Comments for Anklebiter

Comment on Utah Vacation Home Rentals Provide Abode in Natural Landscape by Cath E

Cath E — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:56:16 +0000

Usually, these come with the trailer. Maybe you can contact the manufacturer of your trailer and order one. If not, you can probably go to your local hardware store and find something or make something that will work.

Comment on Utah Vacation Home Rentals Provide Abode in Natural Landscape by Sue J

Sue J — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:45:30 +0000

If you are carrying more than 2 bikes DO NOT use an adapter… the reason has nothing to do with the adapter but everything to to with the hitch. Let me explain.

Usually, when a receiver hitch is used the trailer has wheels on it and the hitch is responsible only for pulling. If you've ever picked up a trailer by the tongue and moved it around you' know that there is very little downward pressure on it… all the weight is held on by the wheels.

Hitches are rated by 2 weights- the pulling capacity, and the tongue weight. The tongue weight is the downward force placed on the hitch. Most 1-1/4" hitches have this rated at around 100 pounds. You need a hitch with a tongue rating of at least 150 pounds for 3, 4, or 5 bikes.

This doesn't mean that it can't handle 100 pounds of WEIGHT, it means that it can't handle 100 pounds of downward FORCE.

A bike rack is a lever which will place a lot of force on the hitch. Should you place 2 bikes on the rack that weigh 27 pounds each you have exceeded the tongue weight of the hitch if you hit a bump in the road.

I get customers flustered at me all the time because I don't carry 3 or 4 bike racks for 1-1/4" receivers. They then grudgingly agree with me when I explain what's at work… then they probably go somewhere else and buy a rack from somewhere else without regard for their new knowledge.

Comment on The Hitch Mount Bike Rack – Potential Problems It Might Have by tootsy

tootsy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:12:50 +0000

I don't think I would trust a $80 bike hitch. Most any bike rack will work for a trailer hitch mount.

http://www.bikerackshops.com/

Comment on The Hitch Mount Bike Rack – Potential Problems It Might Have by Christopher H

Christopher H — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:03:00 +0000

The best thing you can do to make the straps last as long as possible is to take off the rack when you are not actually transporting bikes. Minimize exposure to the sun. My hitch rack is secured into the receiver by a 19mm bolt. I keep a ratchet with a 19mm deep socket in the trunk of the car so that I won't have an excuse not to take off the rack because the proper tool isn't handy.

HTH

Comment on Utah Vacation Home Rentals Provide Abode in Natural Landscape by sephus

sephus — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:28:36 +0000