8 Camper and RV Bike Racks

One of the most popular activities amongst campers is bicycling. However, hauling bikes while camping can be difficult. Bicycles are relatively large and take up a great deal of space. Several types of bike carriers can be used depending on your set-up. Campers and Campfires has a travel trailer with a long-bed pick-up. We use a mount that allows us to carry the bikes in the bed of our truck. There are also bike carriers that mount to the ladder or bumper of your camper and some that mount over the propane tanks and battery box on the front of your travel trailer.

Campers and Campfires always recommends a bicycle lock (Check it out on Amazon) when hauling bikes and while the bikes are not in use at the campground. Theft does not happen often, but bikes do get stolen at campgrounds.

Campers and Campfires highly recommends RV approved bike racks when attaching them to the rear of a camper. The haul is rougher on the back of a travel trailer than it is on the back of a passenger vehicle. Due to the roughness of the ride, RV bike racks are specifically designed to withstand substantial force and are less likely to break or damage the bikes.

Ladder Mounted Bike Racks

Ladder Mounted back racks are popular because they are effortless to install. If you have a ladder on the rear of your camper, simply attach the bike carrier to the ladder and mount the bikes. This system works great for those who tow extra vehicles when driving motorhomes because the bike racks will not interfere with the set-up and tow of the extra vehicles. Note that there are limitations to ladder mounted bike racks because most ladder bike carriers only hold two bicycles. The typical weight maximum is 70 pounds, which is difficult if you are hauling more than two bicycles. When using a ladder mount, many people recommend placing a sock or something soft on the handlebars so that they do not rub against the body of the camper.

Swagman RV Approved Bike Rack

Swagman is a leader in RV bike racks. This Swagman Ladder Rack (Check it out on Amazon) holds two bicycles and mounts to your ladder in seconds. There are two hooks that attach over a rung on your ladder, then use the included straps to secure the rack. The Swagman rack is a favorite due to its ease of use and sturdiness.

Camco RV Ladder Mount Bike Rack

The Camco Ladder Rack (Check it out on Amazon) is similar to the Swagman in that it easily mounts to the ladder on your camper. The Camco’s maximum weight capacity is 60-pounds. One unique feature of the Camco bike rack is that it folds when not in use, making the rack easy to store. Camco installation is easy. Slide the hooks over a rung on your ladder and secure with the included straps.

Bumper Mounted Bike Racks

Many campers use bumper mounted bike racks to haul their bicycles. Some racks mount directly onto your camper bumper, and others require an additional purchase of an adapter that turns your bumper into a hitch. Before attaching anything to the bumper of your camper, consult your owner’s manual to ensure that the bumper can hold the weight of the bikes.

Swagman RV Approved 4-Bike Bumper Rack

The Swagman RV Approved 4-Bike Bumper Rack (Check it out on Amazon) attaches directly to the bumper of your RV and holds up to four bikes. The maximum weight per bike is 30 pounds. This bicycle rack is simple to use. However, to use the rack effectively, all of the bikes must be the same length from tire to tire so that they will fit on the frame. The rack mounts to a 4 to 4.5-inch camper bumper.

Curt 19100 Camper Hitch

The Curt Camper Hitch Receiver (Check it out on Amazon) is an adapter that adds a 2-inch hitch receiver to the bumper of your camper. Check your owner’s manual to learn your camper’s bumper weight limitations. The adapter fits a four-inch bumper. This model is a little more expensive than other options but it is durable and worth the extra cost.

Swagman RV Approved Original 4 Hitch Bike Rack

This is Campers and Campfire’s favorite of the hitch mounted bike racks. It fits a 2-inch receiver. This Swagman 4 Hitch Bike Rack (Check it out on Amazon) is made for four bikes, but there are 2 and 3 bike models as well. There are cushioned bike protectors where the bike attaches to the rack so that the bicycles are protected. The rack installs quickly, and bikes can be easily mounted. This Swagman rack is secure, locks into the hitch receiver, and holds the bikes safely in place.

Over the Spare Bike Rack

Many campers have a spare tire mounted on the rear much like a jeep. For this set-up, an over the spare bike rack is the best choice.

Swagman RV Approved Around the Spare Deluxe Bike Rack

This Swagman RV Approved Around the Spare Deluxe Bike Rack (Check it out on Amazon) secures over and around the spare tire. The rack holds up to two bikes, and it has anti-sway cradles so that the bikes do not rub against each other while traveling. The Swagman Around the Spare Rack rack attaches directly to a 4 to 4.5-inch camper bumper, with allotted space for the spare tire.

Trailer Frame Bike Rack

This trailer frame bike rack is a popular option for bike transport. You can attach an adapter to the A-frame on your travel trailer and then use any bike rack that fits on a 2-inch hitch. The adapter mounts to your A-frame and extends up and over the battery box and propane tanks. Across the top crossbar is a 2-inch hitch receiver. Once the adapter is installed, you can place any bike rack that requires a 2-inch hitch to the adapter. Since the front of campers have minimal bounce, this is an optimal location for the bike rack. This type of rack also frees up the rear of your trailer for other options. You do need to be cautious when using this rack to ensure that there is plenty of room between the tow vehicle and bikes when making tight turns.

Swagman The Straddler

The Swagman Straddler (Check it out on Amazon) is an adapter that lets you use any bike rack with a 2-inch hitch mount. The adapter mounts easily to the A-frame on a travel trailer. Once mounted, attach the rack and you are ready to go. The straddler is an adapter only, and bike racks are sold separately. Any 2-inch hitch bike rack can be used with the straddler adapter.

Truck Bed Bike Racks

Campers and Campfires uses a truck bed bike rack because it fits our current set-up. We pull a travel trailer with a long bed truck, so we have the extra room in the truck bed to haul the bikes. There are several types and models of truck bed bike mounts that make the bikes easy to transport in the back of your truck.

Top Line UG 2500-2 Uni-Grip 2 Bike Carrier

The Top Line UG 2500 Bike Carrier (Check it out on Amazon) is the system that we use to haul our bikes. The Top Line Carrier installs in minutes. There is one clamp that attaches to the side of your truck, then use additional clamps to connect more bikes. This is a 2-bike mount kit, but with the purchase of additional clamps, (Check them out on Amazon) you can add extra bikes. We carry four bicycles on our trips.

Swagman Tailwhip Tailgate Pad

The Swagman Tailwhip (Check it out on Amazon) is a large pad that attaches to your truck’s tailgate. Attach the bikes to the pad, and let the front wheels of the bikes hang over the rear of the tailgate. The Tailwhip leaves more space in the bed of the truck. Although the pad should sufficiently protect the tailgate, we recommend still placing a blanket between the pad and tailgate to ensure the tailgate stays scratch free.

Bicycling is a popular activity amongst campers. However, due to the general lack of storage in campers, bikes can be challenging to haul. Campers and Campfires wants to convey that there are easy solutions for bringing bikes on your adventures. Be sure to use the bike mount that best fits your current set-up. Happy biking!

Do you have a bike rack that you love? We would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line in the comment section below.