Front receiver for bikes?

[Hopeful1]

On my 2009 Tahoe, would this be a good idea? I can't envision it, but I seriously don't know where to put the three bikes. Hubby says inside the trailer while towing. But I just do not want to do that at all.

[AWCHIEF]

This is one recent thread, there are several more,

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...er-161552.html

[HowieE]

I have a rack on the back of the trailer and a front receiver also. Not sure about 3 bikes forward because of lights, vision and cooling questions.

The real advantage of the front receiver is once you are camping it is easy to take the bike off site for the day.

One thing to keep in mind. If you buy a standard bike rake and mount it forward it will sit very high. I had to cut down the rake I mount forward by almost 10 in. to be able to see over the bikes.

[Hopeful1]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

This is one recent thread, there are several more,

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...er-161552.html

Thank you!

[OTRA15]

In addition to Michael's link here are some search results for "front bike rack" --

https://www.google.com/search?q=fron...=airforums.com

The search function in the blue box above works very well to sift through all the information here.

FYI rear bike racks are limited in weight by Airstream to 70 pounds incl. bikes I believe.

Good luck!

Peter

[Hopeful1]

Thank you!

[n2916s]

Carried two bikes on the front of my bike for years. Only two downsides; the bikes get really dirty, buggy. And, the bikes partially occlude the headlights so are probably not legal at night -- we never tow at night so it wasn't an issue for us.

[m.hony]

I have a front receiver on my Tundra to carry a 2 bike carrier.
It is a Curt brand front receiver that was less than $100 on Amazon and literally a 10 minute install with the existing tow hook bolts. Remove bolts and tow hooks and re-install them with the receiver sandwiched between the truck's frame and the tow hooks. Easy.

[banderabob]

I am an unabashed customer of the Arvika rack. Picture attached. They do have a 3-bike model. Check them out at www. Arvika. ca. Canadian company. BTW, they have a specific Airstream model as ahowm

[hahnstead]

I've been carrying one or two bikes in front of my 2000 Tundra for several years. I take the seats off the bikes and position the bikes so that the handlebars are on the passenger side. No vision problem whatsoever. Big advantage for me is that I have two trailers; no need for a bike carrier on each trailer when I have one on my tow vehicle. Plus, I take seriously what many have said regarding adding extra weight to the rear of an Airstream.

[SuzyHomemakr]

I mounted a front receiver on my 2004 RAM 2500. Then put a Thule rack on it. Then I started dragging it when going into parking lots. Then I took it off, and now it all sits in my shop.

[m.hony]

I have never bottomed out my bike carrier mounted in a front receiver.
I have, however bottomed out the back of the trailer while the bikes were on the front...

[Hopeful1]

I love the tips, links, and stories. I'm looking into all of it.

[Wingeezer]

we have carried our bikes this way on three tow vehicles.

lt has worked fine for us - in each case I had a local trailer shop install the front hitch receiver.

On our latest vehicle, a GMC 2500HD, it isn't quite as convenient as the hitch receiver hole comes right out behind the license plate so I had to make an adapter for the plate - but also, it means that to install and release the bike rack. I need to lie on a tarp under the front of the truck to install/remove the hitch pin. Not really a big deal though.

As well, because the hitch receiver is higher from the ground in this truck, the bikes were initially riding too high and into the fiel of vision, so I cut down the the bike rack and re-welded it to a more appropriate length so that I just barely see the handlebars and seats almost level with the truck hood and all is fine.

Never had any problem with the bikes being too low and touching the ground on steep drives & such.

I suppose headlights are affected very slightly but we generally are not on the road at night anyway so this has never been an issue for us.

Been carrying the bikes this way for about 20 years.

It is true that the bikes can get a bit dirty, but our bikes are no $6000 specials! More like $250 about 20 years ago so in our case that is no a concern at all.

I can understand that folks who are really into expensive bikes might not be so happy with this, but for us a quick wash and clean up when we arrive is all that is needed.

As for legality - I am not sure - I can only say that no police have ever expressed the slightest concern all the time we have carried the bikes this way. I suppose technically they could make an issue regarding the headligts
although the impact is minimal.

[m.hony]

Even before daylight the bikes on the front carrier aren't an issue.
The headlights seem to shine right through the bicycle wheel spokes.
We seldom ever travel after dark, but we occasionally travel before day.

[RinconVTR]

When we want to bring all 4 bikes, 2 go on the front hitch and 2 go in the camper.