Bike Rack and Hitch Recommendation for a Travel Trailer with 4 inch Bumper

Question:

Hello, I have a 21foot Okanagan Eclipse Travel Trailer and would like to find an adequate solution to take 4 bikes on our travels 2 kids boy and girl and 2 adults mens and womens. Okanagan is no longer in business but their former website states that the 4inch bumper is continuously welded to the frame to support a variety of accessories. This leads me to believe it may be suitable, however the horror stories of people dragging their bikes on the highway do not make me confident. Would a bolt on bumper reciever be suitable, or do you recommend a full hitch attached to the frame. ALso, what bike carrier would you reommend? Thank you.

asked by: Jason

Expert Reply:

The horror stories about losing bikes while traveling down the highway behind an RV are almost always due to someone using a bike rack not rated for use behind a trailer. The ride quality at the back of a trailer is much rougher than that of a vehicle. Because of this bike racks need to be reinforced to handle the roughness if they are to be used behind a trailer.

I have a great solution for you, the Yakima LongHaul 4 Bike RV Rack for 2" Hitches part # Y02476 can carry 4 bikes and is rated for use behind a trailer.

For a hitch you would want the part # E-100 since it sounds like your bumper is capable of carrying a bike rack.

This hitch requires you use a stabilizer strap like part # 18050 as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C