Custom Fabricated Bike Rack

[emam]

Here is the brand new mountain bike rack I had fabricated before we hit the road and headed West. Before you all go saying how heavy it looks, it's total weight is only 50lbs, and with the light weight of our mountain bikes, I figure it evens out compared with a top-rails or similar model. In all reality, I rather have extra weight on the tounge, then on the rear end anyway, there is a lot less bouncing at the tounge.

My only complaint is I had to move the kayaks up and I dont like the way they look right now. The tail ends of the kayaks hung over between the truck and the camper, and would hit the bikes while turning if we hadnt moved them. This was built from scrap 2" square stock and a few round bars welded onto the cross member on the top.

It's heavy duty, but hopefully it'll hold up to the test of mileage and years on the road. Plus, it only cost $125 and that includes the steel!!! Cant beat that. I liked the Top-Rails model, but at $500, that's a little out of my budget and it wouldnt bolt on to our frame because of our battery holder.

Bolted onto the a-frame with Grade 8 bolts and nylock nuts

The welder fabricated a little section so the 2" stock would sit level

We still have full access to the propane tanks and bank of batteries

And here you can see how much space we have with the kayaks on

Happy Camping
Pat

 

[rich250]

looks good pat,I also like the idea of the toprail rack and have been wanting to make a homemade one but I just have not had the time so maybe that will be a winter project.

 

[emam]

If I knew how to weld, I'd be a much richer man. Since I have to farm out all my projects to people that do know how to weld, it costs a little more.

This guy had it done in a few hours and this was all done with two peices of scrap he had lying around. The longest part of the whole project was painting it.

The Top Rails is a great set up, it's just real pricey.

Pat

 

[purplesuebug]

Pat,
Looks great! As I was studying the pictures, a question kept boiling up. Are those uprights stiff enough to keep the bikes from bouncing off the front of the TT as you are going down the road or did they put some kind of brace behind them where we can't see. I'm just curious because I am putting a toprail on my truck for my boat so I will have to find someplace for my bikes.................this looks perfect. Thanks Pat....................Marshall

 

[emam]

Hey Marshall, yeah those uprights should hold the bikes fine. We put a bend at the end of the supports so if the bungee's holding the bikes were to come off, the bikes would still have to bounce over the upward bend.

I've also got two bungee's holding the bikes to the upright posts. One through the rims and one around the frames. I check them every time we pull over, and so far they havent come loose or moved at all.

I bolted the whole thing together with Grade 8 Bolts and Nylock nuts, so the bolts havent come loose either.

Good luck, and I'll keep posting in anything changes

Pat