Bringing the bikes inside

[Kemmy]

My wife and I have a 2015 25-foot FC FB. Our tow vehicle is a F350 Ford Truck. The truck has a topper and a Decked drawer system so there is no room for bikes. But we like to take our bikes with us so we added a hitch receiver and Thule swing away bike rack to the front of the truck. We have found that we don’t like to haul the bikes on the front of the truck for long hauls because they take a beating. I have been very interested in finding a way to get the bikes inside the trailer but would still allow us to use the trailer while traveling.
I decided to use the couch area. This allows us to keep the walkway from the entrance door to the bedroom open and to use the dinette. I added two fork vices to the top of the couch that I can remove in 10 – 15 minutes once we unload the bikes. Adding the vices does mean that the couch cannot be extended and used as a bed during travel, but we are retired and do not bring the grandkids or others when we travel. When we are using the couch to carry the bikes we put the cushions in the front on the bed or floor or can put them in the truck. The bolts (2) for the Front facing vise (smaller mounting board) extend through both the unmovable top panel and the slide out couch panel with the nuts accessible by opening the door beneath the couch. The rear facing vice bolts (3) are screwed into T-Nuts that are seated into the structural support for the couch. The small door in the couch top is for access to the furnace electrical connector and allowed me to get my hand in to get the T-Nuts in place. The bike front tires travel in the truck.
We have traveled some rough roads and the bikes have stayed in place.
Here are some pictures.

[BikeCamper]

Nice work. Very clean.

We just stick our bicycles in the enclosed back seat area of the crew cab (with rear seat folded up). It’s very handy and we don’t have to remove front wheels.

[SlowPokePete]

That is a nice set up, but I would worry about the weight of the bikes and the jarring effect of traveling down the road.

Did you do anything to provide additional support from underneath?

SPP

[Dingo Girl]

Nice work.
What is the piece that looks like it is attached to both seat posts. I need that.
Thanks

[waninae39]

our as FC 25FB has a rear hatch. easy to bring the bikes in

[SpeedBump]

Interest concepts. Just two too many toys maybe?

[emelaich01]

We'd toyed around with the idea of putting our bikes inside the AS but so far, just the thought of 1 or 2 getting loose was a little daunting.
We take the three dogs just about everywhere when we camp so the rear seat area is out leaving the bed.

Instead, we just remove the pedal on the side opposite the derailleur as well as the front wheel and lay one bike down then lay a large flattened box on that bike. The other, same pedal & wheel removed, lays on top of that. Reassembly is quick--thin, 15mm open end wrench for the pedals and the wheels go back on quickly with the skewer on one and axle tube on the other.

We've yet to scratch any paint, plus there's still enough room for firewood and other outdoor 'stuff'. Plus, the bed cover still keeps everything dry and out of sight.

Oh, and if your bike has disc brakes, don't forget to use a caliper block or clip to protect the pistons from coming out in the event the front brake lever is depressed.

[MrStreamer]

I wrap/ cover, 26" wheel E-Bike in heavy moving blanket and lash with bungy cord to dinette table support column. Very stable

[Kemmy]

Slow Poke Pete - no reinforcement I am tied to the couch structure and the couch panel is pretty robust.

Dingo Girl - Here is a picture. It's made by TopLine Mfg, Inc. Not really sure where I bought it, but it is handy.

Speed Bump - Toys are wonderful. Maybe we need a bigger trailer or tow vehicle.

Emelaich01 - Thanks for the brake tip!!

[MMCMRET]

Looks like a great way to store them out of the elements when you are traveling.

[3OnOurWay]

Thanks for sharing that idea and pictures. Nice setup.


we travel primarily for CX XC races and so are always trying to balance the bikes being outside in the elements, compared to the bikes being inside safe and sound.

[Life is a Highway]

I'm concerned that the vibration and road shocks will place undue stress on the bicycle forks and weaken or break them. I like your idea but I would make sure they are strapped well for the motion they will encounter, A North South orientation vs the East West you have travels better.

My Friend Jeff MC carries is North South inside with no problems.

[gypsydad]

I have used the Fiamma rack on 3 different year 25' AS's over 12 year period, then when I moved to the currant 28' AS RBT, we also used the Fiamma. We upgraded to Ebikes couple years ago, and now ride with one E-bike on the Fiamma and one folded E-bike between our twin beds, in a container from Lows with wheels on one end. Easy to load/unload, but can still be a bit of a pain during inclament weather. My particular RAD Expand 5 folding bikes, are a bit heavy, so we opted for the upgrade "kit" from Fiamma. Problem is, the new SSteel bottom rail, not quite long enough to fit both bikes, even though it will support 165lbs now. Waiting on Fiamma fix; meanwhile, we are still using the plastic bin with one of the bikes folded between the twin beds. Fiamma works fine if normal mountain bikes. Very sturdy and no oscillation or sway.

[Starlight Mike]

We bought our 25 with a rear receiver and recently opened up the belly and made sure it was properly welded in the right places putting most of the strain forward and not just on the rear. We use a Swagman bike rack which is fairly light. We carry two Electric bikes, smaller model, lighter weight and a very good cover. Sometimes we just use our regular bikes.
Many thousands of miles and no problems but keep checking everything because there is a lot of motion back there but it is certainly the most convenient place for the bikes if you do it right.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by Life is a Highway

I'm concerned that the vibration and road shocks will place undue stress on the bicycle forks and weaken or break them. I like your idea but I would make sure they are strapped well for the motion they will encounter, A North South orientation vs the East West you have travels better.

My Friend Jeff MC carries is North South inside with no problems.

???? Please carefully look at pictures in OP. They clearly show bikes in a North South orientation. OP has 2015 25', that area is directly across from entry door.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by Wazbro

???? Please carefully look at pictures in OP. They clearly show bikes in a North South orientation. OP has 2015 25', that area is directly across from entry door.

Not sure of concern with these inside mounts shown. After all, if your not running MAX 80PSI in your AS tires, likely not a bad/stiff ride inside or outside?

[Silver Ship]

Great idea. I found this bike mount which is lockable, and has the ability to accomodate various axles.

[Mikebrady62]

Originally Posted by Kemmy

My wife and I have a 2015 25-foot FC FB. Our tow vehicle is a F350 Ford Truck. The truck has a topper and a Decked drawer system so there is no room for bikes. But we like to take our bikes with us so we added a hitch receiver and Thule swing away bike rack to the front of the truck. We have found that we don’t like to haul the bikes on the front of the truck for long hauls because they take a beating. I have been very interested in finding a way to get the bikes inside the trailer but would still allow us to use the trailer while traveling.
I decided to use the couch area. This allows us to keep the walkway from the entrance door to the bedroom open and to use the dinette. I added two fork vices to the top of the couch that I can remove in 10 – 15 minutes once we unload the bikes. Adding the vices does mean that the couch cannot be extended and used as a bed during travel, but we are retired and do not bring the grandkids or others when we travel. When we are using the couch to carry the bikes we put the cushions in the front on the bed or floor or can put them in the truck. The bolts (2) for the Front facing vise (smaller mounting board) extend through both the unmovable top panel and the slide out couch panel with the nuts accessible by opening the door beneath the couch. The rear facing vice bolts (3) are screwed into T-Nuts that are seated into the structural support for the couch. The small door in the couch top is for access to the furnace electrical connector and allowed me to get my hand in to get the T-Nuts in place. The bike front tires travel in the truck.
We have traveled some rough roads and the bikes have stayed in place.
Here are some pictures.

Thanks for sharing. Looks solid to me. Ignore the nay sayers here. 50-60 pounds of bicycles inside over your axles would have no ill effects.
We travel with ours on top of our bed cover now but if we were to go through some really bad weather, I will be prepared with you set up for a plan B.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by Life is a Highway

I'm concerned that the vibration and road shocks will place undue stress on the bicycle forks and weaken or break them. I like your idea but I would make sure they are strapped well for the motion they will encounter, A North South orientation vs the East West you have travels better.

We have over 20 years of experience with fork mounted bike carriers, including a race tandem which is heavier than a single bike. We had both steel forks and carbon forks. We have never seen a fork damaged. Ours were in the back of the vehicle or on the roof, not in the trailer, but I think the loads would be similar. We had no additional straps or supports.

[Dingo Girl]

Yahoo! Thank you for the name of the part