Bike hitch??

scotty0424

Here's an idea. Please tell me if you think it's feasible or if I'm crazy. I'm going to move the spare tire on our TAB 320 CS to a tongue box mount. After that I want to explore the possibility of getting a simple tow hitch receiver welded up under the rear end so a hitch-mount bike carrier could fit. Is there enough strength in the rear end to support such a thing? Has anybody ever done something like this? Thanks in advance. 

klenger

I've looked real hard at doing the same thing.  I'm quite certain that the spare tire mount would hold the forward force of a rear mounted bike rack, but there would need to be some way of providing vertical support at the rear, and I just don't see any structure that one could tie in to do that.  I considered using some flat cargo straps looped through the rear handles, but didn't see this as a viable long-term solution.  I finally ordered and installed a roof-mount bike rack on my Jeep Wrangler.

Verna

The T@B’s frames are not constructed in a way to support the slingshot/bomerang forces of having an extension added for a bike or cargo rack. The factory has told different members this over the years. 

I lost a perfectly great bicycle from the rear of my Silver Shadow teardrop due to this slingshot movement. It’s not worth it, believe me. I still miss that bike. 

scotty0424

klenger said:

I've looked real hard at doing the same thing.  I'm quite certain that the spare tire mount would hold the forward force of a rear mounted bike rack, but there would need to be some way of providing vertical support at the rear, and I just don't see any structure that one could tie in to do that.  I considered using some flat cargo straps looped through the rear handles, but didn't see this as a viable long-term solution.  I finally ordered and installed a roof-mount bike rack on my Jeep Wrangler.

Yep. Car-topping is fine for the bikes. But then the canoe stays home. Everything's a trade-off.

db_cooper

We've successfully used the cargo rack to use fork mounted bike carriers, and kayaks on the TV.  Biggest problem is then not having a rack on the car to take bikes other places.  We usually have room to carry a hitch mount rack inside the TV.  I bought a double hitch receiver in hopes I could carry it on the tongue with the trailer, but there wasn't space for it to work.

pthomas745

I want a canoe or a kayak just for how way cool it looks on top of the car.

b407driver

db_cooper said:

We've successfully used the cargo rack to use fork mounted bike carriers, and kayaks on the TV.  Biggest problem is then not having a rack on the car to take bikes other places.  We usually have room to carry a hitch mount rack inside the TV.  I bought a double hitch receiver in hopes I could carry it on the tongue with the trailer, but there wasn't space for it to work.

@db_cooper, what type of hitch-mount rack do you have? I was thinking about trying one of the Curt dual-receiver hitches to see if I could fit a rack in there with the 400.

I really liked the 320's rack solution and wish it worked on the 400. When I envisioned it though, I assumed I'd put the rear tire up in the air (no bugs on handlebars), and the fork mount on the bottom side (easier to access 'business end', easy to roll rear tire up the tray, etc.). Any reason you didn't mount it that way?

[Deleted User]

I don't know about your needs but I have an Arvika bike rack mounted on the tongue and still can carry my kayak on the rooftop of my TV

2Cougs

@scotty0424 - We have a CS S as well and LOVE our tire and bike solution.  You can check out details under: "Our Bike Rack Solution T@B CS S".  There are lots of great options that people have done. Good luck!

gulfarea

b407 driver what make is your vent cover on top of your  trailer, looks like it would stop rain from getting in if I ever forgot to close the roof vent, thanks Art

db_cooper

@b407driver

I have an older Thule hitch rack for 2 bikes.  It doesn't stick out too far folded up,  so I'd be surprised to find another rack to carry in the double receiver.

As for the orientation of the bikes,  I haven't tried it the other way.  The wheel holder slides up and down, and I felt with all the bouncing that I wanted the mass below the fork attachment, and not pressing down.  I'm not a physicist or physician, so maybe it wouldn't matter?  

Bayliss

@gulfarea, I think you are referring to @db_cooper's photo above.  It looks like he has the Camco Aero-flo vent cover on top of his camper.

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-40711-Aero-flo-Cover-Black/dp/B000EDUTTK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BMXT4FTVEXIN&keywords=camco%2Baeroflo%2Bvent%2Bcover&qid=1560317234&s=gateway&sprefix=camco%2Baero%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1&th=1

gulfarea

Bayliss Thanks

db_cooper

Yep, that's the one, smoke color.