Bike rack - Montana Owners Club

richfaa · 05-18-2007, 12:48 PM

We are parked next to a 06 Jayco 34RLQs is just about a identical twin to our 06 3400. I note a bike rack mounted on the rear. The owner told me it is a Jayco option..I checked the web site..it is.."bike rack and receiver" He does not know what kind of frame is under the Jayco but since the receiver hitch (hidden hitch) is a option I would assume it is a much stronger frame than the Lippert under my 3400.It would appear to be a simple install on the 3400. Guess I will have to go to a Jayco dealer to have a hitch installed on my Montana???.

AZCampinfool · 05-18-2007, 02:16 PM

Rich, my Mountaineer has a built in bike rack on the back and I can't imagine my frame is any stronger than yours. I would bet it's all in how it is installed. My rear jacks are mounted to the framework of the bike rack. The end of the rack is actually the back bumper. I can tell you that the rails for the rack under the frame extend about 5' feet under the fiver from the bumper.

adelmoll · 05-18-2007, 02:22 PM

Rich, Our Montana dealer installed a hitch for us before we even brought it home. It was included on our original order. They never told us it could be a problem. We sure wouldn't tow anything heavy behind the Tana but I can't imagine that a couple of bikes and rack would be too heavy.

Helen

rldriver · 05-18-2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by adelmoll

Rich, Our Montana dealer installed a hitch for us before we even brought it home. It was included on our original order. They never told us it could be a problem. We sure wouldn't tow anything heavy behind the Tana but I can't imagine that a couple of bikes and rack would be too heavy.

Helen

Helen, can you post some pictures of your bike rack? Is it supplied by Keystone or one the Dealer picked up?

Wrenchtraveller · 05-18-2007, 03:08 PM

The fact that Montanas don't have bike racks and Mountaineers and Cougars do probably has more to do with the moulded rear cap than the frame. In fact the 06 Brochure states that Montanas have a "rolled" steel frame and the Mountaineer just says a steel frame so I believe the Montana frame is stronger and a bike rack should be an option. If I ever decide I want to bring bikes along I will put a hitch on myself and I won't worry about a frame warranty issue.

sailer · 05-18-2007, 04:01 PM

talk to OZZ on bike racks as he has all the answers john

richfaa · 05-18-2007, 04:23 PM

The hidden hitch on the Jayco is installed to the rear of the stabilizer jacks which appear to be in the same place as mine. The Jayco rear cap is very similar to the Montana, perhaps not as rounded at the bottom.The dealer we purchased our 3400 from also handles the Jayco.Will have to have a talk with him. I had asked if they had ever installed a hitch on a Montana and they said "no".. Perhaps the question to ask would be .. can you install the Jayco hitch on the Montana. I am going to do some measurements on the Jayco tomorrow.

richfaa · 05-19-2007, 04:59 AM

The measuremant on the rear of the Jayco are very close to the Montana. The Hidden hitch is 70" long.The Jayco frame is a Tubular steel frame and the 3400 is a 10" steel rolled I beam. Apparently the Tubular steel frame is stronger as the hitch and bike rack are OEM options on the Jayco.This is all very confusing to me and I fail to understand why Lippert frames can not support a 1/1/4 inch hidden hitch and bike rack??? Also note that Jayco has a 2 year bumper to bumper warranty...hummmmm???

DL N K · 05-21-2007, 02:40 AM

A friend of ours has a Mobile Suites which has a Lippert frame, and they have a 1 1/4 inch receiver for a bike rack. It was an option when they ordered.

richfaa · 05-21-2007, 06:31 AM

We were told that Lippert makes frames according to manufacturers spec's..Could it be that Keystone spec'ed out a weaker frame????

Ozz · 05-21-2007, 07:22 AM

Some members got a hitch from Pep Boys, some from their neighborhood hitch company, I can't imagine Jayco has a unique hitch. I saw one member here in Branson with the same hitch assembly as mine.
The assembly has a section that bolts to the frame on each side, then the tube that slides into those sections and bolts together. Very strudy and easy to install. I did not move my rear stabalizers and the system works great.

DL N K · 05-21-2007, 09:28 AM

If I remember correctly, the hitch on the back of the Mobil Suites has a Hidden Hitch sticker on it.

richfaa · 05-21-2007, 11:06 AM

The jayco hitch was a "hidden Hitch' (brand name)

noneck · 05-21-2007, 04:04 PM

Mine has no sticker...DIY

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