question about pro-rac 4 bike carrier

[cbird]

Moving ever closer to that first pup purchase and zeroing in on the fleetwood seapine. The dealer is recommending the Yakima roof rack they install for our four bikes and claims it can be positioned around the AC. I am worried about all that weight and lifting the bikes on and off. PUX has been advertising a Pro-Rac 4 bike carrier that attaches to the trailers frame via the toungue. Has anyone out there used this product? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks

[griffsmom]

We looked at that product, but I didn't like the way the rear tires of the bikes rested on the roof of the PU. Apparently, there is an adhesive film you apply to the roof of your PU and that helps the bike tires from marking up the roof, but I still wasn't that happy with the idea of having to apply, in effect, a big sticker to my PU roof. We eventually bought a swagman bike carrier that attaches to the draw bar on the car's hitch and folds down for access to the back cargo area. We bought ours online.
 
You can google swagman bike carriers and search for the best price. It was quite a while ago now that we bought ours, but I think we bought it here: http://www.prolineracks.com/Swagman-bike-racks.html

[dthurk]

We looked at that product, but I didn't like the way the rear tires of the bikes rested on the roof of the PU. Apparently, there is an adhesive film you apply to the roof of your PU and that helps the bike tires from marking up the roof, but I still wasn't that happy with the idea of having to apply, in effect, a big sticker to my PU roof. We eventually bought a swagman bike carrier that attaches to the draw bar on the car's hitch and folds down for access to the back cargo area. We bought ours online.
 
You can google swagman bike carriers and search for the best price. It was quite a while ago now that we bought ours, but I think we bought it here: http://www.prolineracks.com/Swagman-bike-racks.html

Do be careful.  Bike racks of this nature can reduce the tow capacity of your hitch or contribute to excessive swaying.  We use a standard bike rack that attaches to the rear of the tow vehicle.  It contributes to more weight on the back of the car and we have to be careful to not overload, but it doesn't change anything at all with towing.  There are disadvantages to each way of doing it.  I guess the only thing is to find what works best for your situation.  Please investigate and be aware of the cons of each method.

Actually, the best way we've found that had fewest disadvantages was to take 2 cars.  One towed the camper and the other carried the bikes.  The disadvantage of driving 2 cars to our campsite was negated by having 2 cars there after we got there.  We've only done this on trips an hour or less from home.

[tlhdoc]

PUX has been advertising a Pro-Rac 4 bike carrier that attaches to the trailers frame via the toungue. Has anyone out there used this product? What are the pros and cons?
 
Thanks

I have a Pro Rac 4 that I got here at PUT.  I like it much better than the Yakima Rack system that I used first.  Lifting the bikes over my head and trying to get the bikes that go in the center was a PITA, using the Yakima system.  I have also used roof mounted bike racks and had the same problem putting the bikes in the center of the rack system.  It is much easier for me to remove the front wheels of the bikes and mount them to the Pro Rac system.  If you don't have quick release axles I highly recommend that you have them installed on the bikes.  I was able to install the rack myself without any problems and IF I ever change trailers the rack will move to the new PU.

[Camping Coxes]

We have not had any problems with the bike tires marking up the top of the PU.  DH doesn't complain about packing the bikes since we got the rack.  We do secure them with tie down straps in addition to the front forks being in the receptacles that hold them (some fancy word for it, but I don't know).
 
Beats the alternative -- drilling into the roof to hold a bike rack.

[cbird]

We have not had any problems with the bike tires marking up the top of the PU.  DH doesn't complain about packing the bikes since we got the rack.  We do secure them with tie down straps in addition to the front forks being in the receptacles that hold them (some fancy word for it, but I don't know).
 
Beats the alternative -- drilling into the roof to hold a bike rack.

Thanks for ther input. We will probably give this product a try. Do the tie down straps come with it or did you purchase these seperately?

[tlhdoc]

Thanks for ther input. We will probably give this product a try. Do the tie down straps come with it or did you purchase these seperately?

The rack comes with 2 tie downs for each bike.

[edhawk]

I found this posting recently and found it to be helpful (although it stirred quite the debate in my head.... store bought vs. home made... argggghhhh)


http://home.insightbb.com/~tkmcgrath/bikerack.htm