bike rack on front of tow vehicle
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Topic: bike rack on front of tow vehicle
Posted By: Andy
Subject: bike rack on front of tow vehicle
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2019 at 12:00pm
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We would like to take bikes with us but have been uncomfortable with a bike rack on the back of the Pod. So, I'm thinking of having a hitch installed on the front of the truck so I can use a rack in front. Any thoughts/experience would be appreciated. Thanks, ------------- 2017 179 2016 Silverado Z71 |
Replies:
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2019 at 3:36pm
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I have used front hitches for years. Mounted various items on them, and primarily use them to move my Pod around the place, much easier than the rear hitch method. Highly recommend. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2019 at 4:55pm
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It'll mess with the aerodynamics somewhat, which probably would only be an issue in strong, gusty winds. You can buy a bike rack that mounts on the tongue of the trailer; several Pod'ers have them. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2019 at 5:05pm
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Bum, I would ask you "splain" how a bicycle effected aerodynamics. I've seen a ton of uses for front hitches including heavy duty bumpers, winches, fishing holders, even a deer stand. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2019 at 6:34pm
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I use a rack on my front receiver. It's great except sometimes in the dark. Between lights reflecting back at me off the bikes and the same light not illuminating the road for me it's barely doable at night. It's not as much of an issue in the summer but I avoid bikes on the front as much as I can on winter nights. I have a big fat tire e-bike that weighs 70 pounds. For a "normal" bike it wouldn't be as bad. TT
------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2019 at 10:16pm
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Bikes on the front would most certainly mess with the aerodynamics. Especially on newer vehicles that use air dams and other tricks to smooth things over. OTOH, it can't be worse than pulling a travel trailer. We put our bikes in the back of the truck and close/lock the tonneau cover. There is a ton of space back there. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2019 at 9:31am
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We came across another couple on our last adventure across Canada and I liked what they did to carry their bikes. He also had a pair of kayaks on the setup. Home-build and done very well. Theirs was on a full size P/U and I drew it to fit my Tacoma and see what was possible. They also had a tonneau cover (trip-fold much like mine) And it opened with all in place. I drew mine slanted and believe I may just have to go straight up (like they did). It just looks better slanted... Oh well.. Just another idea.  ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Jeepinator
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 9:25am
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We have had a rack on front for years and driving at night is definitely an issue due to reflection and reduced light. I plan to add a set of auxiliary driving lights strategically placed so as to not reflect off the rims and frames. I also pull the bike seat on the drivers side to aid in visibility.
We are looking at the tongue mount racks but probably not till we move to lithium batteries. ------------- 2018 Jeep Wrangler Willys 2017 179 |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 9:58am
| Can you put the bikes inside the pod for travel? |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 9:59am
All those bicycle metal parts sticking into be breeze are certainly going to mess up the nice aerodynamics the manufacturers design into their vehicles. The question is, will you notice it. The lower your fuel economy is to start with the less noticeable impact adding a bike and rack (or other non-aerodynamic feature) will have. Prius owners report getting about 50 mpg at 60 mph without a rack and bike, and about 45 with it. Very noticeable. So, they go through about 4 gallons of fuel in 200 miles without the bike and about 4.4 with it. That means that dragging the bike through the air at 60 mph uses .4/200 or about 0.002 additional gallons per mile. Let's assume for a moment that a rack with a bike on it creates the same additional drag on a tow rig as it does on a Prius. Then if you use 1 gallon to go 13 miles without the bike you would use 1+ 13*.002= 1.026 gallons to go 13 miles with it. That works out to about 12.7 mpg. Probably not noticeable at all. Interesting though how a 5 mpg difference on a 50 mpg vehicle becomes a .3 mpg difference on a 13 mpg rig. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 9:59am
| Can you put the bikes inside the pod for travel? |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 12:56pm
Not sure if thats a question, or a suggestion. Of course you can put them inside the pod to travel. I just ordered 2 new Radcity Electric bikes, and that's probably how I'll transport them. Just have to be sure they don't go flying. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 1:56pm
It's a great time to buy Rad bikes right now. I have a RadRover. I might be able to get it in the Pod by taking both wheels and the handlebars off. Not happening. The RadCities would be easier, I'm sure, but even if it works (with 2 of them!) then you have a Pod full of bikes which might interfere with pit stops on the road.. I saw a rack on an RPod at the Hatteras Light last yeah that held the bike vertically (front wheel up, back wheel down) on the front of the Pod. The rack used suction cups to stick itself to the Pod. I don't know that I'd trust that at all, but certainly not with a 60-70 lb electric bike! TT
------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: TacoTuesday
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2019 at 9:47am
| I have a 2004 F350 TV and I use a front hitch mount bike rack. My son in law had to cut off about 4” of the vertical tube, otherwise the bike ride up too high and blocked visibility. The wheels block a little of the headlights after dark, but not much. I don’t drive after dark very often, so it didn’t bother me.i get terrible gas mileage anyway driving a F350, so I don’t think one baby blue beach cruiser makes it much worst! I like being able to see it, and know that it didn’t fall off or get stolen. |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2019 at 4:45pm
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We opt for either inside the bed of our truck or inside our 177. Our road bikes are worth around $ 3k together and I don't like the thought of cleaning off bug juice, recleaning/lubricating the chains and derailleurs, road oil residue off before taking a ride on our road bikes. Obviously if you have a simple road/mountain bike that you replace on a regular basis, it probably wouldn't be a big deal to put out in front of your TV.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |