Question:
We purchased a 22 ft. Salem camper last year and I am looking for a bike
rack to atach to the back of the camper. I have seen 2 kinds to buy --
one kind has slots that the bike tires fit in and the other kind holds
the bike by its frame. We have 4 bikes. Does anyone have any
experience with these?
Answer:
WE HAVE TRIED BOTH TYPES- THE CARRIERS WITH SLOTS CHEWED THE BIKE
TIRES ON 1200 MILE TRIPS, AND WILL NOT HOLD 4 BIKES, UNLESS TWO ARE
SMALL KID MODELS. THEY HAVE 4 SLOTS, BUT THE BIKE BODIES TAKE UP A
LOT OF ROOM. THE FRAME TYPES ARE EASIER ON THE BIKES, BUT YOU REALLY
HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE DESIGN, AS MOST OF THEM ARE CHALLENGED BY
THE WEIGHT OF 2 BIKES. ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT ABOUT 100 LBS OF BIKES
AT THE REAR OF YOUR TRAILER COULD CONTRIBUTE TO SWAY PROBLEMS. REASON
IS THAT THE WEIGHT IS REDUCING YOUR HITCH WEIGHT AND THE AIR
RESISTANCE OF THE BIKES IS AT THE END OF A BIG LEVER. PERSONALLY I
WOULD TRY TO PUT TWO BIKES ON TOP OF THE TOW VEHICLE AND CARRY THE
LIGHTEST ONES ON A FRAME MOUNT SECURED TO A 2" RECEIVER WELDED TO THE
REAR BUMPER OF THE TRAILER.
