Community Forums

RoadEyePie · 02-14-2021, 09:02 PM

I've only found two bike racks that say they are "approved" for use on a fifth wheel. The Hollywood RV Rider and the Kuat Transfer 2. My Lipper receiver hitch on the RV says it has a maximum load capacity of 300 lbs. It bolts to the frame (not a bumper mount). The Hollywood RV Rider says it weighs 68 lbs. but says you must have a "Minimum Trailer Hitch Tongue Weight: 350 lbs". If the bike rack is 68 lbs and the two regular bikes weigh 40 lbs each. That a total of 148 lbs which is well below the Lippert max of 300 lbs. Should I be concerned that the bike rack manufacturer says the minimum tongue wt needs to be 350 lbs? That rack is made to hold two E-Bikes which weigh as much as 60-80 lbs. each, so I understand if you load it to it's max, why it would say a 350 lb tongue wt. Just wondering if I'm not understanding how the weight hanging out from the receiver will effect the receiver. P.S. I wasn't a physics major.

novawill72 · 02-14-2021, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

I've only found two bike racks that say they are "approved" for use on a fifth wheel. The Hollywood RV Rider and the Kuat Transfer 2. My Lipper receiver hitch on the RV says it has a maximum load capacity of 300 lbs. It bolts to the frame (not a bumper mount). The Hollywood RV Rider says it weighs 68 lbs. but says you must have a "Minimum Trailer Hitch Tongue Weight: 350 lbs". If the bike rack is 68 lbs and the two regular bikes weigh 40 lbs each. That a total of 148 lbs which is well below the Lippert max of 300 lbs. Should I be concerned that the bike rack manufacturer says the minimum tongue wt needs to be 350 lbs? That rack is made to hold two E-Bikes which weigh as much as 60-80 lbs. each, so I understand if you load it to it's max, why it would say a 350 lb tongue wt. Just wondering if I'm not understanding how the weight hanging out from the receiver will effect the receiver. P.S. I wasn't a physics major.

I'm interested to find out as well.

Mr_D · 02-14-2021, 10:15 PM

1up-usa.com http://1up-usa.com has ones approved for use on the back of trailers or motorhomes.

Unplanned Tourist · 02-14-2021, 10:39 PM

I would say it is a matter of static load vs shock load.

If you have a load at rest of say 200 pounds, it can put 3 to 4 times that much load on the hitch when you go over a bump in the road.

MtCamper · 02-15-2021, 05:31 AM

I use a Swagman Escapee for our bikes. It is one of the few that are actually approved for RVs and I can attest to the quality of their products. There is a lot of bounce on the back of a trailer and I think that is why they recommend a hitch with a 350# weight capacity. The best source of info I found was etrailer. They have a very well trained sales force and can answer your questions. Their website shows several racks for RVs. I've also found I can easily remove the battery from my ebike and reduce the weight by a few pounds.

txcpl · 02-15-2021, 05:32 AM

We lost our bike rack on the back end of our 5'er a number of years ago. We learned the hard way to use a bike rack that is rated for the back of trailers. they are more expensive, but a lot better than picking up your bike rack and bikes on the road somewhere all mangled up.

RoadEyePie · 02-15-2021, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unplanned Tourist

I would say it is a matter of static load vs shock load.

If you have a load at rest of say 200 pounds, it can put 3 to 4 times that much load on the hitch when you go over a bump in the road.

But all a user can do is follow Lippert's max. LOAD weight of 300 lbs. That includes the rack and bikes.

Unplanned Tourist · 02-15-2021, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

But all a user can do is follow Lippert's max. LOAD weight of 300 lbs. That includes the rack and bikes.

Exactly. That is why there is a load rating.

Manufacturers have to do testing to find the ultimate failure load, then use a formula to set the load rating.

If you have a rating of 300 pounds, it will likely hold twice that before it will bend, and more to actually break it.

Ljwt330 · 02-15-2021, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unplanned Tourist

Exactly. That is why there is a load rating.

Manufacturers have to do testing to find the ultimate failure load, then use a formula to set the load rating.

If you have a rating of 300 pounds, it will likely hold twice that before it will bend, and more to actually break it.

This^^.

The rack manufacturer states the hitch receiver needs a load rating of at least 350# when it's rack is loaded to it's maximum weight capacity, whatever that may be. It likely doesn't make that statement in the directions, but it is implied by logic.
If you load the rack with less weight, that minimum load weight requirement will decrease . Add to that the hitch manufacturers safety margin, as mentioned above, and the rack/hitch combination should travel safely. Unfortunately, if any mishap occurs, the hitch maker or rack maker will jump on the printed warning and likely reject any claim of liability.

Midlotexan · 02-15-2021, 09:22 AM

I use a Hollywood that I got from Etrailer. We use it with e bikes that weigh 64 pounds each. I use a anti rattle u bolt to keep the rack as stable as possible.
5k miles and no drama.
Kirt

RoadEyePie · 02-15-2021, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midlotexan

I use a Hollywood that I got from Etrailer. We use it with e bikes that weigh 64 pounds each. I use a anti rattle u bolt to keep the rack as stable as possible.
5k miles and no drama.
Kirt

Do you know what your manufacturer's stated load capacity is for the receiver hitch?

Midlotexan · 02-15-2021, 12:14 PM

300 pounds We are at 200 with rack and bikes+- a few pounds.
Without the anti rattle, there was a lot of wobble, but with it bikes ride very smooth.
Kirt

Pauloh · 02-24-2021, 05:36 PM

I have a ARVIKA bike rack that is built in Canada. It is installed on the king pin and takes away all worry about what is happening to your bikes on the back of your unit. You do have to be able to lift your bikes onto the rack via your trucks tailgate, may be an issue for some.

RoadEyePie · 02-24-2021, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauloh

I have a ARVIKA bike rack that is built in Canada. It is installed on the king pin and takes away all worry about what is happening to your bikes on the back of your unit. You do have to be able to lift your bikes onto the rack via your trucks tailgate, may be an issue for some.

Welcome to the forum....first post? Thanks but that won't work for me. I'm going to go with the Hollywood RV Rider.