Taking a bike on your outdoor trips is always great as you get to explore local sites and stay fit while doing it. But you must store your bike properly while you’re hitting the road. This can be tricky if you don’t have the right RV bike rack at your disposal.
But you need to make sure it is fully compatible with your recreational vehicle. You also need to make sure it can keep your bike in place, and you can drive with peace of mind.
We have developed this guide to help you find the best bike rack for your RV.
Why Use an RV Bike Rack?
If you like to roll down the campground on your bike or even try out a few of those bike trails near your campsite, you will need an RV bike rack. There are various benefits of using an RV bike rack while traveling.
- It will allow you to save some space inside your recreational vehicle as the rack will be located outside your motorhome.
- Having this bike rack will allow you to keep your bike and motorhome safe from scratches or tangles.
- You will be more likely to have a bike on your trip when you have a safe way to transport it using an RV bike rack.
Types of RV Bike Racks:
There are different types of RV bike racks available on the market. You can either go for the right type based on bike capacity or choose based on the mount type.
Bike Capacity:
You’ll come across different RV bike racks. Some of them can carry one bike while others can carry two bikes and even more. So, you need to choose here based on how many bikes you are looking to take with you on your trip.
Some RV bikes can conveniently carry up to four bikes. And it’s not just about the number of bikes that you want to carry. You also need to consider the types of bikes that you want to carry.
In most cases, there will be an adapter that you will use for your kids’ bikes with your adult bike racks to fit them in.
Mount Type:
When it comes to mounting type, there are 4 different kinds of racks.
- Ladder Mount:
If your RV has a ladder at the back, you can use a ladder mount. These mounts come with a bolt-on installation, and they either come in 1 or 2 pieces. With this rack, you won’t have to reinforce your hitches or bumpers.
You will find a ladder mount to be very convenient to load/unload your bikes too. Most of these mounts can hold up to 2 bikes, but they don’t come with a high weight capacity.
- Hitch Mount:
This mount is effortless to install on your RV’s existing hitch receiver. These racks are much simpler to access as well.
You can either go for hanging hitch or platform hitch mounts. Both these types sit lower on the back, and they are straightforward to reach. These mounts can conveniently hold up to five bikes, and they are suitable for larger family camping.
These racks will work better on travel trailers or rack-specific recreational vehicles. This is because these trailers can be different in suspension, and you might have to deal with higher vibrations.
The rack you need to go for must be able to handle a large amount of sway. If you don’t have a receiver or a compatible hitch, you will need an adaptor for it.
- Bumper Mount:
These bike racks for camper are mostly present on the front bumper of your recreational vehicle. So, you are adding additional storage to your vehicle. If you don’t have many options, then you can also use them on your travel trailer.
However, you will have to reinforce your bumper, and not every motorhome out there is compatible with these racks. In addition, most RV manufacturers place weight limits on bumpers, so it’s better to install them on steel bumpers with reinforcements.
These racks can conveniently hold up to 4 bikes, and you will have them right in front of you with great visibility.
- Front Mount:
These mounts are also known as trailer tongue mounts or A-frame mounts. You can attach them to the front of your travel trailer right above the propane tank. Unfortunately, these mounts are difficult to install, especially if you compare them with other types of mounts.
These bike racks for travel trailers also make it much more difficult for you to load/unload your bikes due to the angle. Most of these mounts can hold two bikes at a time. These racks are best if you will not use your bikes much and have a travel trailer.
Best RV Bike Racks in 2021:
1.
Camco RV Bike Rack
If you are looking to use it for your road bikes, you will get more clearance because road bikes don’t take up much space as compared to mountain bikes.
The best RV bike rack you can go for is the Camco ladder mount bike rack. This bike rack is easy to install on your RVs that have ladders. It can conveniently hold up to two bikes at a time and easily fold up for convenient storage.
It can comfortably fit cradles and can securely hold your bikes in place. So, you won’t have to deal with any rattles or vibrations at all.
In addition, it comes with a fitment that is fully compatible with standard motorhome ladders. But wait, there’s more here! This rack also comes with bonus straps for you to make it even more secure along with your bikes.
Due to its foldable design, this rack can provide you with additional storage options. The rack weighs up to 60 lbs and can conveniently hold up to 2 bikes at a time.
Pros
- Conveniently holds up to two bikes.
- Comes with a foldable design.
- Bonus holding straps are included for additional security.
- Compatible with all standard RV ladders.
Cons
- Hinge design needs reinforcements.
2.
Swagman RV Bike Rack
This RV bike rack is a top choice for all trailers that come with a 2-inch hitch receiver. It will also protect your bikes from unwanted scratches. Installation and disassembly are simple. First, however, you will have to look for a hitch that features a 2-inch receiver. In addition, this rack will hold your bikes in place, and you won’t have to worry about any vibrations or rattles.
Here is a lightweight hitch RV bike rack that you can look to use if you regularly take four bikes on your trips. This bike rack only weighs around 35 pounds and is made of high-quality steel. This rack provides you with enough clearance to fit your four mountain bikes and keep them safe during travel.
This bike rack for the camper comes with a design to fit into 2-inch receivers. Therefore, installing this rack on your vehicle is not going to be a big deal for you. In addition, it comes with a swedge design that facilitates easy and quail installation and uninstallation to ensure quick storage.
The soft Kraton cushioning sets it apart from its competitors. This cushioning will keep them safe and will prevent them from ratting. Thanks to its design, this bike rack is ideal for installation.
This bike rack is made of solid steel, and it is going to hold your bikes in place pretty well. You will need to have a hitch installed at the back of your vehicle to install this rack.
Pros
- It comes with a capacity to hold 4 bikes.
- Solid stainless-steel construction.
- Lightweight
- Quick installation/uninstallation with the swedge design.
- Kraton cushioning.
Cons
- It only fits well with the 2-inch receivers.
3.
Quick Products RV Bike Rack
This bumper mount is suitable for two bikes, and it comes with robust construction. Installation is pretty simple, but you will have to reinforce your bumper to install this. The mounting is fully adjustable, but it might not be the best option for your fat bikes.
This bumper-mounted RV bike rack comes with a simple design and is made of alloy steel. Therefore, it is going to work for a long period. In addition, the rack only weighs around 22 pounds, so it is not going to add much to your overall vehicle weight.
As it comes with a bumper-mounted design, therefore, its installation is going to be pretty straightforward. However, you will need to have steel bumpers, or you might need to reinforce your bumpers for stability.
This rack is designed to carry up to 2 bikes simultaneously. There is plenty of clearance available between these bikes as well. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about your bikes getting any scratches. With the adjustable mounting on this rack, it is a top choice for any bike length.
This travel trailer bike rack is highly durable as it comes with all-steel construction. In addition to that, this bike rack comes with a powder-coated finish to prevent rust and corrosion. However, you need to keep in mind that this rack is not suitable if you own fat bikes that come with a wheel size of 29 inches or more as they will not fit in properly.
The rack comes with slotted tire wells that will hold onto your bikes, and there is a convenient stabilizer post that works as an anchor that will support your bikes and keep your bikes together and secure.
Pros
- Can carry up to 2 bikes at a time.
- Solid steel construction with powder coating.
- Handles rust and corrosion pretty well.
- Features a stabilizer post as well.
- Installation is pretty straightforward.
Cons
- Requires bumper reinforcements.
4.
Swagman XC2 RV Bike Rack
This hitch mount RV bike rack comes with a foldable design for convenient storage and has a robust construction that will make it last for a long time to come. In addition, this bike rack is pretty stable, and it will keep your bikes safe without any rattling or vibrations.
This Swagman hitch mount RV bike rack is fully compatible with all 2-inch receivers. This bike rack is also made of quality steel so that it will last for a few periods.
You need to keep in mind that this bike rack does come with a foldable design. So, when you are using it, you can always fold it and put it away. Moreover, it’s a lightweight design and will not add to the overall weight of your vehicle.
This camper bike rack is straightforward to install and use, and you will only have to spend a few minutes to get it into place. This rack is designed to hold on to your bike, thanks to its sturdy construction. In addition, it is designed to handle sway and wobbles pretty well.
You won’t have to keep your bike inside the recreational vehicle. This RV bike rack can transport two bikes simultaneously and is compatible with a 2-inch hitch receiver and a 1.2-inch hitch receiver.
It comes with an overall weight capacity of 35 lbs and can fit 20-inch wheels and 29-inch wheels. So, this bike rack is somewhat versatile as well. However, your purchase of this rack won’t include the accessories.
But you can always buy them separately, including fat tire trays, locking hitch pins, and a security cable. This might be a little bit disappointing, especially if you compare the price of this bike rack with others. But if you are looking for a quality hitch mount RV bike rack, this is it.
Pros
- Made of high-quality steel.
- Comes with a foldable design for convenient storage.
- Will hold your bikes in place.
- Very simple to install and disassemble.
- Works well with 1.25-inch and 2-inch hitches.
Cons
- Accessories are sold separately.
5.
Hyperax Blast RV Bike Rack
This bike rack is a top choice for you to consider if you only take two bikes on your trip and are looking for a bumper mount bike rack. It’s a pretty durable rack that comes with a 90-pound load capacity.
If you are looking for a premium quality RV bike rack, you don’t need to look any further. The Hyperax Blast will be a top choice for you, especially if you are looking for a bummer mount design. This RV bike rack is fully compatible with campers, RVs, and trailers with string steel bumpers.
If that is not the case, you will need to reinforce your bumper to work. This bike rack can conveniently fit two mountain bikes or two electric mountain bikes as well. This bike rack is pretty sturdy, and it can hold up to 90 lbs quite conveniently.
You can use this bike rack for travel trailers for your road and gravel bikes and fat bikes that come with up to 5-inch fat tires. This rack is made of carbon steel and alloy steel, so it will hold itself very well for a long time to come.
Pros
- Can hold up to 90 lbs.
- Made of carbon alloy steel.
- Comes with a foldable design.
- Features sandy black coating for corrosion resistivity.
- Pretty sturdy in its construction.
Cons
- Requires bumper reinforcements if they are not already there.
6.
Stromber Carlson RV Bike Rack
It’s a pretty good bike rack, but you will notice that it’s a bit expensive. However, it does offer good value if you get additional accessories with it. They should have come in the purchase, but that’s not the case.
The Carlson Stromber RV rack has a pretty neat design, and it’s a pretty high-quality bike rack as well. This rack is designed to carry up to two mountain bikes with ease. Installation and assembly of this bike rack are pretty simple, and it also comes with a foldable design, making it even easier for storage.
The use of quality steel and powder-coated finish is going to hold up pretty well against corrosion and rust. This bike rack comes with a bumper mount, so you will need to go for bumper reinforcements if you don’t have any in place.
Pros
- Sturdy construction.
- Foldable design.
- Simple to install and use.
- Can store up to two mountain bikes.
- Durable steel alloy with powder-coated fishing.
Cons
- No accessories included.
- Needs bumper reinforcement.
How to Choose the Right RV Bike Rack for You?
We have listed down some essential features that you need to keep in mind when buying the best RV bike rack for your trips.
- Quality Materials:
You have to make sure that you choose an RV bike rack that is made of high-quality materials. The best option is powder-coated racks because this coating extends the overall lifespan of the metal used in the construction of the rack.
In addition, it will keep your rack safe from rust and corrosion and won’t let it crack or break prematurely.
- Bike Capacity:
You need to go for the right RV bike rack according to your needs and requirements. First, you have to decide how many bikes you are going to carry on your trip.
If you are going to carry up to four bikes or even more, it would be better for you to go for the rack that comes with this much capacity and amount setting that can hold this much weight.
- Weight Distribution Rating:
You also need to consider the weight distribution rating of the RV bike rack that you are looking to go for. You need to go for the exact number of bikes on the rack for which it is rated. This way, your rack will withstand high vibrations and bumps while driving your recreational vehicle.
- Ease of Installation & Use:
You have to keep in mind that your bike rack needs to be very simple to install. Plus, when you are loading and unloading the bike, you need to make sure that the entire process remains very easy for you to handle.
Finally, make sure the racks are easy to access. This is especially the case if you are going to use your bikes quite frequently on your trip.
- Affordability:
Some racks are more expensive than others, and you don’t need to put a big hole in your pocket to get the right bike rack. You can choose the right one according to your requirements.
But you still need to go for a reputable company, so you don’t have to deal with any low-quality rack that fails to produce good results for you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I lock my RV bike rack to my RV?
Yes, most RV bike racks come with locking mechanisms as well. They include a lockable hitch pin, and with the help of this lock, you can also prevent your hitch from rattling. This is a good way to secure the bike rack with your recreational vehicle.
- How much do these RV bike racks weigh?
These bike racks don’t weigh much. In most cases, these racks tend to weigh around, ranging between 40 lbs to 80 lbs. So, they will add too much weight to your vehicle.
- Can I fit my fat bike into these racks?
In most cases, these racks are suitable for most mountain bikes out there. But as fat bikes are braided, they will take up more space, and for that reason, they will need more clearance.
But, again, you can consult the manual or even ask the manufacturer when you are purchasing how many fat bikes you can fit into a particular bike rack that you are looking to buy.
Final Verdict:
If you need to carry your bikes on a motorhome, you need a quality RV bike rack. It will provide you with additional storage space and keep your bikes safe.
In our opinion, the winner of this roundup of best RV bike racks is the Camco RV Bike Rack. It’s the best RV bike rack because it comes with a ladder mount, so installation will not be an issue for you. In addition, it can hold up to two bikes which is the requirement in most cases.
This RV bike rack has a pretty solid construction, and it also comes with straps to hold your bike while traveling. It also has a foldable design, so you will get convenience while storing it away.
Related Posts:
