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Old 12-25-2013, 03:31 PM   #1
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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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Old 12-25-2013, 03:47 PM   #2
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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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Old 12-25-2013, 05:45 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3campers View Post
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.

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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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Old 12-25-2013, 06:03 PM   #4
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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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Old 12-25-2013, 06:46 PM   #5
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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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Old 12-28-2013, 09:57 AM   #6
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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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Old 12-28-2013, 03:40 PM   #7
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I got the front receiver for my Silverado from Amazon. Love it.
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Old 12-28-2013, 04:59 PM   #8
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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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Old 12-28-2013, 05:19 PM   #9
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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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Old 12-28-2013, 06:10 PM   #10
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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 View Post
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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Old 12-28-2013, 08:10 PM   #11
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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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Old 12-29-2013, 06:23 AM   #12
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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?
12.3 @69 MPH. Avg. on interstate. Pulling 31', I can live with it.
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Old 12-29-2013, 08:34 AM   #13
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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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Old 12-29-2013, 08:47 AM   #14
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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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Old 12-29-2013, 09:23 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALUMINUMINUM View Post
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.

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.
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Old 12-29-2013, 07:57 PM   #16
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12.3 @69 MPH. Avg. on interstate. Pulling 31', I can live with it.
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..
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Old 12-30-2013, 04:08 AM   #17
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O7' meg cab. 4-4.
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Old 12-30-2013, 06:14 AM   #18
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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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Old 12-30-2013, 08:56 AM   #19
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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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Old 01-04-2014, 07:09 PM   #20
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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....
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