Bike Rack Recommendation

Mark James · 03-29-2018, 03:21 PM

Anyone have a recommendation on the best bike racks for the hitch at the back of an Escape Trailer? Looking for a rack suitable for two bikes that is platform based. I noticed that a few of the racks are RV rated. Thoughts?

skiman · 03-29-2018, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark James

Anyone have a recommendation on the best bike racks for the hitch at the back of an Escape Trailer? Looking for a rack suitable for two bikes that is platform based. I noticed that a few of the racks are RV rated. Thoughts?

1Up the only way to go. Search and there are extensive posts and discussion. Only a couple RV rated.

ericw · 03-29-2018, 03:44 PM

1up is great. I highly recommend it. Easy to use and built well.

AKCamper · 03-29-2018, 03:53 PM

We purchased a Swagman Traveler XC2-RV 2 Bike Carrier with Bumper Adaptor for about $175 rather than the 1 Up for $550. Our bikes have fenders so I thought the Swagman would work better for that application. We are happy with it.

wetzk · 03-29-2018, 04:12 PM

We picked up a Swagman Dispatch RV rated bicycle rack and have used it for around 6,000 plus miles so far. It's stable, does not wiggle and it's easy to mount the bikes on. Ours also have fenders and that did factor into the choice.

Jim Bennett · 03-29-2018, 04:18 PM

As long as they rated for use with RVs they should be okay, because there is way more bounce back there than on a bumper of a car or truck.

That said I have used a few, and hands down the 1UP is far superior in build quality and ease of use over any other rack. It takes less than 15 seconds to put a bike in the rack or take it out. Built like a brick pit toilet.

I used a Swagman that hooked over the top bar on the bike and even with padding wore the paint off. Not sure of some of their newer offerings though.

wetzk · 03-29-2018, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I used a Swagman that hooked over the top bar on the bike and even with padding wore the paint off. Not sure of some of their newer offerings though.

A small piece of pool noodle split and placed over the frame solves that problem.

**John in Santa Cruz** · 03-29-2018, 05:32 PM

I have the Swagman Escapee 2 on my Escape 21, RV rated, works great.

https://www.swagman.net/product/escapee/

Fox hunt · 03-29-2018, 06:01 PM

i use a swagman. i pad the area that rubs the bike no issues. I'm sure the one up is great but expensive...

wetzk · 03-29-2018, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

I have the Swagman Escapee 2 on my Escape 21, RV rated, works great.

https://www.swagman.net/product/escapee/

Like the 1UP this relies on pressure against the tires.
If you have a bicycle with heavy duty steel fenders that is not a problem. But for a bike with lightweight aluminum or plastic or carbon fiber ones it will damage them. 1UP does offer fender cushions but they do not distribute the load over enough area so they still end up crushing fenders.
Learned that lesson the hard way.

Jim Bennett · 03-29-2018, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetzk

A small piece of pool noodle split and placed over the frame solves that problem.

Yep, tried that. I will have to take a photo of the bike using it, still wore the paint. One problem was, was keeping it in place. I am just glad I never had my carbon frame MTB on it, and would never use anything but a rack that held on the rubber with it.

I have never had a bike with fenders on it since I was a kid.

wetzk · 03-29-2018, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Yep, tried that. I will have to take a photo of the bike using it, still wore the paint. One problem was, was keeping it in place. I am just glad I never had my carbon frame MTB on it, and would never use anything but a rack that held on the rubber with it.

I have never had a bike with fenders on it since I was a kid.

A bike without fenders is like a face without eyebrows.

Fox hunt · 03-29-2018, 06:19 PM

i use real sheep skin works great to protect the paint and stays in place. but i do not have fancy bikes so I'm not as concerned as those of you that have those fancy bikes!

Jim Bennett · 03-29-2018, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetzk

A bike without fenders is like a face without eyebrows.

Yeah, okay.

Or, they could be looked at like dead weight. On any bike with suspension they would be near impossible, no?

I have 3 bikes, two mountain bikes and one drop handle road bike. None have ever had a fender.

BCnomad · 03-29-2018, 06:43 PM

I remember putting on full fenders on a bike when I was 10. You know, for being able to bike to school when there were puddles out.

I still got soaked.

Mark James · 03-29-2018, 07:52 PM

Thank you everyone for your replies. Have done a lot of research and think I will go with the Swagman Escapee 2. Appreciate the picture John.

sclifrickson · 03-29-2018, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Yeah, okay.

Or, they could be looked at like dead weight. On any bike with suspension they would be near impossible, no?

I have 3 bikes, two mountain bikes and one drop handle road bike. None have ever had a fender.

Full suspension can easily wear fenders. In the wet they keep mud out of your eyes. In the dry not so much, but sometimes there too. Hit a patch of loose stuff on a fast downhill and it can fly anywhere. Which is why I *always* also wear eye protection, except when riding in new snow, and only if it’s not snowing. Wind or speed can drive a snowflake painfully into the eyes too, no?

AKCamper · 03-29-2018, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetzk

A small piece of pool noodle split and placed over the frame solves that problem.

That is exactly what we did. Like others have said, I’m sure the 1 up is a great bike rack, but it was more than we needed. Everyone likes to have the best in one area or another.

War Eagle · 03-29-2018, 10:22 PM

It appears the OP has already made their decision, but for the sake of completeness, I want to add one more important attribute of the 1UP to this thread that is usually highlighted on bike forums (for serious biking people) that I seldom see mentioned on RV forums (for serious camping people), and that is that the 1UP is 100% metal construction (mostly aluminum), no plastic parts to break on rough back roads or become brittle from UV exposure over time. Plastic components can reduce the original price, but replacing failed plastic parts can get expensive. I just felt that point should be added to the discussion....

Mary F · 03-29-2018, 11:31 PM

I think I posted this on the Fboo Escape group the other day, but we first bought a Swagman and then bought a 1Up. The reason was the Swagman was so heavy to handle when moving it from back of the Escape to back of the tow vehicle. (Once we're in camp, we frequently need to drive to a trailhead to begin our ride.) YMMV.

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