Best 2-Bike Platform Hitch Bike Racks for Use on 5th Wheel Trailer  

Question:

Expert Reply:

The Thule EasyFold E-Bike Platform Hitch Rack # TH903202 is rated for use on passenger vehicles such as cars, truck, SUVs, and vans, but not for use on the back of a trailer such as a 5th wheel.

We do have platform racks that are suitable for use on the rear of a trailer, such as your Cedar Creek. One comes from Kuate, and one from Swagman. I recommend the Kuat Transfer V2 Bike Rack - Wheel Mount # KU84FR and their Dispatch Frame-Mount Platform Rack # S44FR. Both of these carriers feature all steel construction, the Transfer V2 weighs 37 pounds, and the Swagman Dispatch weights 51-lbs.

If your bikes have front fenders that prevent use of the wheel-mount Kuat Dispatch # KU84FR then you'll want to use the frame-mount Dispatch # S44FR. Also note that the Escapee can be used on all types of vehicles and towables.

The reason some racks cannot be used on trailers is that the nature of a towed trailer's motion is different from the motion at the rear of a vehicle, and this puts more stress on a rack that is installed on a trailer.

The specific cause is the longer distance from the rear axle to the hitch/bike rack on a towed 5th wheel trailer. On passenger vehicles this distance is usually not more than 3- to 4-feet but on 5th wheel trailers the distance tends to be much greater, easily 6 to 8 feet on tandem axle 5th wheels. This greater distance translates into more leverage being applied to the rack and that is why some bike carriers such as the excellent Thule EasyFold just are not suited to trailer use. Please refer to the linked image to see illustration of this distance.

You may also care to refer to the linked articles on 5th wheel bike carriers.

expert reply by: Adam R

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