Custom Fabricated Bike Hitch

[anglerdad]

I just discovered that the Camping World in Houghton Lake, MI custom fabricates 2" receiver hitches for campers, and will fit and weld it directly to your frame. $1200. Not sure if all CW's offer this, but after checking around for options, this seems like a good one. Has anyone else purchased one of these?

[sambam]

I haven't heard or seen these, but $1200 seems kind of expensive to me. If your bikes are higher end, you may consider a roof rack system. As a cyclist, I sometimes bring expensive bikes camping with us. I can't get used to the idea of having them hanging off the back of a 38' camper, no matter how secure. It's tough to monitor them back there, and theft is also a concern. A good Yakima or Thule roof rack system will cost considerably less and your bikes will be up out of harms way. It can be difficult at first to work out a routine for getting them up there, but I've developed one that works well for me. You can leave the bikes up there, locked, when not in use. Even if your bikes aren't of the higher end variety, $1200 seems like a lot of money to get them around. I've seen some people that have welded a hitch receiver to their pin box. That seems like a reasonable alternative as well.

[JandC]

I agree, $1,200 sounds kind of high plus you still have to purchase the bike rack. I put the Bodiak hitch on the front of my truck ($281) and a Reese double bike rack ($79.00) for a total of under $365.00. I have mounted everything and it seems to work great. I will find out how happy I am with this set up starting Saturday when we head back north.

[DQDick]

If all you're going to do is carry bikes I'd look for a cheaper option. If your going to put generators or something else heavy or tow a car or boat, then it's worth the money. There's a Montana dealer in Abilene, KS that has been taking the cheap hitches that come on our rigs off and welding a real hitch on for years so I'm sure other dealers do it also.

[BB_TX]

For $25 I made a pin box mount. No bouncing at all. I can see the bikes in the rear view mirror. And up that high and with a locking pin and locking cable it would be very difficult for someone to make off with, or even tamper with, the bikes.
On and off is easy as I just position the truck with tailgate down near the bike rack, step into the bed with my "Ford man step" , lift the bikes from the bed to the rack (or from the rack to the bed). And at stops where we do not intend to use the bikes they just stay on the rack still safe and out of the way.

[8.1al]

$1200 is ridiculous. I believe it is Drawtite makes a hitch that is adjustable in width that several members have used on their Montana's and they worked quite well

[bethandkevin]

That's awfully pricey Mike. Does the new rig have any hitch at all? If not maybe that's their justification. Just seems like there should be (and have been suggested here) many other options that would be more economical. That said, the 2" reciever that they put on mine in place of the 1-1/4" is rock solid. Paid $154.00.

[h2ojocky]

BB TX I sent you a PM regarding bike rack.

[WeBeFulltime]

That price is totally out of line.....of course you did say "CW".

[bigred715]

My 1 1/4 receiver that came stock on my 2010 Montana has worked just fine. I have a Swagman bike carrier and made 2 trips across U.S. coast to coast and 4 trips to Arizona 2500 miles round trip with no problems.

[Artemus Gordon]

Very expensive if I am asked. I just used adapter and my off the rack "rack "! See what I did there? Worked great! BTW. Bill and Pat, how do you keep your stuff in pickup ? Picture looks like everything would fall out?

[chieflawdawg]

I just put a DrawTite receiver hitch on the front of my truck on Thursday. About an hours job and $200. Now trying to decide which carrier I want. I had one on the back of the Monte but it was flimsy and about lost a bike when one of the rubber tie downs broke. Gonna put them up front where I can watch them.

[MDL]

Well I'm one of the guys that paid a bucket load for a custom hitch on the back of the new Monty, but love it. It was about $625 from a local well known well shop. They also installed a set screw to keep it from moving around. I was concerned about the warranty so wanted a good frame hitch properly installed. Then I go to my local Montana dealer on Sunday and find the new 2014+ monty now has the rear receiver installed from the factory, just like the old days. In this case, they also welded it to the frame, where mine is bolted, but it's a customer fit/weld job. The piece of mind is worth it to me, but I also have a $350 bike rack inserted into it. Now it's time for new bikes! OK, maybe in another year or so, I spent my fun money on the hitch!!!