missnmountains
Colorado
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flguppie wrote:I have the TopPop bike rack on the front of the RV. It works great. Check out the photos I posted in This thread.
This is exactly what we did on our Seneca. We can pull the Jeep Liberty and bring our Bikes on the front receiver. It is also easier to put the boat in when there are tight turns.
Ken
2010 Jayco Seneca HD
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crosscheck
Coldstream, BC
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Joined: 12/14/2010
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We,ve been carrying bikes on a front mounted rack of some sort for over 20 years with no problems.
We sometimes travel on rough roads so a reliable strong rack is a must.
When our kids traveled with us, we would carry as many as 5 bikes in the front rack.
Good luck.
Dave
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502_Jimmy
Richmond VA
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See this post..
My Bike Rack
I made a hitch for the front of my trailer..
John
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lottknox1
north carolina
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Bodiak makes a front hitch that will bolt directly to the hooks on the front of your truck. I have it and love it. Can easily be removed. You get a solid receiver and can put whatever you want in the front. Very easily to load and unload bikes.
2005 Flagstaff 831BHSS
2006 Ford F-250 Super Duty Power Stroke Turbo Diesel
Integrated Brake System
Hensley Arrow
Bodiak Front Hitch
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Gman22
Burlington, Ontario
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Joined: 07/03/2008
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Is Bodiak still in business, I've had no luck finding them?
2012 KZ Spree LX 240BHS
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 QC Laramie, 4x4, 5.9 L Cummins Turbo Diesel
Equal-i-zer/Prodigy
"I6 Cummins guys keep it straight, those other guys go BOTH ways".
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WEREGEL
Upstate NY
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502_Jimmy – Heck of a Job! I am INSPIRED! I have always wanted to be able to weld and finally managed to take a class (plug for great guys at Modern Welding School in Schenectady NY). Got my Hobart Handler 140, and am all gassed up and ready to go.
For lotktnox1: there was a post here a couple months back about Bodiak tossing in the towel. A great idea that didn’t seem to catch on. Probably could not compete price wise. A no drill custom fit front hitch form Curt is about $140 delivered, is fitted specifically to your truck/year/model and takes less than an hour (if you are at all handy) to install.
2012 F350 Crew Cab 4X4 6.2L Gas "Surf Fishing Beach Truck"
2010 Forest River Wildwood 30KQBSS
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patinlouisiana
Baton Rouge, La
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This look great for a pickup.
The rack is above the corners of the bed.
How do you think it would work with an SUV?
Will the bikes or rack hit while truning?
I never get lost! Someone always tells me where to go!
2012 Prime time Tracer 230FBS Touring Edition
2010 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4X2
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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Look at my signature photo and you'll see three bikes mounted to the front of the truck on a front mount receiver and a Swagman Twister bike rack...
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
Jordan Ultima 2020
HUNTER THERMOSTAT INSTALL
HOME MADE WHEEL CHOCKS
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JBarca
Dublin, Ohio, USA
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patinlouisiana wrote:This look great for a pickup.
The rack is above the corners of the bed.
How do you think it would work with an SUV?
Will the bikes or rack hit while truning?
Hi patinlouisiana,
Heads up on this mod. You can get the rack up high enough to clear bed rails but you also need the distance between the truck and the TT. In my case my hitch shank is long enough to extend the camper back which helps. A short coupled TT with a very short shank adds to the complexity. The short shank is excellent for lower sway but it hurts here.
Here is the turn on mine
Here are some side shots to get a perspective of the distance
And during construction
While this solution solves many things on how to haul bikes it comes with 1 specific attribute. It adds tongue weight. This may or may not be a problem pending the TV. Mine for 2 adult bikes and rack adds 109# to the tongue weight.
You mentioned SUV's and I use to tow with a 2500 Suburban and before that a 2002 Tahoe. Pending the TT, this front rack may exclude most any brand 1/2 ton SUV with that added 110# of TW. If ones present loaded TW is in the 900 to 1,000# area on a 1/2 ton SUV that weight generally uses up all if not already over the limit of the rear axle. Unless the SUV is a stripped options version with only a 150# drive in side. Many have the luxury up grades and more people inside.
Before adding the rack, go to a truck scale and measure your loaded camper and truck on TV front and rear axle to see if you have room for added weight on the GVWR and the rear GAWR.
Good luck and hope this helps
John
John & Cindy
2005 Ford F350 Super Duty, 4x4; 6.8L V10 with 4.10
CC, SB, Lariat & FX4 package
21,000 GCWR, 11,000 GVWR
Ford Tow Command
1,700# Reese HP hitch & HP Dual Cam
2 1/2" Towbeast Receiver
2004 Sunline Solaris T310SR
(I wish we were camping!)
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Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
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As always nice photos John. I was using a Hensley with my tongue mounted rack. The HA gives an additional 1' clearance between TT and TV. This allowed me to carry 4 bikes on the tongue mounted rack
07 Duramax Crew Cab Dually
2012 Open Range 399BHS
Trailersaver BD3,Blue Ox Bedsaver
air bags w/compressor
Prodigy,Splendide W/D,TomTom
Arvika pin box bike rack
14'Porta Bote w/9.9 Johnson outboard
5500 Onan Propane genset,Vu Cube 2000
Retrax tonneau cover
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