SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Mar 25, 2015 8:27:09 GMT -8
Susie, that warning is there because you can't see the guy with the bolt cutters running along trying to swipe a bike as nice as Macnmrs if the rack is on the back!?! I admit I like to keep an eye on my bikes. But seriously, John mentioned the bouncing and it is a big factor. I have carried my bikes on a dual receiver extension between my teardrop and my tow vehicle. I have friends who experienced horror stories of their bike racks failing on the road. In my instance, I bought a rather compact but heavy, well made rack, and a bike while were stranded with nothing to do. The bike traveled just fine or about 800 miles. Then my hitch broke lose, not the weld but it took a hunk of my frame with it and the bike and rack ended up dragging on the highway. I have a friend who had a very expensive name brand rack and her pin sheered the metal where it was pinned into the hitch and the rack came loose. Another had a rack that attached to the receiver bar and it also sheered through the metal and failed on the SF bridge. The back bounce puts a lot of stress on the hitch, receiver bar and the rack. Just consider your options. My camping buddy uses the rack that attaches to her hatch on her VW van and has never had a problem. It's inconvenient for opening the hatch but has held up well for miles and miles. My dual receiver adds a weight, but has performed well. I haven't tried it with the Shasta yet. It will depend on how it affects how the trailer pulls whether I use it or not. It actually made my teardrop more stable and extended that short tongue distance.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Mar 25, 2015 12:05:48 GMT -8
The bed of our Tundra is filled with chairs, BBQ, emergency gear, etc and there is no room between the tow vehicle and camper for bikes. That leaves the back of the camper.
We just saw a vintage camper with a rear bike rack on Highway 95 in South Carolina. The connection looked like what John suggested, a welded rack connected under the camper to the frame.
Any other suggestions?
Susieq, do you have a photo of your duel receiver?
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MarthaS
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Post by MarthaS on Mar 25, 2015 12:15:27 GMT -8
We just saw a vintage camper with a rear bike rack on Highway 95 in South Carolina. The connection looked like what John suggested, a welded rack connected under the camper to the frame. What's the chance of that? Especially since they are so hard to find in general.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Mar 25, 2015 16:35:08 GMT -8
We just saw a vintage camper with a rear bike rack on Highway 95 in South Carolina. The connection looked like what John suggested, a welded rack connected under the camper to the frame. What's the chance of that? Especially since they are so hard to find in general. Really odd. I drove behind them for 50 miles trying to get a good look but the pedals were in the way. It did seem like the bikes were bouncing a little. We walked the campground here in Savannah and found one car that had a bike rack mounted between a newer small camper and tow vehicle. It was in the way of the gate and would need taken off every time they wanted to get to thier gear. Also, even with an extended hitch it looks like he might bump the bikes when making tight turns.
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Post by bigbill on Mar 26, 2015 3:07:21 GMT -8
Why not consider a tow vehicle Roof Rack if a SUV or a bed rack if a truck? I am of the opinion that no one makes a roof rack for my 1941 Plymouth, and even if they did it would be "very" difficult to lift a recumbent trike up there. Another thing is anything added to the roof line causes an increase in fuel consumption. Hualing the trikes on the front of the trailer will be much more convenient plus safer to load and unload, not even thinking of the advantages of having a longer distance between hitch and axle. Plus I am to old, to fat, to lazy to lift the trikes six feet in the air. The tongue extension will be a better, safer, cheaper solution to hauling the trikes plus if we ever need to haul the wife's electric wheelchair it could be put there. As for the truck option two trikes will fit in the bed of my Silverado, but that leaves very little space for any thing else. Thanks for the suggestion. I always appreciate any idea for consideration, others ideas have resulted in many improved ways of doing things over the years.
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Post by bigbill on Mar 26, 2015 3:12:33 GMT -8
What's the chance of that? Especially since they are so hard to find in general. Really odd. I drove behind them for 50 miles trying to get a good look but the pedals were in the way. It did seem like the bikes were bouncing a little. We walked the campground here in Savannah and found one car that had a bike rack mounted between a newer small camper and tow vehicle. It was in the way of the gate and would need taken off every time they wanted to get to thier gear. Also, even with an extended hitch it looks like he might bump the bikes when making tight turns. These and all of the other reasons talked about in this thread is why I am building a trailer tongue extension.
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txoil
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Post by txoil on Apr 6, 2015 4:38:13 GMT -8
For all the above reasons, we bought a Curt brand front mount hitch receiver for our F-150 and carry our bikes on a Swagman bike carrier. Being in front, the bikes are visible and not in the ay of anything, do not block airflow to the radiator and are easily accessible with the trailer on or off the rear hitch. BTW we have a pair of Electra retro styled bikes...love them!
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Apr 6, 2015 6:48:03 GMT -8
For all the above reasons, we bought a Curt brand front mount hitch receiver for our F-150 and carry our bikes on a Swagman bike carrier. Being in front, the bikes are visible and not in the ay of anything, do not block airflow to the radiator and are easily accessible with the trailer on or off the rear hitch. BTW we have a pair of Electra retro styled bikes...love them! Does it impair your headlights at all. My friend has one on his truck and it works well except at night.
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Apr 6, 2015 7:22:32 GMT -8
For all the above reasons, we bought a Curt brand front mount hitch receiver for our F-150 and carry our bikes on a Swagman bike carrier. Being in front, the bikes are visible and not in the ay of anything, do not block airflow to the radiator and are easily accessible with the trailer on or off the rear hitch. BTW we have a pair of Electra retro styled bikes...love them! And you get to your destination..........with LOTS of SMASHED SLIMEY BUGS all over your bikes..........Yuck!
LOL
One thing for sure, there's not a single best solution for everyone on this topic, you have to choose your poison.
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txoil
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Post by txoil on Apr 26, 2015 6:23:05 GMT -8
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Apr 26, 2015 20:26:01 GMT -8
txoil, do the bikes obstruct the view of the road a little?
With that said, it's not a bad idea.
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cowcharge
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Post by cowcharge on May 11, 2015 15:23:31 GMT -8
"Come in handy for parkin' a campa, that front receiva would, ayup." "Ayuh, jus' like drivin' a fawwwklift." "Ayuh."
How 'bout quick releases on the bike axles, handlebahs, fendas, pedals, seats 'n' luggage racks, then break 'em down 'n' just stow 'em somewhaya 'board the train. Take five minutes.
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gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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Post by gary350 on Oct 12, 2015 18:21:45 GMT -8
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jerfo
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Post by jerfo on Oct 13, 2015 8:13:07 GMT -8
Awesome, this is right up my alley. I purchased a 1948 Raleigh All Steel 3 speed not long ago and its slowly coming together. Kinda like the camper haha. I'll post some pictures. It's truly a beautiful British bicycle.
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jeremiah
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Post by jeremiah on Oct 29, 2018 6:20:21 GMT -8
I like the title of this thread Vintage Bicycle. To me the ideal would be same year and color of your trailer. That takes Wally World off of the list of where to find one.
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