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12-25-2013, 03:31 PM
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#1
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Enthusiastic New AS'r
1985 31' Limited
Glenville
, New York
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 156
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Want to carry bikes on front of truck!?
Not sure which forum this belongs... Scenario... I want to install a front receiver on my 2003 GMC Sierra Hd for a bike rack to carry bicycles. I see where I can buy a hitch that will fit up front. Is there anyone that has this setup or comments? Thanks...
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1985 31' Limited
2003 GMC Sierra HD SLT 4x4
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12-25-2013, 03:47 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1968 24' Tradewind
Oxford,
, Mississippi
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,564
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These might be what you are looking for:
GMC Sierra Front Mount Hitch - 2003 | etrailer.com
I have ordered several items from etrailer.com and have been happy with their service.
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Bruce & Rachel
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68 Trade Wind
2001 Toyota Tundra
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12-25-2013, 05:45 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
2008 31' Classic
Milam
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3campers
Not sure which forum this belongs... Scenario... I want to install a front receiver on my 2003 GMC Sierra Hd for a bike rack to carry bicycles. I see where I can buy a hitch that will fit up front. Is there anyone that has this setup or comments? Thanks...
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150 Vespa.
Lower hitch. Two bikes. I have two riecivers up front. Depends where we go. What we bring. Scooter or bikes. Works well. Cable lock to ranch hand bumper.
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12-25-2013, 06:03 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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We have one on a 2500HD diesel and it works fine. Also had one on our previous TV, a Sierra 1500 4x4.
Only slight problem with the one on our 2500 is that it is somewhat higher.
Rather than coming out under the bumper, this one comes out right where the license plate mounts. A square hole had to be cut for the receiver opening.
This means I had to devise a mount for our license plate that would go into the receiver hole when the carrier was not in place.
Also, with the higher position, the bike rack stuck up higher than I wanted and so the bikes obscured vision somewhat.
I cut and re-welded the bike rack to lower it and at the same time I also welded on a bracket to secure the license plate to the rack when the bike rack is installed.
With this position of the hitch recover coming thru the original license plate location, it is a bit more work to lie down under the front of the truck to put the hitch pin in place to hold the rack. I need to carry a tarp to lie on and a flashlight!
Not that big a deal though it is on or off in just a minute and works just fine.
Brian.
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Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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12-25-2013, 06:46 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
2007 27' Safari FB SE
Full Timers just passing through
, Arizona for a couple of weeks and then on to Utah!
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 325
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I have a hitch receiver on my Dodge Ram and carry Bikes up there everywhere we travel..works great.
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Living life on the Road
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12-28-2013, 09:57 AM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Edisto Island
, South Carolina
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 225
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We use a front receiver and bike carrier on our Ford Expedition. We have found it to be a great solution for hauling the bicycles.
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12-28-2013, 03:40 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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I got the front receiver for my Silverado from Amazon. Love it.
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12-28-2013, 04:59 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2010 27' FB Classic
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 179
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I have had a front hitch on every TV I have owned for use as a spotting hitch, extra haul space using a basket and of course for a bicycle rack.
We use one of these: Thule T2 - Thule
There are many brands and types that will go into a two inch reciever.
Some things to watch out for.
1) looking through and around bicycles gets to be very tiring
2) your own headlights reflecting off of reflectors and chrome is blinding
3) your bikes get filthy if they are performance road bikes with high end chain and shifters - they will be impacted by road film.
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2010 27FB Classic
1989 190 Class B (Sold)
1977 29 Ambassador Land Yacht (Sold)
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12-28-2013, 05:19 PM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
1977 31' Sovereign
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 49
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Interesting discussion, I have a sturdy aluminum two dirt bike rack that goes into a receiver hitch and was seriously considering installing a hitch on the rear of the AS but I'm sure I'd run into some sort of clearance issues unless I modified it to be quite a bit higher off the deck. That mod might be doable but would make loading it much more difficult. I'd prefer to rig a simple crank to lift the carrier several feet high once it's loaded with the bikes.
Does such a product exist?
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12-28-2013, 06:10 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2005 31' Classic
Garner,
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,031
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wow
that one way to bring the scooter. wonder how many MPG that kills up there in front of every thing vs on rear?
Quote:
Originally Posted by robertwarner
Attachment 202333
150 Vespa.
Attachment 202334
Lower hitch. Two bikes. I have two riecivers up front. Depends where we go. What we bring. Scooter or bikes. Works well. Cable lock to ranch hand bumper.
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Carl, Raleigh NC
2-24-16 got a 2005 Classic 31D 460 watts solar, lithium 230 AH, 16" LT's, pulled by:
2003 F-250 SD, CC, 7.3L PowerStroke
WBCCI#1691, Piedmont Airstream Club, Unit #161, Region #3
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12-28-2013, 08:10 PM
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#11
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NO HUMBLE OPINION
1968 20' Globetrotter
ANN ARBOR
, THE GREAT LAKES
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 665
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Check your state's vehicle statutes for "Obstructed Vision". Ask State Police.
In Michigan, it's $110 fine and two points. Yamaha 125 on front of my D200 P-Wagon, Couldn't beat it in court. Cited city bus with front bike racks, but it's written into law that they're exempt. Michigan Statute also exempts out of state registered vehicles.
Truth is, it does obstruct your vision, reflects headlight glare, makes your bikes nasty, inhibits under-hood access.... and more.
I don't see a viable solution to carry bikes outside... front, back, top or middle.
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12-29-2013, 06:23 AM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
2008 31' Classic
Milam
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carl2591
wow that one way to bring the scooter. wonder how many MPG that kills up there in front of every thing vs on rear?
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12.3 @69 MPH. Avg. on interstate. Pulling 31', I can live with it.
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12-29-2013, 08:34 AM
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#13
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3 Rivet Member
2017 30' Classic
2017 30' Classic
Summerville
, South Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 188
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I made my front hitch and bolted it to the frame. Then adapted a bike carrier so it did not block my view or head lights. So far it works great.
see photo below.
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12-29-2013, 08:47 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
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Been carrying my bikes on a front hitch for years. Works like a champ. I do pull the seats (quick release) and lower the handlebars ( 1 allen head bolt) so I have no visual obstruction.
Bikes get gross but a buck's worth of high pressure wand at the car wash solves that problem.
Mike
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12-29-2013, 09:23 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALUMINUMINUM
Check your state's vehicle statutes for "Obstructed Vision". Ask State Police.
In Michigan, it's $110 fine and two points. Yamaha 125 on front of my D200 P-Wagon, Couldn't beat it in court. Cited city bus with front bike racks, but it's written into law that they're exempt. Michigan Statute also exempts out of state registered vehicles.
Truth is, it does obstruct your vision, reflects headlight glare, makes your bikes nasty, inhibits under-hood access.... and more.
I don't see a viable solution to carry bikes outside... front, back, top or middle.
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A good point, I cut my bike rack down in height and re-welded it so the bikes ride quite low. I can barely see the bars / seat tops over the line of the hood.
I was concerned in fact that the bikes might be too low after cutting the rack down, but I have never had any problems.
Apart from obstructing vision though, I suspect that there are also laws about obstructing headlights, and I guess you can't deny that they do - however minimal the obstruction may be.
So I guess we could get cited for that if some LEO wanted to be very picky.
We've been carrying the bikes the way for 15 years though and never had any issues although been alongside police acts, had them in front of me, etc many many times.
Not to say it couldn't happen though, and I suppose if it did I would have to squeeze the bikes into the back of the truck to carry on …. for a while anyway!
No doubt we'll keep doing things this way, until we encounter a problem!
As for the headlight obstruction, it really is barely noticeable and in any event we are very rarely on the road with the trailer after dark.
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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12-29-2013, 07:57 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2005 31' Classic
Garner,
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,031
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robertwarner
12.3 @69 MPH. Avg. on interstate. Pulling 31', I can live with it.
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so you are looking at what some 13 to 13.5 with out scooter in front.
not bad for pulling a 31'er
I can see the scooter being a fun as heck thing to have in campground area as well.. especially if "stuff" is long distance away from campsite.
PS what year is that cummings..
__________________
Carl, Raleigh NC
2-24-16 got a 2005 Classic 31D 460 watts solar, lithium 230 AH, 16" LT's, pulled by:
2003 F-250 SD, CC, 7.3L PowerStroke
WBCCI#1691, Piedmont Airstream Club, Unit #161, Region #3
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12-30-2013, 04:08 AM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member
2008 31' Classic
Milam
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 27
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O7' meg cab. 4-4.
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12-30-2013, 06:14 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1959 26' Overlander
Powder Springs
, Georgia
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 671
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Bikes on Top
It's bikes on top for us. (With one in the trailer, too.)
Being vertically challenged, I don't think I could possibly see over the hood with bikes in front.
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~Lynnetta
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12-30-2013, 08:56 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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Over many years, tried bikes on front (visibility, road grime and bug problem), bikes on top (bugs and poor accessibility), bikes inside camper (where to sleep and eat), bikes in pickup bed (works fairly well), bikes on back of van (works well), and bikes on back of Airstream (works well).
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Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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01-04-2014, 07:09 PM
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#20
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Enthusiastic New AS'r
1985 31' Limited
Glenville
, New York
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 156
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Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts...some great ideas and suggestions. I've also considered a bed rack or construction rack but lowered so it sits just a few inches above the truck bed then attach racks to hold front and back of bikes. That way I can still use the truck bed space for usual camping stuff...
Hmmmm....
__________________
1985 31' Limited
2003 GMC Sierra HD SLT 4x4
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