Why Cant Yakima HoldUp be Used with 5th Wheel RV

Question:

Can you tell me why this bike rack is not appropriate for the back of a 5th wheel Rv? Our rig has a factory OEM 2” towing hitch rated for 300lbs tongue and 3000 lbs towing, so not sure why this would not work.

asked by: Terry D

Expert Reply:

I know it can be a bit confusing because a trailer hitch is a trailer hitch, but the reason the Yakima HoldUp 4 Bike Platform Rack # Y02443-2 isn't appropriate to install on your 5th wheel RV trailer hitch is simply due to the extra movement at the back of 5th wheels. Since the axle is located further away from the back of your RV compared to passenger vehicles the movement back there is much more exaggerated and Yakima has deemed it isn't safe to use this bike rack on a 5th wheel RV.

For a bike rack solution that t is compatible with a 5th wheel trailer you'll need to use a hanging rack like the Yakima LongHaul # Y02476. The LongHaul isn't a bad option and it actually comes with bike and rack locks so you can have some peace of mind when you are taking pit stops while traveling. The only down-side to using a hanging rack is that you need an adapter bar like part # Y02531 for any bikes that don't have a horizontal top tube like a standard men's bike has.

I have attached some review videos for you to check out as well as a list of our 4-bike racks that are compatible with a 2" hitch on a 5th wheel RV.

expert reply by: Jon G

Josh H.

1/10/2021

I'm struggling with the idea about the extra movement and safety. There is no doubt extra movement, but then the only safety issue I can think of is if the Yakima isn't strong enough for that motion which would be concerning for other reasons. I wont be using the bike rack that is suggested; I had one of these from Yakima and it was absurd getting bikes on/off and making them fit plus rubbing. Is there a different Yakima tray model or should I look at another manufacturer? Thank you.

Jon G.

1/14/2021

In all honesty most bike racks are probably going to be just fine at the back of a 5th wheel RV. The problem is that when a manufacturer, like Yakima, says not to use their rack on a 5th wheel, if some damage were to occur because of this then it wouldn't be something that would fall under a warranty. I am attaching a link to our selection of bike racks that are labeled as okay to use on a 5th wheel. The 2 platform style racks that I would look into are the Swagman Dispatch # S44FR and E-Spec # S94FR.

Helpful Links

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