Bike Rack Solution for the T@B 400?

WillieontheRoad

I'm dying to ride my bike when we are on adventures.  We have a T@B 400.  I really do not want to carry the bike inside the trailer unless I need to, because we always stop for lunches.  Has anyone found a good easily-to-install bike rack for their 400?  I need your suggestions.
Thanks,
Alan Fisher

Homebodyatheart

My guess is that you will want to install something on your frame between the jack and tub in front. The Tab itself really isn't built for outside add on's of that weight. Try a search to see what others have done. I'm still working on this myself!
Good luck!

brookings

what kind of tow vehicle do you have. I have a subaru outback and I bought a great Allen ultra compact folding for $60. Off and on in minutes. Amazon and youtube have videos. If mounted on the tongue the rack and the bike weigh less than a spare tire

WillieontheRoad

Thanks Brookings,
This Allen Ultra Compact may be my solution, but I do want to hear what other ideas are out there.
I was thinking about mounting on the tongue.  I have a 2016 Jeep GC and wasn't even thinking about mounting a bike rack on back of my vehicle.  I will only be carrying one bike. This rack certainly looks easy to use and doesn't cost hundreds of dollars that the other tongue mount options do.  Good option.
Alan

newell

I'm not sure about the 400, we have the 320 but here is a link to what we did.

https://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/5584/inexpensive-bike-rack#latest

WillieontheRoad

Very impressive Newell,
But, we leave again on Saturday, 4/7 and I think that I will need to go with something on the market that can easily be installed by me or our RV dealer.
Thanks,
Alan

gooddogs74

We are probably going to buy this one, have been researching the same thing.  Seasucker.com

JCALD

A few weeks back I built a bike rack for the Tab 400.  Works really well and might even help prevent the front window from deflecting and damaging itself.  The rack is high enough to allow me access to the propane valve.

DenisP

Nice bike rack.

N7SHG_Ham

@JCALD your rack looks kind of like https://www.lci1.com/lets-go-aero which a lot of folks use. I do wonder about longevity of ANY single support bike rack. There is a lot of force generated bouncing around going down the road. I believe someone earlier this year reported failure of the  Jack-It brand when transporting a heavier e-bike. Keeping weight down is probably a key factor in using one of these.

JCALD

Load is a definite concern on any bike rack and needs to be seriously considered.

Cbusguy

while they do not own a tab,  Long Honeymoon on youtube use a bike rack over their tonneau  cover on their truck.     They have a large cargo bin on the opposite side.    Looks like a solid more secure option than most of the tab solutions I have seen.   

Tundra57

I have a 1 to 2 reciever adapter to allow towing plus a reciever for a bike rack. What do you all think about using that towing a tab 400? My Toyota tundra has airbags so tongue weight is not a problem.

Verna

I would consider the 1-2 way adapter to be a weak point. On a lesser powerful vehicle, the towable weight is cut in half by using one of those adapters, which gives me the impression it is a weak point. The 400 is easy to haul with my F-150, but to tow in today’s winds of 40+ mph, the weak point might concern me. 

This is my personal opinion, for what it is worth. 

N7SHG_Ham

@Tundra57 re airbags. They do not increase vehicle ratings, all that does is level the vehicle. With the Tundra I doubt you will be overloaded adding bikes to the receiver, but that is regardless of airbags.

Tundra57

Yes Airbags do not increase the mechanical ratings but help with leveling when you are at the max tongue weight which often you can't use as the hitch  and suspension may be too low for comfort. Without them I cannot reverse up my sloped driveway.

Tundra57

I was also worried about stability as the leverage length is longer.

N7SHG_Ham

@Tundra57 you get that much sag with a 400 onna Tundra? Are you carrying a lot of weight in the pickup?

Verna

@N7SHG_Ham, according to the service department at my former Toyota dealer, both the Tacoma and the Tundra “squat” when towing. Installation of Air bags is a good way to accommodate  the squat. 

ontheroad

@Restless_Native had one on her 320 and I believed she installed it on her 400...

N7SHG_Ham

@Verna it just seems odd that the 'full' size truck from Toyota would squat enough with a 500 ish pound hitch weight to require air bags. Certainly don't require that with the big 3 1/2 ton trucks.

Must be very soft suspensions? I can't say as I have been in a Toyota pickup in years so I have no idea how they ride.

DenisP

I tow a 400 with a 2013 Tundra TRD with a tow package. Last winter towed to Florida and back (3500 miles) with a full bed of supplies under a tonneau cover and two bikes on a Jack-it bike rack without squat. Late this summer I replaced the tonneau with a fiberglass cap (weighing 185# instead of 40# of the tonneau) and with the typical load in the 400 and the truck bed, the truck did squat a bit. Must have been at the tipping point. 

Bill_F

Telescoping, adjustable trailer tongue with removable motorcycle rack. Reinforcement of NuCamp's 'v' shaped connection to the trailer frame was required.

@Bill_F - photo too large and deleted.  Please reduce your photo size and repost.  https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/47/what-size-should-my-posted-forum-photos-be#latest   Moderator

gulfarea

We had 2 foldable bikes and carried them in the TV. Art