Bicycle and Hitch

jimbobwalton

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Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 04.10.2014 · #1

Well One year down with the motorhome and have to say the family and i are hooked. Took it to france for 8 weeks and all went well...so planning ahead now with the little bit of experience i have and trying to maybe fix some of the issues I have ....and that's shortage of space. My idea!! we have a 3 bike rack at the back (we have four bikes) ..this year we put the small bike on the fixed dbl bed at the back when travelling..it was only a small bike. However it just made life harder then it needs be. We also could do with a little more storage room. We dont have a garage ..just some storage room under the bed. So i was wondering... If i put a hitch on the motorhome ..its a fiat ducato..bavaria.2002 4 bert...now next thing was then get a bike rack that would take all four bikes on the hitch!!!...then I get get an external box and put it on top of the existing bike racks and presto all sorted....Do ye think this is feasible? As ever thanks so much for all the advise over last year

CHAUSSON

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 04.10.2014 · #2

Yes! I did it this year, I made a bracket to go onto the back of the Motorhome where a tow bar would be fitted and I fitted the folding part of the existing bike rack on to the bracket. then I fitted a Fiamma back box onto the existing bike frame. I also had to fit a trailer light socket and use a lighting board as the Bicycles are blocking the vans tail lights.

ntg

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 04.10.2014 · #3

Just be careful of the weight that you are suspending so far behind the rear axle,weight is just not about the overall load but about even distribution.

jimbobwalton

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 04.10.2014 · #4

thanks guys..ntg the weight distribution would be similar to as it has been...except instead of hanging the bikes off the back wall of the camper they would sit on the hitch...Would this not be better as they are lower and I assume the hitch would be attached to the chassis further back?

The bike attachment has to be detachable as there is a back door there also to get at the little storage area under the bed

the fat controller

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 05.10.2014 · #5

Thule do a hitch mounted bike rack which incorporates a number plate and lights. It may also tilt to allow access to the boot on car, but not sure as it's a while since I looked at them. You can get them in Halfords or decathlon.

jimbobwalton

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 05.10.2014 · #6

I think I found it FC....link below

http://www.halfords.ie/car-sea…le-carrier

I assume whomever I get to do the hitch would also wire the connection for this?

jacktherev

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 05.10.2014 · #7

Yeah that's it but one needs to be careful with weight etc. on the tow bar.

CHAUSSON

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 05.10.2014 · #8

Pretty impressive!
https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t…2529,d.ZGU

the fat controller

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 05.10.2014 · #9

All the tow bar fitters will be able to wire a socket, you just need to tell them if you want a 7or 13 pin one.

jacktherev

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 05.10.2014 · #10

That certainly is impressive.

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 05.10.2014 · #11

What make is your bike rack? An extra rail and arm should be available for fiamma and ormnister carriers.
Steven.

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 06.10.2014 · #12

Wow that does look impressive...my bike rack is an omnistor...Maybe an extra rail is possible but am slighly worried about 4 bikes..and cans see where the extra rail would go ...is it not alot of strain on the back wall of the camper? I see amost of those bike racks say 60kg max which is similar to the bike racks...

http://www.bicyclerack-mottez….d=2&rid=12

That motte one is not much more expensive then the halford one...

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 06.10.2014 · #13

Afaik the u shape frame that the bike carriers are bolted onto is telescopic and you can add the fourth carrier plat by sliding it out. (I could be wrong)

One problem that I see with the Halfords bike rack is when you tilt it back to get at your booth, the handlebars of the bike swing up and you will have to keep your box very high.

jimbobwalton

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 06.10.2014 · #14

I dont think the tilting is going to make any difference anyway as the space between the back of the bikes and the boot door might be an issue...Can always get at stuff from under the bed...Would be happy with the bikes sitting on the hitch...and a box sitting on the bike rack above...

the rack I have is not telescopic ...which is another reason I am thinking of hitch. Option is replace it with a 4 bike one or go the hitch route..and as i said aboue I think 4 bikes on the back wall might be v heavy especially when we go over bumps and get that sway on the back

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Bicycle Rack

· Posted: 10.10.2014 · #15

HI JBW. I have a brand new 3 bike rack bought out of Halfords 2 weeks ago and not required now the exact same as you are looking for with lights and socket. If you are interested PM me for a price .

jimbobwalton

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 10.10.2014 · #16

hey willy...its a 4 bike one i need...I have a 3 bike rack on the van already...you sold me the third rail if you rem....So thats why the who idea to change to 4 bike

Michelinman

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Re: Bicycle and Hitch

· Posted: 11.10.2014 · #17

Hi JBW. Getting old and forgetful lol

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box

· Posted: 19.10.2014 · #18

Ok guys hitch being sorted got the mottez bike rack that was in the thread a few posts back...now need a box . So plan is hitch...bike rack on it...and put a box on the old bike rack. I will have to raise the old bike rack platform a bit but dont think the fiamma or thule box will fit as the 70cm ...and the box would cover the rear red light ..the hight one so I was wondering a bout those aluminum boxes...ally has one in his post here

forum/topic.php?t=263&page=95

anyone else have one..what weight are they etc

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