Maintenance & Restoration

KathyEllicottCity · 07-24-2011, 03:50 PM

We have a 17ft Casita Spirit. We would like to carry 2 bikes on the back. The RV shop said we couldn't install a bike rack on a fiberglass trailer.
Anyone have any experience with this? We pull the Casita with a Toyota Sienna van.

floyd · 07-24-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathyEllicottCity

We have a 17ft Casita Spirit. We would like to carry 2 bikes on the back. The RV shop said we couldn't install a bike rack on a fiberglass trailer.
Anyone have any experience with this? We pull the Casita with a Toyota Sienna van.

I have installed receivers on Scamps several times,and Scamp offers them as an option, The frame is made of steel afterall!

If you do put a receiver on your Casita, just be sure and add an extra crossmember to the frame and attach the receiver to both the bumper and the new crossmember., Just attaching to the bumper allows too much flex.
I can't see why fiberglass would have any bearing on the choice.
Personally I think the back of a trailer is too abusive of a spot to carry bikes.... so make sure the receiver is attached securely.

Here's where we carry ours...

Doug Arthurs · 07-24-2011, 05:56 PM

I would recommend that before you have a receiver welded to your trailer you have the frame and axle inspected so you are sure everything is in good condition. The extra bouncing on the rear of my trailer contributed to the tongue breaking on my trailer.

Vic&Kathy · 07-25-2011, 12:10 AM

We had a receiver welded on to accept our bike rack. It's welded to the bumper and to the first cross member on the frame. It's been solid for years. We've enjoyed three trips across the US and back, countless bike races and weekend trips with no problems.

The irony of this photo...the carbon fiber bike on the rack costs more than what we originally paid for our '72 Trail Mite!

Vic

Donna D. · 07-25-2011, 05:44 AM

And, remember adding weight to the back is going to change the tongue weight. Compensate for that....

Matthew A · 07-25-2011, 10:14 AM

Our family is huge into biking and I decided to put the bikes on top of my tug vehicle. The added weight on the back was a problem for my 16 ft scamp. You could counter that with weight up front but then the trailer would teeter totter. The racks on the tongue would be another great option, I choose not to because that would get in the way of my tugs rear hatch opening.

floyd · 07-27-2011, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew A

Our family is huge into biking and I decided to put the bikes on top of my tug vehicle. The added weight on the back was a problem for my 16 ft scamp. You could counter that with weight up front but then the trailer would teeter totter. The racks on the tongue would be another great option, I choose not to because that would get in the way of my tugs rear hatch opening.

Actually my bike rack on the tongue, does not interfere with the hatch on my Escape. Note...First photo is with my Ranger attached, and it is at full left turn when the picture was taken.

The advantage of a receiver on the back of the trailer is that it can be moved to the TV when leaving the trailer at basecamp.
When we want to transport bikes and leave the trailer, we must remember to bring a receiver rack along.

fidgetboy · 07-28-2011, 07:47 AM

http://www.princessauto.com/trailer/...3-bike-carrier

here is a link to a bike carrier that uses your receiver hitch and still allows you to pull a trailer. Now this will add to your tongue weight as well but it allows you not to need an additional carrier as long as your reach on the trailer is long enough to allow turning and not hit the bikes. Hope this helps.

**cpaharley2008** · 07-28-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fidgetboy

http://www.princessauto.com/trailer/...3-bike-carrier

here is a link to a bike carrier that uses your receiver hitch and still allows you to pull a trailer. Now this will add to your tongue weight as well but it allows you not to need an additional carrier as long as your reach on the trailer is long enough to allow turning and not hit the bikes. Hope this helps.

However this reduces your capacity of your hitch.