My bikes are folding also. I found that it is harder to fold the bikes and then put them into the truck than to just lift them and roll them back.
Yeah that could be true with e-bikes—I’ve never had them but understand they can be heavy. Ours are about 30lbs each, maybe a little more with the bag (but the bag has handles). Bulky but by no means heavy.
With a family of four the issues were more about space than anything. I considered getting a retractable tonneau with the rack above it but liked the large enclosed space of the cap better for all sorts of reasons.
Anyway, I love your bike storage/slide—super smart system.
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we have qty TWO Turn Vektron s10 folding electric bikes.
folded we keep them inside under the inside table.
since there is no post anymore. we just raise the table . this is also the centre of the AS22FB over the axle. thus its equally balanced and does not put weight on the tongue or the rear
there is an ebike version of the same rack from FIAMMA
Carry-Bike Caravan XL A Pro 200 ebike
SKU 02093 e32A
neither FIAMMA or AS are willing to sell it in USA/CAN
they will if i buy a crate of 12 frames (;
i looked at the delta between the two , and there are just a few beefier pieces.
these are easy to upgrade later.
it is the same rack, just a few different pieces- an easy user home upgrade
the extra weight is with 10% of the max. totally within design margin
i see no issue. i also remove the battery, seat and locks
Hello everyone. We have 2 mountain bike and are pondering bike rack solutions. I'm guessing between the two bikes that weigh ~ 60 pounds
the question is can the Fiamma handle that weight ? 2nd Question - does anyone have thoughts and/or experience with the Arvika a frame mount solution ??
We have a 2019 Flying Cloud - with the Fiamma I was primarily concerned about rear storage access in addition to excessive weight on the rear of the trailer
2022 20' Basecamp
1968 17' Caravel
Los Osos
, California
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 613
Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertCloud
Hello everyone. We have 2 mountain bike and are pondering bike rack solutions. I'm guessing between the two bikes that weigh ~ 60 pounds
the question is can the Fiamma handle that weight ? 2nd Question - does anyone have thoughts and/or experience with the Arvika a frame mount solution ??
We have a 2019 Flying Cloud - with the Fiamma I was primarily concerned about rear storage access in addition to excessive weight on the rear of the trailer
Fiamma has a weight limit of 75 lbs. The rack itself weighs 25. I've had Fiammas installed on 19, 23 and 25 Internationals for two 30 lb +- mountain bikes.
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Currently Looking...
Wauwatosa
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 810
Not sure if you are stating your ebikes weight 30lbs each or 60lbs each.
I have not seen an ebike at 30lbs but if that’s what you have I would like to know the brand and model.
The Fiamma rack is rated at 75lbs. I have talked with them as the reason. It comes with aluminum brackets that mount the camper. These aluminum brackets have been known to break with to much weight.
There is an aftermarket bracket made of stainless steel that is much stronger. Fiamma does not endorse this bracket. However they themselves are researching a stronger bracket.
All that said, adding weight to the rear of the camper has been a major debate on this forum as well as many others.
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The Fiamma bike rack will not support 130 lbs (two 65 lb e-bikes). Even with modifications. One can change out the brackets for the metal brackets from ProPride. Then mount them with bolts through aluminum backer plates inside the Airstream. Then to remove the flexing of the bottom frame, you could put brackets from the bottom frame to the bumper. This now makes the fold-down platform the weakest point in the system. It will eventually flex and bend. I guess one could run a strap from its most rearward point back up to the main frame. That may be enough to hold it all together.
The only long-term solution for 2 e-bikes that I have found in my research is where one has a hitch receiver correctly welded to extra bars added to the Airstream frame. Then use a bike carrier built to take the additional stresses of an RV.
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2017 25' Flying Cloud
2018 F-250 6.2L Gas
Blue Ox SwayPro 1000#
I have a folding ebike too that came at 65lbs, here’s what I did:
- most ebikes have very cheap components. The front suspension / fork on mine was at least 15lbs. I replaced both suspensions, lighter flywheel, pedals, removed the rack etc. I think I saved about 20lbs in total.
- remove the battery when not in use. Ebike lithium batteries are finicky and they are better stored inside, ideally charged at 80% or more. The battery alone weighs 15lbs, so why keep that on the bike when not in use?
- I then bought the largest wheeled storage tote and made it my container for the bike and other outdoor stuff like hoses, floor mats etc. it fits perfectly through the door of the Airstream. You could get two of them and just wheel them into the ‘hallway’ of the Airstream.
Here’s what I use: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Centrex-64-...Lid/1000533377
And one more thing: I have had many moments where I wanted to throw the bike away. Too much hassle to bring everywhere. But yesterday I biked the 15miles into Zion Canyon on my own, I had the whole canyon to myself while thousands of tourists had to wait for shuttle buses. Those are the moments when these bikes shine
Hello everyone. We have 2 mountain bike and are pondering bike rack solutions. I'm guessing between the two bikes that weigh ~ 60 pounds
the question is can the Fiamma handle that weight ? 2nd Question - does anyone have thoughts and/or experience with the Arvika a frame mount solution ??
We have a 2019 Flying Cloud - with the Fiamma I was primarily concerned about rear storage access in addition to excessive weight on the rear of the trailer
Yes; we have 2017 28' and our bikes weigh 35# each; this is the third AS we have owned with the Fiama rack and these bikes...we put a lot of mileage on our AS's; never had an issue.
We have been looking/evaluating e-bikes. They are heavy with or without the battery for most models, unless you get into the carbon frames and lots of $$. To us, several folks have the RAD folding model with the 20" tires that folks seem to really like. We saw/talked with couple owners at Alumalina last month who love these; they fold; one couple puts them in a bag and stores inside; other said they put in back of their pickup bed. Not sure what we will end up with, but the Fiama is out due to weight and cost of lighter models, even without battery, they are a bit heavy, IMHO
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Empty Nesters; Gypsies on the road!
2017 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2017 F250 King Ranch, 4X4, 6.7L, Blue-Ox WDH Summer-Star Valley Ranch RV Resort (Thayne, WY); Winter-Sun City (Georgetown,TX)
We have the Rad Mini Folding bikes, we remove the batteries, fold them and use a 55 gallon plastic storage containers for the bikes and put them in the truck bed, - (it helps to have a long bed truck). If space is an issue in the truck bed one bike in its storage tub can go in the AS over the axles.
2022 30' Flying Cloud
2018 27' Tommy Bahama
2016 23' International
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Peachtree City
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 234
I searched for a solution on ebikes and carriers, finally settled on folding Sondors ebikes under the tonneau cover. Keeps them dry and out of sight while traveling. In the pic we had a smaller ebike along with the Sondors, have since settled on all sondors.
It seems that many solutions factor in where the added weight is placed on the combination. Most have put the bikes in the back of the tow vehicles. Weight on the trailer should be considered with regard to the effect on the tongue weight and keeping it at an ideal value to promote stability between 10 to 15% of trailer weight.
Putting ~100 lbs on the rear of the trailer will take a similar load off the hitch. In my case my hitch weight is 500 lbs and my trailer weight is 4,200 lbs. If I took 100 lbs off the hitch without changing anything else, I would be reducing the hitch weight below 10%. While this would be great for my tow vehicle, it would not help stability. I would need to offset this by replacing the weight inside the trailer near the front by moving my stuff forward.
If I had no other choice but to carry the bikes on the trailer, I would probably look at an “over the hitch” setup and deal with the added hitch weight as this would only go to improve stability of my combo.
I am fortunate to have a diamondback box cover on my truck and can mount my rack on that and carry the bikes beside the kayaks. Mine will be custom mounts since I can make them.
I do like the idea of being able to see the bikes while travelling but that is just my preference. If I use the rack on the back of the Airstream, I could always turn on my rear view camera to see the bikes.
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