Front Mounted Bike Racks

[BeerBrewer]

Do any of you use a front frame mounted bike rack? Since we can't put a bike rack on the bumper I'm considering using a "A frame" mounted bike rack like a Jack-It rack or Swaggman but I'm concerned about clearances between the back of my pick-up (it has a Leer Cap on it) and the bikes when making tight turns or backing up. Is this an issue? If anyone has any experience, good or bad, with these types of back racks I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

[jkwilson]

Generally the bikes are higher than the tailgate on those racks.

[BeerBrewer]

Yes.....the bikes are higher so they clear the propane tanks. I agree having the bikes higher may make it harder to load and unload them but according to GD the bumper or ladder are not options.

[John612]

Lippert welded a 300# capacity bumper with receiver tube to our rig, I know several other people have done it also.
If I remember correctly, cost ~$300, they did it at their factory in Fontana, CA.
I used it for an extra tire when we went to Alaska, 10,000 miles and a bunch of rough roads, no problems.

[Raife1]

I have a ladder mounted rack for two younger kids bikes and then a A-frame (Jack-It) for my bike and my older kids bike. I can't say any of them are particularly easy to load. But it gets 4 bikes to our destination safe and sound.

[m&mjones]

Maybe consider a front mounted receiver on your truck too. It's a bolt on installation and I've carried kayaks overhead above the hood/cab (using a vertically mounted bed extender), or even a small 250 lb dual sport motorcycle on a rack up front. This is while towing my 5th wheel, but the application is the same.