1 up ebike rack for 21C hitch ??

[HappyTrails-FGRV]

I'm sure this has been discussed before but I'm seeing mostly about 5.0s ..... We just purchased a 21C (yay!!) and we are trying to figure out how to get our ebikes on the rear hitch. We are aware of the 150 weight limit and that we need a rack that is rated for travel trailers. As most people have said, we could only find the 1 up -either "Heavy Duty" or "Super Duty". Our concern is that the company said we need to put on an extender because of the spare tire . Not sure how that affects things.

Could anyone let me know what they did as we want to make sure it's safe and will fit properly back there. We've had our Casita Spirit Deluxe for 10 years and we're looking forward to being able to take out bikes and stretch out a bit more
Thanks so much for your input.

 

[Ron in BC]

21C

Two things you can do to make for a much safer rear bike rack for two.

1. Under mount the spare tire. That's 70# off the rear, moved up under the tongue, and the bikes can be closer to the rear of the trailer.

2. Buy a receiver tube. It can be welded to a bumper support or just clamped to it. The second attachment point takes some of the factory receiver load and, importantly, stops that horrible side-to-side fatigue inducing rocking.

Ron

 

[BobG-ESC]

After the bike is on the rack, it only takes a few seconds to loosen and turn the handlebar 90°. Then retighten the handlebar.

 

[DanandDaphne]

After the bike is on the rack, it only takes a few seconds to loosen and turn the handlebar 90°. Then retighten the handlebar.

We have a 5.0 not a 21 but I expect it's the same back there. I do the same as BobG, turn the handle bar on the first bike and put the handlebars to the drivers side. It works great and keeps the weight closer to the bumper. I wouldn't recommend using an extender.

I sold our original 1-up when we got e bikes and bought a super duty two bike rack and it feels rock solid. I'm not sure what Ron is saying about an additional receiver I don't know how that would work since the bike rack only uses one receiver. I have watched it in our back up camera and there's really no wobble at all.

 

[Ron in BC]

I only see one model of 1 up that would be more difficult to stabilize. I've never seen a 2" tongue fit snugly into a nominal 2" receiver. I've seen many bike racks rocking back and forth. Not for long though, I get out from behind them as fast as possible.

For the rear box or bike rack on my 21 I use a secondary bracket from the unused spare tire mounting base. From my truck, for my very heavy fat tire ebike, I stabilize it with bungee cords on each end to the bumper ends. I've seen first hand what happens when a bike rack and bikes detach on a freeway. Not pretty.

Ron

 

[occer]

After I place the bike on my bike rake and used the manufactures security system, I use a single ratchet strap to finish steading my bike.
I put one end on the handle bars, run it to the bumper under the two bars that come from under the trailer to the bumper then back up to the bikes frame by the rear tire.

I watch my bike with the rear camera and it does not bounce or move at all.
It take a few minutes more to finish securing the bike with the strap. And well worth it.

PS. Ron you can follow our trailer with full confidence my bike will not fall off.

 

[HappyTrails-FGRV]

We were going to get the Heavy Duty, but we have changed our mind and will get the Super Duty on your recommendation. And we will look into seeing if we can move the tire to the front. Using straps to make the bikes more secure is definitely doable.
Thanks everyone for your knowledge and experience. We bought an inventory model so we're waiting for them to add a few things and then they'll ship it. So looking forward to enjoying it .

 

[C&G in FL]

I will repeat what I have posted a few times in the past. Prior to 2015, ETI offered a “beefed-up” rear receiver rated for far more than 150 lbs. When ordering my 2015 5.0 TA, I had a discussion with a high ranking member of ETI’s management team and was told that the decision to stop offering the more sturdy receiver was for liability reasons (probably proposed by ETI’s legal representatives) due to greater potential for dangerous trailer sway as a result of much greater weight on the rear of the trailer. I was also told that trailer sway was far less likely with a 5th wheel due to its hitch positioning, and that if I exceeded 150 lbs (within reason), it would not be a problem.
Given the weight of my 1Up standard (2 rails) rack and at most, two aluminum framed bicycles, I have never exceeded 125 lbs on the 5.0’s receiver, but I would not be concerned if I did. The spare tire has never created a problem because I put the first bicycle on with the handlebars on the opposite side from the spare tire, which on my 5.0 is offset toward the passenger side. I do not loosen and turn them. I do slip a piece of a pool noodle over the right hand handlebar grip out of caution for the rear window (about 6-inches away), and a koozie/can sleeve over the metal pedal to keep it from damaging the spare tire cover. Finally, I would add that the ball bearing assembly used by 1Up eliminates any twisting as long as it is tightened correctly and is checked periodically to ensure it hasn’t loosened.

 

[fudge_brownie]

I have two eBikes on a 1Up Heavy Duty rack. 1Up changed the designations of their racks since I bought mine and I believe the Super Duty is now the recommended rack for an Escape.

Both bikes are flat bar. This would mean having to angle both the handlebars before and after mounting the bikes to the rack. That does not work in the real world. An inexpensive receiver tube extension is less than $30 and extends the bike further off the back. The bikes usually fit without the extension; the issue is the back window of the trailer. Those flat bar handlebars can easily penetrate a $1,000 window.

 

[BobG-ESC]

The spare tire has never created a problem because I put the first bicycle on with the handlebars on the opposite side from the spare tire, which on my 5.0 is offset toward the passenger side. I do not loosen and turn them. I do slip a piece of a pool noodle over the right hand handlebar grip out of caution for the rear window (about 6-inches away), and a koozie/can sleeve over the metal pedal to keep it from damaging the spare tire cover. Finally, I would add that the ball bearing assembly used by 1Up eliminates any twisting as long as it is tightened correctly and is checked periodically to ensure it hasn’t loosened.

I agree, the spare tire isn't an issue (at least for me) the 2" stinger is secure in the socket with no play at all when the security bearing is tightened and it has been easy to use a noodle to help with bike rack rash. Mostly, I don't use a noodle. I have never used a ratchet strap but do use the supplied Velcro strap to help secure the bike wheel to the carrying tray. I can see how a ratchet strap would add additional stability to the bike during travel, but it hasn't been a concern for me. My 1-Up is 5 years old so there may have been changes since I purchased it.

 

[HappyTrails-FGRV]

The Super Duty it is ....... We are having the trailer delivered to Retro Reno so they can give it the once over and add a more efficient a/c that we can use when dry camping with our lithium batteries and some other adds. I am going to ask them about moving the tire to the front to balance some of the weight since we will be adding the full 150 pounds with the heavier bike rack and our ebikes. We will be using our Equalizer WDH so that will help also. Then we'll address padding with noodles, etc. to make sure we don't break the back window. We washing/waxing our Casita a few years ago and walked away from the camper with the ladder behind it. A huge gust of wind came while we were inside for 10 minutes and blew the ladder right into the back window and it shattered into a million pieces. We were lucky it did not do any damage to the fiberglass. It was a process to get the window replaced as it was during COVID and places stopped doing non-auto windows. We will have acrylic windows on our 21C and it would not be fun to have to replace any.

 

[Ron in BC]

And we will look into seeing if we can move the tire to the front.

It's an easy mod and on a 21 the spare tire fits nicely up between the frame under the tongue box. There are threads on doing this. The rear of the trailer is valuable real estate. Freeing it up for other uses and moving that #70 up forward allows for extra weight to be placed on the rear.

Ron

 

[BobG-ESC]

Three years ago, I measured the change in tongue weight of my 21NE as I added weight to the trailer rear bumper. Tongue weight decreased 5 lbs when I added 10.4 lbs to the rear bumper. At that rate 150 lb added to the rear of the trailer would decrease the tongue weight by about 70 lbs.

Rather than use my weights, make your own measurements if you think it might be important. If I change trailer loading from my usual loading configuration, I usually weight the tongue prior to travel to verify weight and balance.

 

[C&G in FL]

Both bikes are flat bar. This would mean having to angle both the handlebars before and after mounting the bikes to the rack. That does not work in the real world. An inexpensive receiver tube extension is less than $30 and extends the bike further off the back. The bikes usually fit without the extension; the issue is the back window of the trailer. Those flat bar handlebars can easily penetrate a $1,000 window.

It is my understanding that the further out a load is placed on a receiver, the greater the stress (lever effect) placed on the receiver resulting in less weight that should be put on the receiver. If memory serves me correctly, the cautions that came with a receiver extender I purchased several years ago stated that the user should consider it as reducing carrying capacity by 50%. The pool noodle on the end of the handle bar provides a soft bumper should it unlikely contact the glass. Additionally, a strap can be used from the saddle post to the rear of the 1Up rack to counter any movement of the bike toward the window.
Might I point out that should the receiver fail while you are traveling down the road you may loose a very expensive rack and bicycles that I expect will far exceed the cost of a $1,000 window. Just saying…..

 

[Ron in BC]

It is my understanding that the further out a load is placed on a receiver, the greater the stress (lever effect) placed on the receiver resulting in less weight that should be put on the receiver.

Yup, as Archimedes said, "Give me a lever long enough........." And as the saying goes, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." That applies to loads also.

Ron

 

[LRL]

Our 1UP is about 5 years old, and we’ve carried two bikes ( a very light road bike and an e-bike) on it since it was new. First on our E21, and for the past year on our E23. We did not move the tire and do not use an extension. It locks into the receiver nice and tight thanks to its locking mechanism. Very little sway, and we’ve never had a hint of a problem.

 

[Luvnlife-ESC]

Same here. 1Up Super Duty hauling 2 65# e-bikes on the back of a 5.0. I usually try to get it close enough to the spare for the pedal crank to be right against it. My bikes have quick detachable pedals. I recently hauled them about 5000 miles with no problems. I have my wife try to rock it side to side for the final tightening of the anti rocking mechanism. Works well.

 

[HappyTrails-FGRV]

Our 1UP is about 5 years old, and we’ve carried two bikes ( a very light road bike and an e-bike) on it since it was new. First on our E21, and for the past year on our E23. We did not move the tire and do not use an extension. It locks into the receiver nice and tight thanks to its locking mechanism. Very little sway, and we’ve never had a hint of a problem.

Glad to hear it's been working out so well for you. I spoke with Retro Reno, who is doing a bit of work on it, and they were not in favor of moving the tire at all. They said it should be fine as long as we're careful about putting more weight in the front, such as under the bed. I'm sure you're loving your 23. It's a really beautiful model! I know we will love our 21.

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

I only see one model of 1 up that would be more difficult to stabilize. I've never seen a 2" tongue fit snugly into a nominal 2" receiver. I've seen many bike racks rocking back and forth. Not for long though, I get out from behind them as fast as possible.

For the rear box or bike rack on my 21 I use a secondary bracket from the unused spare tire mounting base. From my truck, for my very heavy fat tire ebike, I stabilize it with bungee cords on each end to the bumper ends. I've seen first hand what happens when a bike rack and bikes detach on a freeway. Not pretty.

Ron

the 1up 2" reciever tube has a ball clamp in it that holds it very securely so it doesn't rock or bounce.

We did 10000 miles of Mexico, all over the mainland, with a 1Up Super 2-bike rack and a pair of class 1 ebikes that weigh about 55 lbs each, on the back of our 21c, towed behind our Expedition SUV... As the inside bike's pedals can run into the spare tire, I used a velcro strap to prevent the bikes crank from rotating so the pedal doesn't jam into the other bike, or jam into the spare tire. The inner bike faces street side, the outer bike faces curbside.

hmm, I can't find any pictures of the new bikes on the trailer, just our old ebikes... We did many 1000s of miles like this even before that 10000 mile Mexican journey.

 

[HappyTrails-FGRV]

Folding pedals appear to be in our future. Thanks for the picture. So glad to hear it's doable.