Bike Racks - Tongue Mounted

[Ed in St Joe]

After reading the tales of caution posted in this and other forums regarding hitch mounted bike racks extending off the end of lightweight travel trailers, I've determined that as a newbie, I'm not going to take the risk with our 16' Scamp (2020). Which puts me in a quandary as I need a way to transport 2 bikes. I'm trying to see if any of the tongue mount racks are an option. The Arvika looks great, but with the limited available frame space on the Scamp I don't see any way to successfully attach it. The Jack-it 2 (Lippert) looks more promising, but I'm concerned about the space available between its rack location and the front of the Scamp. Has anyone successfully installed and used the Jack-it 2 with a Scamp to transport 2 adult sized bikes? If you've done so with one of the other Fiberglass RVs, I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

[mary and bob]

A few years ago at a rally we met the owner of a fairly new Scamp 13. He had built a bike rack on the tongue, using steel angle as I recall. It was made to set on top of the trailer frame, and over the propane tank. He did a real nice job on it.

[TimothyP]

A couple of years ago I modified the tongue of my U-haul CT 13 to accommodate dual LP tanks. In so doing, I found a neat place to mount a receiver. I use a receiver mounted bike rack from Harbor Freight. It works great. The CT 13 has an exceptionally long tongue so I have plenty of clearance from the tow vehicle. I am not sure of the configuration of the Scamp tongue but it may give you some ideas. When I get a chance I will try to post a photo.


TimothyP

[mary and bob]

Scamp has the common "V" tongue, where the Uhaul has the single square tube tongue. We removed the propane tank on our UHaul and installed a storage box. Removed that box before we sold the Uhaul.

[Mary Ann in NC]

I am more concerned with the additional tongue weight a bike rack will add. My Jeep Grand Cherokee only likes 5003 and the Escape 19 comes in below that. If I mount my rack on the tongue that might not be the case. Mounted behind the spare tire it actually helps with my tongue weight concerns.

[Glenn Wolfe]

I have the same problem with my Escape 19. I have ordered, but not received, a Swagman Traveler XCS rack that fits over the ball tongue.http://https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Bike-Racks/Swagman/S64664.html

My hitch is complicated by brackets for a WDH system. Couldn't get the exact sleeve measurements from etrailer so it will be trial and error, and maybe re-engineer it when it arrives. Is the tongue long enough is one issue, the other is clearance for the tailgate on my Highlander.

The Swagman the only one I found that seems to do what I need it to do. Good luck with yours!

[Mary Ann in NC]

I don't see how the Swagman rack mounted on the draw bar solves your tongue weight problem. Maybe we have a different concern.

[thrifty bill]

Lighten the tongue weight at your peril. I have an Escape 19 and won't mount bikes on the rear. I'd mount them on a tow vehicle roof rack first.

Adequate tongue weight is needed to keep the trailer from swaying. Until you have had trailer sway, you won't realize how bad it can get (and it can roll the trailer AND tow vehicle too). I target 13% tongue weight.

Go to youtube and search for trailer sway. There is one where someone is towing a light weight nearly empty open trailer behind their full size SUV. Rolls them both.

[SMSample]

We're looking at adding a front hitch receiver onto our F150. We can then mount our bike carrier to it and carry them in front of the vehicle.
On our two week trip, this past two weeks, we saw several truck hauling bikes and motorbikes this way.

[Osos1]

Originally Posted by thrifty bill

Lighten the tongue weight at your peril. I have an Escape 19 and won't mount bikes on the rear. I'd mount them on a tow vehicle roof rack first.

Adequate tongue weight is needed to keep the trailer from swaying. Until you have had trailer sway, you won't realize how bad it can get (and it can roll the trailer AND tow vehicle too). I target 13% tongue weight.

Go to youtube and search for trailer sway. There is one where someone is towing a light weight nearly empty open trailer behind their full size SUV. Rolls them both.

There has been at least two Escape 19 that have rolled after sway. It is THE most prone for sway IMO of any Escape due to the rear bed and aft mounted refer. That is why they take up prime space in their front box- if optioned-with batteries. And many travel with empty fresh tanks.

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by Ed in St Joe

After reading the tales of caution posted in this and other forums regarding hitch mounted bike racks extending off the end of lightweight travel trailers, I've determined that as a newbie, I'm not going to take the risk with our 16' Scamp (2020). Which puts me in a quandary as I need a way to transport 2 bikes. I'm trying to see if any of the tongue mount racks are an option. The Arvika looks great, but with the limited available frame space on the Scamp I don't see any way to successfully attach it. The Jack-it 2 (Lippert) looks more promising, but I'm concerned about the space available between its rack location and the front of the Scamp. Has anyone successfully installed and used the Jack-it 2 with a Scamp to transport 2 adult sized bikes? If you've done so with one of the other Fiberglass RVs, I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

Find “Floyd.” Send hm a PM. He is the resident Scamp guru and defender. He built a front rack for his Scamp 13 and may be able to give you advice.

[Booker B.]

We installed the jack-it on our Trillium 4500 as the trailer is already a bit tail heavy. It's a great rack, however, getting the rear bike off the rack is quite difficult.

[Booker B.]

Additional photo showing the side view to determine clearance.

[TimothyP]

Dear Ed in /St. Joe


Here are two photos of the receiver I attached to the tongue of my U-haul CT 13 (see my previous post in this thread.) I know that your tongue is configured differently but, if you could see a way to adapt that receiver (I think available through most auto stores) to your unit, you would then be able to use most any receiver mounted bike rack without having to re-invent the wheel.


Timothy P.

[Sparky0]

this one works great for me. Clamps right onto the ball mount. Carries two bikes. Really solid.



https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[floyd]

Here's a couple which work great...

[Rockytop]

Well, one alternative would be to ditch the motorbikes and ride conventional bicycles Instead of ebikes. Our carbon fiber bikes weigh about 17 pounds each and require a much lighter rack. But we are only 70, and if you are older, that might not be a suitable alternative for you.

[dfandrews]

Just a muddy-the-water alternative. A friend of mine just sent a photo, yesterday, of his solution for a tent trailer that has the standard 50° angled coupler.

He removed the coupler, and then he welded on a 2"x2" square tube structural steel extension, and substituted a straight coupler. This works great IF you are a welder!!
He now has room for the bike rack.

[jefft]

It works well for me to mount my rack over the hitch

[fastdixie]

Originally Posted by thrifty bill

Lighten the tongue weight at your peril. I have an Escape 19 and won't mount bikes on the rear. I'd mount them on a tow vehicle roof rack first.

Adequate tongue weight is needed to keep the trailer from swaying. Until you have had trailer sway, you won't realize how bad it can get (and it can roll the trailer AND tow vehicle too). I target 13% tongue weight.

Go to youtube and search for trailer sway. There is one where someone is towing a light weight nearly empty open trailer behind their full size SUV. Rolls them both.

Just returned from a trip watching a uHaul truck towing a small SUV on a four wheel UHaul trailer; just in front of me they developed such sway it drug them back and forth across the highway. thankfully they were able to slow down and stop the sway; after a gas fillup, I passed them again miles later- they were traveling a much slower speed than when first encountered.