Front hitch on truck for a bike rack - Montana Owners Club

camper4 · 02-21-2010, 08:23 AM

Has anybody used a front mount hitch on your truck for mounting a bike rack? If so, how do you like it?
The factory hitch on the back of the Montana is real bouncy and I'm not happy with it.
Thanks

jpbcny · 02-21-2010, 09:16 AM

Have had one (Hidden Hitch) on my 2001 Dodge Ram since September 2000, no problems what so ever, but I also don't travel in the dark, so I don't know if it would impede the headlights, as some others have suggested previously...

JP

HamRad · 02-21-2010, 10:18 AM

We have a class IV receiver on the front of our PSD 450. We carry a handicap cart. It would work to carry a bike rack. We've had no trouble with it even driving in the dark.

We got the receiver from our local U-Haul store. The full service centers carry or can order a receiver for just about any rig you need. Cost of unit and installation was reasonable. We've had the unit for about 7 years.

Good luck.
HamRad

cdaniels · 02-21-2010, 10:31 AM

We have a 2004 Dodge and we carry a 50cc scooter on the front of the truck and one on the back of the Montana. The Montana receiver was made out of 3 inch tube steel and 2 inch tube steel. The scooter rides well in both places. As far as the headlights the scooter is between the two headlights and the bike does not impair them. If you want a picture I can send it if you email me. We made our own racks have about $60.00 a piece for the bike racks. We bought the front hitch from Top City and they installed it on the truck. We are very pleased with it on the front of the truck. We have also used it to haul our bicycles or scooters once we get to our destination if we want to bike somewhere for the day. It's nice to be able to do so.

NCFischers · 02-21-2010, 11:43 AM

Dave (Exnavydiver) installed one on his truck at the fall rally.

Parrothead · 02-21-2010, 11:54 AM

We have the "hidden hitch" on the front of the truck. Purchased on line. We have had no problems with it and it solved a major problem for us for our bikes. We take it off as soon as we are settled for a week or more. We never tow at night so if it would interfere with headlights we are not aware.
Happy trails...................

camper4 · 02-21-2010, 12:12 PM

Thanks for all your inputs! We do not drive at night when towing. I just ordered a hitch on line and look forward to installing it.

bncinwv · 02-21-2010, 12:55 PM

The type of bicycle rack you have will have a lot to do with your visibility. We have the hidden hitch as do others and a four bike rack that we use on the front. I have to lower the bike seats and try to keep them on the drivers side as much as possible since the handlebars also partially impede my vision. Once you get used to it, though it is like they are not there. On our Classsic (I do drive at night) the bikes prevent the use of high beam and greatly impede low beam. I offset this by running with the fog lights on, which are below the bike rack. The arrangement works very well for us, but one thing I did get in the habit of doing is checking the bolt that attaches the bike rack to the hitch every time I stop. There are times when it will back off a bit which introduces a side-to-side swivelling of the bikes. Hope this helps.
Bingo

bigred715 · 02-21-2010, 04:45 PM

I have a 2007 Chevy 3500 Classic which is identical to your truck. I bought a front end receiver from JC Whitney for $129.88, free shipping April of 2007. I also bought a Swagman XC 2-bike Rack Rail for $140 in April 2009.
The handlebars stick up a little above the hood but it is a great system. I don't drive at night so it has no effect that way. The bike rack folds up and is very secure. The item number on the receiver hitch is 477440 and bolts on to about 6 places if I remember right.

gojodo · 02-21-2010, 11:09 PM

We have a Dodge 3500 and a front hitch for accessories. I use it with a T mount to carry two sea kayaks but I also have a bike rack insert. I have not used it because I don't like the idea of carrying bikes that have no protection from the elements, such as a cover, which I would use if they were on the rear of my rig. However to cover them on the front creates a problem for air flow to your engine let along the lights problem at night.

Parrothead · 02-22-2010, 04:09 AM

I don't think air flow is a problem. Our bike rack sticks out quite away from the truck.
Happy trails...................

HamRad · 02-22-2010, 04:55 PM

In inclement weather we put a cover over the cart. It does not interfere with the air flow. Or at least I've never had any overheating problems and the cart is carried relatively close to the vehicle.

HamRad

Tom S. · 02-24-2010, 02:46 AM

Just remember in warm weather your bicycles will become 'bugcycles' from all the little flying critters.

nghelwer · 02-24-2010, 03:38 AM

We have the "hidden hitch" on the front of the truck that we use alternately between our front mounted boat rack and at other times a front mounted bike rack.

We have used it in day & night situations and have NO problems.

Enjoy your new hitch, I we enjoy ours.

PatnRich · 02-24-2010, 08:56 AM

I have had my eye on this for some time but have not purchased. Easy to install bolt on receiver for the p/u.

https://bodiaknet.powweb.com/store/c...bf97ddc06feb8b

bncinwv · 02-24-2010, 09:22 AM

I looked at the Bodiak type before settling on the Hidden Hitch. I had two primary concerns, one of which was the loss of the front tow hooks and the other was that the receiver height would be about six inches higher that the hidden hitch receiver which mounts beneath the front bumper. That is six inches of more vision obstruction in our case since we haul four bikes on the front. I will state that our hidden hitch installation was simple and straight-forward and required no drilling at all (2007 3500 Chevy DRW). Seem like it took about twenty or thirty minutes to install, most of which was chasing the proper tools. As always, it is a personal choice, I am offering my opinion as to why we opted to go the route we did.
Bingo

HamRad · 02-24-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Tom S.

Just remember in warm weather your bicycles will become 'bugcycles' from all the little flying critters.

Tom,
You are so correct! There have been some trips that defy belief! So many bugs that you could barely see the paint under the bugs! Took about an hour or so to clean them all off. That is a good argument for traveling with the cover on all the time. But then I'd have to clean the cover. Oh, well. We can't not have the carrier. We have to have it or we can't go on our trips.

Travel safely,
Dennis

denandannie · 08-14-2014, 01:03 PM

I purchased a Thule bike rack to go on the front hitch receiver I installed. The rack is solid and carries the two bikes w/o hardly a wobble. However, after giving it a try, I put the rack on the trailer instead. Here's why. First, with two bikes it sticks out a long way--about 24 inches-- and is very distracting. Second, the bikes block the lights and turn signals from being seen. Third, if I have to use my headlights it will be hard for me to see.

Trailer Trash 2 · 08-14-2014, 05:55 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by PatnRich

I have had my eye on this for some time but have not purchased. Easy to install bolt on receiver for the p/u.

https://bodiaknet.powweb.com/store/c...bf97ddc06feb8b

I cant open your web tag could u fix it please.

**Carl n Susan** · 08-14-2014, 06:34 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Trailer Trash 2

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by PatnRich

I have had my eye on this for some time but have not purchased. Easy to install bolt on receiver for the p/u.

https://bodiaknet.powweb.com/store/c...bf97ddc06feb8b

I cant open your web tag could u fix it please.

Don: I couldn't figure out what was wrong with the supplied URL but here is one that gets you to Bodiak and then you can select your truck brand for the hitch appropriate for it.

http://www.bodiak.us/

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