Bike Rack

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    What is the experience of those who have a bike rack on their pod?  I'm looking at purchasing a pod and I would much prefer a bike rack on the pack of the pod, rather than on my hitch that I have now. 
     I understand issues about weight distribution.  I'm concerned only with how well made the bike rack is and if anyone has had any problems with them.

   Thanks.

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retiredtraveler Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Location: Chicago burbs Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Topic: Bike Rack Posted: 05 Oct 2013 at 9:31am
	What is the experience of those who have a bike rack on their pod? I'm looking at purchasing a pod and I would much prefer a bike rack on the pack of the pod, rather than on my hitch that I have now. I understand issues about weight distribution. I'm concerned only with how well made the bike rack is and if anyone has had any problems with them. Thanks.
	Looking hard at a pod 2006 Jayco 1206 (pup) with slideout, shower,solar 2005 Nissan Xterra (probably going to new Nissan Frontier) Into hard-core hiking and biking

CharlieM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797	Posted: 05 Oct 2013 at 10:26am
	I have carried two adult "comfort" bikes on the back of my R-172 for several thousand miles with no problem. I use the Cequent/Highland light weight carrier sold by Forest River, but also available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Highland-1375100-SportWing-Mounted-Carrier/dp/B004002CS4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380982688&sr=8-1&keywords=highland+sportwing Using it requires moving the spare tire to the tongue or elsewhere. Recently I moved the bikes to the hitch between the tow vehicle and trailer, using a Swagman carrier, for convenience and better weight balance. This requires a longer hitch shank for the E2 WDH, but allows us to take the bikes with us when we disconnect the trailer. The spare tire moved back to the rear of the Pod.
	Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

HuronSailor Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: Owosso MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 05 Oct 2013 at 10:29am
	We have a Thule 4-bike rack that we've been using on the pod for years with no problems. FR recommends that you use the 2 bike rack available from them, but have no experience with it. I know you can buy that same bike rack from other sources as I remember looking at it on Amazon several years ago. The weight limit on the accessory hitch on the back of the pod is 250#, but some of the folks at FR feel that number is misleading and should be smaller because of the torque that's applied to the hitch when the load bounces up and down during road travel. The weight of my rack and 2 bikes is around 100#. I only remember one incident on one of the forums where the rear hitch failed, but believe that was on a brand new pod and was eventually determined to be due to some faulty welding by the frame manufacturer.
	.: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :.

hogone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1043	Posted: 05 Oct 2013 at 10:42am
	I have a pretty basic ALLEN 2-bike rack that I bought at Walmart. Works great on the rear hitch. I have had several people follow me at times and they stated it doesn't move, sway, bounce, etc. Just another option. The one that forest river recommends is expensive, and I have seen them. They look clumsy to me. hogone
	Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD

RPodWeGo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2012 Location: Salt Lake City Online Status: Offline Posts: 112	Posted: 05 Oct 2013 at 11:10am
	My recommendation is to take pod to a welder and add some gusto to the hitch receiver. Search this forum for "bumpers" as several have added a rear bumper and modified the hitch receiver all at the same time
	RPodWeGo RPod 177 04 v8 Toyota 4Runner

retiredtraveler Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Location: Chicago burbs Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Posted: 05 Oct 2013 at 5:18pm
	Yeah, I know about the welding. My popup broke the weld where the spare tire is carried after only 4 years. The welding shop where the pup got repaired told me they had done this type of repair many times. If I get this unit, I'll keep that in mind.
	Looking hard at a pod 2006 Jayco 1206 (pup) with slideout, shower,solar 2005 Nissan Xterra (probably going to new Nissan Frontier) Into hard-core hiking and biking

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067	Posted: 05 Oct 2013 at 8:42pm
	we have a 2009 173-I assume most of the frames are similar. I wanted a rear bike rack but read many objections in the various forums. I had a welder move the spare tire to the tongue. we used the spare tire 1 1/4 " receiver for our bike rack and 2 bikes. I felt it was ok, but was not satisfied. I went back and had the welder add a 1 1/2" x 1 1/2 " steel channel across the underside of the frame. It was 10" back from the original cross channel and welded to both the left and right frame members. We added a standard 2" receiver and used 2 triangular metal gussets welded to the new cross channel ,. It was also welded to the existing receiver and the original cross member supplied from FR. So now I have 2 cross channels, 2 triangular gussets, 1 1/4" receiver and a 2" receiver all welded together. It is probably overkill, but I wanted it to be stable(it is VERY stable) and I wanted to be able to use a standard 2" shank for the bike rack so it would be transferrable to our tow vehicle. we love our pod and love to take our bikes with us. Vann

EmptyNesters Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 19 Feb 2013 Location: Minnesota Online Status: Offline Posts: 53	Posted: 06 Oct 2013 at 5:00pm
	We went with the Forest River bike rack option when we purchased our pod, but I am not a fan as it sits to close to the back of the pod and my bike handle rubs against the pod. Even using foam between bike and pod created a worn spot on pod finish. Thank goodness for decals. I stuck a frog on the spot.