Carrying bikes while towing

[Mama2Tay]

We are looking for the best way to carry our bikes while towing our popup.  We do not want to use the roof type of rack, so we are looking for other options.

Before we had the camper, we used a rack that attached to the hitch.  Is there any way to modify that rack so we can still us it?

Does anyone have any ideas, or can you tell me what you use?  And the best place to purchase it?

Thank you for your help!
Laurie

[wavery]

We are looking for the best way to carry our bikes while towing our popup.  We do not want to use the roof type of rack, so we are looking for other options.

Before we had the camper, we used a rack that attached to the hitch.  Is there any way to modify that rack so we can still us it?

Does anyone have any ideas, or can you tell me what you use?  And the best place to purchase it?

Thank you for your help!
Laurie

WELCOME TO PUT!!!!!

Check out this thread:
http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=57400&highlight=mod

[wynot]

We are looking for the best way to carry our bikes while towing our popup. We do not want to use the roof type of rack, so we are looking for other options.
 
Before we had the camper, we used a rack that attached to the hitch. Is there any way to modify that rack so we can still us it?
 
Does anyone have any ideas, or can you tell me what you use? And the best place to purchase it?
 
Thank you for your help!
Laurie

What's your tow vehicle?

[tknick]

I've already been down that road.  There are bike racks that have towing capabilities, but you have to be careful when using one that you don't exceed the tongue weight of your hitch/tow vehicle.  When you use one of those hitches, you move the trailer farther away from the tow vehicle and increase the tongue weight simply because of that distance.  The analogy I have seen is that it is like trying to use a jack with a small handle.  It's really hard to lift.  If you add a longer one, the job get easier.  You can exert more leverage with the longer handle, and that's what will happen to your hitch with the longer towing rack.

Using the double hitch like mention would only add the weight of the rack to the tongue weight and might be the way to go.  The other option is to use a front mounted receiver.  That way you can mount just about anything and not have to worry about the tongue weight problem.

[PITPOP27]

Yeah I think a good question would be what you Tow vehicle is, ours can take on towing with the duel hitch as we drive a full size truck which Wavery mentioned.  The link is a great link for buying at Northern tool as well, we haven't found a site that beats their price.  You use it with a store bought Bike Hitch.  Let me know if you have questions.

[Mama2Tay]

Our tow vehicle is a 2003 Toyota Tundra, V8.  I looked at the dual hitch on the Northern site, but can somebody explain how it works?  This is all new to me!  

Also, how do we determine if we could use this, in regards to tongue weight, etc.  We have a Coleman Mesa if that helps at all.

Sorry for all the questions.  This is our first experience owning a camper (we've rented in the past), so we are learning as we go along.  Thank you again for all your help!

Laurie

[wynot]

Our tow vehicle is a 2003 Toyota Tundra, V8. I looked at the dual hitch on the Northern site, but can somebody explain how it works? This is all new to me!
 
Also, how do we determine if we could use this, in regards to tongue weight, etc. We have a Coleman Mesa if that helps at all.
 
Sorry for all the questions. This is our first experience owning a camper (we've rented in the past), so we are learning as we go along. Thank you again for all your help!
 
Laurie

Reese offers a front receiver for the Tundra as it's now a full size truck.  That's what we have on our Chevy and where we carry our bikes when towing.

[wavery]

Our tow vehicle is a 2003 Toyota Tundra, V8.  I looked at the dual hitch on the Northern site, but can somebody explain how it works?  This is all new to me!  

Also, how do we determine if we could use this, in regards to tongue weight, etc.  We have a Coleman Mesa if that helps at all.

Sorry for all the questions.  This is our first experience owning a camper (we've rented in the past), so we are learning as we go along.  Thank you again for all your help!

Laurie

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I think that your trailer towing rate is around 7,000lbs. If that's the case, you shouldn't have any problem using the dual hitch.

If you look at the picture of the hitch:

you will see that there are 3 square tubes. One small tube on one side, that goes into you existing trailer hitch receiver. The two large, square tubes (one on top of the other) on the other side will handle your devices. The trailer ball will go into the lower one and your bike rack should fit in the upper one.

Please check the specs on your truck to be sure that it will handle the tongue weight but I think that you far surpass the minimum requirements.

BTW.........Never be "Sorry for all the questions"......That's why we all hang out here. We all learn from each others questions. Your question may well help 20 other readers that were too shy to ask the same question but learn something from the dialog . Some questions can stir up some real controversial topics that receive a lot of input and can even get heated (especially when it comes to towing subjects :p ), on occasion but that's OK. Everyone learns from it and that's a good thing.

[tknick]

Waverly, I have an Expedition with a 5000/500lb trailer/tongue weight limit.  I know my trailer does not exceed that.  This is would be ideal for us as we are looking to carry four bikes and did not want to use a roof rack.

Is there a way to calculate what the new tongue weight would be using this setup?  I would guess you have to multiply the tongue weight by some factor because of the increased distance and then add the weight of the accessories in the top tube.

any thoughts?

[wynot]

Waverly, I have an Expedition with a 5000/500lb trailer/tongue weight limit. I know my trailer does not exceed that. This is would be ideal for us as we are looking to carry four bikes and did not want to use a roof rack.
 
Is there a way to calculate what the new tongue weight would be using this setup? I would guess you have to multiply the tongue weight by some factor because of the increased distance and then add the weight of the accessories in the top tube.
 
any thoughts?

Remember, if you put bikes on the rear hitch/drawbar, etc. you can't easily open the tailgate...  That's one of the main reasons we use the front receiver on the Tahoe.

[Shelly]

Wynot,

We are looking at the dual hitch as well but someone mentioned putting a hitch on the front?  Since you have one can you give me the details on it?  I am pretty ignorant when it comes to anything mechanical or to do with the van.  We have a 87 GMC Safari.  Could we just go to a hitch shop and get a front reciever?  Will our bike rack that fits into the back just fit in the front?  The downside that is holding us back on the dual hitch is that we won't be able to easily access the back of the van with the bikes there and the DH is cautious about turning and wrecking the bikes.

Shelly

[PITPOP27]

I don't have pictures of my own, But here are pictures of other options - forgive me other members, credit here for your hitches, let me know if you want your picture off and I'll remove them, but visuals are good for lots of people :eyecrazy:



the other two options:

[Mama2Tay]

Wavery - Thank you for the detailed explanation.  It looks like other people had the same question I did!  

I am going to print all this out and take it home to DH.  He'll be the one to decide how we will do it!

Thanks again to everyone.  I am enjoying this forum a lot!