Attaching a heavy bike rack to RP-195 rear bumper
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14389
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2025 at 1:08am
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Topic: Attaching a heavy bike rack to RP-195 rear bumper
Posted By: R&M Podders
Subject: Attaching a heavy bike rack to RP-195 rear bumper
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2021 at 6:47pm
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Hello from coming R-Podders, We hope to soon bring home our new 2021 RP-195, Hood River Edition. We have a pair of 60lb E-Bikes. We’ve found that the travel racks that can hold that weight use a 2” hitch receiver. We are thinking of adding a clamp on 2” receiver to the trailer’s rear bumper (after first removing the spare tire to the back of my F250 TV). A couple of questions for the forum: * will the approx 180lb hanging about 18” behind the bumper harm/bend it? * what is the outside height/depth of the bumper? Happy podding, ------------- R & M 2021 R-Pod 195 1999 Ford F250 SD |
Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2021 at 7:30pm
It will probably bend or break and send your bikes under the tractor trailer behind you. And it will void the Pod warranty. Put the bikes in the back of the truck. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Dirt Sifter
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2021 at 7:41pm
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I've picked up bikes attached to bike racks laying loose on OR highways. NOT a good idea. Put'em in the TT or in your rig like Tars said. Look at youtibe videos on this topic. ------------- Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE '07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages 1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2021 at 6:44am
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+3. If the bumper doesn’t fail the trailer frame could, and either way you will be reducing the tongue weight a lot and risking trailer sway. You have a very nice heavy duty tow vehicle and a light duty trailer. Load up the truck and keep the trailer as light as possible, with as much weight forward as possible. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2021 at 8:45am
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I asked my dealer when I bought my 195 about the bumper being able to support bikes. He said the bumper is not strong enough for that. I also have two e-bikes I was thinking of putting on back. So far I don't bring them, but I do bring two lighter non-e bikes on a tongue mount. I have given thought to a front hitch on my truck, but not sure yet. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: Pod_Geek
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2021 at 8:59am
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I have a 195 and a 60-pound E-bike. No way I would put that beast on a rack like you describe, OP. I have one of these: https://www.pace-edwards.com/Ultragroove (Tonneau that accepts Thule/Yakima bike racks) ------------- 2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River 2018 RAM 2500 6.4L |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2021 at 1:00pm
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Who EVER made a bike rack that weighed or carried 180 lbs? Are you sure of that weight? Forest River recommends putting bikes on the front of the trailer. I wouldn't put mine on the rear to get bounced to death. I'd strap mine to something inside.
------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: R&M Podders
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2021 at 3:54pm
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Hi All, I appreciate the replies. To answer a question, 2 x 60lb bikes + rack is going to be around 180lb total. We were very much hoping for something that would allow us to not have to lift the heavy bikes into the back of the pickup (so one person could do it), which is why we were thinking of a rack behind the trailer. But the several warnings against it, are causing is to plan on having two people for loading/unloading the bikes into the pickup. We are not keen on putting the bikes inside the trailer - I doubt they would fit without loosening the handlebar stem and tilting the handlebars parallel with the front wheel, which means readjusting the stem each time we take them out. Also not keen on the tire scuffs inside the trailer, and trying to find ways to secure them for travel inside. Tnx, ------------- R & M 2021 R-Pod 195 1999 Ford F250 SD |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2021 at 5:29pm
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How about a lightweight aluminum ramp to let the ebikes roll themselves up into the truck bed? ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2021 at 6:47pm
The rack weighs 58 lbs and holds 2 x 80 lb ebikes. Total 218 lbs. I have one and would never consider putting it on the back of a Pod! TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2021 at 6:56pm
I put my bike rack on the front of my truck. I usually only carry one bike. It does great during the day but it's really hard to drive at night. Not only does the bike block the headlights but the reflection glares back at me. Two bikes would be impossible at night. My bike is a fat tire, heavy frame bike that I use for beach cruising. Some other bikes might not be as bad. If I still need the rack after I get to my destination I move it to the back of the truck. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2021 at 3:21pm
Dang! I thought my 29 lb steel mountain bike was a pig! ------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: Bounder
Date Posted: 15 Mar 2021 at 2:31pm
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Our two electric bikes ride in the back of our tow vehicle, with the bike rack tied down on the sofa of our 196. Once at our basecamp, the rack goes on the hitch receiver and the bikes are ready to use... The trailer bumper option was considered and dismissed after a single look at the bumper and frame. ------------- Bounder 2021 196 Hood River |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 15 Mar 2021 at 2:35pm
It is, my Specialized road bike weighs in at 18 lbs.  ------------- 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." |
Posted By: Lookout1950
Date Posted: 15 Mar 2021 at 8:16pm
| I installed a receiver on the front of my truck and haul 2 bikes on the front without any problem. |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 16 Mar 2021 at 7:00am
The bikes don’t obscure your headlights? ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: FairFrank
Date Posted: 24 May 2022 at 5:54am
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Hi and sorry for the reviving! I'm totally agree with you and that's why I hate the roof racks. Do you know, is there any opportunity to transfer bikes inside with some special racks(like https://rackadvisor.org/best-inside-car-bike-racks/ - these )? Does anybody do that? All the best!
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