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05-09-2022, 03:14 PM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: King Ferry
Posts: 86
M.O.C. #12298
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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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05-10-2022, 07:46 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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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.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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05-10-2022, 08:00 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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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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Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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05-10-2022, 11:09 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2020
Location: UPLAND
Posts: 1,257
M.O.C. #26190
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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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2019 Keystone Montana 3560RL, 2020 Chevy 2500 HD, Firestone airbags, Air Lift wireless compressor, Curt gooseneck, 20K Reese Goosebox, TST-507, USMC combat vet & retired LEO. Robert, Anika, Breanna, Dylan (daughter-in-law Stephanie). & our Great Pyrenees Layla
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05-10-2022, 11:24 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,395
M.O.C. #4831
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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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Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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05-10-2022, 07:53 PM
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#6
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Crossville
Posts: 296
M.O.C. #5424
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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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Ted & Beth Uhler, Crossville, TN
and "Monty", our traveling/camping cat
2022 Montana 3781, 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
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05-10-2022, 08:20 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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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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05-12-2022, 02:58 AM
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#8
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: King Ferry
Posts: 86
M.O.C. #12298
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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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05-12-2022, 07:12 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Medford
Posts: 498
M.O.C. #18546
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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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2016 Montana High Country 310RE
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LT CC 4x4 Duramax
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05-15-2022, 02:05 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 665
M.O.C. #26399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old_Salty
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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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.
__________________
2018 Keystone Montana 3811MS
2017 Ford F450 diesel dually
600AH Battle Born Lithium Batteries, 1,080 watts solar
3,000 watt hybrid inverter with 120A charger
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05-15-2022, 02:47 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,702
M.O.C. #5751
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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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05-15-2022, 03:47 PM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #25024
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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.
__________________
2016 305RL
2018 Ram 2500 Laramie
Curt 25 Hitch on factory puck
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05-15-2022, 05:15 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Bencia
Posts: 538
M.O.C. #25828
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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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2020 Montana 3780RL fifth wheel
2016 F-350 6.7L Diesel Crew Cab Long Bed DRW
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05-15-2022, 06:00 PM
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#14
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Rainier
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #9783
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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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05-15-2022, 06:34 PM
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#15
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Roseville ca
Posts: 26
M.O.C. #29445
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old_Salty
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 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
__________________
Steve & Sheryl
2021 Montana 3231 CK full body paint (Sterling)
300 watt solar, 3 air conditions, Slide out toppers
2015 GMC Denali 3500 SRW CC SWB
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05-15-2022, 11:40 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita
Posts: 633
M.O.C. #13025
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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.
__________________
Russ and Linda, So. California
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, D/A, SRW, SB
2005 2955RL, Pullrite Superglide 16K hitch. Bridgestone Duravis R500 tires. EZ Flex Equilizers with wet bolts.EMS HW50C, Disk brakes
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05-22-2022, 01:36 PM
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#17
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: King Ferry
Posts: 86
M.O.C. #12298
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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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