5 Jayco Bike Rack Ideas (Eagle, Swan, Starcraft, Hummingbird)
Even on vacation, you should stick to a good exercise program. Keeping moving is one way to stay younger, healthier, and looking good. One way to stick to your exercise program is to carry bikes with you on your trailer or RV. That way you have no excuse for not exercising.
When towing a trailer you only have 6 locations that are practical and safe to use. There is the rear bumper, the rear ladder, the trailer tongue, your truck’s bed, the tow vehicle’s front bumper, or a rooftop bike rack. These 6 options come with different materials and design options to make sure your bikes can make the trip with you.
To learn more about the bike rack ideas and how to bring your bikes with you, just continue to read our article. It explores the topic so you have the best information available. Carrying bikes with you is a smart idea and lets you enjoy the scenery without spending a lot of money.
Can You Put Bikes On The Back Of a Travel Trailer?
Yes, many different rack designs will work with the back of your trailer. Those designs are limited to being hitch mounted and ladder mounted but both options are very secure.
For the bumper-mounted style, you would need to have a hitch mounted to the back of your trailer. Generally, you would need either a 1 1/4 or 2-inch receiver to make them work. The 2-inch is better than upsizing the 1 1/4” with an adapter.
The ladder option only works if you have a built-in ladder at the rear of your vehicle. The rack goes over the rungs and then straps to the bottom. However, this option is only limited to holding a bike rack that fits 2 bikes.
A third option puts you in the gray area of being classified as a double tow. There are trailer extensions that use movable wheels that can attach to the rear of your trailer. These are not quite independent trailers as they follow your travel trailer exactly. However, many states declare them a trailer and you could be cited for double towing.
When done right, each option is safe, secure and you should not lose your bikes when you hit those bumps in the road.
Why Are Some Bike Racks Not Rated For RV?
This is not a rare situation. Certain bike racks are not rated for use on the back of your trailer. These bike racks fall into the categories of being able to tilt or fold.
The reason they are not rated is due to the design of the trailer, not so much the design of the bike racks. It is said that the rear suspension and axle of the trailer are too far forward to protect these racks from bumps, etc.
Those bumps and other issues that happen at the rear of the trailer are too strong for the bike rack. This is where the design of those bike racks comes into play. They may not be built with the right materials that make them strong enough to endure those bumps, etc.
At some point, the bike racks may pivot or fold, etc., and cause you a lot of problems. These bike racks are not even tested for this location thus they get no rating. The lack of rating may not mean that the rack is not strong enough to ride on the back, it just means they are not tested.
Jayco Bike Rack Option
There are a variety of options at your disposal. If you own an 8-foot Eagle pop-up camper then it will depend on your bumper which bike rack you can use. A 4 by 4-inch square bumper allows you to use a Swagman around the spare bike rack.
If you have a smaller bumper then you may have to go to a bike rack that attaches to a ball mount. The Curtis Clamp-on 3 bike rack is just one example of this. Which bike rack you will use will depend on your Rv trailer set-up.
If you use a pick-up truck to do the towing, you have 3 more options at your disposal which will make transporting your bikes simple and easier. Or if you have a normal-sized Jayco trailer, you can use the tongue bike rack, the ladder, or the rear bumper option.
Bike racks are usually designed to be universal in application. All designs should fit all RV or trailer situations with some exceptions when it comes to self-drive RVs. The rear bumper location can use the hitch mount option, the ball mount option, or the bumper style bike rack.
These options will depend on your bumper and rear of the trailer design.
Jayco Bike Rack Price
Since bike racks are made to be universal, the following prices are general costs and are not limited to just Jayco trailers. The final cost you will pay depends on where you buy the bike rack at.
For example, the same Swagman or Thule models may be cheaper at Amazon than they are selling for at e-trailer outlets. Or that price difference may be reversed and e-trailer is cheaper than Amazon. It will all depend on the model and if one or the other outlets is having a sale.
The Camco ladder bike rack is selling for $45 dollars right now at Amazon and that has been the cheapest model we have seen so far. Depending on the design of the bike rack you can expect to pay between $100 to $900.
Also, the number of bikes that the rack can hold will play a role in how much you will spend. The best thing to do is decide how many bikes you will bring along and where you want to mount them. Then do some comparison shopping to get the best deal.
Or if you are only bringing one or two bikes along for the ride, you can always store them inside your trailer while traveling.
Jayco Bike Rack Weight Limit
Every trailer has a weight limit attached to it. The good news is that any bike rack you buy will not go over that limit or even threaten it unless you overpack your trailer. However, you do have to be careful about how much weight each bike rack can hold.
One four bike rack is allowing for 33 pounds per bike or 132 pounds in total approx. One bumper mount 2 bike rack only allows 30 pounds per bike or 60 pounds in total. A Hollywood 4 bike rack is a little more flexible as it can hold 50 pounds per bike. Or, you can put two bikes on the rack and another 100 pounds of cargo if you want.
Different designs are going to have different weight limits. This is one of the hard questions you have to ask before you buy. Then double-check the information given to you so you know that it is accurate.
Make sure to check what materials the rack is made from as those construction materials play a large role in the weight limit of the bike rack.
How Do You Use a Jayco Bike Rack?
You use them per the manufacturer’s instructions and warning. You have to be careful not to exceed the rating of the bike rack, its weight limit, or location. If you are lucky and buy one like that Hollywood 4 bike rack, you may have some cargo options which will make traveling a little easier.
Keep in mind that every bike, any cargo, and the bike rack need to be subtracted from your total weight capacity. That means if the rack weighs 100 pounds and can hold 33 pounds per bike, you need to subtract a total of 160 pounds of weight that could have been used for other equipment or supplies.
It doesn’t matter where you put the bike rack, this is a mandatory part of the weight equation. Also, do not try to put more bikes than is allowed on the rack. The rack is not rated for the extra weight and you could end up with some terrible results if you try.
In addition to that, each bike rack should come with its own instruction sheet explaining how to secure them to your vehicle, and how to operate them.
Installing a Bike Rack On a Jayco Jay Flight Trailer
This will depend on the type of bike rack you buy. Some, like the ladder rack, are very easy to install. Just hook them over the rungs and then find a strong secure spot to strap it in place so it won’t move.
Others simply clamp onto the rear bumper or the tongue of the trailer. Then still others will need a hitch, a ball, or some sort of rear mount to make sure the racks are secure. These latter options may take some welding to make sure the hitch and ball are secure and sturdy.
More recent trailer models may already come with factory-installed rear hitches, or in Jacyo’s case, a new JackIt rack that they install themselves. This will save you a lot of time and money when you do not have to hire someone to do it for you.
Because there are so many different types of bike racks and designs, you will have to look at the instruction sheet for step-by-step instructions. Make sure to read those instructions before you buy so you know it will fit on your trailer or tow vehicle.
Plus, you know that you can install them yourself without having to hire a professional to do it.
Other Camper Bike Rack Ideas
There is the new JackIt style of rack from Jayco. It goes on the tongue over the trailer jack lifting the bikes up high and out of the way. It is a very good design and is a variation of the tongue bike rack you find at other outlets.
However, there are a lot of good and practical designs that are not commercially sold and are products from the many DIY RV owners out there. One owner simply made his own out of steel tubing, u-bolts, and strong nuts to clamp it over the tongue. It is a basic design but very strong.
Another owner made a 4-bike rack out of PVC pipe and stuck it in the back of his pick-up’s bed. This is an inexpensive option and only works if you do not need the truck bed for other cargo.
A unique design created by one owner used 2 x 4s as a base to secure the bikes and it needed the front tire removed. Once the tire was off, the 2 x 4s were placed lengthwise and the bikes were placed width-wise. This design saved room in the truck bed for other needed supplies.
The bikes were secured by a steel L-style plate and some heavy nuts and bolts at the forks. A final idea would be to attach a bike rack to the front wall of your truck bed. There are mounts for the front and side walls with cross beams for stability.
This type of rack can hold up to 3 bikes while still leaving you with a little cargo space underneath if you need it. There are more ideas that you can study to see if they are feasible for your situation.
Some Final Words
Taking the bikes along for your next trailer holiday is a good idea. When you do not want to use your vehicle, you can always ride into town and do your errands. To help you get your bikes where you are going, there are numerous bike rack options and trailer locations you can choose to use.
Do some comparison shopping to make sure you get the right one at the right price for you.
