RV-Rated 2-Bike Rack for 2015 Lance 1685 Travel Trailer

Question:

We have a Swagman saddle mount style bike rack that carries 2 bikes designed to fit a 2 inch receiver hitch. What is available to mount this bike rack to rear bumper area of a Lance 1685 trailer. I believe the trailer bumper is light weight and 2.5 X 5 inches.

asked by: Ken

Expert Reply:

We do offer a range of RV-rated bike racks that can transport your 2 bikes on the back of your Lance travel trailer. The linked page will show you all types, which include hitch-mount, bumper-mount and ladder-mount types.

The Lance website does not provide specs for the bumper on their 1685 so you'll want to contact them with your trailer's VIN to confirm the bumper is continuously-welded steel and strong enough to handle the weight of a loaded bike rack. Based on the photos on their site, the bumper does not appear to be a continuously-welded steel type, which is what you need for a bumper-mount rack like the Swagman # S64663 or a bumper-mount hitch such as # S64025.

You may be better off using a ladder-mount rack like the Stromberg Carlson # LA-102. This lightweight rack offers a 25-lbs-per-bike capacity but you'll want to check with Lance for the ladder's weight capacity. The linked article will help you choose the best option.

Any bike rack that is to be used on the back of a trailer or motorhome must be specifically rated for such use. Standard hitch bike racks meant for use in a hitch on the back of a car cannot handle the extra stresses found at the rear of RVs. This is because of the greater distance from the rear axle to the rack, which applies more leverage to the rack much in the same way that putting a pipe over the end of a wrench gives you more leverage.

expert reply by: Adam R