Twenty Six Inches » Talk general mtb stuff...

1. 

   sammydog
   

   Administrator
   

   I've just gone and bought a camper trailer and now my thoughts have gone onto how to actually transport bikes while towing.

   Normally I would use a gripsport rack on the towbar, but obviously that won't work towing a trailer.

   I've come across the MacRac which can work with a trailer hooked up. Seems like it would do the job as long as the bikes have a normal top tube.
   

   This should work for my XC bikes but won't with my DH bike. Can anyone suggest other options (sticking the bikes on the roof isn't an option) for transporting a bike while towing a trailer?

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   Posted 10 months ago # | | | | |
2. 

   Rocky
   

   Member
   

   If I was you I'd give that rack a miss. I personally don't like the idea of hanging a bike by it's TT and have it bounce around. The TT was not made for that, plus the clamping design is not good.
   Is there any way you could mount the grip to the back of the camper?? or even the front?? or on/in the camper itself?? how about inside you car as your luggage should be in the camper??
   There has to be another way.

   EDIT: Hang on just another thought if you do use those racks I guess you can use one of those bars that goes between the stem and seat post that would carry the bike better without harming the bike, plus carry the DH.

   http://crankin-kwells.blogspot.com/

   Posted 10 months ago # | | | | |
3. 

   jaseh
   

   Member
   

   Bikes on the roof racks.

   Posted 10 months ago # | | | | |
4. 

   thepeasant
   

   Member
   

   I have seen racks that go on top of the camper trailer - is that an option?

   Posted 10 months ago # | | | | |
5. 

   sammydog
   

   Administrator
   

   Nah, we got this.

   

   The top is soft.

   Posted 10 months ago # | | | | |
6. 

   NoWayRay
   

   Member
   

   I've seen some of those camper trailers around, that have a bike rack mounted on the trailer up front, try googling a few camper hire places.

   Posted 10 months ago # | | | | |
7. 

   ComicBookGuy
   

   Member
   

   Sammydog,

   Couple of things.

   If you put any type of bike rack on the tow bar you will have to include the rack and bike weight in the calculations for the towball loading. For example, I have a very similar type of camper trailer. Fully laden with gear, with the spare tyre and a large toolbox on the drawbar, the ball weight is approx 65kg. Our car has a load limit of 75kg on the ball. So I can't put much more weight on the towball. You need to check the load limit for your towbar and just make sure you are not overloading it by adding the bike + rack to the towbar.

   I have seen a number of trailers like these with bike racks fitted to the drawbar. And incidentally the trailer in your photo looks a lot like my trailer. Did you get the vertical spare tyre mount? If so I have seen bike racks attached to the vertical bar that face to the rear of the trailer. I have a large toolbox fitted to my drawbar, behind the vertical spare wheel mount, so a bike rack there is out for me. And to be honest the toolbox is worth its' weight in gold for the convenience factor alone.

   As mentioned above go to your local trailer fabricator (yellow pages is your friend) and have a chat about your options. You may even be able to get something similar to the boat mounts that can be put on the top of a trailer.

   I find myself in the same situation as I am unable to transport my bikes which is very frustrating. Personally I have been considering roof racks mainly because at this time I have little other option.

   Hope my ramblings are of some use to you.

   Cheers,
   Michael.
   CBG.

   Posted 10 months ago # | | | | |
8. 

   Jackstak
   

   Member
   

   As a fellow camper trailer owner I understand your frustration. If the Mac-Rac fully loaded doesn't intefere with the trailer at all it will be fine but use the bars you get that Rocky suggests between headset and seat post but you'll want to tie the bikes off so they don't bash into
   each other in transit.
   I have a rack similar but modified and fitted to the back of my trailer, but i do tie the bikes off so that they don't bang into each other.
   If you can afford it, go with CBG's suggestion and get a rack made that goes over the top of the trailer and fit your normal roof rack mounts to that, trust me, if I had the money at the time this would of been mine choice. Those tow ball mounted racks are a **** when putting multiple bikes on. If you want I could send you pics of my set up.

   Posted 10 months ago # | | | | |
9. 

   jaseh
   

   Member
   

   Check out this adapter made up for a similar bike rack,
   linky link
   You may be able to do something similar for your GS rack.

   Posted 10 months ago # | | | | |

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