How to Bring Your Bikes Camping: Best RV Bike Racks

Wherever you go camping, there’s a good chance you’ll want to have your bikes along with you. Naturally, you’ll start looking for a good RV bike rack to carry your two-wheeled toys. But you’ll likely run into various opinions on the best bike rack for you. 

Let’s look at some of the best RV bike racks we’ve seen. 

Why You Should Bring Your Bikes Camping

Bikes and camping simply go together! If you’re in a large RV park or campground, bikes can provide straightforward, fun transportation. Bikes can also be a means to explore if you’re camping in the woods or off the beaten path.

Many RVers like to bring their bikes as an additional mode of transportation. It’s easier than towing a car, and they use it to get around the campground, travel to nearby trails, or even make grocery runs if the store isn’t too far. 

E-bikes have become especially popular among RVers as a second mode of transportation. Capable of going up to 40 miles, these bikes are practical and fun to bring camping with you!

Taking your bike on a designated trail also exposes you to more scenery than you might see if you were just walking. You can explore a great deal on the seat of a bike! 

Where to Mount Bikes on Your RV

But when you’re packing for that camping trip, just WHERE the bikes fit is often a puzzle. 

If you have a toy hauler RV, you may be able to simply roll the bikes into the toy-hauling garage section and call it a day. However, this takes up space inside the RV that you might otherwise use for a second bedroom or office space.

The ideal space-saving solution is to mount your bikes outside your RV. You might be able to mount them to your RV bumper or ladder. Or, if you’re towing, you might be able to fit them on a hitch-mounted rack or even in the bed of your pickup. Let’s take a look. 

Ladder-Mounted RV Bike Rack

Space savings is the most significant pro of mounting to the ladder. Plus, you’re not adding anything to your hitch because ladder mounts are separate. This can work for pretty much any RV with a ladder, from a class A to a travel trailer.

These are not universal; you’ll need a rack that explicitly fits your RV. They’re best for one or two bikes, so it may not be ideal for those with more. Most of the ladder mount racks you’ll find carry up to two bikes and will hold about 60 lbs maximum. 

Bumper-Mounted RV Bike Rack

Depending on your RV and towing situation, you could bumper mount a bike rack. This is best when your RV bumper is at the end of your towing situation, not in the middle. 

RV bumper-mounted bike racks remove the necessity of a hitch. Bumpers usually have a higher weight capacity than the ladder, and therefore, a bumper mount could be a better solution if you have more than two bikes to carry.

Hitch-Mounted RV Bike Rack

If you’re towing something, that means you already have a hitch. You can easily install a dual hitch receiver to pull your car and carry your bikes on the same hitch. These have high weight capacities and can carry up to 4 bicycles. These racks are often the lowest to the ground of all rack options and can be easier to load and unload the bikes. 

Truck Bed Bike Racks

If you tow a travel trailer and have enough space in the bed of your truck, some people swear by truck bed bike racks. These racks help protect and organize your bikes when carrying them in the back of the pickup so nothing gets scratched or dinged.

What Makes a Bike Rack RV-Approved?

It’s essential to choose an RV-approved bike rack because they’re specially designed to withstand the added force from a trailer, 5th wheel, or motorhome. RVs often don’t have the same suspension and handling that your car does, and the added weight and nature of a towed vehicle can jostle and even break a standard bike rack. 

Many RV-specific bike racks go through specific tests, so you know they can handle the bumps of riding on an RV. They’ll secure your bikes much better than a standard rack and offer greater peace of mind. Some bike rack manufacturers will exclude using their products on RVs from warranties.

The Best RV Bike Racks

Here are the best RV bike racks on the market today. These are all RV-approved and will get you camping with your bikes in no time. However, check to make sure your bike rack is rated for the weight of your bikes and will work with the dimensions of your ladder, bumper, or hitch.

#1 Camco RV Ladder Mount Bike Rack

About the Camco RV Ladder Bike Rack: This bike rack easily installs on standard RV ladders with soft grip handles and pins to hold it in place. It securely holds two bikes up to 60lbs total and folds for convenient storage.

Mount Type: Ladder

Easy Installation Rating: 7/10 It comes with an easy install, but many users report needing additional straps or bungees to feel confident on the road.

#2 Swagman XC Two Bike Hitch-Mount Rack

About the Swagman XC: Here, we have a standard hitch-mount rack that holds up to two bikes of various sizes and types. Many users love that you don’t have to remove any bike wheels or spare time to keep the bike secure. Plus, the rack folds up for easy storage.

Mount Type: Hitch

Easy Installation Rating: 8/10 As long as your vehicle already has a hitch receiver, the installation is a snap! 

#3 Quick Products Bumper-Mounted Rack

About the Quick Products Bike Rack: We like this bumper-mounted rack that fits a 4 – 4.5” bumper and holds up to two bikes weighing a combined total of 60 lbs. It does not fit fat-tire bikes or wheels over 29”. The quality you get for the price is hard to beat, making this a popular option among RVers. 

Mount Type: Bumper

Easy Installation Rating: 7/10 While it’s easy to install, you may need to remove the spare tire if you have one on your travel trailer’s bumper. 

#4 Surco 501BR Ladder Mounted Bike Rack

About the Surco 501BR: The best thing about this ladder-mounted bike rack is that it fits on ANY ladder! It will carry up to two bikes on padded cradles. Plus, you don’t have to remove the rack to access your ladder. The arms pivot away from the ladder, so you might never have to remove the rack! 

Mount Type: Ladder

Easy Installation Rating: 9/10 This product is aluminum that’s solid but doesn’t weigh a lot. It’s easy to install, and we love that it fits any ladder without inconveniencing you. 

#5 Yakima Hitch RV Bike Rack

About the Yakima LongHaul RV Bike Rack: This RV-approved and tested beast will carry up to four bikes with a max weight of 37.5 lbs per bike, so 150 lbs total. It’s perfect for the hardcore mountain biking RV family! The bikes are individually ratcheted down using Yakima’s SuperCush ZipStrip™ cradles that reduce sway and bike-to-bike contact. The rack comes with a SKS lock, so your bikes will be safe both when you’re driving and when you park. 

Mount Type: Hitch

Easy Installation Rating: 8/10 It’s an effortless installation for those with a 2” hitch receiver. Reducers are not recommended.

Bring Your Bikes Camping With A Reliable Bike Rack

In conclusion, the right bike rack for you really depends on the type of RV you have, the type of bikes you have, and the number of bikes you’re trying to carry. We hope this option roundup helps you decide which RV bike rack is right for you.

Enjoy having bikes on your next camping trip!

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