Front receiver for bike carrier

[Tino643]

Hello! I want to install a receiver in front of my jeep for a bike carrier. With both bike and carrier the weight will be about 50 pounds.

I know Airstream have the Fimma bike carrier. But I do not want to install it on the trailer for four reasons:

-Blocking taillights.
-Blocking the plate.
-Should make holes in the trailer and the carrier is permanent. -
-In addition there is a lot of bonce in the back and i don't think is good for the AS

There is also the Arvika bike carrier, but it adds weight to the tongue. And like the Fimma, I can not get the bike with us when we leave whit the jeep and this is important to us.

So for those who have a bike carrier in the front of your truck what are the disadvantages? Do you have problems such as engine overheating? Thanks for your answers...

Tino

[robert claus]

I'd think the biggest problem would be cleaning the bugs off the bikes.

[Jim Foster]

I installed a front receiver on our Silverado just over a year ago. No problems, even bugs don't seem to be a problem.

No holes in the trailer, no extra weight on the rear.

Using the same bike carrier:
I can take the bikes when hauling either trailer.
In can take the bikes without towing either trailer.
Bikes are in front where, if there should be a problem, I can see the problem.

The only "problem" is care must be taken when parking against a curb or other barrier in a parking lot as the receiver may hit the object. Just need to pay attention.

Works very well for us.

[aquinob]

Most of the commercial front hitches are rated at 500 lbs tongue wt, so no prob with 50. Any rack that will fit in the back will fit in the front. I've seen plenty of bikes and other gear being carried in the front, especially on 5th wheel rigs. The advantage of using a front hitch to spot a trailer in a tight spot is really why you want one.

[jrudd1968]

I agree word for word with Jim Foster. Mine is on a Dodge Ram 2500 and works great!

[nilesrob]

Did it on my Excursion 4-5 years ago, worked great.

[Tino643]

Ok thanks for the answer. i just order the hitch....

[Airstreamer67]

A front hitch is a very versatile implement for a tow vehicle. I use mine variously as a bike carrier, a way to back the trailer into otherwise impossible sites, and with a loaded tool box which puts enough weight on the front end to negate the need for weight-transfer bars on the rear hitch.

[Steamy1]

Originally Posted by Steamy1

It does make the front end feel a little heavy, and the bikes definitly collect a lot of bugs. I will convert to the Airstream Fiamma rack this month. I like the fact that the bikes will be in the back.

When we were camped, if we wanted to tour around in the truck, I would take the bikes off of the rack, then take the rack off of the truck. It was a hassle, but with the rack on the trailer, we can just leave them in place.

The front hitch worked, but it was not ideal. I think the rack on the rear of the trailer will work much better for us.

We will keep the Thule for when we want to transport the bikes without the trailer, but use the receiver on the back.

my comments from a previous thread.

[Alumaholic]

If you install a front receiver,
And if you carry your bikes in front of your tow vehicle,
And if your bikes are equipped with quick-release front wheels,
And if your quick releases are not adjusted tight enough,
And if you hit a bump,
And if a bike wheel falls off the bike,
You may run over your own bike wheel,
And you may drive a wheel spindle through a tire.
Don't ask me how I know this.

[mefly2]

We like the front hitch on our Jeep. Don't expect to move your stinger/ hitch to the front of the Jeep for parking/maneuvering the AS unless you beef up the suspension, however. Our experience is that the low pressure at the rear of most vehicles draws the fine silt onto the oiled bicycle works ... the front location is exposed to bugs and mostly "clean" air.

[Protagonist]

Also, make sure the bike doesn't block the headlights.

[hissilver]

I carried a frontmount bike rack on a GMC van for many years without problems. Of course the seating in a van is high so the sight lines were clear. The real problem was rain and wind washing off and drying out the oil on the chains and gearing system. Evening bug impacts made the handle grips a bit gross occasionally.

[HowieE]

I have one on my Excursion. I used a cheap 2 bike carrier and cut about 10 in. off the upright to get the bikes down in front.

The best advantage is while camping you can take the bikes from the campground to local sites and trails.

[BAB]

You might revisit your objections to the Fiamma. It doesn't block the taillights. My bikes do not hide the license plate. It didn't block the plate that covers the sewer hose (or the trunk -- though if the bikes are mounted you have to wriggle the electric cord/hose a bit). Not sure I'd necessarily agree that there's a lot of bounce on the rear of the trailer, and if there were I'm not sure it'd have deleterious effects on the bikes (or the trailer). There is a requirement to drill 4 holes through the aluminum and four into the steel frame. Just my opinion. And it could be the size of my trailer that made this work better.

[msmcv51]

I have been using a front rack since 2003. My rack has loops that the bike tires set in and a hold down in the middle that hooks over the frame. Now for using it for spotting a trailer is impossible because the front is much lower than the back receiver on my F-150.

[perryg114]

I wonder if I could mount a motorcycle carrier to the front my my Excursion? One of the disadvantages of not having a pickup is no place for motorcycles.

Perry

Originally Posted by nilesrob

Did it on my Excursion 4-5 years ago, worked great.

[ebair]

We carried 4 bikes on ours on a trip to Glacier Park in 2010, the only disadvantage was a increase in engine temp on the long uphill climbs, likely due to disrupted air flow. But it's nice to have the bikes along and not in the way + more accessable than a roof mount.

[Melody Ranch]

From Airstream Germany...

[Rod Johnson]

We installed a front receiver on our F-250 a couple of years ago when heaving two bikes 7 ft. in the air became more exciting than my spouse liked to witness--not so bad for road bikes, but we generally carry our mountain bikes when 'streaming. I, too, had to cut about 10 inches out of the upright to achieve a proper driving sight height. Also, I remove the seats and seat posts when traveling and cover the open seat tubes with duct tape. We are satisfied with the arrangement. Yes, one has to remember that the bikes are making the truck a couple of feet longer, but that is easier to remember than that the bikes are on the roof.

Safest, cleanest deal with fairly expensive bikes? Roof mount (Thule or Yakima) with front wheels removed and proper bike bras. But not nearly as handy.

I would consider the Fiamma, but I can't store our 27FB at home and would need to transport the bikes to the storage lot on some type of rack anyway. I do not like to drive at night with the bikes on the front as there is a small amount of reflection off the bikes, but I don't tend to drive at night anyway. Everything is a bit of a trade-off.