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Old 05-09-2022, 03:14 PM   #1
Old_Salty
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Bike rack - cross ways in front of 5th wheel hitch

Does anyone have a bike rack or know if one evens exists to mount two bikes cross ways above the truck rails in front of the 5th wheel hitch? Truck is a 2021 F450. Bikes are full size 26" e-bikes about 70# each.

Currently, we fold up and store on pull out tray at rear of Montana 3791RD. This is Ok but not ideal. Thanks in advance, Mike
 
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Old 05-10-2022, 07:46 AM   #2
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Years ago there was one made by a Canadian company, but I couldn't find the thread and it was quite a few years ago.
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Old 05-10-2022, 08:00 AM   #3
1retired06
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We have lots of Canadian snowbirds in Florida and have seen several. Very easy to scratch up the front of the rig loading and unloading.
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Old 05-10-2022, 11:09 AM   #4
432bartman
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I'd think the turning radius of your rig would be affected by mounting your bikes in front of the front cap of your trailer. Another thought is a front hitch mount for your truck, or a track system on top of the truck roof.
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Old 05-10-2022, 11:24 AM   #5
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It seems to me that to "mount two bikes cross ways above the truck rails in front of the 5th wheel hitch? " means they are across the truck bed just behind the rear window. That works real estate wise until you turn and the RV cap encroaches in that space. Too many here have broken their rear windows with the cap hitting in a turn. This would guarantee damage much sooner.

Or I could be totally wrong about how you want to store the e-bikes.
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Old 05-10-2022, 07:53 PM   #6
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I have considered doing this and making a custom mount myself. As long as your bikes stay within the radius between your kingpin and the back window of your truck, you should be OK. On a 90 degree turn, your truck needs to clear the side edges of your front cap, not the bikes. This applies to full size bed, no slide hitch.
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Old 05-10-2022, 08:20 PM   #7
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I think horsing two 70 lb bikes up in the bed, and then horsing them from the bed to the mount on the top of your pin box wouldn't be any handier than stashing them in the rear storage
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Old 05-12-2022, 02:58 AM   #8
Old_Salty
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I was thinking of using a ramp to get them into the bed of the truck. Folded, the bikes are awkward to handle. They do have to be folded to fit into the rear compartment and are too heavy (about 70 lbs each) to put on a bike rack at the rear of the camper. I had a rear rack on our last Montana and didn't like that much.
I had several concerns with this idea and a couple of them were mentioned here. Another of my concerns is the exposure to the elements. With E-bikes, this could be a show stopper.
I also thought about building a rack to hold them folded in front of the hitch. They would fit there and could be covered.
I posed the question to get others input and for that I thank you all. Still thinking...
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Old 05-12-2022, 07:12 AM   #9
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The factory-installed rear bumper cargo rack on my 2016 HC has a load capacity of 250 pounds; well within the weight of your two 70# bikes. It also has the advantage of taking some weight off the hitch pin. Just be sure and lock them on, because some people have had stuff stolen while they are stopped at a traffic signal!

By the way, I personally would never mount bikes on the front bumper of my truck; it disrupts much-needed cooling air to the radiator, condenser, charge cooler, etc.
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Old 05-15-2022, 02:05 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old_Salty View Post
I was thinking of using a ramp to get them into the bed of the truck. Folded, the bikes are awkward to handle. They do have to be folded to fit into the rear compartment and are too heavy (about 70 lbs each) to put on a bike rack at the rear of the camper. I had a rear rack on our last Montana and didn't like that much.
I had several concerns with this idea and a couple of them were mentioned here. Another of my concerns is the exposure to the elements. With E-bikes, this could be a show stopper.
I also thought about building a rack to hold them folded in front of the hitch. They would fit there and could be covered.
I posed the question to get others input and for that I thank you all. Still thinking...
I was going to go that route until one day it hit me, folding bikes. We are a couple so have a ton of room in the rear seat area of the truck and it folds up. Problem solved.
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Old 05-15-2022, 02:47 PM   #11
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I used to carry two 27" bikes far forward in the bed of the truck bungeed so they stayed against the front wall of the bed. I put some padding between the bikes and between the forward bike and the truck. Truck was a LB dually.
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Old 05-15-2022, 03:47 PM   #12
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Bike rack on 5th wheel hitch

Saw someone in San Diego who was replacing the back window in the truck after trying to park with bikes mounted to hitch.
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Old 05-15-2022, 05:15 PM   #13
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No............. 70 lb per bike is pretty heavy. We have a 2-70 lb bike rack (Swagman E-Bike) hitch attached to the back of our fifth wheel trailer. Bikes weight 35 lbs and 51 lbs.
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Old 05-15-2022, 06:00 PM   #14
dbrandon44
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They make a bolt on receiver for the front of your truck. I have one the I use to carry the front of my Kayaks. It's the same as a back receiver on your truck. It would definitely hold both bicycles.
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Old 05-15-2022, 06:34 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old_Salty View Post
Does anyone have a bike rack or know if one evens exists to mount two bikes cross ways above the truck rails in front of the 5th wheel hitch? Truck is a 2021 F450. Bikes are full size 26" e-bikes about 70# each.

Currently, we fold up and store on pull out tray at rear of Montana 3791RD. This is Ok but not ideal. Thanks in advance, Mike
Old Salty, why not use the receiver hitch on the back of the fifth wheel?
I just added one to mine from Hollywood Racks, go to there website and click on receiver type. Look for the RV RIDER HR1700 it’s built solid, little pricey but worth it. It’s rated for fifth wheel as a lot aren’t. Good luck.
Safe Travels Steve
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Old 05-15-2022, 11:40 PM   #16
h2ojocky
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I bought a 2' receiver from Harbor Freight and welded it to a frame that bolts to my pinbox. I then bought a bike rack to slide into the receiver. My bikes only weigh 30 pounds each but as stated you can get racks that will accomodate E-Bikes. I drive a short bed with a slider hitch. I would not want to lift a 70 pound bike up there. Don't forget to add this weight to your pin weight. With a 450 you probably would be ok.
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Old 05-22-2022, 01:36 PM   #17
Old_Salty
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Thanks for the responses and advice. After consideration, we are going to continue to store on the slide out tray in the rear of our rig as they are protected from the weather.
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