Hauling Bikes Camping
Hauling bikes and camping goes hand-in-hand. Campers travel to places with roads and trails that make bikes very enjoyable, yet a good method for hauling them isn’t always available. We personally like having our bikes on camping trips. However, we didn’t have a great method to haul them.
The Lance Rear Receiver
We were excited when we ordered our new 2021 Lance 2075 travel trailer. One main reason was because we planned to haul our bikes on the back. We added the receiver as an option to the build of our camper.
So, we happily prepared to utilize the Lance Receiver. First, we contacted eTrailer for a new bike rack. Unfortunately, information we learned from eTrailer eliminated the Lance receiver as an option for us.
- Lance specifications limit the 1 – 1/4” receiver to 130 pounds.
- Hauling behind a trailer requires a trailer-rated bike rack because its normal motion fatigues bike rack metal over time. The motion results in fine cracks and ultimately breakage.
- No trailer-rated bike rack is available that also fits a 1 – 1/4” receiver.
I know that several Lance 2075 owners haul bikes on the back. But we did not want to take the risk because a travel trailer-rated bike rack is not available that fits a 1 – 1/4” receiver. An adapter to a two inch receiver would cut the capacity to 50% (65 pounds).
However, one Lance owner had the back of the camper reinforced and a 2” receiver installed. This option appears to safely enable hauling bikes on the rear of the 2075 trailer.
Trailer Tongue Option
Some people haul bikes on the tongue of their trailers. Some teardrop trailer owners successfully use this option. However, we were looking for something that would work with the heavier ebikes. I am not aware of anyone using this option on these much heavier bikes.
Bikes in the Back of the Truck
Before we got our ebikes, we laid our regular bikes down in the bed of our truck under the tonneau cover. It was a pain to get them in and out, but it worked. However, our ebikes are larger and heavier and would not fit well under the cover. So, we tried hanging them over the back of the tailgate using the Yakima Gatekeeper Tailgate Pad. We also tried hauling them anchored upright in the bed. Our bed is 6’4”, so the bikes had to travel with the front wheels turned.
This was doable, but there were some disadvantages.
- It was very time consuming and quite exhausting to get them in and out of the truck.
- There was little room for the things we normally carry in the truck.
- Nothing in the truck was covered when it rains.
Front Receiver Option
While visiting Yellowstone National Park, my husband saw a truck with a bike rack and bikes on the front of a truck. He spoke with the owner and learned that he was happy with the option. It is extremely rare to see anyone with bikes on the front of a tow vehicle, but it got us thinking about trying it.
We talked to a local truck accessory shop and got a quote for installation of a front receiver. We asked if others use that option for hauling bikes and were told that a few do and they seemed satisfied with it. It was not cheap, parts and labor were $418. Our 2021 Ram 2500 Front Receiver has a 2” receiver and a 1,000 pound vertical and horizontal capacity.
The Bike Rack
Our bike rack decision was based on eTrailer’s recommendation. Our ebikes are on the heavy side at sixty-six pounds each without the battery. We needed one that would hold heavy bikes and also work with a front receiver and fat tires. We settled on the Hollywood HLY64FNR . It will carry two bikes weighing up to 80 pounds each.
The rack weighs 58 pounds and has the longer straps that are required for fat tires. It also works with a rear receiver, so we can use it on the back of our SUV when not towing a trailer.
The Extender
We needed one more item to make this solution work for us, a hitch extender. The receiver does not come out far enough to work with the bike rack without it. We got the Curt 8” Hitch Extender from eTrailer. The issue with using an extender is that it reduces the capacity of your setup by 50%. Our extender has a maximum tongue weight of 350 pounds.
The math works in this case. The receiver normally has a capacity of 1,000 pounds, but 500 in our case. The extender is the weakest link at 350 pounds tongue weight. The bikes weigh 66 pounds times two which equals 132 pounds. Adding the 58 pounds for the rack, we are at 190 pounds and well within our limits.
Our Solution for Hauling Bikes Camping
Of all the options, the front hitch offered the best camping experience. It is relatively easy to get the bikes on and off the rack and we have the covered bed of the truck for camping accessories.
The Issues
While the front receiver is good in many ways, it isn’t a perfect solution.
- The bikes are exposed if it rains, but that was true for the other methods as well. However, the bikes could be covered in the bed of the truck. They can’t be covered in the front because the air must flow through the grill of the truck.
- Bugs get on the bikes because they are on the front. We minimize this by not driving as it begins to get dark.
- The bikes are visible on the lower part of the windshield. They don’t seriously obstruct the view, but they are in the line of sight.
- Turning requires accommodation for the extended front. A tight turn would have to be done more carefully. In all situations, the front of the truck has a longer profile.
- There is reduced clearance on the front of the truck. We lost approximately four inches of clearance with the front bike rack installation.
While at the campground, we leave the bike rack on our vehicle. It folds up, which makes it not stick out so far in the front.
Hauling Bikes Camping Conclusion
We are happy with our current method for hauling our bikes while camping. For information on other things we have learned regarding camping, check out Camping Resources for New Campers.
