bike rack for a pop up trailer

has anyone made a pvc type rack for a recumbent to fit LWB
like the easy racer sport model...what doe s it attach
to,really dont want to drill into popup roof.thanks

On 8 Mar 2004 12:01:27 -0800, georged335@aol.com (george deasy) wrote:

>has anyone made a pvc type rack for a recumbent to fit LWB
>like the easy racer sport model...what doe s it attach
>to,really dont want to drill into popup roof.thanks

I had a similar problem with a small travel trailer. My
solution was to buy a "Tow and Go" hitch rack from
www.hitchrider.com. This allows me to carry the bike on the
tow vehicle AFTER I have set up the trailer. Remember that
once your popup is up, a rack mounted to the popup can't
travel and if you or your bike break down, transporting the
bike could be a problem.

The only challenge that I have experienced with this system
is that when two bikes are mounted on the rack, you have to
be aware of the propane tanks on the trailer so that you
don't bend a wheel during a tight backing manuver.

The bikes ride high enough on my Jeep Grand Cherokee that I
have no problem toting a XLarge Tour Easy and a diamond
frame bike while also towing a 2000 lbs travel trailer. On
long hauls, I remove the wheels and the coolback seat of the
bike for aerodynamics, but I don't bother unless there are
interstate highways on the route.

PS I used to own a popup. Unless the roof systems are much
better than they used to be, putting any weight on the
roof is an invitation to water penetration and major
repair costs. If you do decide to go with the roof
system, I would mount the rack to some sort of boards
that would hold the entire weight off of the roof and
place all of the vertical load onto the vertical portions
of the roof. If this is a commercial unit, see if your RV
dealer will warranty the installation against water
and/or weight damage. If they balk... how about mounting
a roof rack on the tow vehicle?

Hope this helps.

georged335@aol.com (george deasy) wrote in message news:<84536ca1.0403081201.8d1e5c3@posting.google.com>...
> has anyone made a pvc type rack for a recumbent to fit LWB
> like the easy racer sport model...what doe s it attach
> to,really dont want to drill into popup roof.thanks

PVC is an extremely poor rack material. It starts out weak
and flexible and deteriorates in sunlight (remember, if
it's water pipe it's supposed to be buried. It will break
very quickly.

What kind of trailer is it? Since I can't see your trailer,
I don't know what is needed. I'd suggest you take your
trailer to a dedicated rack shop such as Rack Attack (
http://www.rackattack.com/ ) and see what they have. If
there's no gutters on the trailer, they have cleats that
attach to the sides of fiberglass truck caps to allow
mounting conventional load bars on top. Drilling may be
necessary, though.

Jeff

I made a flat weldmesh tray that's welded to a length of
square tube that slots into the Caravan (RV) hitch on my
car. The tray folds in half, so that it will fit in the boot
(trunk) ((it's illegal in Australia to carry an empty bike
rack on a car.)) I have a commercial "light board" normally
used for boat trailers. This is tied to the rear of whatever
trike I'm carrying and plugged into the hitch 7 pin outlet.

It works very well. Toe straps hold the trike in position
and the weldmesh provides the perfect tie points.

Paul W - MR Swiftlet S2

"Prints" <printsweston@nospambigpond.com> wrote in message news:<XzB3c.96601$Wa.76043@news-server.bigpond.net.au>...
> I made a flat weldmesh tray that's welded to a length of
> square tube that slots into the Caravan (RV) hitch on my
> car. The tray folds in half, so that it will fit in the
> boot (trunk) ((it's illegal in Australia to carry an empty
> bike rack on a car.)) I have a commercial "light board"
> normally used for boat trailers. This is tied to the rear
> of whatever trike I'm carrying and plugged into the hitch
> 7 pin outlet.
>
> It works very well. Toe straps hold the trike in position
> and the weldmesh provides the perfect tie points.
>
> Paul W - MR Swiftlet S2

well lots of good thoughts..ive got a coleman pop
up"hatteras" model..im thinking tie down straps will hold
down the bike to the roof of the coleman..if i use pvc tubes
to create abn interface to the roof for protection of the
roof it should work O.K....ive seen somewhere a nice pvc
unit,and wonder if its worth making when all i need is some
long tie down straps...ive got a couple months to think ofa
good carrier option...i might buy a recumbent trike to match
mine and will have that to think about also...