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How do you like your (looks like) dual cam hitch? Mine sounds like its dying and the one bar likes to climb off the cam.
The front bike rack is two parts. The first is the Carlson "Bike Bunk", which basically adds a hitch mount receiver to the front frame. The parts are all a little maneuverable so it can fit multiple angles.
The second part is just a hitch mount bike rack. I chose the arm one so the bikes, when loaded, actually sit higher than the truck bed so there is no issues when turning. This isn't my camper, its back in storage, but it looks a little like this.
Also, I really like the my dual cam, it is the Reese Straightline. Does a great job with weight distribution and sway. When I connected mine this time, at full crank, the thing sounds pretty loud. I use just a touch of Vaseline on the cams and bars to quiet it down and it works wonders. My manual says not to use any grease, but Vaseline is fine for noise control.
Ours is 24'10'', 4,100 lbs. dry and we have a weight distribution/anti-sway hitch. This season we have taken it on 3 trips so far, with two more long weekends planned in August, and another in September. Both truck and trailer are 2017, and together just fits nicely on our driveway.
The front bike rack is two parts. The first is the Carlson "Bike Bunk", which basically adds a hitch mount receiver to the front frame. The parts are all a little maneuverable so it can fit multiple angles.
The second part is just a hitch mount bike rack. I chose the arm one so the bikes, when loaded, actually sit higher than the truck bed so there is no issues when turning. This isn't my camper, its back in storage, but it looks a little like this.
Also, I really like the my dual cam, it is the Reese Straightline. Does a great job with weight distribution and sway. When I connected mine this time, at full crank, the thing sounds pretty loud. I use just a touch of Vaseline on the cams and bars to quiet it down and it works wonders. My manual says not to use any grease, but Vaseline is fine for noise control.
Huh thats pretty cool, i don't think would be able to use it when my kayak on the ladder rack though, but something to think about for when we don't take them. I have a slide that comes out the rear of the camper so i can't put the bikes back there either.
I have mixed feelings about the reese strait line dual cam so far. We have only taken a few trips with it and i didn't have any sway, but the truck did push into the wind more than it used to, like driving straight down the highway with the wheel 1-2 o'clock with a solid side wind. I felt more movement than i did with the old friction bar setup too.
It was embarrassingly loud the first trip, i only had a grease with me so i just put a skim coat on it, there was some marks on the cam face from it grinding too. i have saw where people have said the bar coming out of the cam pocket is from not enough tension, but the bars are pretty well cranked. We are taking a 200 mile trip friday so we will see how it does, i might go to 4 links to add a bit of weight to the bars, the heads already tilted back quite a bit making it a pain in the *** to get the ball unlocked.
The front bike rack is two parts. The first is the Carlson "Bike Bunk", which basically adds a hitch mount receiver to the front frame. The parts are all a little maneuverable so it can fit multiple angles.
That's interesting! Is there room to mount it in the backside so the bikes are closer to the trailer?
I ordered this thingy from Amazon for $18 to put on my TT's bumper so I can use my hitch-mount bike rack.
That's interesting! Is there room to mount it in the backside so the bikes are closer to the trailer?
I ordered this thingy from Amazon for $18 to put on my TT's bumper so I can use my hitch-mount bike rack.
Yeah, mine is mounted so the rack is as close to the camper as possible, much closer than that pic I posted above. Those arms are "interchangeable" so the angle can go back instead of front as it is shown there. With my receiver dam near close to the trailer, the bikes, when loaded, barely go past the hitch and over the truck.
I looked at that bumper mount hitch, but am just too worried about the weight of 3 adult bikes, and one kids bike bouncing around on a pretty flimsy bumper. Most travel trailer bumpers are glorified sewer hose carriers and don't have the interior support for that kind of weight, especially since it is cantilevered over the back. I have seen pics of bumpers pretty messed up after bike mounts were put on them and the force of the motion from just driving. Our bikes are pretty light in comparison, but that twisting motion on the flimsy bumper had me worried so I spent the extra money on the "bunk".
You do have to worry about hitch weight if you are close then. Normal hitch weight plus propane, now plus the bikes might add up for some.
07-23-2018, 03:05 PM
