Recommended Hitch Bike Carrier for Use on 24-Foot RV

Question:

i need a bike rack that will fit onto my 2009 Itasca Navion 24foot rv. I have a spare tire on the back of the rv which extends less than 12inch beond the vehicle. Do you have a rack that will fit this rv?? I have a 2inch receiver. Do I need an extension, and if so, how long? Thanks for your help.

asked by: Bob L

Expert Reply:

We do offer 2-inch hitch bike racks that are approved for use on the rear of an RV. These are made to handle the extra physical stresses found at the rear of motorhome and trailers. We do not recommend using any type of extension/adapter in your RV hitch as this could potentially damage your hitch due to the additional leverage this would apply to the hitch tube.

You'll want to measure from your hitch pin hole to the rearmost part of the RV (probably the outside edge of the spare tire) to find out how much clearance you need from the bike rack. The linked article illustrates how to take this measurement. With this dimension confirmed you can select a rack that provides enough clearance to avoid interference with the spare. You can then use the linked page to review RV-rated bike racks.

The Swagman Original 3-bike rack # S64152-2 that you referenced is also a good choice thanks to it's 14-inches of clearance from the hitch pin hole to the upright bar. I own this rack; while its not as fancy as others it is well-made and has held up very well for me. You can sort the product results shown by using the filters on the linked page.

expert reply by: Adam R