Truck Grill Bike Rack or Ladder Mount?

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

We're having a lively discussion around our place regarding my bike and how we're going to carry it when we hit the road at the end of May. One of us (not naming names) says we can just carry it on the ladder of our rig; the other of us thinks that carrying it on the front grill of our truck is safer. I remember reading on the forum that carrying things on the ladder isn't safe because the ladder wasn't mounted to the rig with the idea of carrying things on it. However, we do see lots of people traveling with chairs, bikes, and other things hanging from that back ladder.

Here's the question: Would it be safe to carry one bike (one of the classic" types that doesn't fold) on our ladder, or should we get a bike carrier for the front grill of our truck? And, if the grill carrier is the best place, can anyone recommend a place to buy one of those?

Obviously, the ladder would be the easiest place to carry my bike, but I don't want to see our ladder with the bike fall off on the interstate between here and Texas.

Carolyn

[bullroc3]

Wayne, I use a ladder rack to carry ONE bike. It is a full size non-folding bike. I have done this for about 2 years and have had no problems. I do strap it down tighter with bungees and keep the wheels from turning while traveling. I put a protector on the handle-bar to keep them from rubbing on the camper. I cut about a 4 inch chunk from a swimming noodle to use as the protector.

[camper4]

I would not due the ladder.
I mounted a trailer hitch to the front of my truck. It has a square 2inch receiver so it will take a wide range of carring devices. Your choice.
Advantages are it is where I can see it and it is solidly attached.
Disadvantages are it blocks some of the lights for night driving and if you put a cover on the bikes it can block some cooling air needed when climbing mountains.
I do not cover my bikes and have not noticed any effect on engine cooling.

[southern thunder]

I used a ladder rack for two bikes last summer for a long trip. It worked well. I did use extra straps and the swimming pool noodles for extra padding. My new Montana has a light weight receiver hitch on the rear for bike racks ect.

[Wiesehan]

I have been using a ladder bike rack for the last three Montana's we have owned. We usually have two bikes on the rack and have had no problems except if the bikes contact each other which can happen on any rack. Using noodles and watch carefully that bikes aren't contacting coach (or each other if you carry two )and you shouldn't have a problem no matter which way you choose.
Don

[dieselguy]

Obviously there are some who use ladder mounted bike racks ... follow a fiver down a blacktop with bikes on the ladder for a few miles ... the sight defies most laws of linear motion ! My vote is for anything other than a ladder mount.

[Art-n-Marge]

Yup, lots do ladder mounts but I think a ladder is designed for a human to scale it on rare occasions to get to the roof while there is no additional constant movement. Even if the bikes weighed less than 50 lbs, these 1000s of miles of bouncing and jouncing of an additional load firmly fastened to a ladder would be a cause of concern over the long run. Since I use that ladder to get to the top, I'll minimize compromising its integrity.

My vote is for a front mounted hitch receiver. I already have a bike rack for up to four bicycles and the weight rating and margin to support all this (don't forget to cover the first bike to catch bugs). Then think of all the other good stuff you can buy for it like a winch, or anything that you can put into a receiver - I saw someone put a trailer ball on their front hitch and push a small trailer around using the front of the vehicle. That was cool and looked easier to do than backing end (assuming weight considerations are still maintained). Obviously, this is not for driving down the road, but this person was moving trailers around in a storage lot.

Do an internet search for "front mount hitch receivers" and you'll find plenty of brand name vendors (Reese, Hidden Hitch, Curt, etc.) Prices range below $200. Do get the maximum rating for your vehicle.

Then there's the possibility of building or buying apparatus to mount the bikes at the fiver's front cap and up and out of the way from the "curious". I think the extra step of mounting the bikes from the truck bed (prior to hitching up) is worth the security. Do a search for "top pop rails" and you'll find a company in Canada that sells a custom set. Other MOC members have fabricated theirs as did owners of SOBs.

[jsmitfl]

Carolyn, If you go with the hitch we bought ours from Etrailer last year. They are free shipping if over certain price. Like was mentioned earlier is it does block some of the lights when driving at night.

[WaltandLynne]

If we decide to take our bikes sometime, I will be giving serious consideration to a bike rack mounted on the pin box. I think that if you buy a rack that fits into a trailer hitch receiver that is also designed for a hatch back vehicle like a mini-van, it can be lowered, which would make loading/unloading bikes from the ground easier. JMHO.

Gook luck.

Walt

[bncinwv]

As another alternative, we have laid a single bike in front of the hitch in the bed of the truck. I do have a hidden hitch front receiver on the front of the truck and can comfortably carry four bikes there, but night-time driving limits the headlights to low-beam and using the fog lights. On our new rig, we carry two bikes on the OEM receiver at the rear of the rig and carry two additional bikes in the rig (another advantage of the 3750, the bathroom door provides easy access to the bathroom which easily holds two bikes. Others on the forum throw an extra blanket on the bed and lay the bike on the bed. There are many alternatives to select the one which works best for you. I like others, shy away from using the rear ladder for anything except for getting on top of the rig.
Bingo

[H. John Kohl]

If you are considering a front hitch on the truck what about installing a receiver on the back of the trailer and carry the bikes back there. I did add a 2" receiver to my 07 3295RK.

[DQDick]

We carry our bikes on a rack on the back of the rig (on the OEM hitch) and a real ladder that will hold my weight on the rigs ladder. As the folks in the New York office building observed when the window washer fell from his scaffold - each floor he went by they heard him say "So Far, So Good!" and so it is with us.

[Chip]

We have ours in the back of our truck. If I couldn't do that I would put a hitch on the back of the camper. Actually wish I had one there now, then I could have a tool box in the back of my truck.

Chip

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

Thanks to everyone who responded with ideas for hauling my bike to Texas. I think I've figured out that by the time we add a front receiver and rack to the truck, or get a receiver and rack added to the back of the 5th-wheel (ours is a 2007 and it didn't come with a receiver), I could just buy another Walmart bike when we get to Texas and leave the bike that I now have (and love) here in a storeroom.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Carolyn

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

Thanks to everyone who responded with ideas for hauling my bike to Texas. I think I've figured out that by the time we add a front hitch receiver and rack to the truck, or get a hitch receiver and rack added to the back of the 5th-wheel (ours is a 2007 and it didn't come with a trailer hitch back there), it would be cheaper to just leave the bike that I now have (and love) here in our storeroom and buy another Walmart bike when we get to Texas.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Carolyn

[bighornram]

quote:Originally posted by Art-n-Marge

Do a search for "top pop rails" and you'll find a company in Canada that sells a custom set. Other MOC members have fabricated theirs as did owners of SOBs.

Thanks for that link, that is a great idea!

[1retired06]

We never hang anything on our ladder after seeing too many "bouncers" while on the interstate.

[bighornram]

quote:Originally posted by bighornram

Thanks for that link, that is a great idea!

They are quite proud of that system, the cost for a 2 bike long bed configuration is $500