Tongue Mounted Bike Rack?

I have a 1UP and have carried one 55 lb ebike on it with no problem. I've also tried folding it down once. Still way too much trouble trying to get in/out of the galley without busting your shins or other parts of the upper body trying to maneuver around the bike and rack.

When I get to camp the bike and rack comes off and the bike gets locked to a tree, picnic bench, bear box or whatever, for the duration of the stay. Much simpler and easier.
 
A followup:

1) Our bikes-only trip (without TD) was covered admirably by the 1.25" Kuat NV 2.0. The rack is expensive but performs admirably.

2) We are about to embark on a trip with both TD and bikes, for which the above rack won't work. We will use a Kuat Transfer 2.0 with a 2" hitch. It is rated for use on travel trailers, but with a reduced capacity (40# per bike, down from 60# when attached directly to the main vehicle). This configuration meets all weight limits on the TD hitch and the rack. The downsides: extra cost, and not being able to shuttle the bikes around when at a campsite.

We will solve the shuttling problem eventually -- and I would not be surprised if the solution involves not just a hitch upgrade (per JohnC's suggestion), but a new TV, something with greater towing capacity, weight limits (and a 2" receiver).
 
Not to hijack but what does everyone do about protecting the bike from weather?
My last trip was 8 weeks with my bike on top of the 560. No rain but when I got home I noticed the brake rotors and bolt heads had rust. I've looked at bike covers but they say that they dont hold up to highway speed wind
 
Condensation can lead to rust even if there is no rain. Also, any salt from a marine environment or winter road treatment will really complicate the problem.

For my part, I don't use a cover -- if I expect to drive through rain, I favor cheap disposable plastic (saran wrap, baggies, etc) to protect the most sensitive parts of the bike. Rubber bands/bungees/tape to secure the plastic against the bike. It is easy to monitor and reapply if the plastic gets damaged. My mountain biking friends apply specialized coatings in various places -- I haven't had to do that and don't know which ones they favor for different uses.
 
Turnip936 said:
Condensation can lead to rust even if there is no rain. Also, any salt from a marine environment or winter road treatment will really complicate the problem.

For my part, I don't use a cover -- if I expect to drive through rain, I favor cheap disposable plastic (saran wrap, baggies, etc) to protect the most sensitive parts of the bike. Rubber bands/bungees/tape to secure the plastic against the bike. It is easy to monitor and reapply if the plastic gets damaged. My mountain biking friends apply specialized coatings in various places -- I haven't had to do that and don't know which ones they favor for different uses.
Click to expand...
The worst area was the brake rotors. Idk what you could put on as a coating that wouldnt affect the stopping power.
 
Turnip936 said:
A followup:

1) Our bikes-only trip (without TD) was covered admirably by the 1.25" Kuat NV 2.0. The rack is expensive but performs admirably.

2) We are about to embark on a trip with both TD and bikes, for which the above rack won't work. We will use a Kuat Transfer 2.0 with a 2" hitch. It is rated for use on travel trailers, but with a reduced capacity (40# per bike, down from 60# when attached directly to the main vehicle). This configuration meets all weight limits on the TD hitch and the rack. The downsides: extra cost, and not being able to shuttle the bikes around when at a campsite.

We will solve the shuttling problem eventually -- and I would not be surprised if the solution involves not just a hitch upgrade (per JohnC's suggestion), but a new TV, something with greater towing capacity, weight limits (and a 2" receiver).
Click to expand...
There are a couple posts here about using a combo hitch on TV, that the CI attaches at bottom and elevates another receiver high enough thatt the rack and bike clear the trailer and propane tank, if careful on turns...

Have you seen those?
Pretty nifty but all depends on your TV, do you need access in back, how, etc.
 
The Postman said:
There are a couple posts here about using a combo hitch on TV, that the CI attaches at bottom and elevates another receiver high enough thatt the rack and bike clear the trailer and propane tank, if careful on turns...

Have you seen those?
Pretty nifty but all depends on your TV, do you need access in back, how, etc.
Click to expand...
Yes, the arrangement is sensible, but not a solution for our TV, which has a tongue limit of 220#, most of which is devoted to the CI.
 
The Postman said:
There are a couple posts here about using a combo hitch on TV, that the CI attaches at bottom and elevates another receiver high enough thatt the rack and bike clear the trailer and propane tank, if careful on turns...

Have you seen those?
Pretty nifty but all depends on your TV, do you need access in back, how, etc.
Click to expand...
That's what I have gone to with the new truck. I wanted to get the bikes off the back of the TD so we could more easily get into the galley on the road, so I got the dual hitch extension so I could put them between the truck and camper.

The rack we have has the oval loops that the bike tires sit in, that can be adjusted for the length of the bike. I found that the square bar that the ovals are mounted to were coming close to contacting the TD when turning sharp, so I ended up shortening them so that they still had some length adjustment, but took about 6 inches off each end, which was enough to let them clear everything. I was able to take my Lectric bike to Oshkosh using that setup, and it worked well, allowing the tailgate to be dropped (but not the tailgate flexgate step). I was able to carry everything that we used to put into the cabin, into the truck bed instead, making the TD cabin accessible for rest stops en-route if desired, or if pulling into a campsite late in the day.
Here's what I ended up getting : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081TTNSX4?ref=fed_asin_title&th=1
Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic of it setup on the truck during the trip. One thing of note was that the TD tongue jack handle wasn't usable with the bike in place however.
 
dustinp said:
That's what I have gone to with the new truck. I wanted to get the bikes off the back of the TD so we could more easily get into the galley on the road, so I got the dual hitch extension so I could put them between the truck and camper.

The rack we have has the oval loops that the bike tires sit in, that can be adjusted for the length of the bike. I found that the square bar that the ovals are mounted to were coming close to contacting the TD when turning sharp, so I ended up shortening them so that they still had some length adjustment, but took about 6 inches off each end, which was enough to let them clear everything. I was able to take my Lectric bike to Oshkosh using that setup, and it worked well, allowing the tailgate to be dropped (but not the tailgate flexgate step). I was able to carry everything that we used to put into the cabin, into the truck bed instead, making the TD cabin accessible for rest stops en-route if desired, or if pulling into a campsite late in the day.
Here's what I ended up getting : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081TTNSX4?ref=fed_asin_title&th=1
Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic of it setup on the truck during the trip. One thing of note was that the TD tongue jack handle wasn't usable with the bike in place however.
Click to expand...
Thanks, @dustinp and @Ken & Peggy

Be interested in a couple pics on new truck and older with trailer at full max turn radius as limited by bike/rack to propane tank.

Nice thing about Amazon link you provided its so inexpensive one could just experiment, and even return if it doesnt fit.
 
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The Postman said:
Thanks, @dustinp and @Ken & Peggy

Be interested in a couple pics on new truck and older with trailer at full max turn radius as limited by bike/rack to propane tank.

Nice thing about Amazon link you provided its so inexpensive one could just experiment, and even return if it doesnt fit.
Click to expand...
I'll try to remember to take some pics the next time I have everything hooked up on the new truck. The old was a VW Passat TDI, and the bike rack was on the back of the TD with that vehicle, and a dual extension hitch would not have worked on that TV due to the TV tongue weight limit.
 
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