allows you access to the bed and a tonneau cover. It's secure, and bikes are ready to go whereever the truck goes. Plus no excess weight on front or back of trailer.

kb0zke · 03-17-2016, 03:58 PM

Thanks. I checked out the Airstream Fiamma bike rack and it looks interesting. I'll have to get the weights of our bikes, though, as I think the two of them may be over the 75 pound limit.

BoldAdventure · 03-17-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojo

The Fiamma rack is nice, but the rack is permanently mounted to the trailer and you are limited to whereever you park it.

The Arvika rack slides off the mounting posts and you can have a metal shop make up a bracket so you mount the rack to your hitch and carry the bikes elsewhere.

But the best solution, if you have a pick-up truck is this over the bed rack that still allows you access to the bed and a tonneau cover. It's secure, and bikes are ready to go whereever the truck goes. Plus no excess weight on front or back of trailer.

Not a problem for me. I have Thule locking fork mounts on the rails. So pretty easy for me to go one to the other without moving a large rack.

I considered over the bed, but we have Ramboxes, the PW is significantly high and lastly, like I stated, I don't want to have my bikes stuck on the truck everywhere I go.

kb0zke · 03-31-2016, 07:04 PM

I saw this on a trailer the other day. I talked to the owner and got the website: http://www.upnfront.com/ Would something like this work on an Airstream? Basically, it is just a pole mounted to the trailer into which you mount your existing bike rack. I suspect that it would take both of us to put the bikes on/off, but if we can't handle that we probably don't have any business riding bikes.