Hollywood RV Bike Rack on a 2 Inch Rear Hitch

[rubio171]

Hey guys, I have a 2019 3811ms with the built in receiver hitch. I’m looking at a Hollywood rv bike rack for 2 electric 2.0 bikes. By weight, it is well under the hitch limit. My question is, it is too stressful for the rig to have that setup ? Also, if anyone else has this setup, which cover do you use?

 

[scottz]

I don't know which hitch they put on your rig. On my 2017, the 1 1/2" receiver was barely strong enough to carry it's own weight. If that is what you have, I wouldn't carry anything on it. Later years have a 2" receiver rated at 300 pounds.
That might work but I would check the factory install and see if it needs to be reinforced. I took my factory hitch off and installed a heavy duty 2" hitch from Etrailer. I have the Hollywood rack and two Lectric bikes; no worries now.

Items on the back of the rig will bounce considerably; just follow a 5th wheel that has stuff on the rear hitch and watch. Anti rattle clamps will help.

This is the cover I use; Obsidian Cover. Heavy duty, cost about $105 a few years ago. Looks like Amazon doesn't have it anymore; due some research. I actually use two covers; an older light weight one that I put on from the bottom up and the Obsidian cover on top. An amazing amount of road grime will get on your bikes if the bottom of the cover is open.

 

[JAR-V]

I have the Hollywood RV rack. As long as your Rig has a towing hitch you will be fine. That is a two inch receiver and rated for towing. I would also recommend the light bar. Any cover is better than nothing. Be sure you strap it down well.

 

[rubio171]

Mine has a 2 inch rated at 300lbs…going to start looking for a cover, the Obsidian is getting hard to find.

 

[Jay & Bobbie]

We haul 2 Lectric 3.0 bikes on ours (2" receiver rated 300lbs).We also have the Obsidian cover. As previously mentioned, any cover is good. Yes, strap it well. Also take the batteries out of the bikes. Lessens the weight significantly.

 

[DutchmenSport]

Also, if you go this route, make sure the license plate and tail lights are not obstructed because of the bikes (or anything else).

 

[Lcbuddy]

We have a Swagman E-spec, RV approved rack, that came with a threaded hitch pin, which when tightened, has no movement at all. The Hollywood looks similar, although, I would make sure that it comes with the threaded hitch pin. It does make all the difference, with the standard smooth pin, whether it is a locking or plain clip, has a too much movement inside the receiver.

 

[AZMont]

We had a pretty bad experience with a bicycle rack that was supposed to support 2 80lb e-bikes. It failed on I-40 East of Kingman, AZ. Luckily, someone drove up next to us and let us know we had an issue on the back of our RV before the e-bikes fell off. Metal fatigue broke both of the rack's uprights that held the seat posts and kept the bikes vertical. Our security cable kept the bikes from falling onto the pavement as we drove. I called a local bike store and discovered a few things. 1.) you need a bike rack rated for the back of an RV due to the significant bouncing at the rear of the trailer; 2.) It is a good idea to add additional strapping to the rack to hold the bikes on place. 3.) always use a security cable "just in case". We purchased a 1UP super duty billet bike rack. It is much better made than our old failed rack made of tubes and stamped metal and a bit more expensive. We also strap the tires into the rack in addition to the rack's fastening devices. We know tow and carry our e-bikes safely on the rear of the 5th wheel.

 

[AZMont]

We had a pretty bad experience with a bicycle rack that was supposed to support 2 80lb e-bikes. It failed on I-40 East of Kingman, AZ. Luckily, someone drove up next to us and let us know we had an issue on the back of our RV before the e-bikes fell off. Metal fatigue broke both of the rack's uprights that held the seat posts and kept the bikes vertical. Our security cable kept the bikes from falling onto the pavement as we drove. I called a local bike store and discovered a few things. 1.) you need a bike rack rated for the back of an RV due to the significant bouncing at the rear of the trailer; 2.) It is a good idea to add additional strapping to the rack to hold the bikes on place. 3.) always use a security cable "just in case". We purchased a 1UP super duty billet bike rack. It is much better made than our old failed rack made of tubes and stamped metal and a bit more expensive. We also strap the tires into the rack in addition to the rack's fastening devices. We know tow and carry our e-bikes safely on the rear of the 5th wheel.

 

[ReadyToRetire]

We have a 2021 3763 BP with the 2-in 300 lb accessory hitch. We have the Hollywood rack RV Rider and two Aventon 73 lb bikes. It comes with a screw in locking pin and the anti sway bracket. I have driven behind our Montana and those bikes don't move! We also travel with the Obsidian travel cover but my husband modified our old bike rack to put a light bar behind the cover because the cover will block your tail lights. We are now considering the new rail lights from ABC upfitters. I'm sad we can't make it to the rally this year because we would have had them installed there.

 

[EdH_]

Better late than never?

We have the Hollywood bike rack carrying XP 2.0's. We've had no problems, hopefully never will. But we also followed the directions provided with the rack: we use ratchet straps to secure the rack from bouncing, the provided strap to keep the bikes strapped to the rack. We use the provided security cable, but it just prevents theft.

We are very happy to have the RailLites installed by ABC Upfitters. Makes a big difference when hauling. But ABC Upfitters does have some verbiage in their documents starting these are NOT considered primary signals, but secondary, supplemental signal lights. I assume that is for legal CYA reasons. Also note they are turn and tail lights only - no reverse lights. But they did say they will be releasing those soon (once OEM exclusivity period expires).

 

[buck119fa]

We've used the Hollywood rack for about 3 years now hauling our 2 Aventon ebikes all over the country with no issues. 2 bikes 1 is about 60lb the other is about 70lb. We take the batteries out to save a little weight and it makes it easier to load.
The bikes are a little closer together than I'd like, We found once that the pedals had rubbed on the other bikes frame. Now I verify position of the pedals and use a couple split pool noodles to put over the pedals to avoid that issue.
I did have to add a hitch extension to get the bikes back far enough to clear the back wall, Added straps from each back corner of the hitch under the camper up to the center of the rack to help with movment, added an anti-rattle clamp to the hitch so it doesn't rock around. Watching them with the rear camera the don't move around much. They strap down well and we like the locks on the seat post clamp.
I usually have a cover on the bikes and they do cover the tail lights some so I added LED lights on the back wall about center top to bottom.

 

[flyingjack]

Lots of good ebike racks; we use Rockymounts. I did quite a bit of research looking for racks and almost every rack company that responded to covers said DON'T use them. Creates more drag and stress on rack. Been hauling ebikes 10K miles/yr of over 5 yrs-no issues but did stop using covers two yrs ago. YMMV

 

[Theunz]

I avoid the worries and just fold my Lectric 2.0 and put it in a large storage bin from Lowe’s and carry it inside the trailer.