Bicycles

[timandsusan]

I have become an active bicycle rider--20 speed crossover model-usually average 30 miles a week but no highway or road riding. But have not taken it with me while towing. I see 2 options for taking 1 or 2 bicycles - roof rack on truck or put inside the Monty. Looking for recommendations--thanks in advance.

[DQDick]

I ride about 25 miles a week, but I don't have that fancy a bike. In fact I only use second gear on a three speed to make the hills harder on my legs. We mount ours on the back of our rig, but with a bike that fancy I'd probably mount them on the front of my truck. Add a hitch up there and carry the bikes in front. Too hard for me to get them on the roof of the truck over and over and our rig, at least, really doesn't have a good place inside.

[Tom S.]

There are lots of options. There are a ton of hitch mounted carriers available that can be mounted to the front of your truck or the rear of the trailer. I just added a Swagman XTC 2 Cross Country to the rear of our Montana and was very impressed with the built quality. Seems to me someone also makes a unit that mounts to the pin box and carries the bikes above. I've even seen one strapped to the rear ladder.

[jcurtis934]

Have a rack on the back of the monte (yakima stickup) and I carry my bike on the top of the toolbox in the pickup bed using one bolt through the lid to serve as a means of "locking" down a pedal and the two ell brackets bolted through the lid and spaced so that an all thread rod serves to mate with the front fork dropouts (wheel removed) to lock the forks solidly in place. John

[Tfthorp]

I made a rack for bed of the truck from the devices a bike repair shop uses to secure the front forks without the tire on. Mounted them on plywood and tie them in,

[richfaa]

The ladder rack did not work for us .IMO it is the worst choice. We carried them on a hitch on the rear of the Montana .We always had nothing fancy bikes usually Huffy.

[BB_TX]

Basic 26" 21 speed bikes with quick remove front wheels. For a number of years I just removed the front wheels and laid them in the bed in front of the hitch. Normally 2 but occasionally 3 bikes. Worked ok but something of a pain to remove the wheels and get them settled in. And they would get some scratches if I did not put some padding in the form of pool noodles between them.

So based on some pictures I saw on the web, I made a pin box mounted hitch receiver. I already had a 4 bike hitch mount rack. Works great. Very little bounce and they are up and out of the way until I need them. To load I just back the truck near the rack, lift the bikes into the bed, use my Ford "man step" to step up into the bed, set the bikes on the rack, and ready to go. Reverse to unload. If we do not intend to use them at a particular stop they stay up on the trailer out of the way.



On my computer this picture is right side up. On my phone it is upside down. Can't figure that one out.

[tweber502]

We carry our 2 Schwinn 21 speed hybrid bikes on the back of the Monty using our Swagman 2 bike carrier placed in the factory installed receiver. Have been using this carrier for 7 plus years and 2 5th wheels with no problems. I do cover the seats with plastic bags just in case we run into rain while traveling. Tim

[Mike117]

I bought the swagman from posts I read here. Haven't tried mine out yet. Just got the vehicle home after retro fitting my pole building to get it inside. Summer is upon us in the Pacific Northwest so soon.

[sambam]

As you can see by my signature picture, I carry my bikes on the roof of my truck. I've been doing it this way for years and have developed a routine that works well for me. It's certainly not for everyone as it is a long way up there. When I have more than 2 bikes to bring along, with the longbed, I can remove the front wheels and the bikes will fit across the bed in front of the action, without impairing any movement. I just throw a strap around them and they're secure. I've found this to be a good way to travel with bikes. Hanging off the back of the 5th wheel doesn't appeal to me as there is a lot of motion back there. A friend of mine, with a hitch-mounted carrier dragged his bikes behind him for miles unknowingly, until another motorist flagged him down. I don't mean to imply that bumper mounted hitches will fail. His did and he didn't know it. Keeping them in sight is important to me.

[The Oldguard]

Tim, This is what I did You can go to Camping World and get the wheel attachments and put your bike on the basket.
There is no movement of the bikes.

[timandsusan]

Great Ideas! Now I have about 8 weeks to decide. I am leaning to the truck front mount. I already have a Thule carrier that fits the 2" rear receiver. My 2006 Monty really moves around a lot at the rear end and I don't think I would be comfortable driving 5000 miles while hoping my bike made the trip. Again--the MOC came thru!

[timandsusan]

Got the 2" receiver installed on the front of the Ford. Looks great. Will be out to "test camp"--that is get ready for a 3 month trip this summer and will try out the new front receiver.