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Topic ClosedHitch Bike rack - Event Date: 07 Oct 2012 - 21 Oct 2012

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catspaw View Drop Down
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Joined: 06 Oct 2012
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Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: Hitch Bike rack
    Posted: 07 Oct 2012 at 6:43am
Hello fellow Podders...we have just picked up a 2013 177.  After 18 years in a pop-up we are looking for the Pod to be a great upgrade.  We had a two bike rail system on the pop-up so we need to find a good solution to carry our bikes with the Pod.  Thinking that a hitch rack Swagman 64664 with a Rigid 18" hitch extension would work.  What words of wisdom can fellow Podders offer?  Thanks!
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Paige View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Oct 2012 at 8:18am
Hi, welcome to the Pod world. My husband and I love to bike wherever we go. We have always had the bikes on the back of our RVs or cars. Without a bumper, the RPod is a challenge. The back hitch, supposedly has a 150 pound limit. At this time, when we camp, we put our two bikes into the Rpod for travel,,,but if we want to stop for lunch it is a hassle. We have considered putting our spare tire on top of the TV and our bikes on the back of the RPod,,,or buying an expensive bike rack for the top of the car, but quite often we kayak as well as bike on our camping adventures, so I think we are stuck with putting the bikes in the Rapod for travel. The previous owner of our RPod modified the dinette by cutting square holes in the bench nearest the door and forming a sort of tube inside the bench, like a tunnel for each table leg ( the horizontal part) then we slide the table right up to that bench and it gives us room to slide a bike into that part of the RPod. The other bike is snuggled toward the back,,that one goes in first. We then bungle them to keep them secure and add some padding to prevent scratches. Good luck with your solution and let me know what you have decided!
Paige and Pete
2010 177 - RPug
2012 Rav (six cylinder)
New York & Florida residents
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Racer|X| View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Oct 2012 at 9:03am
I have the R-pod bike carrier.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Oct 2012 at 9:06am
We are investigating similar possibilities.  I thought I had the winning idea when I found, on Amazon, of course, a "spare tire bike rack" which may or may not have been compatible with the 'Pod's spare lugs, but I'll never know after reading a specific caution about using it on the rear of an RV.  Too much potential for whipping around and bouncing.

We likewise may want to carry a canoe on our TV's roof rack, so that's out.

I guess, at the risk of looking like the Beverly Hillbillies, we will have a tailgate-mounted bike rack and a roof-mounted canoe rack, and an R-Pod easing down the road to our camping adventures.

Man.....  You could steal all our toys at once....
Bob and Joyce
Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels
RP 177 "Key Pod"
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71
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Paige View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Oct 2012 at 9:12am
I want a photo when you have all your toys loaded up!
Paige and Pete
2010 177 - RPug
2012 Rav (six cylinder)
New York & Florida residents
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Oct 2012 at 6:40pm

You have to be careful about hitch extensions, they cut your maximum tongue weight sometimes as much as half.  That also extends the distance between the rear axle and pod axle which is one contributor to sway.

One option for mounting bikes could be to mount brackets on the side of the pod.  You would have to be sure to attach to one of the supports.

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Oct 2012 at 6:49pm
I think I will stick with putting our bikes inside the pod when we travel.
Paige and Pete
2010 177 - RPug
2012 Rav (six cylinder)
New York & Florida residents
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Podsible Dream View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 2012 at 8:02pm
Before we had the pod, we had a bike carrier that engaged the frame of the trunk of our car with hooks and strops. It would also work on a Wagon or SUV with suction cups against the windows. Would such a carrier rack work, riding on the back of the TV,?
Chris and Walt
'10 RP-171 'Free Spirit'
'13 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 L Hemi V8
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catspaw View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2012 at 5:29am
I hadn't thought about sway.  The new 177 has the hitch jack right behind the hitch so the room is tight.  The TV is a F-150 with a fiberglass topper.  
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2012 at 8:33am
You can remove the factory tongue jack and replace it with a swing-up for more room, it is one of the first things I did on my pod.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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