Bicycle Rack Recommendation

**Chris Paul** · 11-17-2019, 09:31 AM

Greetings,

We have a 2018 Imagine 2500RL and would like to purchase and mount a bike rack on the rear bumper. As you are aware space is at a premium as the ladder and spare tire take up room already. In addition the bumper itself is set into the rear wall by almost an inch.

I've also heard the bumper may need to be reinforced with a bolt on kit before it can stand the stress of a bike rack.

Has anyone already purchased a rack that is working well? And can make a recommendation. We want to carry two regular style mountain bikes.

Thanks for any and all help.

Chris

**jkwilson** · 11-17-2019, 12:25 PM

I wouldn’t mount a bike rack on an RV bumper. With a TT, a Jack It bike rack or an above the rails bike rack in a truck bed are far better.

**Second Chance** · 11-17-2019, 12:40 PM

Did you search the forum or see this thread posted yesterday afternoon?

https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/show...80%9D-receiver

Rob

**430Flyer** · 11-22-2019, 06:29 PM

A bolt on 2" receiver mounted to the underside of the bumper is an easy addition & will allow a bike rack. The spare tire can be moved left or right as needed, but, obviously not to block the tail lights. Or (like mine) the spare tire moved to the truck bed & it's mount removed from the trailer bumper. (Since the trailer never moves without my truck it's always at hand on trips) Options are endless.

**Clanker24** · 11-23-2019, 04:50 AM

When I had a tt I used a bike rack that went on the front above the propane tanks. Much less movement

**jkwilson** · 11-23-2019, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by 430Flyer

A bolt on 2" receiver mounted to the underside of the bumper is an easy addition & will allow a bike rack. The spare tire can be moved left or right as needed, but, obviously not to block the tail lights. Or (like mine) the spare tire moved to the truck bed & it's mount removed from the trailer bumper. (Since the trailer never moves without my truck it's always at hand on trips) Options are endless.

Still puts all the weight on the bumper and unless you put a lot of effort into reinforcing the bumper you’ll end up dragging bikes down the road.

**sande005** · 11-23-2019, 08:49 AM

And..as I posted in the other thread...shop very carefully for the rack itself. The vast majority explicitly warn against use on an RV. You have to download the manual for each model to find out. Thule makes one RV model, Yakima one, and Swagman a couple....
Beware some/many bolt on receivers. Not many (any?) rated for bike racks. It is all about the force multiplier that happens when the weight is extended well out past the receiver. They may max out at say 300 lbs for a short ball coupler. But bikes and racks sticking out behind 3 ft can end up being the equivalent of more....
If you must have a rear hitch, welded on to the frame is the way to go.

**Clanker24** · 11-23-2019, 09:07 AM

http://www.arvika.ca/en/video-gallery/

**sande005** · 11-23-2019, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Clanker24

http://www.arvika.ca/en/video-gallery/

Yep, that is the way to go. And many TT's could benefit from a bit more tongue weight too! Lippert makes one like this, also - but the Arvika looks much nicer.