There’s no doubt about it. Traveling in an RV can be one of the most rewarding experiences, especially when you’re RVing with your family and loved ones. The opportunities to see unique places, visit stunning beaches and beautiful mountains, are just some of the adventures that await you. Having a bike to pedal your way through these paths is even more fun. Since the inside space in most RVs is limited, the perfect solution is to buy an RV bike rack to accommodate your bikes.
Selecting an RV bike rack involves finding the one that suits all your needs. The perfect bike rack would be compatible with your RV and your bikes should fit the bike rack as well. Thus, the key to finding the best fit is doing a thorough research, asking questions, and studying your own bikes. We know you’d rather prefer having fun in your RV than doing tons of research, that’s why we’ve done the hard task for you. In this article, we’ll be revealing everything you need to know when choosing an RV bike rack as well as some of the best one’s available today.
Table of Contents
Best RV Bike Rack Comparison Table
IMAGE
PRODUCT
DETAILS
SHOP
Unique Hook Design
Swagman LADDER RACK RV Approved
- It can accommodate up to two bikes.
- Their individual weights are not more than 35 pounds.
Racket Arms
Swagman Bicycle Carrier TRAVELER XC2 RV...
- The rack mounts on 4 – 4.5-inch bumpers.
- It also works with a class III hitch receiver.
Cable Lock
Swagman 2-Bike RV Bumper Rack
- It Works perfectly with square bumpers with 4 – 4.5 inches.
- It installs around the bumper using a 6.5 and 8-inch long bolts.
Cheap Bike Rack
Surco 501BR Ladder Mounted Bike Rack
- Made from heavy gauge aluminum.
- It has a smooth feel due to the satin finish around its body.
Secure Your Bikes
Swagman Bicycle Carrier TRAVELER XC2 RV...
- Even when you don’t have a spare tire, you can still use the rack.
- The installation is quite straightforward too.
The Best RV Bike Racks
Choosing the Best Bike Rack for Your RV
The process of selecting a bike rack for your RV starts with knowing the requirements of your RV. Will you be mounting it in the front? How many bikes will you be carrying on your trips? If mounted at the front, won’t it affect your driving? Do bikes have similar styles and sizes? Will you be using them often or just occasionally? These are some of the questions that you’ll have to answer.
There are three styles of bike racks you’ll find in the market today. Each comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages and you’ll have to choose one depending on your requirements.
Bumper Mounted Racks
This type of bike rack is perfect for those who have a square bumper and are not traveling with more than one or two bikes. It can be easily adjusted so that your bike doesn’t serve as a restrictive factor when driving. You should, however, be aware that bumper mounted racks are mostly suited for RVs that are made with steel with a wield that spans the entire length of the bumper.
A bumper mounted rack also allows you to carry up to 2 or 4 bikes, allows for optimum strength and doesn’t require a lot of effort to install. It also makes accessibility easy for children or people who are shorter. Before choosing bumper mounted bike racks, be sure to consider the type of journey you’ll be embarking on, the road, the parking space, and how good your own driving skills are.
Ladder-Mounted Bike Racks
This is one of the easiest solutions to taking your bike with you during an RV trip. Just as its name suggests, the ladder mounted rack is fitted on the ladder at the rear of your RV. Your bikes, which can be up to two or more, are then held in place with their front tires facing vertically facing down. It provides a secure set-up for your bikes especially when you’re parking or when your RV hits obstacles on the road.
Ladder mounted bike racks are also quite fast and easy to install for those who have the upper body strength to fix it in place on the ladder. However, the biggest disadvantage is its height as kids and shorter people won’t be able to gain easy access to the bikes. Another disadvantage is that you need to have a ladder on your RV and for those who have a ladder, you’ll need to dismount it whenever you need to use the ladder for another purpose.
Hitch-Mounted Racks
Hitch mounted racks are the best solution when it comes to RV and bike racks. It has a unique design and can easily accommodate up to 4 bikes. There are usually two styles; platform mount, or hanging. Your choice of hitch mount style will depend on your RV and your bike design. The biggest advantage of hitch mounted bike rack is its ability to fit easily with other vehicles. You can easily dismount them from your RV and transfer them to a truck or other vehicle. It can be very useful when you are using your RV to tow your car, the hitch can be detached from your RV and gotten onto the car with ease.
Now that you understand how to choose a bike rack that fits the requirements of your RV and bike styles, let’s look at some of the best RV bike racks available today.
Accessories to Complement Your Bike Rack
While your bike rack may have all the features you need, it can still fall short during certain periods. The weather, for example, can suddenly change and cause damage to your bike. Just as rain or mud stick to your RV, they can also cling to your bikes. One of the easiest solutions to this is the use of a bike cover. You can purchase a bike cover at a low cost and save your bikes from getting damaged. Most bike covers are big enough to accommodate two or more bicycles. If the safety of your bike is your major concern, you can purchase a lock and chain to secure each bike.
Pedal Your Way through Adventures
When it comes to carrying bikes along with you on your RV travels, bike racks make it a dauntless task. Whether it is a ladder mounted, bumper mounted, or hitch mounted bike rack, you have to decide depending on your needs. Be sure to check out the strength of your ladder, bumper, as well as other areas to ensure that they are safe for mounting.
As with any product, searching for the best takes a bit of time and requires some patience. We hope we have been able to shed some light into choosing bike racks to suit your purpose. Now, the adventures await you. Happy RVing!
