Help settle a dispute

[shellcjt]

Ok- I am not good with a lot of acronyms, what does DH stand for???

Shelly  :morning:

2006 Fleetwood Taos
1993 Toyota 4Runner

[wavery]

Ok- I am not good with a lot of acronyms, what does DH stand for???

Shelly  :morning:

2006 Fleetwood Taos
1993 Toyota 4Runner

Don Hoe!!!!!!!!! :J
just kidding

Dearest, Darling, Devoted, or Dopey (take your choice) Husband

[wynot]

No ... that's the shortcoming of the system, it will only handle two bikes.
 At the time I had a GMC Sonoma tow vehicle and could not accommodate a hitch mounted bike rack (at least not without some modifications that I did not want to do), so the other alternatives were carrying the bikes on the front of the TV or the rear of the PUP. Now, if I could have my "overs", I would have gone with the TV front mounting system, as that brings out the second Top Line shortcoming ... cost. With the TV front mounted bike rack the cost would have been less than half, and could have carried more bikes in the bargin.
 
 
Fly

As some here know, we usually carry three bikes on a front mounted receiver on our Tahoe when pulling the camper.
 
I personally would like to have those bikes on the rear of the PU, but I know with the magnificent weight balance of a Utah, that ain't happening.
 
The advantages of having a front mount carrier-

• Load the bikes up the night before leaving
• Leaving the bikes on if you don't want to deal with them immediately when setting up camp.
• Possibly changing the weight distribution of the TV away from the camper slightly.
• Terrifying DW that the bikes will be run over by the TV if/when they fall off.

Disadvantages-

• Watching the bikes sway no matter how much you tighten them down
• Losing a little bit of your road visibility just over the hoodline
• Losing most all of your headlight illumination in rainy darkness
• Dropping your fuel mileage by 1-2 mpg
• Lengthening your turning length (aka - ya wanna know how often you swing that front end when backing a camper into a campsite dodging trees?)

[wynot]

I am also towing with a Trailblazer. I've been using a hitch mount bike carrier similar to the one in the PUP Times store, to carry two bikes. We are in the process of upgrading our PU, so that setup may not work for us any more, depending on how the truck handles the toungue weight of the new trailer.
 
I have been considering a front mounted hitch for some time. Aside from releiving the crowdednesss (is that a word?) at the trailer tongue while connected, it will add some versatility. And as Fly says, I can still use my existing bike rack.
 
Curt makes front hitches available for the TB (Model 31055) for about $200 and look to be pretty easy to install. Looks like the mounting holes are already in the frame.
 
Just my .02

Chip,
 
My front receiver cost $150 for the Tahoe, I would imagine it would be about the same for the TB.  If you want, I'll dig up the details on mfr, etc..

[wynot]

Hi All,
 
The camper came with a class III hitch on the back that was obviously used. We have a Thule hitch-mounted bike rack that can hold up to 4 bikes. Currently, we have two adult mountain bikes and a child's bike--no more than 75-100 pounds with the bikes and the rack.
 
cara

Cara,  Not to challenge your numbers, but unless you have extremely lightweight bikes and rack, I would be suprised if you come in under 100 lbs.
 
I would suspect, even being generous on "lightness" that our two adult bikes weigh at least 25-30 lbs apiece (50 lbs), our daughter's childs bike, weighed almost the same, (75 lbs now), and our rack definitely weighs a lot.
 
Just a consideration, that's all.

[chip]

Chip,
 
My front receiver cost $150 for the Tahoe, I would imagine it would be about the same for the TB.  If you want, I'll dig up the details on mfr, etc..

Wynot--

I had actually found one for $125 + shipping, then lost the link.  When I was looking the other night I could only find the Curt hitch and it was almost $200 at that point.

I have since found one at JCWhitney, a Hidden Hitch brand, for $130 + shipping.  Pays to shop around, obviously.  And I'll take all the help I can get, so if you have the mfr details handy, that would be cool.

New trailer is home, and when I fold it back up and reposition it, I am going to check the clearances for my existing rack.  I'll probably do the front receiver anyway, for surf fishing etc.

[gregziglar]

This device will allow the bike carrier to ride just above the trailer hitch
point.  Avalable from many sources.  No need for an expensive front reciever.
I've seen it used on PU units.
zig
Nothing but mods, keeps me focused.
http://community.webshots.com/user/gregziglar

[AustinBoston]

This device will allow the bike carrier to ride just above the trailer hitch
point.  Avalable from many sources.  No need for an expensive front reciever.
I've seen it used on PU units.
zig
Nothing but mods, keeps me focused.
http://community.webshots.com/user/gregziglar

Just make sure you don't come close to your tow vehicle's max tongue weight while using it.  Because it lengthens the "lever" of the hitch, it effectively reduces your tongue weight rating.  At the same time, you have to add the weight of the rack & bicycles to the actual trailer tongue weight (but it does NOT affect the coupler weight or rating).

Austin

[mbutts]

Have you thought of using one of these?


Northern Tool