Bike rack??

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Hibby

No boogers in the Airstream!

Don't look under my couch!!!!!

[cptfish]

We received our Arvika rack for our 25'FB 2010 in a week. Took about 2 hrs to install. Love it! Have traveled from Oregon to CA to AZ in snow And rain and bikes are secure and clean on arrival!

[Ed rottinger]

Check out this link. http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ier-89244.html. I made this rig last week with the help of my local welder. The rack is a Yakima swing daddy. and it works Great!!! No problem turning or backing up.

[Ladylongwing]

Hello, I am trying to install the Airstream bike rack on the back of my 1999 27' Safari, and am stymied at making sure there is access to both the back luggage compartment as well as the bumper storage. The back luggage compartment seems wider than the frames for the bike, and there won't be enough clearance to open the door. Anyone else tried this and had success (or failure?) Thanks! Anne in VA

[LRPorter]

I am sure that we will all have to buy new ones.

[rgwatkin]

I recently purchased a Fiama Bike rack from AS and installed it on a 2012 FC. It took me about 3 hours and was fairly straight forward. If installed correctly the rear access/storage door clears the rack. It is however very difficult to access the storage with either the bikes on or the rack not in the folded up position.

[Ladylongwing]

I bought the Fiama bike rack just before going full-time, and although I should have checked this before I departed, there was so much going on I only worried about the luggage compartment. The bigger issue is the emergency exit through the back window, which is blocked with the bike handlebars and unless you finagle the support arms, possibly the rack itself. I have several pictures I will try to post. The fix was to work the top support arm over the curve in the rack and to a position where it would not interfere with the open window. The bike needed an allen wrench to loosen and move the stem/handlebar to point behind the trailer. It will need to be readjusted every time you use the bike or store it for travel. I haven't posted pictures before so someone help me through this and you can see what I mean.

[rgwatkin]

I installed a Fiamma on my 2012 Flying Cloud without issue. There is a YouTube video that shows the installation procedure. Search under Fiamma bike rack and I think you will find it. It is pretty thorough.

[bbmombo]

go to https://picasaweb.google.com/1065285.../BambiBikeRack#
and see what we did for a trip to Alaska on our Bambi. Getting the bikes up and down requires some strength. We took a 3 step folding ladder which helped with that and getting the kayaks off the top of the Landcruiser.
We purchased a Thule rack for 4 bikes, but only put three on because making tight turns with 4 was risky. You take the horizontal bar off of the rack so you can mount it vertically in the new one on the Airstream. Take all of the parts along and you can switch the rack to your car if you want to go on an expedition and leave the Airstream at camp. This worked great and you can keep an eye on the bikes and not worry about them when backing up!

Folding 3 Bike Towing Rack for 2" Trailer Hitches - Swagman XP Swagman Hitch Bike Racks S64955
and here is another option, but it says for bikes and a lightweight trailer, but you could also have this fabricated.

[mike28]

I was just reading your post on your bike rack. What brand is it? I see that it folds down for rear compartment access, is that correct?

Mike

[Ladylongwing]

The Fiamma does not fold down for compartment access. Sure wish it did, as it is a PITA to get stuff in and out, but I have gotten used to it. My biggest issue was emergency window access as I described earlier, and I just have to loosen and move the handlebars to face back and I have (just barely) clearance.


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[bbmombo]

Here was our solution. We had a vertical receiver hitch welded behind the propane tank storage to accept the bike rack. We carried a compact step ladder to get them up and down. It worked great all the way from Colorado to Alaska and back.http://www.airforums.com/forums/atta...1&d=1413046078

[dkottum]

I'm jealous of folks who can overload the tongue weight of their trailer, possibly the axle weight of their truck, use no weight distribution hitch and never get in trouble. I would never be that lucky.

[bbmombo]

Either we have better Karma than you or my husband did all of the engineering

[rgwatkin]

I also have a Fiamma which blocks access to the storage space. Going forward Fiamma should either come up with a design that swings away or since Airstream is the only source for the rack they should make the storage access to the sides as some earlier have. I would be willing to give up the lower portion of my closets to get better access to the larger storage area.

[TCwheels]

I'm adding an angle iron cross member to the frame just behind the bumper under the bumper storage box. Then attaching a Reese hitch receiver to the angle iron piece. This will hold our hitch-type bike rack. I DID consider the Fiamma unit, but we often transport our bikes to trail heads using our TV. With this setup I can move the bike rack to the TV and don't have to carry another bike rack. I'll post pics when the install is complete.


WBCCI #7246

[silverbp]

Well TCWheels I did the very same thing. I weld so I made a frame that I bolted between the frame under bumper. Got the 2" receiver at Walmart and it bolts to my frame. My rack holds three bikes and it looks good there as well. Good luck with yours.


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[silverbp]

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums silver bp

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by silverbp

Attachment 224250Attachment 224251


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums silver bp

I feel that the back end of your Airstream, is headed for trouble.

Contrary to opinion, the "shell" holds up the frame.

When adding weight to the frame, you adding an addition load on the fasteners that hold the frame up to the shell.

Unless you add additional fasteners, in time, you will find that the frame will separate from the shell. That in itself, causes many other issues.

Adding that extra piece of metal between the frame, actually makes the issue even worse.

Then take the weight you have added.

Measure from the center of the rear most axle, back to the rack you have added, in feet. Guessing in your case about 8 feet, times the weight of the bikes, lets say 100 pounds.

The total moment arm weight, sitting still then is 800 pounds. When you hit a bump, that weight multiplies depending on the severity of the bump. Therefore very easily, you can get up to 2000 pounds or more. The rear end hold down fasteners were never designed to handle that weight.

Moment arm is the principle of a crow bar, and is exactly the same on any overhang, such as the bumper.

In the case of the Fiama bick rack, it's also attached to the shell, which minimizes the problem.

Andy

[TCwheels]

Originally Posted by silverbp

Well TCWheels I did the very same thing. I weld so I made a frame that I bolted between the frame under bumper. Got the 2" receiver at Walmart and it bolts to my frame. My rack holds three bikes and it looks good there as well. Good luck with yours.

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums silver bp

Thanks Silver bp. Nice bike BTW!

If it's not too much trouble could you post a couple of pics from the underside? I'd love to borrow your successful design.



WBCCI #7246