???how to haul bikes on minivan while towing camper???
03-27-13, 12:09 PM
#1
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???how to haul bikes on minivan while towing camper???
Not sure if this is the right place to post. But we just bought bikes and need to find the best way to haul them. We have a popup camper we will be towing at times. Reading it sounds like a roof top rack is our best bet? We do not have a rack on our van so would need something that would work for a bare roof?
03-27-13, 12:47 PM
#2
commu*ist spy
depending how much space you have in between your car and camper, you might be able to squeeze a trunk rack on there. Trunk racks can go on minivans too. But the thing with those is that they rely on straps and hooks to hold up the bikes. So I would probably go with roof racks for sure, just to be on the safe side, in terms of space. you won't have access to your trunk once you put on trunk racks, and likewise for the hitch towing the camper, so it'll just be more trouble. Roof racks are disadvantageous in their poor aerodynamics when you put your bikes on them. But since you're already hauling a camper, your fuel economy is already screwed. And it's not like you're going to accidentally drive your car into a garage.
Roof rack, unless you have room in the camper.
Roof rack, unless you have room in the camper.
Last edited by spectastic; 03-27-13 at 12:50 PM.
03-27-13, 01:48 PM
#3
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can you just mount racks on the top of the popup? or, mount a hitch rack on the back of it? Always a way.
03-27-13, 03:09 PM
#4
Banned
You can buy what are essentially short rain gutter sections then use rain-gutter mount roof rack parts .
Top of the popup camper , has been done. You would remove the bikes before opening the trailer.
or have a receiver hitch mount added onto the back of the Minivan above or, along side
the one the trailer is attached to..
Or the back of the trailer .. get that one secure,
Bad weld anecdote:
I pulled a whole families bike bundle off the highway, west of here on 101,
after it fell off the back of their travel trailer , another person pulled along side of them
to let them Know it fell off, they didnt see it at all.
so they did return to recover it.
Top of the popup camper , has been done. You would remove the bikes before opening the trailer.
or have a receiver hitch mount added onto the back of the Minivan above or, along side
the one the trailer is attached to..
Or the back of the trailer .. get that one secure,
Bad weld anecdote:
I pulled a whole families bike bundle off the highway, west of here on 101,
after it fell off the back of their travel trailer , another person pulled along side of them
to let them Know it fell off, they didnt see it at all.
so they did return to recover it.
03-27-13, 04:51 PM
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I put a roof mount rack on top of the camper. I bolted the crossbars to a couple 2x4s and use a couple motorcycle tie-down straps to hold it on the roof of the camper. No problems yet, it's been about 5 years and many trips.
03-27-13, 06:19 PM
#6
Senior Member
I dont know what kind of van you have
but I bought a front mount trailer hitch here for my truck
for our bike rack when I tow our trailer
https://www.etrailer.com/vm/Toyota/Tundra/fmr
but I bought a front mount trailer hitch here for my truck
for our bike rack when I tow our trailer
https://www.etrailer.com/vm/Toyota/Tundra/fmr
03-28-13, 04:39 AM
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What brand of van and what brand of popup? Roof racks are available for both the van and some popups. If the tow bar load isn't too heavy already you can buy a rack that fits on a hitch extender. I have also seen racks that fit on the front frame of the popup, or the rear bumper. Not a fan of either of those two methods.
Aaron
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RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
03-28-13, 06:00 AM
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https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-Racks/Swagman/S64955.html
Hitch mount with a pass through for the trailer.
Hitch mount with a pass through for the trailer.
03-28-13, 11:50 AM
#9
Banned
Manufacturer : https://www.swagman.net/
you can use their dealer locator,
or find a local shop and ask to get them to set up an account..
If you like living in a place with small, businesses, and Jobs, in it.
you can use their dealer locator,
or find a local shop and ask to get them to set up an account..
If you like living in a place with small, businesses, and Jobs, in it.
Last edited by fietsbob; 03-28-13 at 11:56 AM.
03-29-13, 07:59 PM
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Yes you can find it locally with a simple search. Subtle soapbox fietsbob. I'll pack your wubby for you next time.
04-04-13, 05:20 PM
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We pull a popup trailer with a Sienna Van. We've been using the Pro Rac system https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Systems-In...ler+Bike+Racks
It works pretty well, and we don't have to worry about roof mounting and hoisting bikes up there. Now that we are riding a tandem, I've made some modifications to the mounts to carry the tandem crosswise. We did consider racks that come up and off your hitch, but you can't open your rear hatch with it in place--very inconvenient.
It works pretty well, and we don't have to worry about roof mounting and hoisting bikes up there. Now that we are riding a tandem, I've made some modifications to the mounts to carry the tandem crosswise. We did consider racks that come up and off your hitch, but you can't open your rear hatch with it in place--very inconvenient.
04-06-13, 01:19 PM
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Put a hitch on the back of. Rhe pop up. Might be some welding involved look for a dealler of your pop up they can help.
04-06-13, 05:34 PM
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I already owned a Yakima Roof rack so I just had my Trailer Dealer permanently mount two steel cross-bars of the proper diameter (pipes) to the roof of the trailer. By having the dealer do the mounting I was confident that the mount would be secure. I was then able to easily swap my Yakima bike racks back and forth from our car to the trailer in just minutes.
04-06-13, 05:50 PM
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Some popups might be tall enough to allow that... most are not. I did put my folders inside the door on the one we had.
Aaron
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
04-06-13, 05:59 PM
#16
bill nyecycles
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my family had a pop up and we had yakima roof rack on the top of it. we got 3 trays so we could haul 3 bikes. worked great. solid. since its a pop-up it was easy to get the bikes up and down. its definitely the most unobtrusive way to mount - i feel the back of the truck gets in the way of the hitch. what a pain if you have to get in there for some reason.
