Rear bike hitch

[Phil Eyler]

Help I just traded my 2009 3400 for a 2014 3402 and discovered that it doesn't have a hitch for hauling my bicycles.Has anyone had a bicycle hitch added? My dealer suggested a welding shop but the welder told me to pick up a hitch and he would install it. Is there a place you can order a bicycle hitch for a Montana or do I just need to convert a class 1 hitch made for a car. I'm confused. Any advice? You MOC members have helped me so many other times, your'e the first people I turn to
when I have a question.
Thanks for all your help,
Phil

[TAKPAK]

You are in the same boat as we are. Had a hitch on the 2011 3400 and now no hitch on the new 2014 3725. I don't see any way practical to install one either, as the frame is completely enclosed with the plastic sheeting/insulation. I'm not willing to cut holes in that and expose things. Some people have made bike racks to fit the king pin bracket, others have made them for in the truck bed, some hang them from the rear ladder (not a good idea in my opinion) and a few have had a receiver hitch installed on the front of the pickup, and hauled them there. I think that is what I would do, if I'm going to do it. I never did like the bikes on the rear hitch, and had to reinforce the rack on the old rig so it wouldn't do the "dance" going down the highway. One othe option that some have done is to carry the bikes inside the trailer, IF you have room. Perhaps I'll start doing more walking, instead!!!

[Carl n Susan]

Many of us have installed a Hidden Hitch 82201 (http://www.hiddenhitch.com/content/p...050&part=82201) in order to carry bikes. This is a bolt on hitch and adjustable to the width of the RV.

[bigred715]

Does that mean if you have a hitch WELDED on the frame of your 2014 trailer you will void the frame warranty? That is what people have said in the past. Glad my 2010 came with the factory hitch. Have carried 2 bikes on it for 4yrs and no problems.

[tanner1070]

I had a hitch fabricated and welded to the frame by my local RV shop. Very very strong. Strength is needed because the receiver has to be quite long to clear the rear cap. The receiver hitch is rock solid with with my bike rack and two mountain bikes...there is no bounce at all. The mechanic trimmed the underbelly to fit perfectly around the hitch. Looks like it came from the factory like that.

I have used the Hidden Hitch bolt on receiver hitch on a previous SOB 5th Wheel I sued to have. Since it was bolted to the frame, I experienced a twisting motion to the hitch when I applied weight to it. Eventually, one of the four bolts sheared off at the frame. It just had too much twisting and bounce for me.

Hope that helps a bit deciding what to do.
Don

[anglerdad]

We just bought a 2014 High Country and after researching all the options given here, I had the dealer fabricate and weld a receiver to the frame. It is rock solid, and even came with a wiring harness. It did not void our frame warranty. And it looks like it was meant to be there. To me, it was worth the peace of mind. I've had the bad experience of losing our bikes to a bolt on type that broke and dragged the bikes behind us.

[chieflawdawg]

We added a receiver hitch to the front of the truck and bought a Swagman bike carrier. I like being able to see my bikes. Took a little getting used to having them out front, but I feel a lot more comfortable carrying them now.

[DougnDawn]

Take a look at the Blue Ox SC9000. I'm thinking of getting one of these to carry my generator.
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ox-SC9000.../dp/B003VB0W6M

[JandC]

I had read on this forum that it could void the warranty if an aftermarket hitch was welded on the back. It sounds like anglerdad has discovered that is not the case. I also read about bike racks bouncing when mounted on the rear of these units. I have made this observation myself watching other fivers going down the highway. I went with the Bodiak hitch that simply bolts on to your tow hooks in front. Installed a Reese 2-bike rack and it works very well for us. It takes about a minute to remove the bikes and another 10 seconds to remove the hitch. It all goes on just as easily. I feel better being able to keep an eye on them while traveling.

[bethandkevin]

Anglerdad had his hitch installed by the same dealer that converted my 1-1/4" receiver to 2". Smaller hitch was a useless piece of garbage. New 2" is rock solid. Great work by our dealer who many have said some not so nice things about! I can't speak for Mike, but I have 99% good to say about them.

[anglerdad]

Kevin, we agree. Great service, and quality from our dealer.

[h2ojocky]

Here is an option. Probably the most economical and the sturdiest.

http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...archTerms=bike

[jlb27537]

Since Keystone voided my frame warranty because the selling dealer installed a aftermarket spring shackle brace, before I took delivery I decided what the heck. I bought my 3150RL cause it was the shortest model and I planned on double towing. (Keystone reversed their position after a meeting with the aftermarket company engineers and sales management) but would not put anything in writing, except my warranty was voided.

I went to my local trailer hitch place, family owned for Years, and told them what I wanted to do. They looked under it and asked what I wanted to tow. Build me a hitch that will tow at least 3,500lbs with 500lbs tongue weight.

They built a "H" out of 2" square tube, welded 2x3" angle to mount points, ran the 2" square receiver tube thru the cross points 3' and bolted it to opposing I beam flanges with 8 grade 8 bolts. They said bolts would be stronger than welding. I agreed, class 8 trucks have their suspensions bolted to the frame rails.

By building a "H" frame they transferred the stress over a larger part of the frame rails. Hitches with a single cross bar have a huge twisting action and the mounts have a small contact patch with the rear most part of the I beam frame.

Jim

[Rainer]

Here's the way to go (again)....

http://bit.ly/1ienAzN

We have a 2013 343RL High Country with a sturdy welded on bumper, not one of those flimsy aluminum kind. We've hauled our bikes this was all over the country and are convinced that it's the only way to go.

Here's the bike rack we use:

http://bit.ly/1ienwzS

[Jimmer]

We did the same thing and had the dealer have a hitch made for the rear of the 5th wheel. It came out really nice. it is very strong and looks good.

Jim Bonhote
2014 Montana 3582RL
2006 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.0 Diesel, 4X4

[captbanjo]

So, it's not clear to me; will Keystone void your warranty if you weld a hitch to the rear?