Using Yakima SpareRide Bike Rack Part # Y02599 on Rear of Camper

Published 06/23/2010

Products Featured in This Question

Yakima SpareRide 2 Bike Rack - Spare Tire Mount - Folding Arms

(163)

$398.95

Curt Multipurpose Ball Mount with 2" Receiver for Bike Racks and Cargo Carriers - 7,500 lbs

(232)

$73.11

Question:

I have a small A-frame camper with a spare mounted on the back by a sturdy upright post bolted to a 4 : steel bumper with u bolts. Could I use the Yakima Spare Tire Bike Racks - Y02599 safely. Seems the other camper bike racks mount to the square bumpers with U bolts, so the weight added the bikes to the bumper wouldnt change. The two u bolts now holding the tine would get the weight of the bikes in addition to the spare. Your thoughts

asked by: Larry W

Expert Reply:

According to Yakima, the SpareTime Bike Carrier should NOT be used on towed trailers or campers. The combined weight of the bikes and the rack is not really the issue, rather the fact that the rack will be subject to the additional jarring and rattling is the primary reason for not recommending it.

Using this or any other rack not designed for use on a trailer can result in failure of the rack and loss of the bicycles.

Depending on the tongue weight of the trailer, you might be able to use a Dual Hitch Receiver, like the Curt model, part # D210. This ball mount provides an additional receiver that can handle up to 750 lbs of total tongue weight. The Receiver portion is limited to 350 lbs. This means that the bike rack and the bikes on it can weigh no more than 350 lbs. The weight of anything carried on the receiver portion of the ball mount plus the tongue weight of any trailer towed at the same time cannot exceed 750 lbs. If the tongue weight capacity of the hitch or your vehicle is less than 750 lbs, you must abide by that figure.

Since your trailer is small, this might be an ideal solution for you.

expert reply by: Mike L