Bicycle Rack behind a DP

[Ron Everson]

On our 1st major trip to Austin & back in our new to us 2003 Bounder 37U, I put our bike rack on the trailer hitch in the back & brought our bikes with. We had previously used the bike rack on our 1996 Bounder 34J and have a nice Roadbag to go with it. Because the 37U is a rear radiator DP, I didn't want to use the Roadbag for fear of interrupting the flow of air from the radiator. The result was that the bikes were covered with grey road dust/soot in no time and couldn't be used without a thorough cleaning. I'm wondering what others have done in this situation. Do I move the bike rack top the front? That would involve installing another hitch up front. Or do I just use the Roadbag in the rear? I've seen a few DP's go through our town with bikes hanging from the rear ladder, but i don't like that idea.

Any ideas? What have you done?

By the way, our 1996 Bounder 34J sold in about 5 days on Craigs list.

Ron Everson
Cortez, Colorado
2003 Bounder 37U
Freightliner chassis w/Cummins 300 ISB

[cruzbill]

We traveled all over the northern Rockies last summer, Idaho, Mt and BC. We have our bikes on a rack on the back of the toad. It rained, then sunny, then more rain. Every time it rained, the toad was so dirty I couldn't see out the window to park it, and the bikes fared no better. So the trick was to find a car wash to wash the toad and the bikes. (Found a nice car wash in Banff, BC, if you can believe it. They use hot water up there, eh?) I like the Roadbag idea, that would at least keep the crud off the bikes, is that what you've found? Is the bag hard to take off and on? I wouldn't worry about rear radiator airflow, as there must be some space between your roadbag and your coach.
We have a Kuat rack, and use the anti-rattle u bolts from Roadmaster to eliminate shake rattle and roll of the bikes.

[JaminSamin]

I don't think you'll have a problem putting a cover over your bikes in that location. My Horizon is a rear radiator set up too and I've never had an overheating issue.

[Ron Everson]

The Roadbag did very well behind our 1996 Bounder 34J. It gets dirty instead of the bikes, and keeps them dry. Goes on and off pretty easy - 2 parts. We got the one that will hold 2-3 bikes.

Guess we'll try it behind the Bounder 37U DP on the next trip and watch the temp gauge.

Thanks, Ron Everson.

[MSHappyCampers]

I'm having a hitch put on the CRV to carry the bikes!

[diesel odor]

My thoughts, a hitch on the pickup to carry the bikes, or if the pickup bed isn't covered, put the bikes in the pickup bed.

[ronandsue74]

I have our covered bike rack behind our DP. We have put on over 30k miles including mountain driving with no overheating/air flow issues.
I don't think you will have a problem. However, my coach is a side radiator.
RJ
2005 CC Inspire #51264