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Bikes are super clunky and you don’t want to take up valuable storage space underneath your RV to store your ride. There are tons of options out there for bike racks, so finding the right one can be overwhelming. We did the research and testing to find the best ones for your RV. Our top picks and research methodology are below, happy searching!
The Best Bike Racks For Your RV
| Best RV Bike Racks | Category |
| Swagman Traveler XC2 Bike Rack | Bumper-Mounted Rack |
| Surco 501BR Ladder Mounted Bike Rack | Ladder-Mounted Rack |
| Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Rack | Hitch-Mounted Rack |
| Swagman Bicycle Carriers 4-Bike RV Bumper Rack | 4-Bike Rack |
| Stromberg Carlson CC-275 Bike Bunk | Rack for A-Frame Trailers |
Reviews of Our Favorite Bike Racks
Here are our top picks for the best RV bike racks. All these products have excellent reviews and tested well with us. Check it out!
Best Bumper-Mounted Rack
Swagman Traveler XC2 Bike Rack
Swagman is a popular name in the RV bike rack realm and has an excellent reputation.
This bike rack can hold two bikes with a maximum capacity of 70 pounds. The frame will fit a two-inch hitch receiver or bike mount, and it comes with a bumper mount adapter.
Taking a look at the rack itself; it comes with adjustable hooks to fit bikes of varying sizes, and all Swagman products run through rigorous testing to prove that they can handle the stress of long distance towing.
The arms on the rack fold down to allow you to access your vehicle if you decide to mount this on your car as well if you’re pulling a vehicle behind the RV. The Swagman Traveler XC2 comes with a limited lifetime warranty that protects you against any manufacturer defects or shortcomings.
Something I love about this bike rack is how easy it is to install it and the fact that it makes loading and unloading the bike’s simple. The main shortcoming is that this bike rack won’t work for everyone. I’ve seen many people have issues with the rack mounting too close to their RV and the handlebars bumping up against the back window. You want to make sure you have the right setup to install this RV bike rack.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Durable and long lasting
- Fits snugly
Cons:
- Doesn’t work with all RV’s
Best Ladder-Mounted Rack
Surco 501BR Ladder Mounted Bike Rack
Next, we have a bike rack that takes thinking out of the equation. You don’t have to worry about what kind of RV this rack will work for because it’s a ladder mounted rack. The bike rack should fit on all ladders regardless of whether you have a travel trailer, fifth-wheel, or even a utility van with a ladder.
This RV bike rack will securely carry two bikes, and it mounts easily without requiring any straps or removal of your ladder. The rack itself comes fully assembled, so getting it onto your RV is incredibly simple and easy.
The main thing you need to ensure you have is a one-inch tube ladder. The manufacturer says that the bike rack will not fit on a 1.5-inch ladder. The good news is that the ladder mounted bike rack is made using high-grade aluminum, and it has a nice satin finish, so it doesn’t look clunky on the back of your trailer.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Looks great on the ladder
- Fits well on the RV
Cons:
- Not always large enough for two bikes
Best Hitch-Mounted Rack
Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Rack
What if you’ve got a few more bikes and you need to carry them? You could go for an RV bumper bike rack with the capabilities of carrying four bikes. This one works with a two-inch trailer hitch, and it requires professional installation on a Class III or IV two-inch. The rack comes with 22 inch long carrying arms to secure your bikes.
Allen Sports has a patent on this design, so you know you’re getting a high-quality product that is made to last. The carrying arms also drop out of the way when you’re not using them and installation takes less than five minutes.
Out of all the reviews we did we love this product because it looks amazing, it has the most durability, and it carries four bikes.
Pros:
- Four bike rack
- Each bike hold has its tie-downs
- Folds out of the way
Cons:
- Challenging installation
- May require professional help
Best 4-Bike Rack
Swagman Bicycle Carriers 4-Bike RV Bumper Rack
This RV bumper bike rack can transport as many as four bikes and as little as one. This one works correctly for square bumper RVs and has a heavy-duty steel construction with a black paint finish. They topped it off with a powder-coating which is ideal for preventing corrosion as you’re traveling across the country.
You’ll use the RV U hooks to secure your bikes to the rack, and it comes with upright bars in between each section of the rack for added security.
I love the appearance of this bike rack, and I love that it’s powder-coated because that will help you tremendously if you’re traveling through cold weather. The main issue I have is with the security of the bikes on the rack. I would prefer them to provide you with additional security methods to keep the bikes from bouncing and vibrating.
Pros:
- Powder-coated
- Fits four bikes
- Great for winter travel
Cons:
- Bikes should have the same wheelbase to fit properly
Best Rack for A-Frame Trailers
Stromberg Carlson CC-275 Bike Bunk
This RV bike rack is called a trailer tongue carrying system. It goes in the section between your trailer and your towing vehicle. You can support up to 100 pounds, but many customers of this product have claimed they carried as much as 160 pounds. The bike rack uses a raised A-frame receiver which mounts vertically.
The main issue I ran into with this one is lacking some necessary hardware to complete the job. I later found that this is a problem that some other customers encountered as well.
You also want to make sure you have the right setup for this kind of rack. It can hold up to four bikes, but you may have trouble accessing things like propane tanks if they mount on the front of the trailer.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Affordable
- Safe and out of harm’s way
Cons:
- Missing hardware
- Not suitable for all RV’s
Recap: Best RV Bike Racks
- Swagman Traveler XC2 Bike Rack – Best Bumper-Mounted Rack
- Surco 501BR Ladder Mounted Bike Rack – Best Ladder-Mounted Rack
- Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Rack – Best Hitch-Mounted Rack
- Swagman Bicycle Carriers 4-Bike RV Bumper Rack – Best 4-Bike Rack
- Stromberg Carlson CC-275 Bike Bunk – Best Rack for A-Frame Trailers
Buying an RV Bike Rack: What to Look For
Now that you’ve seen a few RV bike racks, you probably have a good idea of what you’d like to purchase. There are some factors you want to keep in mind when shopping around for your traveling adventures.
Type of Bike Rack
We looked at a few different types of bike racks above, and each of them has its pros and cons. You want to make sure you get the bike rack that makes the most sense for your needs.
If you plan on taking the rack off and installing it on your vehicle sometimes, you would want to get a trailer hitch rack. Hitch-mounted racks are the most common among RV owners and are typically easy to install. Just make sure to get the right size rack to be able to fit on your hitch.
If you are worried about durability and strength when traveling through rough conditions, you may want to get a trailer tongue rack. They are a little more complicated to install, but typically offer a bit better security.
Bumper-mounted racks are another option if you’re worried about blocking the view out of your rear windshield. They typically have the strength to support a couple of bikes, but not much more than that.
The last option is ladder-mounted racks, which are located on your RV ladder. They have a bit of a different configuration since they are aligned vertically.
Regardless of your needs, make sure you get the right rack for your traveling habits and your trailer.
Quality
Of course, one of the most important factors is quality. This reason alone is why I love the powder-coated bumper mounted bike rack. I think powder-coating the metal makes so much sense because it will extend the life of the metal by so much. You need that type of quality to prevent corrosion and weakening of the metal over time.
In addition to factors such as that, you also want to make sure that the welds on the metal are solid to prevent snapping, cracking, or breaking as time goes on. With a poor-quality bike rack, you can quickly find yourself sidelined on the highway trying to cram your bikes inside the RV so you can continue your travels.
Quality is a critical component of shopping for a bike rack, and you don’t want to start a trip without knowing you can finish it.
Installation
The next most crucial factor is the difficulty of installation of the bike rack for your RV. There shouldn’t be too many variables that come into play with the bike rack you choose. When you make a purchase, you should know that it will fit, install quickly, and manage all your bikes.
Every RV is slightly different, so there will always be some variables to think about, but they shouldn’t be so overwhelming that you have to buy the bike rack and “see what happens.”
Related: RV organization ideas
Price
While the price is not a crucial factor for everyone, it’s something you should keep in mind. Why spend more money than you have to? This factor especially goes if you purchase a poor quality product.
Make sure you are shopping from a reputable company with reasonable prices. By doing this, you are ensuring you get the best RV bike rack for the best value. As I said, shopping from a company that has a habit of providing people with the best RV equipment is the best way to ensure you have no problems down the road.
Bike Capacity
Think about how many bikes you want to carry. You also want to keep the future in mind. Right now, you might only need to travel with two bikes but what does the future hold for you? Do you have kids that are young now but might want to bike in the future? Maybe you don’t have any kids, but you want to someday? Keep these factors in mind.
I recommend getting a bike rack that carries four bikes because you never know what you’ll need. You may even want to travel with more than one bike for yourself at some point. Either way, it never hurts to go in prepared and why not prepare for the future now. Make sure you have enough room to grow.
Attaching more gear to your rig? Read our picks for the best RV kayak racks and RV cargo carriers too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Put A Bike Rack On My Travel Trailer?
Yes, you can absolutely put a bike rack on your travel trailer. The easiest bike rack to install would be a hitch mounted option but not all travel trailers have a hitch on the rear bumper. This would lead to the next easiest option which would be a bumper mounted bike rack. These are fairly easy to install using u-bolts that mount around the bumper, these are slightly more permanent than hitch mounted racks.
Are RV Ladder Bike Racks Safe?
Ladder bike racks have been proven to be safe for RV use. They feature many straps to keep your bikes in place. Even when you hit bumps on the road, ladder racks will keep your bikes secure and make sure that they are not damaged in the process. They are a great option if you don’t have a hitch receiver on your RV.
Are Hitch Bike Racks The Best?
The rack you choose is mostly preference. If you have a hitch receiver on your trailer or RV then a hitch rack will probably make the most sense. But as with every type of rack there are down sides. Hitch racks take up a ton of space and can be incredibly expensive. Before choosing a rack, you can read our article and figure out the best bike rack for your needs.
