I have a 2014 Palomino pop up and am looking for a way to take our 2 e-bikes with us. The bikes weigh about 70 lbs each. Our tow vehicle is a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. There are folding bike racks on the roof of the trailer but they don’t look like they would hold our bikes very secure and it would be difficult to get them Ont the roof of the trailer. Our trailer was originally a rental from an RA dealer and they had installed roof racks a to hold 4 bicycles, they are basically a trough for the wheels to sit in and a fold up arm that clamps to the frame of th bike. I am aware that I should not put a rack on the back of the camper. Any solutions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I need to carry 2 e-bikes, help me find a solution
- Thread starter Pepsitech
- Start date
jmkay1
2004 Fleetwood/Coleman Utah
When it comes to e-bikes you’re going to be very limited due To weight alone.. On the roof of the popup isn’t a great idea either as it can only support I think a max of 200 pounds and if you have an AC that is Part of that weight. if you add all that weight to The very back of your tow vehicle it is going to deduct from the tongue weight you can carry. Some vehicles can support a hitch in the very front of the tow vehicle but ive seen that mainly with trucks. I personally put my ebike in the tow vehicle, but my bike folds. Takes a ton of space though but I can at Least store my other gear in the popup. Personally it may be easier to bring a second vehicle I’m sorry to say.
I agree with jmkay1's comments as to the effect of tongue weight. See also the YouTube video below.* I further agree with suggestions as to placing the bike inside the tow vehicle. (This is one of the reasons I am actively considering the purchase of a pickup truck.).
Trailer sway can lead to tragic consequences. Safety first - always.
I would like to offer a couple of suggestions for you to consider along with the following disclaimer:
Both suggestions are contingent on knowing exactly how the weight will affect your tow vehicle tongue weight, the downsides/risks of placing weight on the back of your trailer, as well as the need to triple check and test that everything is within specifications for both the trailer and tow vehicle. I would also suggest a reputable and experienced RV trailer shop be consulted.
My bike is a Yuba Spicy Curry AT ebike which weighs about 75 pounds. After bending my Kuat bike rack, I was looking for another solution. We have a 2017 Aliner Explorer and use a Blue Ox weight distribution hitch.
First Suggestion:
The attached photo is a little dark but you can zoom in to see the original C-channel steel bumper. I had our local trailer shop weld in an additional bumper made of 4” square steel with bracing also welded back into the frame to support a clamp-on hitch. When driving, those boxes on top of the bumper are mostly empty aluminum RV Generator boxes. They hold very lightweight and bulky items like our sewer hoses and Lynx lifts. (1)
I added a clamp-on 2" hitch mounted receiver (2).
I then bought an aluminum motor cycle rack (3). I’ve used both ratchet straps and buckle straps to secure the bike. The ratchet straps are more secure but be careful of over-tensioning. Note - strap or secure the tires to one side of the bike rack first before tensioning the bike. The tires can slip sideways from road vibrations causing the ratchet straps to lose tension. The company that sells this rack also has a nice selection of ratchets. Don't neglect to use figure-8 loops over the handle bars to protect the bike.
You may want to further tension the rack to the trailer so it doesn’t shake and rattle back and forth while driving.
This approach worked for me since I was only driving 65 miles and we were not at highway speeds (50-55 mph back country roads). I realize that placing any weight in the back of any trailer is exactly the wrong place for it. I loaded all of my heavy items to the front of the trailer to increase the tongue weight.
While having my bike behind the trailer reduces aerodynamic drag, at higher speeds, trailer sway becomes a bigger issue.
To repeat, I have not tested Suggestion 1 at highway speeds.
Second Suggestion:
Note - I have yet to actually test the following.
My next suggestion would be to use a dual hitch receiver and a swing-away arm. See (4) and (5) below. It’s going to place my bike higher up in the air flow over the vehicle creating more drag. It will likely create issues with clearance and access between our tow vehicle and the trailer. However, I don't think it will increase the chances of trailer sway while driving at highway speeds.
Special Note - dual hitch receivers add additional weight and stress to vehicle receivers. All of weight to the receiver should be measured to ensure it is within specifications. Check your owners manual and/or consult an experienced RV trailer shop
I’ll try to supplement this post once I can actually test Suggestion 2.
---------------------
* See L2SFBC - Robert Pepper “Why trailer weight distribution causes loss of control”
Notes:
1. https://www.rvgeneratorbox.com/
2. https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Hitch/CURT/E-100.html
3. https://www.blackwidowpro.com/motorcycle/carriers/dirt-bike/p/amc-400/
Note - Always secure the tires to the frame first so they don’t slip sideways when transporting. It can loosen the supporting tie downs.
4. https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Adapters/Malone/MPG544.html
Etrailer has several videos illustrating Suggestion 1 above.
5. https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Adapters/Yakima/Y02483.html
Trailer sway can lead to tragic consequences. Safety first - always.
I would like to offer a couple of suggestions for you to consider along with the following disclaimer:
Both suggestions are contingent on knowing exactly how the weight will affect your tow vehicle tongue weight, the downsides/risks of placing weight on the back of your trailer, as well as the need to triple check and test that everything is within specifications for both the trailer and tow vehicle. I would also suggest a reputable and experienced RV trailer shop be consulted.
My bike is a Yuba Spicy Curry AT ebike which weighs about 75 pounds. After bending my Kuat bike rack, I was looking for another solution. We have a 2017 Aliner Explorer and use a Blue Ox weight distribution hitch.
First Suggestion:
The attached photo is a little dark but you can zoom in to see the original C-channel steel bumper. I had our local trailer shop weld in an additional bumper made of 4” square steel with bracing also welded back into the frame to support a clamp-on hitch. When driving, those boxes on top of the bumper are mostly empty aluminum RV Generator boxes. They hold very lightweight and bulky items like our sewer hoses and Lynx lifts. (1)
I added a clamp-on 2" hitch mounted receiver (2).
I then bought an aluminum motor cycle rack (3). I’ve used both ratchet straps and buckle straps to secure the bike. The ratchet straps are more secure but be careful of over-tensioning. Note - strap or secure the tires to one side of the bike rack first before tensioning the bike. The tires can slip sideways from road vibrations causing the ratchet straps to lose tension. The company that sells this rack also has a nice selection of ratchets. Don't neglect to use figure-8 loops over the handle bars to protect the bike.
You may want to further tension the rack to the trailer so it doesn’t shake and rattle back and forth while driving.
This approach worked for me since I was only driving 65 miles and we were not at highway speeds (50-55 mph back country roads). I realize that placing any weight in the back of any trailer is exactly the wrong place for it. I loaded all of my heavy items to the front of the trailer to increase the tongue weight.
While having my bike behind the trailer reduces aerodynamic drag, at higher speeds, trailer sway becomes a bigger issue.
To repeat, I have not tested Suggestion 1 at highway speeds.
Second Suggestion:
Note - I have yet to actually test the following.
My next suggestion would be to use a dual hitch receiver and a swing-away arm. See (4) and (5) below. It’s going to place my bike higher up in the air flow over the vehicle creating more drag. It will likely create issues with clearance and access between our tow vehicle and the trailer. However, I don't think it will increase the chances of trailer sway while driving at highway speeds.
Special Note - dual hitch receivers add additional weight and stress to vehicle receivers. All of weight to the receiver should be measured to ensure it is within specifications. Check your owners manual and/or consult an experienced RV trailer shop
I’ll try to supplement this post once I can actually test Suggestion 2.
---------------------
* See L2SFBC - Robert Pepper “Why trailer weight distribution causes loss of control”
Notes:
1. https://www.rvgeneratorbox.com/
2. https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Hitch/CURT/E-100.html
3. https://www.blackwidowpro.com/motorcycle/carriers/dirt-bike/p/amc-400/
Note - Always secure the tires to the frame first so they don’t slip sideways when transporting. It can loosen the supporting tie downs.
4. https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Adapters/Malone/MPG544.html
Etrailer has several videos illustrating Suggestion 1 above.
5. https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Adapters/Yakima/Y02483.html
Attachments
We added a front hitch to our 2008 Jeep (manual transmission, no tranny cooler etc) for this reason, but never used it for that reason. The Jeep's replacement, a 2011 Liberty, is problematic, becasue it has an automatic transission and off-road package - it seems, at the moment, that a front hitch cannot be installed due to the other stuff. So for the 2011 Liberty, its either take a camper OR take the bikes.
Just watch the duel hitch thing. They can limit the weight you can tow and add to the tounge weight. Your hitch that you linked says max 400 lb toung weight. Be careful of that.
NLB
Super Active Member
My ebike is a folding model. Weight 61#. Perhaps an option for you.
what make-model?
NLB
Super Active Member
Aventon Sinch
thanks, our local bike shop carries Aventon
