installing bike mount bike carrier

[Shiny16]

The internet is awesome! Not happy with post #10 then keep going to post #13. There is always something to fit everyone’s agenda.

[Shiny16]

After reading many of these threads and without going back and searching in detail I think there appears to be a common theme.
With the Fiamma rack the threads that talk about failures were either overloaded or on longer Airstreams. Perhaps they bounce more on longer trailers?
For those that have had hitches mounted on the rear and used conventional bike racks it seems the reports of sway were mostly from smaller units. For a non engineer that would make sense but that’s from a non engineer.
Thoughts or experiences?

[GettinAway]

I stated earlier. I would be very hesitant to put one on a 23FB, but have no trouble putting one on a 25FB. Only two feet longer, but double the tongue weight. Maybe AS just used the same axle to hitch dimensions on the 25FB as on the 27FB. I don’t know, but obviously the 25FB is a bit tongue heavy. Pulling the 25FB I have almost zero impact from 18 wheelers going by me. About the same impact as running my Tundra without a trailer.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by jaybauman

Bob

I just recently parted ways with a FC30. I never had any stability issues, no matter how we packed it. Mine was a front bed, so we tended to be front-heavy since our major storage space was in front. Do you s'pose your stability issues are due to the rear bed configuration?

Hi

The Classic's weigh significantly more than the FC versions in the same length. ( ( ( They also have a higher weight limit to accommodate the load ). Most of that weight is up high and far back. Neither one does anything good for stability.

Bob

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

I stated earlier. I would be very hesitant to put one on a 23FB, but have no trouble putting one on a 25FB. Only two feet longer, but double the tongue weight. Maybe AS just used the same axle to hitch dimensions on the 25FB as on the 27FB. I don’t know, but obviously the 25FB is a bit tongue heavy. Pulling the 25FB I have almost zero impact from 18 wheelers going by me. About the same impact as running my Tundra without a trailer.

I think the stability concern over a rear hitch is not as much the weight but the “wagging” type movement of a 100 pounds or so being attached via a single point. It would seem that the heavier the tongue weight the less of an effect this would have.

[Ultraclassic]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

Capitol BS.
I have installed a 2" receiver on all 3 of my Airstream trailers, 28', 30', 30', and a 2 bike Saris bike carrier since 2012 cobmined weight 170 lbs. Never had any problems whatsoever.
I bet they will be very happy to sell you a Fiama in a hearthbeat.
If an Airstream frame and body is that fragile they shouldnt be on the road.

Ok thank you for your feedback

[Airstrmngdrm]

There is a multi-bike carrier for the front of the trailer, in between the coach and your tow vehicle. We installed it on our 2018 33” Classic. There is ZERO drilling required so you don’t need to alter the trailer in any way. It’s called the Arvika RV Bike Carrier and I ordered it from Racks For Cars in Canada. The guys there were amazingly helpful and I installed it myself in about 3 hours. It’s super sturdy (already been driven 3500 miles) and holds our two mountain bikes safely (even if covered in ice!). I highly recommend getting the additional front support bar, makes a big difference.

Good luck, enjoy your travels and be safe!

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Mx468

Oh no here we go again... Here's a pretty good video to explain weight transfer on a travel trailer.

I'm getting to hate that video, and it's variations. What can we learn from this video? "Negative tongue weight is bad." Period. People are using the demonstrations on this to explain why you can't put a bike on the back.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

We have wandered a bit from some really small trailers to people talking about 30 or 33' Classics .... At least on the Classics, this is not a good idea. The frame is long and it is heavily loaded. Adding weight out on the tail end is asking for (long term) trouble.

Will you see the issue in the first year (or three) ? Maybe not. Frame cracks are hard to spot when they first start out. You only get "the word" once they are pretty far gone ....

----

Stability on the Classic takes some working with the weights you load. Adding anything to the back of the trailer makes for a very noticeable degradation in stability. It took us a few trips before we figured that out ....

Bob

I have been pulling our 2017 30' Classic with a 20127 F-250 Powerstroke all over the country throughout the west with a 2" receiver carrying two bikes and I have not experienced any instability whatsoever.
I had a number of crash avoidance maneuver incidents and when weather and traffic conditions allow my cruise control is set at 72 MPH.
Use a BO hitch and the truck has the 160" wheelbase.

[SilverWind]

I've installed Airstream specific Fiamma Carry Bike units on my last three Airstreams. Never a problem.

Two friends had Southern California Airstream dealers weld receivers on the rear of their trailers. Both failed. The cantilever forces put a lot of stress on the trailer.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

I have been pulling our 2017 30' Classic with a 20127 F-250 Powerstroke all over the country throughout the west with a 2" receiver carrying two bikes and I have not experienced any instability whatsoever.
I had a number of crash avoidance maneuver incidents and when weather and traffic conditions allow my cruise control is set at 72 MPH.
Use a BO hitch and the truck has the 160" wheelbase.

Hi

With the same trailer, the same truck and effectively the same hitch, I most certainly can notice instability in the setup. Not a lot, but it is there at certain speeds / wind directions. The "cure" in our case is to run with the fresh water tank full.

Bob

[SYC2Vette]

For our two "clunkers" we use a front mount with a high mount 2" receiver as shown. Tips forward after pulling a pin so does not interfere with window. For our nicer bicycles we store inside with blankets for protection.

[Life is a Highway]

Can anyone please who is on Facebook or KYD insiders or the secret society of Airstream social media ( as I refuse to go on social media thus mis out)
Give me the business name and contact that installed his welded on bike rack
His video blows right through it
pM me if necessary
Thanks

[Jtom]

For what its worth, if your Airstream is under factory warranty, putting a hitch on the back will void the warranty. We have 2019 and Installed the Fiamma bike rack recommended by Airstream. Of course it is pricey, we also purchases to heavy duty brackets from Pro-hitch to replace the ones that come with the Fiamma. All of this is captured in the forum on bike racks. Airstream says you cant exceed 80 lbs on the back. If your out of warranty do what you want...Ive seen some with hitch mounds and they seem fine. Our Fiamma works great, the bikes are very snug....for mountain and road bikes. If you have a fat tire you have to buy additional wheel trays. Hope this helps!

[Ella]

Originally Posted by Airstrmngdrm

There is a multi-bike carrier for the front of the trailer, in between the coach and your tow vehicle. We installed it on our 2018 33” Classic. There is ZERO drilling required so you don’t need to alter the trailer in any way. It’s called the Arvika RV Bike Carrier and I ordered it from Racks For Cars in Canada. The guys there were amazingly helpful and I installed it myself in about 3 hours. It’s super sturdy (already been driven 3500 miles) and holds our two mountain bikes safely (even if covered in ice!). I highly recommend getting the additional front support bar, makes a big difference.

Good luck, enjoy your travels and be safe!

This is what we use as well. Great system and fabulous service.

Link: https://www.racksforcars.com/15147/Arvika-Airstream-Travel-Trailer-Bracket/

[Whyvon2509]

Just ordered my very 1st TT....the AS 16' Caravel. Never towed anything before and will be towing with an SUV, not a truck. Reading through all the posting regarding bike racks, I'm even more confused about how to carry a bike. I had thought to mount a hitch to the back of AS and just use my Kuat bike rack, but there seems to be great deal of controversy about the stress to the 16' AS frame, and sway. I only have 1 bike and travel SOLO, so I suppose I could just drop the front wheel and lay it on a foam pad on top of the dinette table. But is Is there any way to mount the bike BETWEEN the SUV and the AS? Is there a hitch that can do that? Is that a bad idea? My bike only weighs less than 20 lbs.

[Endoguy]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

I have a Curt hitch installed on the rear frame of my 25FB. The 25FB has a very high tongue weight compared to a 23FB. (Almost double). I don’t think it effects stability with bikes on the back. It’s a rough ride back there though. You’ll need a stout bike carrier to do it. We use a Kuat (sp).
One benefit is the ability to take the bike carrier off the AS and put it on the truck if you want to take bikes elsewhere.
FYI, this has been asked and answered before. I’m not the best with the search function or I’d pull up some older threads for you.

I have a Stromberg receiver above the propane tanks & very stable. You have to take off to get to tanks; but only takes 2 minutes

[Flying Pig]

Had a rear hitch installed on back of our 19’ flying cloud for carrier with two bikes. Due to bouncing around dirt roads/potholes bikes jiggled loose, one leaping out of straps and hooks. We, of course, were the last to know and if we had not bungees the heck out of them would have lost at least one on a highway. Thank God we got signals from passing cars and pulled over to fix. Never again! Especially now with e-bikes - front load or inside the airstream. Just our experience.

[Pangolin]

We have ours mounted on rails on the truck bed.

[Boo II]

I bit the bullet and bought the Fiama rack. Disappointed in the rack however. I question whether or not the designer of the rack has ever mounted 2 bikes on a rack before. The wheel trays are so close that it very difficult to put two bikes on it. I have to us a heavy duty rubber like hose to cover a few places on the frame that are in contact between the bikes. I have a Trek Domane AL3 road bike and my wife has a Trek Verve + eBike.