Bike Carrier

Hello   This is my first post.  We have a 2020,  2552 and we use a jeep Wrangler, JL, 2018, 2 door as a toad.  I am trying to find a bike carrier for 2 bicycles.  One a girls bike and one a step thru.  Am having much trouble finding one.  Does anyone use a Jeep as a toad and if so what do you use as a bike carrier.  Thank you for the help.   EDD

Best carriers are made by Thule or Yakima. They ones with the bikes hanging can be taken care of by buying this bar that goes between the seat post and handlebars. Stop into a bike shop.

Not all bike carriers are approved for use in back of an RV or back of a toad.  Read the topic in this forum called Bicycles.  It gives explanation why that is the case.   I suspect many RVs and toads that use bike carriers are not approved for use in that way.  At the same time one does not hear much about bike racks breaking while traveling. 

Ron S

If your bike carrier (tow vehicle approved or otherwise) has any play in the hitch and thrashes side-to-side because of it, I would use a "Quiet Hitch" type of product to eliminate the worst of that undesired motion.  If also using a hitch extension like we do, I would use one in each location.

I use the Yakima Back Swing on my Wrangler toad so I can open the tailgate. Love this.
https://www.rackwarehouse.com/yakima-8002483-backswing-swing-away-2-inch-base.html
Also we use a Yakima hanging 5 bike rack even though we generally only bring two bikes. I like the extra room and am very happy with it.
https://www.rackwarehouse.com/yakima-8002463-fulltilt-5-bike-hitch-bicycle-rack.html

I did get one that was not approved for RV use and have not had any issues but admittedly do not use it a lot and it is never overloaded with bikes.
If I had to do it again I might spring for the extra money for the RV rated rack just for the piece of mind.

If your bike carrier (tow vehicle approved or otherwise) has any play in the hitch and thrashes side-to-side because of it, I would use a "Quiet Hitch" type of product to eliminate the worst of that undesired motion.  If also using a hitch extension like we do, I would use one in each location.

I just recently found out about the devices that stabilize hitches.  I felt dumb when I realized how simple and affective they are.  Up until now I had always taken my hitch inserts and welded them up, then ground it down until it fit perfectly snug.  Now I can just bolt on a bracket and done?  What other great items are out there that I have yet to find?? 


As far as bike racks, I have always used receiver hitch bike racks on my toad, so that I could use the rack on any of my other vehicles.

We have always used the Tow Ready J-pin.  It compresses the hitch mounted accessory against the inner side wall of the hitch receiver tube. Once attached, the hitch and towing components seem virtually welded together.

We have always used the Tow Ready J-pin.  It compresses the hitch mounted accessory against the inner side wall of the hitch receiver tube. Once attached, the hitch and towing components seem virtually welded together.

Likewise, I have had a J-pin (I think made by Master) and it is great.  I have moved it from RV to RV over the years.  I just had to drill a 2nd hole on one side of the hitch receiver so the J-pin can press the hitch against the receiver side.   I love it.

Quote from: Barry-Sue on October 26, 2020, 09:55:32 am

We have always used the Tow Ready J-pin.  It compresses the hitch mounted accessory against the inner side wall of the hitch receiver tube. Once attached, the hitch and towing components seem virtually welded together.

Likewise, I have had a J-pin (I think made by Master) and it is great.  I have moved it from RV to RV over the years.  I just had to drill a 2nd hole on one side of the hitch receiver so the J-pin can press the hitch against the receiver side.   I love it.

Thanks, I'll have to try that one.

I thank everyone for their help and advice.  This has become an interesting process.  Hard to find a bike rack certified for use on a toad and harder still to find one that is available to buy.  I am currently looking at a Swagman Traveler XCS Platform-Style Bike Rack from eTrailer.com.  This bike rack attaches to the motorhome and still allows the toad to be attached.  Result is the bikes are between the motorhome and the toad.  Anyone have experience with this type of unit.  Thank you.

I have a Traveler XC2 that I carry ebikes on.   It works quite well.  However, for  PC and pulling a toad, I would highly recommend a dual hitch extender.  https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-hitch-extender-69881.html

That extender does 3 things, moves the hitch point back so the bikes clear the back of the PC and raises the bike rack above the tail lights.  It also gives you the 2nd receiver for your toad. You put the bike rack in the top receiver of the extender, the "S" shape of the bike rack's attachment arm raises the bike platform about 10" thus leaving tons of room to use the lower receiver of the extender for the toad draw hitch.

Don

I have a Traveler XC2 that I carry ebikes on.   It works quite well.  However, for  PC and pulling a toad, I would highly recommend a dual hitch extender.  https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-hitch-extender-69881.html

That extender does 3 things, moves the hitch point back so the bikes clear the back of the PC and raises the bike rack above the tail lights.  It also gives you the 2nd receiver for your toad. You put the bike rack in the top receiver of the extender, the "S" shape of the bike rack's attachment arm raises the bike platform about 10" thus leaving tons of room to use the lower receiver of the extender for the toad draw hitch.

Don

I have one of these also.  20% off with coupon.  It is good receiver depending on your needs.  To use it with a toad the bottom receiver would have to be at the correct height with your toad baseplate/tow bar connection. If the baseplate is lower your may not be able to keep the  tow bar level.  Also, the top receiver is for hitch-mounted accessories only since it does not have a sleeve around the opening.  So, you cannot flip this one over and use the top receiver as a drop receiver for the tow bar.

 If you want a receiver that is more flexible this one is good.  Exact one to use would depend on from you need to keep tow bar level.

https://www.roadmasterinc.com/products/accessories/hitch/dual.php

Ron S

I get that the ride on the back of the Rv is rougher but how would it affect the bike rack not being rated to use on the toad? That makes no sense to me what so ever?   

There is a concurrent thread here called "bicycles" you might look at. I'm pasting from that here:

Just got this back from Hollywood:

info@hollywoodracks.com
Attachments
2:02 PM (1 hour ago)
to me

Hi Doug,

 

Travel trailers (including towed vehicles and fifth wheels*) have a slight side to side motion that's very low frequency (1 to 1-1/2 times per second) that fatigues the steel from which the racks are manufactured.  The fatigue first happens at a molecular level, but eventually (several thousands of cycles later) a visible crack will appear.  Once the crack has formed, it will enlarge, finally to the point where the rack drops off the vehicle and the rack (and bikes) impact the roadway. This is also a dangerous situation for whoever may be following the trailer on the highway.  We have seen 100+ incidents where the consumers/end user has not taken this advice and suffered disastrous results.  We've even had phone calls from consumers who said they read that advice (do not use on a trailer) and ignored it, only to discover a tragic end result.  So, please don't do it.

 

For Class A,B,C, towed vehicles and fifth wheels our RV Rider is the only rack that will work. It will not work for travel trailers.

 

The RV Rider (HR1700) is a heavy duty version of the Sport Rider for Electric bike rack (HR1500). The key differences are attached.

 

Thank you,

 

Jen / Hollywood Racks

Is anyone installed a hitch in the front of their Phoenix cruiser and then put the bikes up front? Just looking for a way to carry one bike.