Travel Trailer Bike Rack Bumper Warning: 3 Years With a Robust RV Bike Rack

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Two bicycles secured on a Swagman RV-approved bike rack mounted at the rear of an RV, before covering them for travel.

Originally installed in 2021, this article provides our three-year review of the Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack. We attached it to the back of our RV in the summer of 2021, and since then, it has completed a demanding round trip to Alaska. Following the initial setup, I made a few modifications, which will be detailed here. Overall, the bike rack has unequivocally validated my initial assessment: the Swagman RV-approved bike rack is indeed the most robust bike rack I could find, and it continues to perform flawlessly three years later. It has endured three years on the back of our RV, including occasional transfers to our car and that significant trip to Alaska, without any discernible wear or degradation. This enduring performance is particularly important for a Travel Trailer Bike Rack Bumper, although, as we will discuss, attaching a bike rack directly to a travel trailer bumper is strongly discouraged due to safety concerns and structural limitations.

No Complaints After Three Years

Having owned and used the Swagman RV-approved bike rack for the past three years, I genuinely have no complaints. It consistently performs exactly as designed, without any issues. We’ve seen several friends with RVs experience bike rack failures, including during our trip to Alaska. Knowing we had a reliable solution was a significant relief. I sincerely wish every item we rely on for our RV adventures was as trouble-free as this bike rack.

Two bicycles secured on a Swagman RV-approved bike rack mounted at the rear of an RV, before covering them for travel.

Our bicycles ride in the space between our RV and our towed car. I will explain how we utilize our Swagman RV-approved bike rack with a double hitch setup. A failure of the bike rack in this configuration would cause extensive damage to our towed vehicle. We’ve witnessed these bike rack horror stories firsthand; they are surprisingly common, particularly on challenging routes like the journey to and from Alaska. This real-world concern motivated us to upgrade our bike rack and towing assembly in 2021, specifically seeking a more secure and robust bike rack for travel trailer or RV use.

Originally Featured on Do It Yourself RV

My initial article evaluating the Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack was first published by Do It Yourself RV in 2021. This post serves as a companion and update to that original piece. Do It Yourself RV has published several of my other articles, partnering with us to share valuable information aimed at helping consumers make informed decisions and maximize value. The original article can be found via a link provided later in the “Links” section.

Logo for Do It Yourself RV website.

Internet Publishing Etiquette

Even though I authored both articles, experienced online publishers have advised that having identical content on multiple websites is not ideal for search engine optimization. Therefore, this article is distinct from the one hosted on Do It Yourself RV. For the complete perspective, reading both articles is recommended.

Mentioned in the E-bike E-book

We frequently receive questions about our e-bikes. Yes, we took our e-bikes on the Alaska trip, carried securely on the back of our RV using the Swagman RV-approved bike rack. Consequently, our Swagman RV-approved bike rack is also featured in the e-bike e-book I authored. A direct link to the section discussing bike racks is available later in the “Links” section.

Ebook cover titled "E-bikes 2024: How to choose the best electric bicycle". Ebook cover titled "E-bikes 2024: How to choose the best electric bicycle".

My e-bike e-book was created to comprehensively address everything related to selecting and using e-bikes and regular bicycles, making it a detailed resource. It can serve as a reference for various aspects of e-bike ownership.

It’s crucial to understand that not every RV bike rack is strong enough to be used on the back of an RV or travel trailer. Furthermore, many RVs and trailers, especially travel trailers, should not have a bike rack attached at all if the bumper is not reinforced or designed for such loads.

The Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack is Inherently Strong

To powerfully illustrate the robustness of this rack, consider the following picture. I am standing directly on the bike rack. Although it might appear I am on the ground, my feet are actually about two feet up, supported entirely by the rack.

Author standing on the Swagman RV-approved bike rack to demonstrate its exceptional strength.

I performed this not as a rigorous test but as a simple demonstration supporting what I already knew about its build quality. I weigh more than the combined weight of our two e-bikes. The Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack is genuinely strong.

However, due to the dynamic motion of the RV or travel trailer while driving, even bikes weighing significantly less can subject the rack to much greater stress than my static weight demonstration. A bike rack mounted on the back of an RV or travel trailer doesn’t just support a static load. It endures constant movement – bouncing up and down and swaying side to side as you travel. I detailed these dynamic forces in the original RV Life article. The following picture shows a damaged dual hitch adapter observed on a trip to Alaska; the bent component was solid 2-inch steel. This is not a picture of our setup, but illustrates the forces involved.

A bent dual hitch adapter, showing the stress dynamic loads place on RV towing components.

Stress generated by the weight of the bikes and the rack, amplified by dynamic forces, caused this solid 2-inch square steel shaft to bend. Tragically, more than one RVer has discovered their bikes dragging on the road behind their RV or travel trailer. For us, a failure wouldn’t just mean bikes on the road; they would likely fall directly into our towed car, resulting in potentially thousands of dollars in damage.

Bike rack and bicycles attached to a failed travel trailer bumper, highlighting the danger of this mounting method.

Warning: Travel trailer bumpers are emphatically NOT strong enough to support a bike rack. Do not attach a bike rack to a travel trailer bumper; the bumper is highly likely to fail, often catastrophically and quickly.

Construction of the Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack

Steel components of the Swagman RV-approved bike rack laid out for pre-assembly, showing robust construction.

Every visible part of this bike rack, with the exception of the wheel straps, is constructed from steel. It is not designed as a folding bike rack. While folding racks exist (links to some are included later), I didn’t need that feature, and moving parts can introduce weak points susceptible to failure over time and stress. The only part that folds on this model is the upper support hooks, which are shown folded in the picture above. I fold this upper support arm down specifically to make loading the bikes easier.

Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack on the Back of Our RV

We consistently travel with our bikes positioned between the RV and our towed car. We keep the bikes covered both during travel and when parked. While we could potentially attach them directly to the car, they would then extend further outward and would need to remain uncovered, increasing exposure to the elements and road grime.

Swagman bike rack loaded with bikes at the rear of the RV, positioned before attaching the tow car.

Positioned Between the RV and the Car

For travel and storage, we position our bikes on the bike rack located at the rear of our RV. This means that while we are driving, they ride securely between the RV and the towed car, supported by the Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack.

Bicycles on the Swagman bike rack positioned securely between the RV and the towed vehicle during travel.

Interestingly, my initial attempt to install and use the Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack was unsuccessful. I actually had to revert to our old rack temporarily while I resolved the issue.

Installation: Initial Failure, Then Success

I would prefer to say the transition to the new bike rack was effortless and quick. However, for me, it wasn’t as smooth as anticipated. The new rack is a significant upgrade in quality, being robust from end to end. The failure was not due to the bike rack’s quality but a compatibility issue specific to my existing setup and how I use the bike rack in conjunction with our towing system. As I explain how I overcame these compatibility challenges, I’ll include pictures to clarify why my old bike rack didn’t present these particular problems.

Double Hitch Receiver Configuration

Our bikes ride on the upper receiver of our double hitch setup, while the tow bar for the car uses the lower receiver. The original distance between the lower and upper receivers on our old double hitch was insufficient to allow the use of both the Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack and the Roadmaster tow arms in their stowed position.

Old bike rack with a bent support tube mounted on an RV double hitch receiver.

This picture shows our old bike rack, constructed from 1 1/4-inch steel tubing, installed in the upper slot of the double hitch receiver. Notice the slight bend in the tubing just where it exits the upper receiver. This bend was present on the old rack to provide extra clearance between the bike rack and the tow bars. Unfortunately, it also created a significant weak point precisely at the location experiencing maximum stress – clearly not an optimal design for durability under dynamic loads.

Our Original Double Hitch Receiver Wasn’t Tall Enough

The primary issue was that my old double hitch receiver was not tall enough to accommodate the new rack and the stowed tow bar simultaneously. I used a framing square in this picture to simulate the vertical dimension the bike rack occupied (not all RVers carry one, but I do). There was adequate room to use the tow arms while towing, but insufficient vertical space to stow them properly when disconnected.

Roadmaster Falcon tow bar in stowed position, illustrating insufficient clearance with the original double hitch.

This clearance issue meant I had to purchase a new, taller double hitch receiver to work correctly with my new Swagman bike rack.

Finished setup showing the new taller double hitch receiver providing adequate clearance for the Swagman bike rack and stowed tow bar.

Here is the final configuration with the new, taller double hitch receiver. This upgrade made all the difference in achieving a successful and functional setup. If you are considering a similar arrangement, make sure to check that your double hitch receiver provides sufficient vertical clearance. For those curious about our full towing setup, more information can be found via the link in the “Links” section. Understanding how do you measure the length of a travel trailer or RV can also be important when considering how a rear-mounted bike rack affects overall length, especially for ferry bookings or length restrictions in certain parks.

Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack — Fresh Out of the Box

Components of the new Swagman RV-approved bike rack laid out after unpacking for initial assembly.

After unboxing the Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack, a small amount of pre-assembly was required. This picture shows the parts laid out with the packing materials removed. The tire cradles are visible at the top of the photograph, and the support bracing is at the bottom.

Swagman bike rack installed on the back of a car, transporting bicycles.

Here is our car with the bike rack installed and carrying our bikes. As you can see, the bikes extend slightly beyond the width of the car on both sides. This specific issue is avoided when the rack is mounted on the wider back of the RV.

Self-Securing Connection

Looking at the following picture of our old bike rack and double receiver hitch assembly, you can see a problem we had with the old setup: the bike rack would bounce vertically while in use. To prevent this unwanted movement, I had rigged a solution using a steel plate and a U-bolt with large nuts on top.

Homemade clamp using a plate and U-bolt to prevent movement on the old bike rack connection.

This clamp using a plate and U-bolt with large nuts on top effectively prevented movement between the old bike rack and the hitch receiver. Our new Swagman bike rack, however, is engineered with enough precision that it does not require such a “band-aid” fix. It features a threaded hitch pin specifically designed to prevent movement, rendering my old U-bolt clamp unnecessary. This hitch pin is aptly named a Locking Anti-Rattle Threaded Hitch Pin. Initially, I was skeptical, but it truly works exceptionally well. The absence of this extra clamp also speeds up the process of transferring the rack from the RV to the car.

Loading the Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack

Our current bikes are relatively lightweight (even our new e-bikes after removing battery and seat), so I typically lift them to load them onto the Swagman RV-approved bike rack. For the e-bikes, I remove both the seat and the battery to reduce the weight before lifting. I must admit, the bikes seem to have gotten slightly heavier over the past three years, which might correlate with my increasing age. Swagman does offer an optional ramp designed to allow you to roll your bikes onto the rack instead of lifting them. I am not certain if this specific ramp is compatible with my Dispatch model rack, but the concept is certainly appealing for heavier bikes. A link to the Swagman ramp is provided in the “Links” section.

Swagman ramp

Built-in Locking System

A convenient feature is the lock integrated into the hitch pin, which also serves to lock the bikes onto the rack. One end of the cable is permanently attached to the hitch pin. The other end has a loop that can be routed back and connected to the hitch pin. This single lock can then secure both the bikes to the rack and the bike rack to the vehicle.

To use this feature, thread the cable lock through your bikes, ensuring both ends of the cable are facing forward. Pass the cable’s bolt end through its loop end. Place the bolt end onto the threaded hitch pin and then install the hitch pin lock onto the end of the hitch pin.

Swagman cable lock integrated with the threaded hitch pin for securing bikes and rack.

While the integrated system is good, I personally bolted the cable to the rack permanently and then use a secondary lock to secure the cable around the bikes more effectively. I also use an additional heavy-duty chain and lock wrapped around both bikes for extra security.

Robust Doesn’t Mean Unlimited Weight

I do not know the precise maximum weight capacity of my specific bike rack model. As an informal test, I once placed one of my friend’s extra-long Pedego Cruiser e-bikes onto my Swagman RV-approved bike rack. Due to its significantly longer wheelbase compared to my mountain bikes, I could only fit one of these bikes on the carrier. Considering that his single Pedego also weighs roughly twice as much as one of my standard mountain bikes (even the heavier Wal-Mart variety I started with), I suspect carrying two such extra-heavy cargo e-bikes might exceed the rack’s limit.

Heavy Pedego cargo e-bike loaded onto the bike rack on the back of a car.

This picture shows the Pedego cargo e-bike loaded onto the back of our car. While I don’t know its exact weight, lifting it confirmed it is quite substantial.

A Bike Rack Buying Guide for Your Travel Trailer, RV, Motorhome, or Fifth Wheel

Installing a bike rack on a motorized RV is generally simpler than on a towable RV like a travel trailer or fifth wheel. Bike racks designed for these vehicles typically require attachment to a 2-inch receiver that is solidly connected to the vehicle’s frame. Attaching a receiver to the robust, full-length frame of a motorized RV is usually straightforward. However, the frame on a towable RV often terminates before the rear attachment points, making it difficult or impossible to install a proper frame-mounted receiver without significant fabrication. Repeated dynamic stress is the primary cause of bike rack failures. As mentioned earlier, more than one RVer has unfortunately witnessed their bikes detach and drag on the road behind them.

The Danger of the Travel Trailer Bumper

A critical point that cannot be overstated: Do NOT attach a bike rack to the bumper of a travel trailer. Travel trailer bumpers are designed only for very light, static loads, such as carrying a sewer hose. They are absolutely not built to withstand the dynamic loads associated with the weight of a loaded bike rack. As you drive, the bike rack and its cargo bounce and sway, creating forces far exceeding their static weight. This means that even if your bikes weigh only 100 pounds, the dynamic forces exerted on the bumper while driving can be equivalent to several hundred pounds or more, leading to rapid bumper fatigue and failure.

Close-up view of a bike rack bolted directly onto a travel trailer bumper, a highly insecure mounting method.

This image shows a bike rack attached directly to a travel trailer bumper. The hope is that this setup failed in the owner’s driveway rather than at highway speeds.

A standard travel trailer bumper, typically only suitable for carrying lightweight items like a sewer hose.

A standard travel trailer bumper is typically constructed from thin, square steel tubing and is only reliable for supporting lightweight items such as a sewer hose.

Towable RVs (Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels)

Towable RVs often lack shock absorbers, relying primarily on leaf springs for suspension. While springs handle static weight, shock absorbers are crucial for dampening oscillations and maintaining stability, which benefits both the vehicle and any attached external loads like a bike rack. The absence of shock absorbers on most towable RVs means that road impacts and vibrations are transmitted more directly to the rear of the trailer, increasing the dynamic stress on any rear-mounted bike rack and its attachment point.

Motorized RVs

Motorized RVs typically already have a robust 2-inch hitch receiver, often used for towing a secondary vehicle (like a car). Thus, the component needed to adapt a bike rack for use on a motorized RV is usually a dual hitch receiver adapter. If possible, opt for a dual hitch receiver with a 10-inch rise. This provides ample vertical separation, allowing you to use your tow bar on the lower receiver while mounting the bike rack on the raised upper receiver.

Roadmaster dual hitch receiver adapter, often needed to use a bike rack and tow bar simultaneously on an RV.

This is a Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter, which is often necessary for RVers who want to carry bikes on a hitch-mounted rack while also towing a vehicle.

Motorized RVs with Air-Ride Suspension

Motorized RVs equipped with air-ride suspension offer a significantly smoother ride compared to those with conventional spring suspension. This smoother ride benefits both the occupants and any rear-mounted cargo like a bike rack. The dynamic loads associated with uneven road surfaces will be substantially reduced on an RV with air suspension. The difference in ride quality is comparable to the difference between riding in the back of a school bus (typically leaf springs) and riding on a modern city bus (often air suspension).

Choose an RV-Approved Bike Rack

Based on my experience, I believe Swagman makes some of the best RV-approved bike racks available, though my experience is primarily with their products. My perspective is this: unless a bike rack explicitly states it is “RV-Approved,” how can you be confident the company will stand behind its product when used in the demanding environment at the rear of an RV or travel trailer? Are they intentionally silent on RV compatibility to avoid warranty claims? Conversely, would a reputable company label a bike rack “RV-Approved” if it wasn’t genuinely designed and tested to handle the unique stresses of RV travel? The “RV-Approved” designation provides crucial peace of mind.

Product image of the Swagman RV-approved bike rack.

Ensure the Stinger is Long Enough

The “stinger,” also known as the receiver bar, is the 2-inch square tube that extends from the hitch receiver. On the Swagman rack, this part needs to be sufficiently long to ensure that when the bikes are loaded, they do not contact or interfere with your RV or travel trailer. Adding a dual hitch receiver, as we did, adds approximately eight inches of clearance between the bikes and the RV. If you don’t need a dual hitch setup, it’s generally better not to use one, as it increases the lever arm that the bike rack exerts on the receiver, thereby increasing stress.

Components of the Swagman bike rack, focusing on the heavy-duty stinger (receiver bar) that connects to the hitch.

Ensure the Stinger is Strong Enough

The stinger component on our Swagman RV-approved bike rack is exceptionally strong, which is vital. It must bear the load of two (or more, depending on the rack’s rating) bikes while traveling, absorbing all the dynamic loads caused by the movement of the RV or car. As noted, using a dual hitch increases the leverage on this stinger. If you don’t require a dual hitch, avoid using one, as the added distance increases the stress exerted by the bike rack on the receiver. The greater the distance the bikes are from the vehicle’s hitch receiver, the stronger the stinger must be.

Ensure Your Bike Rack Doesn’t Interfere with Your Tow Car

In our specific setup, where we tow our Subaru behind our RV with the bikes positioned between the two vehicles, we needed a bike rack that mounted high enough on the RV’s rear to avoid interfering with the front of our towed car, particularly during turns or uneven terrain.

Ensure the Bikes Are Carried High Enough

Swagman utilizes a gusset plate in its design to increase the overall height of the bike rack relative to the hitch receiver. Similar to our issue with the RV and tow car clearance, ensuring sufficient ground clearance is essential for RVs and travel trailers even without a towed vehicle. You need enough height to prevent the bike rack from dragging on the ground when driving through dips, over speed bumps, or navigating sloped driveways.

Avoid Hinged Racks

Bike racks with hinges, particularly in the main support structure, are generally not as strong or durable under dynamic RV loads as racks without such hinge points. Choose a rack design that minimizes potential weak points.

Don’t Hang Your Bikes

Bicycles, especially modern e-bikes, can be quite heavy. The weight of the bike should ideally be supported on its wheels, even when on the bike rack. This means a platform-style bike rack is generally preferred over a hanging style. Hanging racks also tend to allow bikes to sway more during travel, increasing the risk of bikes contacting each other or the rack components. Furthermore, hanging racks often don’t work well or at all with step-through bike frames, which lack a horizontal top bar. Even for bikes with top bars, hanging racks require the bar to be relatively flat for proper support.

Example of a hanging style bike rack supporting bikes by their top tubes.

This image shows a typical hanging style bike rack, where bikes are suspended by their top tubes.

Get a Non-Contact Bike Rack

The most advanced and protective bike rack designs feature a system that supports the bikes without any direct contact with the bike frame itself. Instead, these racks use arms or clamps that secure the bikes by their tires. This design is superior for protecting bike frames, especially those made from materials like carbon fiber which can be susceptible to clamping damage. While my current rack is excellent, a non-contact design would be even better for frame protection. Unfortunately, such designs were either not available or I wasn’t fully aware of their advantages when I purchased my rack.

A non-contact platform bike rack design, supporting bicycles by their tires to protect the frame.

On this type of bike rack, the only points of contact between the rack and the bicycle are on the tires, preventing frame damage. If your bikes have fenders, look for a rack design that accommodates them and supports the bikes vertically without resting directly on the tires or fenders.

Get an RV-Approved Bike Rack Rated for E-bikes

E-bikes are significantly heavier than standard bicycles. Even if you don’t currently own e-bikes, you might in the future. Investing in an RV-approved bike rack that is also explicitly rated for the weight of e-bikes provides maximum future-proofing and ensures the rack is built to handle substantial loads. Get the most robust bike rack you can afford by choosing one that is RV-approved and ideally rated for e-bikes.

Consider a Bike Rack with a Loading Ramp

For ease of use, particularly with heavier bikes, why not choose a rack that offers the simplest loading method? I feel a touch of envy when I see someone effortlessly rolling their bikes onto a rack using a ramp, avoiding any heavy lifting.

Using a Swagman ramp to easily load a bicycle onto the bike rack platform.

This image shows the convenience of loading a bike onto a Swagman platform rack using an optional ramp.

Links to Items Mentioned and Used

Two-inch Hitch Receiver for Car

To enable the use of the bike rack on our car (making it easy to take bikes without the RV), we had a 2-inch hitch receiver installed. This isn’t the exact model we used, but it’s a comparable robust option strong enough for our bikes. A specific hitch receiver is needed for your vehicle make and model.

A 2-inch trailer hitch receiver installed on a Subaru Forester.

Subaru Forester 2-Inch Receiver Link: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Subaru/Forester/2017/e98839.html?VehicleID=201769683

Dual Hitch Receiver

Had it been available when I was searching for a new drop hitch (unfortunately, it wasn’t in stock), I would have chosen the Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter with a 10-inch drop/rise. My current dual receiver doesn’t have a full ten inches of rise, and that extra height would have slightly improved our setup.

Roadmaster dual hitch receiver adapter, often needed to use a bike rack and tow bar simultaneously on an RV.

Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver 10″ Drop/Rise Link: https://www.roadmasterinc.com/products/accessories/hitch/dual.php

Our Tow Bar

We use the Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain, Non-Binding Tow Bar on the lower receiver of our dual hitch. This tow bar has performed flawlessly for us when towing our Subaru behind our RV.

Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain Tow Bar Link: https://www.roadmasterinc.com/products/towbars/falconat.php

Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack “Dispatch” Model

We selected the Swagman RV-approved bike rack “Dispatch” model, designed for two standard bikes, for our RV. At the time, we didn’t own e-bikes, and this model was slightly less expensive than those specifically rated for heavier electric bikes.

Product image of the Swagman Dispatch RV-approved bike rack model.

Swagman RV-approved bike rack “Dispatch” model Link: https://www.swagman.net/collections/hitch-mount-racks/products/dispatch-rv-approved

Links to Other Recommended Swagman RV-Approved Bike Racks

Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack “E-Spec” Model

The “E-Spec” model is an even more robust (and more expensive) RV-approved bike rack designed specifically for 2 Electric Bikes. If I were choosing between the “E-Spec” and the “Escapee” model (described next), I would likely choose the “Escapee”. My preference is because the hold-down system on the “Escapee” model contacts only the bikes’ tires, not the frame, offering better frame protection.

Product image of the Swagman E-Spec RV-approved electric bike rack model.

Swagman RV-approved bike rack “E-Spec” model Link: https://www.swagman.net/collections/hitch-mount-racks/products/espec-rv-approved

Swagman RV-Approved Bike Rack “Escapee” Model

Another excellent (and more expensive) bike rack option for RVs is the Swagman RV-approved bike rack “Escapee” model, also for 2 Bikes. A key advantage of this model is that its vertical brace and hooks secure the bikes by their wheels, rather than clamping the frame. This makes it a particularly suitable choice for bikes with delicate frames, such as carbon fiber models.

Product image of the Swagman Escapee RV-approved bike rack, featuring a non-contact design.

Swagman RV-approved bike rack “Escapee” model Link: https://www.swagman.net/collections/hitch-mount-racks/products/escapee

Conclusion

Based on our extensive experience, including a rigorous trip to Alaska, the Swagman RV-approved bike racks have proven their exceptional strength and reliability. Even if you don’t own an RV or travel trailer, I would still recommend considering Swagman RV-approved models for their sheer durability, especially if you carry heavier bikes or frequently travel on uneven roads. Hearing stories of bicycles falling off racks during travel always brings me back to my decision-making process, reinforcing my confidence in choosing a robust, RV-rated solution like the Swagman bike racks. While securing a robust bike rack for travel trailer involves ensuring a frame-mounted receiver, understanding factors like how do you measure the length of a travel trailer adds to overall preparedness for hitting the road safely with your gear.