Bike Racks

[Russojd]

I need help deciding on a bike rack for my Classic 30 ft RB. I’ve looked at the Fiamma and I’m not completely sure how it will work with my rear storage hatch door. It looks sturdy, but if it interferes with my rear storage door or my bumper storage compartment, then it’s a no go. If any of you have the Classic 30 RB, is the Fiamma a good choice? Are there other solutions that I should consider. We want to carry our bikes with us! Your help and input would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Ephraim]

Not a fiamma. It's homemade out of Kee-Clamps and aluminum tubing. I did set it out about 2 inches further than the fiamma is specifically to allow better access to the rear door than the fiamma. The hardest part is wrangling the 50A Anaconda in and out and you can see here that it just slides in under the rack. I have no issues getting things in or out of the rear compartment.

The Fiamma is not as sturdy as you would think. The tubing is far to thin and many on the boards end up adding additional bracing.

[Russojd]

Have you explored other rear carrying options other than Fiamma?

[LilPeanut]

I have a via a and keep only rarely needed items in the trunk. Still a pain when I need them. It interferes, no getting around that.

[Ephraim]

Originally Posted by Russojd

Have you explored other rear carrying options other than Fiamma?

I looked at every option that I could including putting a hitch on the Airstream. the hitch option has way too many downsides so I skipped it. The Fiamma was the best option that I found for the rear of the trailer, but it had two huge drawbacks.

1) Too lightweight. We have two Pedago Platinum Interceptors (which were the preferred Airstream bike when we bought them) which are way to heavy. You can carry one of them on the fiamma, but not two. Even when you remove the massive battery (which you should when the bike is on the rack), two of them still come out considerably heavier than the maximum allowed weight on the fiamma. While it is possible to beef up the fiamma, you then start running into warranty issues along with the concept that you are still placing more stress on the thin tubing than the design allows for. That doesn't mean you will have instant failure, but it brings you closer to the line. My first attempt at this design was still heavier than the fiamma and a section of Hwy 66 just west of OK city totally destroyed that rack resulting in this much beefier edition. I will never travel that section of highway again with an Airstream due to all the popped rivets (even going only 35 mph in a 60 mph zone) but it showed me the weakness of this design.

2) The Fiamma is set too close to the rear of the trailer. All it needed was that 2 extra inches of clearance and all would have been fine.

The attachment to the Airstream is actually more than strong enough. I thought that was where the weakness would be, but if properly mounted, it was not. I have two #10 Sheet metal screws set into the support and had to predrill them. Even then, it was tough to drive them into the frame. I had to use a ratchet wrench to get them in. The third screw on the body mounts does not provide the strength, but is merely a support. Should these ever rip out, I can still back it from the other side, but I don't think I'll have too.

I am not sure that there is a commercial offering that gives the access and is strong enough on the market at this point. If you are interested, PM me and I'll send you more information about this bike rack.

[Mollysdad]

I'm just the messenger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJQ91Mg9Zf0

[Ephraim]

I watched that when they came out with it. When they bought their airstream last year, one of the first things they did was to have a hitch welded onto the frame. I'm hesitant to do that for a variety of reasons which are well outlined in other threads on these boards.

It works for some, but a hitch wasn't going to be welded on our Airstream. I'll be interested in about five years to see how well it has performed for them.

[Peter417]

We have started carrying our mountain bikes inside the tow vehicle.

[Russojd]

I choose not to weld onto the rear of my trailer. Seems that Airstream should have a better solution!

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Ephraim

I'll be interested in about five years to see how well it has performed for them.

They did a long trip from AZ to ME and back with zero problems. I think they stopped carrying the bikes because they didn't use them enough.
Currently, they're using another RV, but keeping the Airstream, I suspect to rent out.
(No question they're entrepreneurs.)

[Karvi]

We put the exact setup on our '17 Classic that is described in the KYD video. The Kuat rack locks solid to the receiver and the rack (bikes and all) tilts backward to enable access to the trunk. We couldn't be happier with this setup.

[Dave001]

Originally Posted by Russojd

I need help deciding on a bike rack for my Classic 30 ft RB. I’ve looked at the Fiamma and I’m not completely sure how it will work with my rear storage hatch door. It looks sturdy, but if it interferes with my rear storage door or my bumper storage compartment, then it’s a no go. If any of you have the Classic 30 RB, is the Fiamma a good choice? Are there other solutions that I should consider. We want to carry our bikes with us! Your help and input would be appreciated. Thanks!

For me, the Fiamma was "hate at first sight". Not logical, just a gut reaction. Looked cheesy from the get go. So I made a system (very solid) to store bikes inside the trailer between couch and back bench of dinette. Worked, but a real pain. I finally put a front hitch on my F250, put on my Kuat, and Wow! Works great, easy on and off, no issues with the back of the trailer, and no (yech) Fiamma. I have 2 50+ pound Trek Ebikes. Highly recommend this solution.

[jackpsavidge]

Dave001, would love to hear your experience as this is exactly what we are planning when we get the 250. Has it been ok to get under the hood as needed? How much do the bikes affect line of sight/lights while driving? Is it something that you just get used too? Appreciate the input. We think front hitch is the best option considered with the added benefit of moving the rack to the back hitch when unhitched.

[JonDNC]

Originally Posted by jackpsavidge

Dave001, would love to hear your experience as this is exactly what we are planning when we get the 250. Has it been ok to get under the hood as needed? How much do the bikes affect line of sight/lights while driving? Is it something that you just get used too? Appreciate the input. We think front hitch is the best option considered with the added benefit of moving the rack to the back hitch when unhitched.

Based on my experience with a front rack;
Has it been ok to get under the hood as needed?

Not an issue, can get to what you need, may need a short step stool.


How much do the bikes affect line of sight/lights while driving?

Some but not end of the world. Bigger issue is night time driving where you get some light blockage. We didn’t do much of that with the bikes.

Is it something that you just get used too?

Yes

Appreciate the input. We think front hitch is the best option considered with the added benefit of moving the rack to the back hitch when unhitched

We now just use ours when unhitched (put a mount on back of our Airstream). I don’t bother unmounting our hitch unless stilling for more that 2 weeks. Real downside is that bikes get lots of road dirt etc. when on the front.

[Meallen]

I wrestled what what to do and did not want to modify the trailer permanently or stress the trailer frame. So I’ve installed the Swagman bracket behind the propane. That provides a receiver that will in turn support a 2” hitch mounted rack. Should be a good solution for light road bikes but not ideal for heavier e-bikes or full suspension mountain bikes that require a heavier platform type rack. The nice thing about the swagman is it’s adjustable so you can still open the propane cover and the window / rock shield when there is no rack installed in the swagman.

[gypsydad]

We have had the Fiama installed on our last 3 AS's, carrying 2 mountain bikes; 30lbs each. They work fine...over 100K miles overall towing. Rear compartment can be a bit cumbersome with bikes installed when getting in/out larger items, but if you take the bikes off and fold down the wheel trays no issues. Hey, your camping, this rack was designed for AS, and is endorsed by AS; why not use it and be done with the fretting?

[JonDNC]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

We have had the Fiama installed on our last 3 AS's, carrying 2 mountain bikes; 30lbs each. They work fine...over 100K miles overall towing. Rear compartment can be a bit cumbersome with bikes installed when getting in/out larger items, but if you take the bikes off and fold down the wheel trays no issues. Hey, your camping, this rack was designed for AS, and is endorsed by AS; why not use it and be done with the fretting?

That was my approach till ebikes which exceed capacity of the rack

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by JonDNC

That was my approach till ebikes which exceed capacity of the rack

There is a post here, recommending installing SS screw replacements and a website to purchase for the Fiama. I am not doing E-bikes yet, but looking hard at latest reviews and weights of course. Removing the battery seems to bring the weights down quite a bit in the 25-30lb range for the bikes we have been reviewing, which would be in range. Another option we have mildly considered is the folding E-bikes, which we could put in back of truck or in the AS in a carry bag for each; just that these are way more pricy.

[Dave001]

Originally Posted by jackpsavidge

Dave001, would love to hear your experience as this is exactly what we are planning when we get the 250. Has it been ok to get under the hood as needed? How much do the bikes affect line of sight/lights while driving? Is it something that you just get used too? Appreciate the input. We think front hitch is the best option considered with the added benefit of moving the rack to the back hitch when unhitched.

RonDNC answered similarly to what I would respond, but I'll add my 2 cents. Yes you get used to it. It is a small distraction, but when driving, you look down the road. When you focus down the road, you ultimately don't really notice the bikes (at least I dont). I get under the hood after I have removed the bikes...very easy to do. But I don't go under the hood that often (I do any fluid adjustments, etc before the trip). My bike is a mtn bike, so dirty is the norm. I haven't really noticed much road dirt on my bike or my wife's, and we travel down the central valley of California quite a bit. Pledge on the bike helps to remove bugs if that "bugs" you. I bought a curt receiver hitch that was specific to my f250 (it was about $160), and installed myself. If you are handy that way, it is pretty straightforward if you have the tools. Otherwise, it is not probably very expensive to have a shop do it for you. I am very satisfied with this setup.

[JonDNC]

Yes model specific on the Curt hitch same solution. I had a local shop install for I think $75.