10.0 rear deck

[knc1014]

[quote timestamp="1443913525" author="@dana" source="/post/15740/thread"]Thanks Subaruwx, we were on the road when these pictures were taken.  We were at our daughter and son in laws house in White Salmon Washington, just across the Columbia River from Hood River Oregon.  [/quote]This might be a silly question, but where can I order those bike racks?  I have been googling bike racks all day and can't find any that look like what you have.  We have the 10.0 and would love for the bikes to ride on the back deck!  

Also, do you think there is enough room to fit three bikes on there without them scratching the back of the camper?  

Thanks!

[peislander]

[quote timestamp="1465521326" source="/post/22044/thread" author="@knc1014"]

Thanks Subaruwx, we were on the road when these pictures were taken.  We were at our daughter and son in laws house in White Salmon Washington, just across the Columbia River from Hood River Oregon. 

This might be a silly question, but where can I order those bike racks?  I have been googling bike racks all day and can't find any that look like what you have.  We have the 10.0 and would love for the bikes to ride on the back deck!  

Also, do you think there is enough room to fit three bikes on there without them scratching the back of the camper?  

Thanks![/quote]What Subaruwx images show is two of these: [a href="http://www.sportrack.com/p/upshift?pp=24"]>> SportRack 'UPSHIFT' roof-top bicycle carriers. <<[/a]

[buffresmgnt]

I bought these from amazon as the pricing was better than going directly to Sports Rack which is a low cost division of Thule. Had originally wanted to put "front wheel off" racks on the rear deck which lead to a couple of issues - 1) where to put the front wheels of each bike and 2) the handle bar of the bike right next to the trailer would hit the top of the trailer. These are actually designed to go on to a car roof rack. I decided to put these on the rear deck of the trailer so that the bikes would be easier to load but the one draw back is that if you are in transit to a specific location and you camp for one night at a couple of different locations, you have to unload the bikes prior to setting up the trailer.

https://www.amazon.com/SportRack-SR4883-Upshift-Upright-Carrier/dp/B00R6SCUU2/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1465554985&sr=8-22&keywords=bicycle+roof+rack

[buffresmgnt]

I'm not sure if 3 bikes would fit on the back deck of your trailer.  The only way that you would know would know would be to actually put the bikes on the back deck of the trailer and do some measuring.  Of course there would be things that would need to be done to the bikes to make the fit right.  Pedals may need to be removed and handlebars would need to be turned parallel to the bike frames.  For us, when the bikes are mounted on the trailer, I removed the inboard pedal on the bike next to the trailer to prevent scratching of the paint.

[knc1014]

Thanks!  Not sure what we will end up doing.  Right now we put the bikes in the back of the truck but then struggle to tie everything else down securely on the deck of camper.  I'd rather it be the other way around.  It would end up putting the weight in my truck instead of on the deck.  We have had our camper for almost a year now and have only made local camping trips so far.  But we are getting ready to take it 650 miles out for the first time so we are having to take more with us too and I have a small truck bed.  Nissan Frontier Pro 4X.

[buffresmgnt]

Understand fully the small pickup and long trip scenario.  We have a Toyota Tacoma 4X with the five foot bed and when taking long trips packing can be challenging to say the least.  Below is another option for mounting a bike rack onto the rear deck of your trailer.

http://livinlite-owners.com/thread/322/rear-deck-mods?page=2

Receiver that is bolted onto and through the deck can be purchased from amazon or etrailer.

https://www.amazon.com/Swagman-RV-2-Bumper-Adaptor/dp/B00174ZHGU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1465569007&sr=8-4&keywords=bolt+on+receiver+hitch

Once this is installed you would need to purchase a rack such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/Stoneman-Sports-VR-701-Sparehand-Vehicles/dp/B0072JDBDU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1465568836&sr=8-8&keywords=hitch+style+3+bike+rack
https://www.amazon.com/Yakima-8002471-Products-LiteRider-3/dp/B0171A6MRQ/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1465568933&sr=8-9&keywords=hitch+style+3+bike+rack

There are multiple ways to transport bikes, just need to think about what you really want to do (for us it was wheel on, not in the back of the truck and not on the roof) and then look for ways to do it.  Hope this helps in deciding exactly what you want and good luck on getting whatever you decide installed.  Have a great, safe trip.

Steve & Dana

[buffresmgnt]

Forgot to tell you, look for the post by zasseg for the pictures of the receiver onto the rear deck of your trailer

[admin]

If you have a Norther Tool near by, they often sell a bike rack that fits in a 2" receiver and can store up to 4 bikes securely. Right now its 39 bucks: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200622240_200622240

I'm a huge fan to the 2" receiver if at all possible, but thats because I like the flexibility it provides. If I'm investing in a bike rack why not get one that can be used with or without the camper...

[knc1014]

Thanks for all of your input!  I think we will take a ride to Northern Tool.  They have the hitch mount there too on sale.  ?

[buffresmgnt]

This is what Northern Tool has to offer in the way of receivers.  You will still need to have a bottom plate and the center support bar

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200612507_200612507

[charliem]

[font size="3"]This Swagman reciever might help. All plates and bolts included and has an anti-rattle bolt.

[a href="https://www.amazon.com/Swagman-RV-2-Bumper-Adaptor/dp/B00174ZHGU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1465597975&sr=8-3&keywords=swagman+receiver"]https://www.amazon.com/Swagman-RV-2-Bumper-Adaptor/dp/B00174ZHGU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1465597975&sr=8-3&keywords=swagman+receiver[/a]
[/font]

[daplumbr]

Here's yet another option I've used. This will either fasten to crossbars or bolt down to a platform. When bolting to a platform, you need small spacers to make it easier to use the wheel cinch straps. Pricey for multiple bikes because it's one bike per rack!

https://www.amazon.com/Yakima-Raptor-Aero-Rooftop-Bike/dp/B000WXFF6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465610573&sr=8-1&keywords=raptoraero

[lweller]

That is a great system.  If you don't mind, I think that I'll just take your lead and do this on my 8.0.  I have a couple of questions as I'm not sure of the materials you spoke of.  1) What is the  1" thick UHMW you mentioned?  It looks like a dense plastic, but not sure.  2) Did you place the aluminum plate underneath, bolting it in with the S/S fasteners you used?  I also like that you placed an eye bolt for the lock.  Nicely done.  

[buffresmgnt]

Thanks, I'm glad that you liked it.

The thick UHMW is actually a type of polyethylene plastic sheet that I got from work (excess scrap) and can be purchased from McMaster Carr as well as the aluminum plate.
1) I spent considerable time looking at different attachment methods, "wheel off" vs "wheel on" mounting of the bikes and the actual placement of the bikes. With "wheel off" mounting the handle bar of the inboard bike needed to be turned 90 degrees so as not to hit the top of the trailer.  The "wheel on" method made more sense to me - made it easier when opening the trailer to already have the wheel on the bikes plus I did not have to figure out where to store a wheel when traveling.
2) I cut the UHMW to size for the portion under each area of the steel rack that I needed to keep off the aluminum decking.  
3) I drilled the holes through the UHMW,
4) then cut 4 small plates from aluminum stock and drilled those to match the UHMW and the rack itself.
5) I drilled the holes in the rear deck to match the rack, UHMW and the aluminum plates.
 
One caution - the under side of the rear decking is ribbed so if you are not careful and precise in drilling you could be drilling through the center of a rib which could make a misalignment for the bolt.

6) I placed everything (rack and UHMW) onto the deck of the trailer over the hole drilled in the deck, inserted the SS bolts and then got under the trailer, placed the aluminum plate in place as a support, applied lock washers and nylock nuts.  I did add an eyebolt to the decking so as to be able to lock the bikes onto the trailer.

Steve