Community Forums

calico · 12-08-2013, 09:07 AM

We will be heading to AZ in a couple weeks from Illinois. We have two full sized bikes on a Yakima hitch rack behind the Wrangler. I tried to make a bike cover using an old grill cover, didn't go well. Where can I find bike covers that will protect the bikes and still allow the Wrangler brake lights to be visible?

The last couple years we used the Liberty and was able to store the bikes inside it, this year they will be exposed to weather elements and road grime.

Any advise appreciated!! Whatever goes on has to be durable for that long of a haul.

palehorse89 · 12-08-2013, 09:24 AM

I got pulled over by a Park police in the Mesa Verde National Park cause the officer said he could not see my license plate on my Wrangler(2 bikes on a rack).....after a warning I went to the rear to check it out as we had towed it behind the Coach clear from Penna. and what I found is through the spokes kinda moving my head a bit, I could read it, maybe not in a car behind me while traveling though. Our bikes "cover" the rear of our wangler from side to side(License plate through bike spokes) and if you were to cover them.......not good......Asking to get pulled over when blocking a License plate. Just my experience on this subject.

(Click on photo to enlarge it)

calico · 12-08-2013, 10:41 AM

If we choose not to cover the bikes, is there a protectant we can put on the chain and gears? We paid over $700 for these bikes several years ago.

palehorse89 · 12-08-2013, 10:59 AM

The only way to keep them nice as you know is inside something out of the elements, our bikes ore on their last legs due to the harsh conditions on the rear of the Coach or on the rear of the jeep, dirty water(rain) gritty dust, cables froze up, etc. has taken it toll on ours. Can you put them inside? As to your last question, spray-grease, spray chain lube, check out your local hardware store.

az99 · 12-08-2013, 11:00 AM

Get a double receiver and put it behind the MH ??

stepside454 · 12-08-2013, 11:18 AM

Also, a once a yr tune up at a bike shop costs 45-6O.00 is worth it, you'll get cables & chain, deralurs all cleaned & lubed, & everything adjusted. To me it's worth it.

SMRDNR · 12-08-2013, 11:32 AM

I found a motorcycle cover at Wal-Mart.com that has worked well for our two bikes. it was wide enough and a little long but I use straps to secure it around the bikes.

dsbike · 12-08-2013, 12:52 PM

Here's some advise from a mechanic & bicyclist, me. If you must put them on the back & not inside, the best grease or chain lube to use to keep the grime away is going to be a bicycle greaseless chain lube. These are available at any bike shop. Can come in a spray bottle/can, or squeeze drip type bottle and is some form of a paraffin wax. I carry my carbon fiber road bike on the back & I always make sure the components are lubed prior to transit & then I clean them again when we arrive at our destination, especially if we had any wet weather we traveled through. I do not cover my bikes in transit.

vsheetz · 12-08-2013, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMRDNR

I found a motorcycle cover at Wal-Mart.com that has worked well for our two bikes. it was wide enough and a little long but I use straps to secure it around the bikes.

I was thinking a motorcycle cover as well.

palehorse89 · 12-08-2013, 03:20 PM

This is the Officer that did not like my plate being covered, wife asked if she could take a photo as she told him we had driven some 2300 miles sence leaving Pa. and its funney we had got pulled over in a National Park.......

Mody n Domy · 12-08-2013, 10:21 PM

I use a double receiver hitch and carry the bikes on the back of our MH.

Steve N Sal · 12-14-2013, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

I got pulled over by a Park police in the Mesa Verde National Park cause the officer said he could not see my license plate on my Wrangler(2 bikes on a rack).....after a warning I went to the rear to check it out as we had towed it behind the Coach clear from Penna. and what I found is through the spokes kinda moving my head a bit, I could read it, maybe not in a car behind me while traveling though. Our bikes "cover" the rear of our wangler from side to side(License plate through bike spokes) and if you were to cover them.......not good......Asking to get pulled over when blocking a License plate. Just my experience on this subject.

(Click on photo to enlarge it)

Now that in itself is kind of funny. He pulled you over because he couldn't see the plate on the jeep. Did you happen to ask if he could see the plate on the coach???

I suppose it would be best not to ask him as that would probably ended up in some jail time.

Sounds to me like he had nothing better to do that day. JMHO

He did have a smile on his face when you took the picture.

palehorse89 · 12-14-2013, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve N Sal

Now that in itself is kind of funny. He pulled you over because he couldn't see the plate on the jeep. Did you happen to ask if he could see the plate on the coach???

I suppose it would be best not to ask him as that would probably ended up in some jail time.

Sounds to me like he had nothing better to do that day. JMHO

He did have a smile on his face when you took the picture.

I was not driving the Coach Steve, just driving the Jeep w/bike's on back...... after the photo shoot ...as he was turning to walk away......he said "this was just a warning" ???? I looked at the wife and said , what did he mean by that? ??? I just sat there till he pulled out from behind me and left. Young kid w/ a ton of authority...... He was nice though but I still don't know why he actually pulled me over in the first place??? Aton of auto's have bike racks on them and block the plates a lot worse than mine does mounted on the side vs a center mount. Oh well....

Easyrider · 12-14-2013, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

I was not driving the Coach Steve, just driving the Jeep w/bike's on back...... after the photo shoot ...as he was turning to walk away......he said "this was just a warning" ???? I looked at the wife and said , what did he mean by that? ??? I just sat there till he pulled out from behind me and left. Young kid w/ a ton of authority...... He was nice though but I still don't know why he actually pulled me over in the first place??? Aton of auto's have bike racks on them and block the plates a lot worse than mine does mounted on the side vs a center mount. Oh well....

I think he meant just what he said-"this was just a warning" - in other words he wasn't issueing a ticket, he was just bringing it to your attention. No big deal, actually a nice thing considering he could have ticketed and may have if you had been doing anything seriously wrong or dangerous. Seems to me like he was being a nice person.