Recommendation for Transporting 2 Bikes with 2015 Jayco RKDS Trailer

Question:

I have a 2015 Jayco RKDS I bought a E 100 4in bumper mounted Receiver from you 2 years ago my question is... Jayco recommends not using bike rack on back of trailer because of liability issues, and then they doubled back saying it would be ok as long as I dont go over 130 lbs, I was planning on hauling only 2 adult bikes behind the trailer going 500 miles and i dont need any problems, I have a 4 place Allen bike rack, what do you guys think of the weight on the bumper...I see other people using same kind of hitch with 6 bikes and they are really bouncing over bumps, and i just dont want to damage trailer..... what do you guys think?

asked by: Tom

Expert Reply:

When transporting bikes behind a trailer like your 2015 Jayco RKDS, I first recommend checking to see if your existing bike rack is rated for use with trailers and RVs. The bounce and movement that you mentioned seeing on other racks is exactly why only certain bike racks are approved to be used on trailers. This is because the rear of a trailer or RV is extended well beyond the rear axle, which in turn acts like a seesaw and creates a lot of movement that puts added stress on the rack. RV approved racks are specially designed and built with stronger material in order to withstand this stress.

If your bike rack is not approved for use on trailers, I recommend looking at the Thule Range 4 Bike RV Rack - 2" Hitches - Steel, Item # TH9057. This bike rack can hold up to 4 bikes and is rated for use on RVs and trailers.

This rack weighs 36 pounds . Subtracting the 36 pounds from your 130 pound limit will still give you 94 pounds that you can use to carry your 2 bikes. You will have no issue staying below the 130 pound capacity with this bike rack and your two adult bikes loaded. This will be safe to use on your Jayco Trailer for your upcoming trip. If you find that your existing rack is indeed rated for use with RVs and trailers, you will just want to make sure the total weight of both the rack and bikes stays under 130 pounds. As long as you stay under this capacity, as recommended by Jayco, you should not have any problems.

expert reply by: Chris R