BIKE RACKs once again... - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Camping | Places, Gear and Planning > Product Reviews
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-21-2017, 11:37 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
soultrek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: New Meadows, Idaho
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17B
Posts: 206
BIKE RACKs once again...

Went to purchase 2 bikes at REI yesterday, also needing a rack. Was surprised that almost all of the many racks they had were NOT RV rated. For y'all with experience, even if you've shared before, what good options are there? I would prefer a 2 bike frame-support rack that would swing down to allow my 4runner hatchback to open (when used on the car); but are there any of that type that are RV/off-road certified? Otherwise, are 1UP and Swagman the only options? Any clarifications appreciated...Glenn.
soultrek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 12:31 PM   #2
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Canmore, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19
Posts: 67
We just purchased the Swagman Dispatch rack to replace a Saris unit that didn't cut it (not RV rated). Haven't travelled with it yet but will be using it to transport our bikes to the Escape rally. If you're going, feel free to stop by and check it out and we can relate how its first trip went.

Eric & Diana Escape 19 with Teal trim, white F150 Supercab tow vehicle.
etuna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 01:38 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Fun&Sun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Chilliwack, British Columbia
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21 (One Life...Live It)
Posts: 146
We also just purchased a Swagman Dispatch of our up and coming 21, Swagman also has the Escapee but I'm not sure of it's options. Good Suggestion from another bike rack thread is by your second bike rack first it will save you money in the long run.
Fun&Sun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 02:26 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
arniesea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bremerton, Washington
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 1,141
Quote:
Originally Posted by soultrek View Post
Went to purchase 2 bikes at REI yesterday, also needing a rack. Was surprised that almost all of the many racks they had were NOT RV rated. For y'all with experience, even if you've shared before, what good options are there? I would prefer a 2 bike frame-support rack that would swing down to allow my 4runner hatchback to open (when used on the car); but are there any of that type that are RV/off-road certified? Otherwise, are 1UP and Swagman the only options? Any clarifications appreciated...Glenn.

I love my 1UP rack. Caution: they have a new website. Use the one with the dash in the URL for their latest products. https://www.1up-usa.com
__________________
- Arnie & Paula & Kizzy the rat terrier
https://www.arniesea.com
- 2019 5.0 TA, 2017 Tundra Platinum.
- Bremerton, WA
arniesea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 07:15 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Chapitre's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Trailer: 2014 5TA/ *012 17B (previous)
Posts: 442
We have the dispatch with 5000 miles on it and it has been pretty much as solid as a rock.
__________________
Min D
Chapi II
--------------------
'Have No Regrets'
Chapitre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 07:28 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19 (TV: 2007 Chevy Tahoe)
Posts: 208
Bike Rack

I bought a 2-bike Yakima rack I found on Craigslist for a great price. I like that it's pretty heavy. We took a 3,000 mi. trip with it last year. No problems. Our bikes are easy to load, unload, and secure. It's a great rack.
Gary
pkgman51 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2017, 05:29 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
Went 7k miles with the Thule T2, un rv rated frame rack. No problems other then it was a hassle strapping the bikes enough that they wouldn't sway. It was a drop down rack. Rack to trailer connection is pretty darn solid.

On our 1st trip with a new swagman, everything is solid, no need for straps. I'd think with the main vertical bar folded down it might be out of the way of a hatchback.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2017, 08:37 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Mtns of NC, North Carolina
Trailer: 2013 19' Escape 1977 Trillium 1300
Posts: 311
I hate, hate, hate racks that hold the bike by a frame tube. As a collector/restorer of vintage steel bikes, the damage such a rack can do to a bike that survived 30 years or more is substantial. Now the damage is usually just cosmetic. I only use racks that support bikes from the bottom (wheels). If you are patient, you can find a good rack on CL at a reasonable price. I picked up a nice Thule T2 two bike rack at a bike co-op.

My good bikes remain inside the truck, but I carry a rack for bikes I find on every trip.
NCBill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2017, 01:52 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hudson, Ohio
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19 "Terrapin"
Posts: 427
Sounds like the Swagman and 1 up seems to work well. When I started thinking about a bike rack I was concerned how the bikes would fair with all the bouncing at the rear of the trailer.
mcdonner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2017, 02:17 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Fun&Sun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Chilliwack, British Columbia
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21 (One Life...Live It)
Posts: 146
I had the Swagman Dispatch mounted on the back of my pickup yesterday and drove over some rough roads with it and the bikes where solid.
Fun&Sun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2017, 03:56 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
sumac.rhus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Troy, Idaho
Trailer: August 2017 17b
Posts: 226
Have also been thinking I'll go with theSwagman Dispatch - like that the bicycle is not just supported by the tube.... ad an ok price. ...Just wish had more than a two bicycle capacity. Ah well - will no doubt figure out a way to adapt as need arises.
sumac.rhus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2017, 08:38 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Westcliffe, Colorado
Trailer: 2010 EggCamper (#083); 2017 Escape 21 (#053); 2016 F-150 5.0L FX4
Posts: 1,765
Quote:
Originally Posted by sumac.rhus View Post
Have also been thinking I'll go with theSwagman Dispatch ... Just wish had more than a two bicycle capacity....
I was browsing through a biking forum for competitive bikers a few days back, and in a bike carrier thread, a lot of them said they use the 1UP USA "Super Duty Single" then add on additional Super Duty Single trays as needed depending on how many different bikes they need to transport (up to 3 bikes total, 225 lb total, 75 lb per bike tray). It's a little more expensive to piece it together that way, but lots more flexible for them to meet their changing needs for each competition. For what it's worth, the black anodized option (yet even more expensive) was popular because they thought it looked more rugged on the back of their tricked-out trucks and SUVs.
War Eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2017, 09:47 PM   #13
Member
 
dbawden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Anacortes, Washington
Trailer: 2016 Escape 21 "BE NICE"
Posts: 78
We finished a 14,600 around the US with our Escape 21 with our bikes. We purchased the Thule at REI. Great rack and would buy it again.

https://www.rei.com/product/103178/t...FY6cfgodY5IFZg
dbawden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2017, 09:57 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
sumac.rhus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Troy, Idaho
Trailer: August 2017 17b
Posts: 226
Thanks! -looks good!
sumac.rhus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2017, 01:53 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
arniesea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bremerton, Washington
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 1,141
Quote:
Originally Posted by War Eagle View Post
I was browsing through a biking forum for competitive bikers a few days back, and in a bike carrier thread, a lot of them said they use the 1UP USA "Super Duty Single" then add on additional Super Duty Single trays as needed depending on how many different bikes they need to transport (up to 3 bikes total, 225 lb total, 75 lb per bike tray). It's a little more expensive to piece it together that way, but lots more flexible for them to meet their changing needs for each competition. For what it's worth, the black anodized option (yet even more expensive) was popular because they thought it looked more rugged on the back of their tricked-out trucks and SUVs.

This is the rack I have and it is rock solid! I am very happy with it.
__________________
- Arnie & Paula & Kizzy the rat terrier
https://www.arniesea.com
- 2019 5.0 TA, 2017 Tundra Platinum.
- Bremerton, WA
arniesea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 12:07 PM   #16
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Canmore, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19
Posts: 67
Just completed our first trip with the Swagman Dispatch bike rake; 1500 km and it performed great. The only problem was self-induced by my own bone-headed cross threading of the hitch attachment bolt. The folks at Swagman answered my plea for help with new parts within 24 hours and at at no charge. Now that's GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! Thank you very much.
__________________
Eric & Diana
2015 Escape 19, 2015 F150 Supercab White
etuna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 12:25 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
NW Cat Owner's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Seatac, Washington
Trailer: "The Trailer", 2nd Gen 21' & a 2017 Tundra CrewMax in Blazing Blue Pearl
Posts: 2,888
Apropos of absolutely nothing, other than the fact it has to do with a bike rack - this past weekend my neighbor was a big ass Class A. Backed in next to me. I noticed there were 6 (yes, I counted 'em) bikes on the back. Okay, must have a passel of kids. Nope, just the man and woman. Bikes came down. I was gone most of 2 days so only saw them use 2 of them Sunday evening.

I never got a chance to ask why they had 6 bikes with them. Clueless about bikes so could not tell you what types they were. I just found it rather interesting they had 6 of 'em.
__________________
Laura, Dirk and Sam & Jasper (the cats)
www.UnderKittySupervision.com
2017 21' trailer, new mold, rec'd 11/25/16
NW Cat Owner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 02:10 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
Maybe two each of road, mountain and hybrid. With a Class A, maybe they never take off the ones for visiting grandchildren.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 10:04 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
soultrek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: New Meadows, Idaho
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17B
Posts: 206
Thanks all for the replies to my original post. Having cultured the habit of paying for Escape-level quality, I suppose, I received my 1 UP on return from our Canada trip. Black no less, and apparently a finely tuned build. Looking forward to our first trip with new hybrid bikes - somewhere...
soultrek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 10:13 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
arniesea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bremerton, Washington
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 1,141
Quote:
Originally Posted by soultrek View Post
Thanks all for the replies to my original post. Having cultured the habit of paying for Escape-level quality, I suppose, I received my 1 UP on return from our Canada trip. Black no less, and apparently a finely tuned build. Looking forward to our first trip with new hybrid bikes - somewhere...
Nice! I love mine, but did not opt for black. That will look sharp!
__________________
- Arnie & Paula & Kizzy the rat terrier
https://www.arniesea.com
- 2019 5.0 TA, 2017 Tundra Platinum.
- Bremerton, WA
arniesea is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.