Can a Hitch for a Bike Rack be Installed on the Back of a 2014 Rockwood Freedom 2280BH Tent Trailer

Question:

Can I mount a receiver to the back of my 2014 Rockwood Freedom 2280bh tent trailer to haul my existing Hollywood Traveler 5-Bike Bike Rack? I notice there’s a cable that goes under the trailer from the front to back. Would a mounted receiver avoid this? Also, can I put an extension on the bike trailer if the spare tire is in the way for the bike rack to go under the spare? Thank you!!

asked by: Stephanie

Expert Reply:

There are only certain bike racks that are rated for use on the back of a trailer but the Swagman XTC2 # S64670 is not one of them. The issue is the ride at the back of a trailer is more harsh than at the back of a vehicle and not all bike racks are built to withstand the forces involved.

I have included a link to the bike racks that are rated for this application but they top out at 4 bikes. You could install a hitch such as # 13703 which is the most versatile but you would be limited to 4 bikes at most using a rack such as the Yakima LongHaul 4 Bike RV Rack Item # Y02476. An extension is not recommended because it will reduce the tongue weight capacity of the hitch by 50 percent and puts more stress on the receiver due to the extra distance.

It is hard to say if the hitch will interfere with that cable you mentioned. In all likelihood the cable could be moved or the hitch installed in a way that doesn't interfere but that would be up to you or whomever performs the hitch installation.

expert reply by: Michael H