Arvika Bike Rack / Racks for Cars Fiasco

[Jud]

I recently purchased an Arvika Bike Rack for my 2018 Flying Cloud 30FB from Racks for Cars in Edmonton Canada. Dustin from there assured me the application would work for my truck and trailer combo. After many hours of time, trips to the RV service shop, help from friends, and $800 it is clear it doesn't work. Storage door doesn't open, rack hits the truck bed, support arm bracket doesn't fit, etc. Dustin even said he'd make me a new bracket thus agreeing it doesn't work. I said I would just like my money back. His response...spend the hundreds of dollars on your nickel and I MIGHT give you some money back if its in the original packaging (which of course I had to damage to unpack). So...I have a product that doesn't work and am out of $800. I find it phenomenal he would not be apologizing for the inconvenience and offering a full refund plus shipping, but Racks for Cars is acting as if its my problem. I really have no idea what to do...I am better of throwing it away than spending the money to mail it back with no commitment they will even reimburse me fully or partially. Anyone ever have experience with similar incompetence from Racks for Cars?

[dznf0g]

Whew, now that that's off your chest, let's see if we can work through it. I have had one on my 30' classic with a silverado for a number of years. Are you willing to share the issues one at a time....maybe with pics? Maybe I can share my learnings and some very minor mods to make it work perfectly.

Your front storage door is a real issue which I don't have, but let's give it a whirl?

[dznf0g]

A recent trip

[Jud]

That's a very kind offer...I guess it was a bit obvious I am frustrated! I have pics on my cell phone and can't get them to laptop, but here's the specific challenge list:

- the brackets that mount to the frame - if I move them back towards the trailer, I lose access to the storage door and the rack gets close to the actual trailer and would likely hit with any road vibration. If I move them away from the trailer, they interfere with the brackets for the equalizer bar. So I can't move the brackets either direction. Where they are on the frame gives me about 30% storage opening as it is.
- The S shaped connector tubes that connect the rack to the brackets barely clear the propane tank. And when the rack is attached, it hits the back of the truck bed. (note this is a 3 rack system). The only way to make it work would be to recraft the S tubes so the entire apparatus rides well above the truck bed
- The support arms that connect the rack to the extender post have a bracket to connect at the bottom. Those brackets are too large to fit around the post without hitting the propane tank. So to get the support arms attached I would need to fabricate new brackets.

Bottom line...seems reasonable that I get a refund. Its supposed to work as is, and it just doesn't. The rack is heavy and to ship from US to Canada will cost me hundreds likely. Racks for Cars won't return my calls or emails at this point. Any advice is appreciated!!

[waninae39]

we use the fiamma on our 22FB. it works very well

we also extend the arm for the outer bike by 4" to give more clearance for our ebikes.

we look at one above the GAS cylinder and the front, but my 5'4" wife said it was beyond here ability to lift it that high.

either one of can use the rear fiamma individually or together

[dznf0g]

I wish you could post pics. From your description of "s shaped connector tubes" I am thinking you bought the DFX series???? If so, that is not the Airstream specific rack. The AS racks are the 7000 series and even then there are some specific AS pieces. I could raise mine at least another 3 or 4 inches if I needed to. I have it set so I can get my arm into the bottle cover to see the regulator and turn on and off the bottles. At this height, it does clear my truck bed, just barely....but I have a Hensley which puts my rack almost a foot further from the truck. I rarely back in too sharp an angle, for a bunch of reasons.

http://www.arvika.ca/en/travel-trail...ngleProduct=19

https://www.racksforcars.com/15147/A...ailer-Bracket/

https://www.racksforcars.com/14609/A...g-Support-Arm/

And this mount allows for front storage door opening:

https://www.racksforcars.com/21529/A...Bahama-Models/

Pics of mine. I had to mount my posts with the uprights INSIDE the trailer A frame, as I have battery doors on either side of the A frame, but they can go outside the rail too. I have plenty of room for the front telescoping post as well.

[dznf0g]

[Jud]

Thank you again hugely for taking the time to chat about this. Logged in from my iPad so here are a couple pics, see if that makes sense. Very possible they sent me the wrong kit, but at this point they won’t return a call or email.

[dznf0g]

It appears you do have the correct pieces. Where is the front telescoping support. Pic?
How much of the "s" bars are inserted into the base posts?

I think you could get away with moving your spring bar brackets forward an inch or so.
So...your door is wider than the base posts?

[dznf0g]

I am not sure why it is necessary for your s bars to extent so far forward. Look at my pics. I am much closer to the AS with the bike platform. Mine is Also a 3 place platform.

[dznf0g]

The more I think about it....are those s arms for a 4 place rack? The 4th bike goes between the AS and the back side of the rack. The shorter reach ones I have would move the platform quit a bit rearward.

[dznf0g]

It's hard to tell from the pic, bit how close are you from the s arm elbow to the AS skin?

[Jud]

Thanks again for all the feedback. The S posts have only go into the support brackets about an inch which is also a concern with road vibration. It’s probably they sent me the wrong S posts. Racks for Cars offered to fabricate new ones, which again seems to acknowledge I got the wrong ones. And there is zero chance I will have access to the storage compartment with my hitch and equalizer bars. I was told by Racks for Cars no refund since I am in the US and they are in Canada. At this point I just have to chalk it up to bad service and a lesson learned. I can’t imagine running my business they way they have. Thanks again for everyone’s help, I did find a rooftop rack from my local ford dealer that will work, its just not easy access.

[dznf0g]

There is a US dealer too.

Teardrop Shop LLC1519 Boettler Road, Suite AUniontown Ohio 44685USA

You might give them a call and see if you have wrong parts and if they might have a solution.

[dznf0g]

https://teardropshop.com/pages/searc...page?q=carving

They are listed in the arvika site, but their website doesn't show them???

[Jud]

That’s a great idea, I will give them a call. Thx again

[losfeliz]

With these Arvika racks, do you have any trouble if you have a camper shell on the truck? I'm concerned about the shell hitting the rack when having to cut the truck sharp into a squirrelly campsite. I attached a few pics to show how my kit is setup (although these were without the tank cover - it will go back on this year).

[Jud]

I highly recommend you don’t go with the Arvika rack. I think your concerns are well founded. And if you purchase the rack and it doesn’t work the support you receive will be poor and the chance of a refund are nil. I ended up purchasing a roof rack for my F250 and it works great. A tad harder to get up there but a good use of space. Purchased from my local ford dealer. Good luck!