Tongue mount bike rack |
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Author | |
FamilyGuy
Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Topic: Tongue mount bike rack Posted: 26 Jun 2015 at 11:53am |
Have any of you installed a tongue mount bike rack similar to the Stromberg Carlson (CC-275) Bike Bunk for Cargo Tray in the following link: I'm looking for a way to carry three bikes with my 182g / Silverado 1500 combo. The truck has a bed cover and is generally full of inflatable kayaks, cooler, and other equipment. A truck bed carrier is out due to space. The soft bed cover rules out a over-the-bed rail solution. From what I can gather the R-POD's rear hitch isn't really able to support a three-bike cantilevered load. Also, the 182g's garage makes this location inconvenient. The most appealing solution seems to be a tongue mounted extension for a two inch receiver. This would let us carry the bikes without interfering with the truck bed cover. Also, the bike rack can be moved to the truck's receiver once the R-POD is parked. Seems like a great solution. I have a few concerns: First, it seems like a lot of weight mounted up high with a wind load. Is this a solid enough mount with three bikes? Second, is tongue weight. We are operating well within the limits of the Silverado 1500 so that's not an issue. What else should I be considering? |
|
furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 26 Jun 2015 at 1:35pm |
The tongue mounted extension things cut your towing and tongue weight capacity in half.
The a-frame mounted racks work, several have them, they seem happy. |
|
john in idaho
Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Eagle Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 611 |
Posted: 26 Jun 2015 at 3:21pm |
Can you put one on the front bumper of your truck?
|
|
chiman
Groupie Joined: 03 Dec 2013 Location: Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 44 |
Posted: 26 Jun 2015 at 3:31pm |
Family Guy
I suggest you take a look at the front tongue bike racks made by Arvika. They are made in Canada and are really well built and includes the mounts for the bikes so no need to buy an extra costly bike rack. I have the two bike system but they make ones for three bikes. Much lighter and I believe will be stronger than what you are looking at currently. Really well made and easy to install and I have had no problems at all carrying my two mountain type bikes. No modifications or buying other parts, bolts etc. The rack just went on per directions. Chiman You can google them and get their website. |
|
2017 180 "Frog" towed by 2017 Toyota Tacoma with co-pilot "Willow" a 80 lb Labradoodle
|
|
FamilyGuy
Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Posted: 26 Jun 2015 at 4:12pm |
Thanks Chiman,
I looked at the site and the Arvika product looks good. Their three post design seems like it would be more stable with a high load. I'll check out the front bumper mounts as others suggested as well. Thanks for the input.
|
|
fwunder
Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Online Status: Offline Posts: 1676 |
Posted: 26 Jun 2015 at 7:11pm |
I use a Swagman Hitch Mounted Rack
It slips right over my Reese WDH with no modification and has worked great for us. You will see pics in my sig. fred
|
|
2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
|
CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 26 Jun 2015 at 7:54pm |
Family Guy, Here's another possible solution. I carried two bikes between my Honda Pilot and RP172. The bikes were mounted on a basket/platform carrier by Swagman. Here's the general idea: http://rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3841&KW=bike&PID=36844&title=bike-carrier-with-rpods#36844 Swagman makes a line of bike carriers called towing carriers designed to slide onto the hitch shank between the TV and the TT. Although mine carried two bikes they make something similar to handle three bikes: http://www.swagman.net/product/xp3-towing/ To provide the required ~3" space on the drawbar I needed a long shank drawbar: http://www.amazon.com/Draw-3214-Weight-Distributing-Hitch-Shank/dp/B0016I54ME/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376680726&sr=8-2&keywords=draw-tite+shank This added just over 3" to the ball location, and as such, has minimal effect on the towing and tongue weight ratings. The often quoted 50% reduction of towing capacity with any extension is based on a simplification of a simplification of a simplification and edited by lawyers, there is a caution to be observed. The true answer involves mechanics and physics and depends on TV wheelbase, bare hitch rating, TV rear axle rating, TV payload rating, distance from TV rear axle to bare hitch, hitch extension length, and many individual hitch component ratings. Interestingly, the Etrailer.com site states the 50% derating, but then admits it is their own hitch extension that fails first. For some indication of the complications see: http://www.visualsc.com/hitch_calc.htm Note that I used an E2 WDH. Even with a full sized truck I and most other experienced owners recommend a WDH. Safety and towing comfprt are greatly improved. The WDH removes most of the hitch torque related problems related to pure ball extension drawbars. I do not recommend any drawbar extension without WDH. Careful measurements are required to ensure clearance between bikes and propane bottles and trailer tongue for turning. My installation worked well for me and has been copied numerous times. It has an added advantage that the bikes are on the TV so you can haul them, sans trailer, to the trail head. |
|
Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
|
FamilyGuy
Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Posted: 01 Jul 2015 at 11:42am |
Thanks Charlie! I like this solution as it allows us to carry the bikes without the trailer attached. Thanks. It also will allow me drop the tail gate without hitting the tongue jack (if bikes aren't loaded).
|
|
CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 01 Jul 2015 at 3:31pm |
Those are two of the reasons I liked this option. Really handy.
|
|
Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
|
CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 1:43pm |
One point if you are considering this approach. Assuming you are using something similar to the E2 WDH, there may be enough room on the stock shank to accommodate the slide on bike rack. On my Pilot, using the standard E2 shank, I was only about 1/2 inch shy of the required 3" clear space. That caused me to buy the extended shank ($$$). On my present Tacoma, with the stock shank, there is zero available space. However I no longer carry my bikes there. Point is the clear space appears the be TV dependent. Check first - may save some bucks.
|
|
Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
|
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |