Bike racks - Rear Door Mount

[booster]

I always like seeing all the pictures of how folks haul their bikes on their various class Bs. Very wide variations and lots of creativity. I have never addressed a carrier for a bike on our Roadtrek because I just don't like carrying a bike outside the van for lots of reasons, but most folks don't have those personal restrictions.

One thing that always surprised me was that nearly all the racks were horizontal, and nearly all were attached to the receiver hitch. From my, long past, serious bike riding and racing days, and observations since, most of the folks with high end bikes don't want them bouncing around against each other or on a loose fit carrier, and use some variation of a rooftop carrier that sits the bike upright and totally supported. Most of the folks I have known also prefer the ones that you remove the front wheel and clamp the fork in quick release holder.

In looking at the racks folks use, I never really saw any variations on that used on the Bs. It seems like with the tall doors (especially now with the tall vans) a vertical rack, that was basically a roof rack on the back door, would be a natural solution. Bikes are light, so hinge damage would not really be a big issue, I think. The bike wouldn't bounce, could be easily locked on, and the doors could still open normally. Added length would only be the rear wheel diameter from the door, not bumper or hitch, so you should save some distance. They would also be pretty easy to protect from the weather because there would be very little rack in the way. When I had a lot of bikes, they always stored in the basement hung on the front or rear wheels very easily.

I went looking for pictures and found this one, which is pretty close to what I was thinking of, but more complex than needed, I think, for a big door van. With big doors, the wheels wouldn't overlap the bumper. I would also think it could go rear wheel up or down depending on what was easier. For those without rear tire carriers, two bikes would be easy with one on each door, and you could take off one only if you wanted without disturbing the other.



Has anyone ever seen a vertical, on the door, carrier on a B? It almost seems like you could take a roof rack and put it vertical on the door, perhaps with a bit more vertical support for the bike because it is vertical and not putting its weight on the rack.

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

Re: Bike racks

I like this idea.

I went searching and found this link: http://manins.net.au/motorhome/bike_rack.html
Check the photos down the right hand side of that site.

 

[CyclingCamper]

Re: Bike racks

I like this idea.

I went searching and found this link: http://manins.net.au/motorhome/bike_rack.html
Check the photos down the right hand side of that site.

+1
I had the Fiamma Carry-Bike for 2 bikes on my Winnebago Eurovan camper. It's all aluminum very well made. The bikes are in their own track and don't touch each other, it's very secure. You see a lot of these in Europe as it's made in Italy.

We have extremely high end bikes so on our next B our bikes will be either carried inside or We'll get the large LetsGoAero Gearspace 34 which holds 2 bikes inside and is lockable.
http://www.letsgoaero.com/GearSpace_34_ ... s/1850.htm

 

[booster]

Re: Bike racks

That is almost exactly as I had envisioned it, Marko. Quick release for the fork, at the top, swing out vertical support at the bottom that the rear wheel sits on, security strap at the top in case the quick release fails. They also have the full instructions and parts list of how he built it on that page.

Perfect, great find!

 

[CyclingCamper]

Re: Bike racks

That design reminds me of the hitch mounted Draft master bike racks. Many of my tandem friends use this but you can also get single bike versions.
Expensive but very well made.
http://atoc.com/draftmastermain.php

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

Re: Bike racks

Booster - do you think some sort of "fork riser" or taller than normal fork clamp would be needed on the more curved Chevy doors? The Ducato has flat doors.
This one is taller but kind of expensive considering it is only one part of the project.. https://www.etrailer.com/Truck-Bed-Bike-Racks/RockyMounts/RKY1085.html

Our bikes have fenders so I'd have to check that. This guy came up with a solution for bikes with fenders: http://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.ca/2013 ... -hack.html

This might work to make a "sling" for the rear wheel to sit in. It's actually a front wheel carrier.
http://deltacycle.com/transport/wheel-hitch



You can tell I'm interested in this idea The guy on that site ( http://manins.net.au/motorhome/bike_rack.html ) did a great job.

 

[booster]

Re: Bike racks

Booster - do you think some sort of "fork riser" or taller than normal fork clamp would be needed on the more curved Chevy doors? The Ducato has flat doors.
This one is taller but kind of expensive considering it is only one part of the project.. https://www.etrailer.com/Truck-Bed-Bike-Racks/RockyMounts/RKY1085.html

Our bikes have fenders so I'd have to check that. This guy came up with a solution for bikes with fenders: http://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.ca/2013 ... -hack.html

This might work to make a "sling" for the rear wheel to sit in. It's actually a front wheel carrier.
http://deltacycle.com/transport/wheel-hitch



You can tell I interested in this idea The guy on that site ( http://manins.net.au/motorhome/bike_rack.html ) did a great job.

When I looked at the roof carriers before the first post, some showed that the biggest chainring was lower than the rack channel, but cleared it to the side, so I also would be a bit concerned about clearing.

Every bike will be a bit different based on its geometry and equipment, I think. Mountain bikes tend to have bottom brackets that are high off the ground with small chainrings, so they might clear very well, but a cruiser with fenders might not, because of a low bottom bracket. Making a riser for the fork mount would not be too big a deal, I think. On a Chevy there is very little space above the windows, if you have them, so the upper couldn't be on a vertical track anyway, so just up would be needed. The exception would be if you bridged the window horizontally to support a vertical adjustment. The lower would have to compensate for wheelbase, otherwise.

Fenders always seem to be in the way of something, and then you miss out on being able to come home with stripes up the back and front of you :mrgreen:

If the fenders did hit a little, you could probably shorten the fender and bit on the bottom of the front one, and add a rubber mudflap that would bend out of the way when on the rack. The mudflaps actually can work OK if you put them inside the curve of the fender to keep them still enough, but are still bendable out of the way.

I hope you decide to do this, as it is also very interesting to me.

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

Re: Bike racks

This is a permanent mod ......... so it has to look good :wink:

I'll have to see what aluminum I can find locally. It make sense to follow that guys instructions. The load looks well distributed etc.

I really like the idea that the bike rack is always on the van, ready for use but not in the way. It would be nice to be able to open the van rear door from the inside again. The box / bike rack I have now blocks that.

If I do this I'll most likely mount a small aluminum cargo box on the drivers side rear door.

It's easier to drill holes in an old van 8)

 

[booster]

Re: Bike racks

Since vanity is an issue :shock: then you may want to do the window bridging routine, especially if there are going to be two bikes on it anyway (need the width). With the larger vertical distance supporting the upper mounting, making it higher will be much easier and stronger, if you need to do it. It will also look better, I think.

The more I look at the guys design, the better is looks. He is obviously a skilled designer and fabricator, as those are remarkably nice parts for being home built.

 

[cjscotty]

Re: Bike racks

That cool Fiamma bike rack is what they have now on the new Winnebago Travato 59K. I've seen them also on their 59G, Fretz in PA was big with that at the Hershey show. You're able to open your back doors with that as they mount on one side. I would like to know if I can one of those for my Winnebago Era. Anyone know if they make the Fiamma for the MB sprinters?

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

Re: Bike racks

I didn't see it on Fiamma USA but it is listed for Sprinters after '06 here: http://www.fiamma.com/EN/products/carry-bike/van_conversion/carry-bike_van_dj/

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

Re: Bike racks

Here's my initial plan for carrying two bikes on one door that you can still open and close without interference. I'm not suggesting that this is a good idea or that it will work or that anyone else do this.

Our two bikes are identical so I might have to offset them in the tracks. (one higher, one lower)
The plan is to sit the bike in the “sling” then adjust the front fork mount and rear wheel strap as needed.
The stay will unclip and fold with the sling for storage.
There will be additional tie downs as needed and a method for carrying the front wheels.

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

I've been exploring Booster's idea a bit more. A few points:

1. looks doable :thumbup:
2. probably better / easier if mounted on door that doesn't have license plate
3. one bike per door would be nice / give more positioning options

I think I'll have to relocated the license plate on my van if I go ahead with this idea. I have a window type a/c on the drivers side rear door now so I can't put the bikes there. License plate is on the passenger side.

Also, I'll give some consideration to the "rear wheel up" option Booster mentioned. The widest part of the bike is the handle bars and the narrowest part of the van is the roof. Ideally I'd keep the bikes withing the width of the van.

No problem re: fenders and chainring:



I'd need approx 12" minimum of rail or rack if using rooftop carriers:



I'll try to source a 24" to 30" shallow depth undermount type aluminum cargo box to mount on the drivers side door to carry a few items like electric cord and hose and a couple 1lb propane bottles. I'd mount the license plate and light on that box.

I might be able to skip the mounting the box part if I can find places for the stuff I carry in the hitch mounted box now.

I'm still not sure if I'll do this or not but I do like the idea. :thumbup:

Here's my current setup:

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

Lots of bike related photos from Outside Van ( http://www.outsidevan.com/ ) on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/outsidevan/ including this one:

(cropped)


Also several photos here: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/4bike/4bike.htm of this basic idea and variations of it.

This might be a good source for tracks if going with a custom build: http://www.loadlocker.com/index.html I picked up a brochure yesterday and it even showed a track mounted toolbox but it is not shown on the website.

 

[booster]

Is the one in the pic hung on just the fork?

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

Looks like it. If so, might be "bolt through" plus clamp type.

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

For my van, an across-the-rear door mount might be a possibility.



Maybe 4 supports at right angles off the doors. 2 supports per door. Fork mount racks fixed to passenger side supports. Weight shared by drivers side supports when doors closed.

Notes:
I don't want to block taillights.
I want to keep license plate visible.

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

I've almost certainly given up on this idea. I like the concept and would consider it on another van for sure.

I'd do it:
if I didn't need a rear storage box
if the passenger door was available for this (one bike per door would be nice)
on a van where the top is wider than mine (handlebars stick out)
if i didn't need to move the license plate
etc.

I ordered an aluminum "underbody" truck box today that I'll mount on the hitch and put the bikes on top of it using the rooftop bike carriers.
Underbody boxes have the door on the rear. I plan to have it slide back if access to the rear of the van is needed.

If there's a problem with the box order or shipping is too high then I'll revisit the door mount idea.

The addition of a large box on the rear will allow me to reconfigure the interior rear of the van for a planned modification.

Check http://nicova.ca/en/ if you want to carry bikes and cargo on the rear. ($2,000 or so)
or http://www.letsgoaero.com

 

[booster]

Time to get a folding bike that will fit in, or on, the cargo box? Or maybe on the passenger door?

 

[markopolo-ClassB]

Or take less stuff

I have no exterior storage if I don't have a cargo box On a 190P you have a good sized storage space on the drivers side.

This is the box I'm hoping to get:



It should hold everything I'd need. 10 cu ft! It will slide back on two x 2" square rails in the rare event that I need to open the rear doors. I might put an actuator on it. This idea started when wincrasher posted about using a bumper hitch attachment to carry his bike on his Stowaway unit ( http://www.classbforum.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =12&t=3422 ).

I picked up two heavy duty bumper attachments to attach to my hitch (Class V hitch on my van). They'll be approx 36" apart. I did a mock up today and have clearance for 4 feet of 2 inch square steel to support the box and slide in and out on each side enough so that the rear doors can open. It will be heavy with bike and gear so an actuator might be needed. I have some slides rated for 500lbs per pair if needed but I'll try without first.

I picked this box so I can organize my stuff to make it easy to get to. The top part is a drawer and the bottom is a door. I don't like having to unpack stuff to get to other stuff so I think it is worth paying a bit more for a box with drawer.

The bikes will be on top of this box so basically only adding 18" or so to the rear of the van :thumbup: