Bike & Cargo Carrier Recommendations for 2016 Pleasureway Plateau FL Based on M-B Sprinter  

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Expert Reply:

We do offer 2-bike racks that tilt away or swing away from the vehicle to allow for better access to the rear cargo area. The thing is these racks are not rated for use on RVs like your M-B Sprinter-based Pleasureway.

The reason bike racks must be rated specifically for use on an RV is the extra stresses found at the rear of such vehicles. The extra stress comes from the longer distance between the rear axle and bike rack; this longer distance translates into more vertical and lateral motion and that motion ends up applying more stress to the rack and to the hitch it is installed in.

Our range of RV-rated 2-bike racks is displayed on the linked page. I also included a helpful article concerning RV bike racks that may help you decide on the best fit for both the Sprinter and for your particular bikes. One rack I often recommend, the Let's Go Aero NEO2 # B01748, does not swing. Since it is so light (only 15-lbs!) it easily disassembles and would not take too much effort to have the rear of the Sprinter accessible. Just unload the bikes and remove the rack's two vertical posts. Another nice feature of this rack is that it will fit both 1-1/4-inch and 2-inch hitches. For use with it we offer hitch lock # 63232 to lock the rack and cable lock # e98891 to lock the bikes.

For a hitch cargo carrier you can use an item like the Curt # C18110 fixed carrier which also fits both 1-1/4-inch and 2-inch hitches. Keep in mind that your hitch must be rated for at least the combined weight of your chosen carrier plus the weight of your loaded cargo. The top edge of this carrier will sit above the hitch receiver tube 5-3/4-inches. You can compare this to the clearance at the bottom of the doors.

expert reply by: Adam R

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