Bike rack for ALiner Expedition

[drmarkandersen]

I'm looking for suggestions on transporting bicycles.
We've got an ALiner Expedition that we tow with a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. I'm looking for a way to incorporate a bike rack into our rig. Putting a bike rack on the back bumper of the trailer won't work because the spare tire is in the way. My wife and I have rejected every idea we've come up with so far. Has anyone here solved this problem? Looking for good ideas.

 

[Sjm9911]

Hitch on the front of the TV.

 

[PopUpSteve]

Well, so we don't waste time with suggestions, what were those rejected ideas?

 

[Sjm9911]

Probably every one we will come up with, lol. Only a few ways to do it.

Well, so we don't waste time with suggestions, what were those rejected ideas?

 

[Tonya Harding]

My wife rejects every idea I have ever come up w/ on any & everything, at least you have a 2 way rejection system...I have a folding bike, so I just chuck it in the truck...

 

[browniestarmite]

On our 2015 Aliner Ranger 15, we removed the stock bumper and installed the 4” Mount-n-Lock replacement bumper along with their Shakestopper 2” hitch for our bike rack.
https://mount-n-lock.com/product/heavy-haulr-aluminum-4-0-inch-rv-ultralight-replacement-bumper-kit/

We're in the process of mounting the spare tire on the front where the propane tanks were (we never use propane for anything). This year, we carried it on the roof rack of our TV.

 

[GaWalker]

I also tow with a pickup which spends much more time transporting my MTB over the tailgate. I do not like thought of my beloved electric MTB (which cost twice what I paid for my Aliner) hanging off the back of the bumper.

Perhaps something like the CURT 45810 would work. I was always concerned with the bikes interfering with the trailer jack, propane, etc.

 

[billyc]

I stowed our spare in the back underneath the couch/bed in an Aliner classic, and used the stock hitch to carry 2 bikes approx 3000 miles. Researched heavily; i took my trailer to a frame specialist who felt the welds were strong enough. Some/many folks think it puts too much strain on the bumper. But we had zero problems; ymmv.

 

[Sjm9911]

I also tow with a pickup which spends much more time transporting my MTB over the tailgate. I do not like thought of my beloved electric MTB (which cost twice what I paid for my Aliner) hanging off the back of the bumper.

Perhaps something like the CURT 45810 would work. I was always concerned with the bikes interfering with the trailer jack, propane, etc.

Some of those duel hitches cut the tow capacity by 50 percent. So , you need to consider that also.

 

[Papa Glenn]

We have racks on the roof of our Aframe and transport our bikes there.

 

[Campeador]

I'm an avid cyclist, with mountain biking being my favorite flavor. Here's the setup I settled on: Everyone always thinks it must be very difficult to get the bikes on the roof rack. It's not as difficult as one would think. It's all about technique (watch a YT video). I have two Swagman Race Ready racks.

 

[cyclesteve]

I have a roof rack on my tow vehicle to carry two bikes. I made a mount on the Aliner tongue for a hitch rack so I can bring my tandem kayak on the roof rack.

 

[Erik Leonard]

I'm an avid cyclist, with mountain biking being my favorite flavor. Here's the setup I settled on: View attachment 89111 Everyone always thinks it must be very difficult to get the bikes on the roof rack. It's not as difficult as one would think. It's all about technique (watch a YT video). I have two Swagman Race Ready racks.

I do it this way also.

 

[Erik Leonard]

I was thinking about adding these to the dormer frames so the bikes would not have to go on the car. Send Aliner a message and they promptly advised against that idea. They worry the load on the frame would cause it to distort. I guess the extrusion will tend to twist with any load.



Just thought I'd pass this info along.

 

[TimAZ]

Think of your A-frame camper as a styrofoam cooler with wheels. Would you put any heavy point loads on a styro cooler? We put 30 pounds of solar panels on our roof with the load spread evenly thinking it would not be a big deal. In reality this mod completely changed the way the roof panels lift and balance.

 

[David Blackwell]

TimAZ - I agree. Mounting anything on the roof of our Aliner was truly a poor idea. It’s really not designed for permanently mounting anything. I learned that putting hard solar panels and then a tandem kayak were poor choices on my part.


I have a Yuba Spicy Curry All-Terrain cargo bike outfitted so my wife can ride on the back. The specs state the weight at 60 lbs but mine feels much heavier. My Yuba actually bent the bottom supports on my old “ebike” Kuat rack. My solution was to switch to a Black Widow motorcycle rack (aluminum).

BrownieStarMite - I did something very similar but my shop (San Diego Trailer Supply) choose to leave the existing bumper in place but added an additional bumper with welded reinforcements. (Photo Note - the RV Generator boxes on the end are very thin aluminum and hold extremely light items: Lynx Lifts, sewer hose, etc.). The “over the bumper” hitch receiver is a little hard to see to the right of my license plate.

I would also like to emphasis that adding weight to the tail is absolutely the wrong place. I have to pay close attention to tongue weight and storing of gear in the trailer towards the front. It also creates an upper limit on speed even when using a Blue Ox weight distribution hitch. However, it worked to carry my cargo bike.

 

[Len Wood]

I'm looking for suggestions on transporting bicycles.
We've got an ALiner Expedition that we tow with a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. I'm looking for a way to incorporate a bike rack into our rig. Putting a bike rack on the back bumper of the trailer won't work because the spare tire is in the way. My wife and I have rejected every idea we've come up with so far. Has anyone here solved this problem? Looking for good ideas.

Made two front fork holders. Placed inside of Aliner, forks forward so to keep most weight towards rear and centered. Good for security too. Mounted holders to base plate and then through bolted base plate to floor and frame. Front tires can be place in a place of your choosing.

 

[PopUpSteve]

@Len Wood, photo(s) please.