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The Road to Nova Scotia...
- Thread starter Ken & Peggy
- Start date
Thanks Pat. We arrived in Newfoundland yesterday and already added days to our allotted time here. A gorgeous place!
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Ken
What do you use as a bike rack. Looks like it's an add on the the receiver hitch.
Did you make reservations beforehand or are you able to find spots ok just rolling in to the different campgrounds?
We are just showing up and finding spots as we go. Working so far...
It's a Yakima Double Down rack. The receiver is from Harbor Freight - it accepts any 2" rack.
Had a near disaster today while heading south out of St Anthony, NL. The Yakima rack failed - a metal rod just sheared off. The rack then fell back onto the teardrop propane area, damaging the Alcan cover (have not looked to see if the camper skin below it was pierced). If the camper was not being towed, the bikes would have hit the pavement and been demolished, maybe bouncing and hitting a vehicle behind us, causing an accident.
As there was no shoulder we turned off the highway when we could and parked in the first available spot we found.
There was no way to keep the rack from tilting into it's down position. I was thinking we'd have to strap both bikes on the pickup bed to continue.
Then the woman whose house we were in front of asked if we had a problem. When she heard, she said c'mon in, my husband is a mechanic and having lunch. Eat with us and we'll get it figured out.
Long story short, the incredible help we received from these total strangers let us avoid a terrible outcome and continue our trip with only a 2 hour pause. And we gained 2 new friends in the process. People are amazing.
And when you think about the set of circumstances that put us in front of their house, it just makes me smile.
I will be having a conversation with the good folks at Yakima when we get back to Chicago...
As there was no shoulder we turned off the highway when we could and parked in the first available spot we found.
There was no way to keep the rack from tilting into it's down position. I was thinking we'd have to strap both bikes on the pickup bed to continue.
Then the woman whose house we were in front of asked if we had a problem. When she heard, she said c'mon in, my husband is a mechanic and having lunch. Eat with us and we'll get it figured out.
Long story short, the incredible help we received from these total strangers let us avoid a terrible outcome and continue our trip with only a 2 hour pause. And we gained 2 new friends in the process. People are amazing.
And when you think about the set of circumstances that put us in front of their house, it just makes me smile.
I will be having a conversation with the good folks at Yakima when we get back to Chicago...
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More from beautiful Newfoundland...
Thanks, it's a gorgeous place to see, and the people couldn't be nicer.
Fun with our new friends at the Newfoundland visitor center at Port aux Basques...
Warren Mary Ellen
Ranger
I know someone who an issue with a Yakima rack failing while he was on the interstate which destroyed an expensive bike. Not sure they resolved it.
Well, I'm going to give it my best shot once we get back home. I'd love to know what feature failed on your friends rack - maybe it'll help MY case
I'm looking at new racks that hold the bikes up vs having them hang. If that type of rack can fit my 'between the car & trailer' set up I think I'll go that route.
I'll post the Yakima outcome here when I know.
I'm looking at new racks that hold the bikes up vs having them hang. If that type of rack can fit my 'between the car & trailer' set up I think I'll go that route.
I'll post the Yakima outcome here when I know.
We were planning on more time in Nova Scotia on the return, but family stuff in Chicago has us heading home a few days earlier than planned.
Maybe another trip...
Maybe another trip...
Warren Mary Ellen
Ranger
I have at Thule Tray Rack. Before I had Yakima where he bikes would hang down. After I nearly lost a wheel and hearing other cyclist and their stories of losing a wheel with one like that I decided to change. My Yakima was getting pretty old and someday I hope to have a Mountain Bike and they tray type is easier with them. Not sure how a tray one would work with your set up. I got mine at REI, the Thule was cheaper and they told me at REI they don't get them returned and occasionally they do with the Yakimas. With my Thule, the bikes are pretty much at the level of the hitch, maybe a little higher, so I am guessing you need to that to above the propane tank on the front of the camper.
Thanks for that - I'll be doing some comparisons shortly after we get home on Thursday. Thule will definitely get a good look.
Total miles for the Great Maritimes adventure...
