Bike Rack

winniewander · 11-21-2017, 07:02 AM

Hi All!

Do any of you have recommendations for bike racks for 4 adult size bikes? Is it safe to put a shelf rack on the Micro Minnie bumper? Or, is that too much weight? We will be traveling thousands of miles across country on an extended 8 month trip. Would it be better to put two on the bumper and two on the hitch? I (mom) will be traveling alone with my three teens......trying to avoid problems as much as possible before our trip. Thanks for your help!

hollerboy · 12-11-2017, 09:26 PM

We have a 2016 MicroMinnie 1706FB. In researching a bike rack for our TT, we found the rear bumper to be way too thin to support the weight of a rack & 2 bikes, plus spare tire assembly bouncing down the road. A 90# limit was suggested. We were steered towards installing a small receiver hitch to the frame instead, then adding the bike rack of choice. We haven’t done this yet, but will probably be the advice we take before Spring.

winniewander · 12-12-2017, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollerboy

We have a 2016 MicroMinnie 1706FB. In researching a bike rack for our TT, we found the rear bumper to be way too thin to support the weight of a rack & 2 bikes, plus spare tire assembly bouncing down the road. A 90# limit was suggested. We were steered towards installing a small receiver hitch to the frame instead, then adding the bike rack of choice. We haven’t done this yet, but will probably be the advice we take before Spring.

Thanks so much for the information. Do you think four bikes would be okay on a frame mounted reciever hitch? I'm woried about putting too much weight behind the trailer. The bikes weigh about 35 lbs each. I was thinking about putting two on front of the trailer and two in back, but I can't find good options for the front.

hollerboy · 12-12-2017, 02:29 PM

For me personally, 4 adult-sized bikes on the rear of a MicroMinnie would be a bit much. But, I have seen many larger rigs doing just that. A big concern would be blocking the taillights and getting rear-ended. With 4 people, all your gear, 4 bikes, full tank of fuel & water, plus waste tanks, be aware of your tow vehicle/trailer Gross Vehicle Weights before traveling. Otherwise, it sounds like a great trip coming up!

Lakejumper · 12-13-2017, 09:30 AM

Hollerboy brings up some good points about blocking tail lights and total weight. I recommend weighing everything before you add the bikes and rack. You could move some weight off of the rear by moving the spare tire and mount it under the trailer behind the tongue. You use a spare tire mount like they use on pickup trucks. We did this on our previous Rockwood trailer.

blueridge-fl · 12-21-2017, 04:53 AM

Take a look on etrailer for the front racks for trailers. They sit above the propane tanks. I have never owned one but they are an option. We carry our bikes in the bed of the TV and everything else in the trailer.

neub · 12-21-2017, 06:17 AM

I use a double stacked hitch receiver between our rv and the our boat trailer with our bike rack being inserted into the top part of the receive and the boat trailer drawbar into the bottom receiver

https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Adapt...w/MT70070.html

TDI-Minnie · 01-03-2018, 06:20 AM

The bumper is not strong enough.
Even if you weld on a frame mounted receiver, the combined weight of nearly 200lbs comes OFF your hitch weight. More weight in back and less in front = trailer sway. This short video is a textbook example of what you may experience as load is shifted from front to rear:

https://youtu.be/i2fkOVHAC8Q

Bernie · 01-21-2018, 08:03 AM

I have a bike rack that mounts over my minnie propane bottles that holds 2 adults bikes that works very well. I don't know if there is one holds 4 bikes thou.

Bernie

blueridge-fl · 01-22-2018, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie

I have a bike rack that mounts over my minnie propane bottles that holds 2 adults bikes that works very well. I don't know if there is one holds 4 bikes thou.

Bernie

Is this the rack that etrailer sells? I have looked at those and wondered how well they work.

Bernie · 01-22-2018, 08:48 PM

Actually I bought it at Camping World. What I like about it is that I can see it as I drive down the road. I had to remove the camper jack and install the carrier under the jack. Another way is what my brother-in-law did. He install a hitch on to the front of his truck and brought hitch mount bike rack. It has worked well for him.

Blubugger · 10-05-2019, 01:50 PM

Since we had our micro bumper fail last year [could not handle bouncing and two bike weight] I fashioned a holding jig for to MTBs [you could conceivably put more jigs in place, angled for a total of 3 or 4 bicycles]. Using a 1x6 as a mount, place atop the Murphy bed. Tie down as required. The bicycles fit nicely, do not scrub against any interior surfaces.
We will use this first time for a jaunt up into colorful Colorado.
Will report when we return.

Redwinnebago · 10-28-2019, 06:43 PM

The best part about not having a fifth wheel is you still can utilize all of your truck bed space.
There are various tailgate covers to hold up to four bikes.

TraAL · 05-10-2021, 03:54 PM

Some times is best to rent your bikes while at the permanent location than towing them around. WEIGHT plus WEIGHT is always a balanced factor!!!

RocknRoll · 05-11-2021, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDI-Minnie

The bumper is not strong enough.
Even if you weld on a frame mounted receiver, the combined weight of nearly 200lbs comes OFF your hitch weight. More weight in back and less in front = trailer sway.

Couldn't agree more. The previous owner of my trailer had a hitch welded to the frame and included a carry tray. I thought "cool, now I can carry extra gear". WRONG! I attempted a trial run with 150 lbs. including the rack weight and the sway was awful. Will never use that hitch in any way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakejumper

You could move some weight off of the rear by moving the spare tire and mount it under the trailer behind the tongue. You use a spare tire mount like they use on pickup trucks.

I did almost exactly that, except I placed it under the tongue for accessibility. Note that my TT sits up pretty high.

https://www.winnieowners.com/forums/...ml#post3892791

**creativepart** · 05-11-2021, 07:13 AM

Please Note: this is a thread from 4-years ago and the OP no longer visits here. So there is no need to answer the initial question in the thread.

Sometimes old threads get discovered in a search and posted on without realizing it.

Marine359 · 05-12-2021, 06:50 AM

Still a good thread.
Mount my bikes on crossbars attached to tonneau rail slots. It’s a more expensive option, but preserves bed space.