Bike Rack for the Overlander

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SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr said:
Yours looks great for a receiver mounted one. I went a different route as my Northshore would have been way to high to mount into a receiver hitch on one of my swing outs. I just built a new one to haul a couple bikes on my swing out within the past several days.

This that bolts into the base of my cooler basket and then holds two Yakima highrollers.

From the ground to the bottom I have 40" of clearance.
View attachment 1605856

I also trimmed down the long edges and plan to add a trailer light set up for it as it sticks out ~40" from my taillight at its furthest point.

View attachment 1605859

My only worry is the strength of the highrollers holding the bikes. I've heard from some people that they have held bikes using highrollers in the same manner, but even my Northshore has developed a good amount of play around the pins.
Click to expand...

That looks great, man! Is that going to be your DD bike rack or are you still going to use the Northshore for when you have 2+ bikes on the back?

Your last comment, though - you worry about the strength of the highrollers holding the bikes and the play that your Northshore developed. Can you elaborate on that? Where do you feel is going to be the weak point of the Yakima?

Jack
 
Yeah pretty much. A lot of the time I haul my bike and maybe 1 more. Any more and it's usually my friend's truck or my Northshore but with 1-2 bikes, the Northshore is a little overkill and getting into the back of the cruiser is quite the process.

The Northshore, on every point that contains a pin, has wallowed out and I'm going to have to recut some new plates for it to replace those that wallowed.

In regards to the highroller, I don't necessarily like how the tire isn't held down from the top. I could see them maybe popping out. I've also read that a plastic gear is what keeps it all ratcheted into place. If that's true, I see that being a big problem. Before I do much with this rack, I'm going to throw on a heavy beater bike and torture test it on some chunky and wash board filled roads.
 
SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr said:
Yeah pretty much. A lot of the time I haul my bike and maybe 1 more. Any more and it's usually my friend's truck or my Northshore but with 1-2 bikes, the Northshore is a little overkill and getting into the back of the cruiser is quite the process.

The Northshore, on every point that contains a pin, has wallowed out and I'm going to have to recut some new plates for it to replace those that wallowed.

In regards to the highroller, I don't necessarily like how the tire isn't held down from the top. I could see them maybe popping out. I've also read that a plastic gear is what keeps it all ratcheted into place. If that's true, I see that being a big problem. Before I do much with this rack, I'm going to throw on a heavy beater bike and torture test it on some chunky and wash board filled roads.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input - once you do some plating (or bigger pins), I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on how they hold up. Same with the Yakima and going down some washboard roads.
 
rockstate45 said:
Hey everyone, the last couple years have been great to get to know the Cruiser and do some great trips in. I've decided I want to add another element to overlanding trips by bringing a mountain bike with me.

I've done some searching on Google and here and came up with a few ideas but want to hear yours and see your pics.

For the record, I've got a Labs rear bumper. It's a single, full length swingout with a 35" spare on the DS and a hi-lift behind it. Passenger side of the spindle will get 10 gallons of fuel on custom carrier.

Options include doing something hitch mounted (and beefy), something using the center of the tire carrier, or even the fuel carrier.

So, what are you guys doing to keep your bike up off the ground and retain decent departure angles (or at least protect the bike)?
Click to expand...
iSi in Australia seems tough to beat.
 
A great alternative to a rack is a Montague paratrooper elite I bought a paratrooper pro (999) and put all the best parts on it, they weigh nothing and are strong as hell

montague-paratrooper-elite-5.jpg


paratrooper-highline-open-sm.jpg
 
spazzyfry123 said:
Curious how this has held up for you over the years. How has the height of the bike been? I’m considering similar with my 1Up.
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It’s held up well over the years without failure. As with anything, there are some pros and cons. This is the way I see it:

- spindle held the weight up fine.
- the swing out arm flexes quite a bit when both open and closed. While closed, you can see a decent bit of motion on the bike that isn’t there if it’s in a standard hitch
- the rack I have is quite heavy. Couple that with a 35” tall tire and a basket for fluids and it’s a lot.
-I drilled two holes vertically in the swing out. Water gets in there, not sure if there’s a way around this if you want something modular.
- there’s a balance of keeping the rack close to the vehicle. As a result, “mine” can’t close with the tire on there. You’ll be taking the rack on and off each time you need to. Too long and you’re putting more leverage on the swing out and putting yourself past 4’ from the bumper (this is specific to my rack, not other smaller racks)

Overall it served its purpose but I would suggest finding a way to use the hitch in the bumper for the day to day stuff. The height was especially nice for clearing driveways and things with my setup.

On the height, i can have the bike on the rack and back into my neighbor’s driveway. When it’s in the hitch on my hundred and folded, it scrapes going up the same driveway. Putting the bike on there isn’t super hard and clearance overhead is fine 99% of the time.
 
rockstate45 said:
It’s held up well over the years without failure. As with anything, there are some pros and cons. This is the way I see it:

- spindle held the weight up fine.
- the swing out arm flexes quite a bit when both open and closed. While closed, you can see a decent bit of motion on the bike that isn’t there if it’s in a standard hitch
- the rack I have is quite heavy. Couple that with a 35” tall tire and a basket for fluids and it’s a lot.
-I drilled two holes vertically in the swing out. Water gets in there, not sure if there’s a way around this if you want something modular.
- there’s a balance of keeping the rack close to the vehicle. As a result, “mine” can’t close with the tire on there. You’ll be taking the rack on and off each time you need to. Too long and you’re putting more leverage on the swing out and putting yourself past 4’ from the bumper (this is specific to my rack, not other smaller racks)

Overall it served its purpose but I would suggest finding a way to use the hitch in the bumper for the day to day stuff. The height was especially nice for clearing driveways and things with my setup.

On the height, i can have the bike on the rack and back into my neighbor’s driveway. When it’s in the hitch on my hundred and folded, it scrapes going up the same driveway. Putting the bike on there isn’t super hard and clearance overhead is fine 99% of the time.
Click to expand...

I can dig it. I'm trying to come up with a better way to use the existing 2" receiver in my spare swing out on my ARB. I originally made a few modifications and used a pintle mount with my 1UP directly attached. It works. But my bike is a mile off the truck. Plus it's a pain to mount as the bike keeps wanting to fall - I used Velcro to strap the front wheel in place, but I've lost probably half a dozen of those things and it's getting old.

1627393062288.png


I'd love to just use the receiver that's build into the bumper, but that'll get old with the swing out, and there's no way that I'll lug my bike around on the trails at that point - it'll be a diving board hanging off the back.

I think I'll just need to get the rack back horizontal as intended. Some type of bar coming off the spare receiver for the tray to mount to, but a little lower. Ultimately looking something like what you've got.

1627393277696.png


RE: Height. Do you have any issues with it being above the roofline? How about the sides? We hit some tight trails.
 
TXBruiser said:
Have you considered the 4x4labs bike rack that holds 2 bikes verticle? I just interchange between my bike rack and jerry can holder.
Click to expand...
I have checked out the labs swing out but I wouldn't want to remove my can carrier is the only thing
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
You need to go no further than Luke at 4x4 labs. I have a friend that lives out of his 80 series and carries two bike on a carrier built by Luke. Off road test for the last several years without issue.
Click to expand...
Only thing is I need my can carrier :(
 
spazzyfry123 said:
I can dig it. I'm trying to come up with a better way to use the existing 2" receiver in my spare swing out on my ARB. I originally made a few modifications and used a pintle mount with my 1UP directly attached. It works. But my bike is a mile off the truck. Plus it's a pain to mount as the bike keeps wanting to fall - I used Velcro to strap the front wheel in place, but I've lost probably half a dozen of those things and it's getting old.

View attachment 2742856

I'd love to just use the receiver that's build into the bumper, but that'll get old with the swing out, and there's no way that I'll lug my bike around on the trails at that point - it'll be a diving board hanging off the back.

I think I'll just need to get the rack back horizontal as intended. Some type of bar coming off the spare receiver for the tray to mount to, but a little lower. Ultimately looking something like what you've got.

View attachment 2742863

RE: Height. Do you have any issues with it being above the roofline? How about the sides? We hit some tight trails.
Click to expand...
That's a pretty creative solution you have back there. I wonder if fabricating something either from the hitch area or the spare tire area will bring your bike more center and horizontal like you're looking to accomplish. I'd look to incorporate some sort of "anti rattle" deal so you're not wallowing the existing holes. From down below, maybe you have something that comes out, angles up, and then back (like a Z of sorts). If the 1up has the ability to swing "down," maybe you can incorporate that into your design so it's out of the way of the swingout.

As to roofline, I wouldn't go any higher than where my bike sat (I caught it on a very soft "low clearance" deal in a parking garage) so it probably sits a few inches above the roofline. My bike also was longer than the body is wide by a few inches. In very tight quarters where you're turning, you may have an issue (you've added another several feet to the back). All the same - this isn't really going to be an issue unless you're in really dense forested areas. For the majority of the time keeping the bike centered in the back area of the vehicle should be just fine.

I'd snag a picture but my swingout is currently sitting in the basement awaiting a regrease...
 
rockstate45 said:
That's a pretty creative solution you have back there. I wonder if fabricating something either from the hitch area or the spare tire area will bring your bike more center and horizontal like you're looking to accomplish. I'd look to incorporate some sort of "anti rattle" deal so you're not wallowing the existing holes. From down below, maybe you have something that comes out, angles up, and then back (like a Z of sorts). If the 1up has the ability to swing "down," maybe you can incorporate that into your design so it's out of the way of the swingout.

As to roofline, I wouldn't go any higher than where my bike sat (I caught it on a very soft "low clearance" deal in a parking garage) so it probably sits a few inches above the roofline. My bike also was longer than the body is wide by a few inches. In very tight quarters where you're turning, you may have an issue (you've added another several feet to the back). All the same - this isn't really going to be an issue unless you're in really dense forested areas. For the majority of the time keeping the bike centered in the back area of the vehicle should be just fine.

I'd snag a picture but my swingout is currently sitting in the basement awaiting a regrease...
Click to expand...

I've actually got the roof rack variant of the 1UP that uses T-slot instead of a "fixed" mount to a swinging hitch mount. I had originally planned for the "normal" hitch mount 1UP, but I just couldn't commit to such a terrible departure angle.

It's funny you mentioned the "Z". I had considered the same, but it looks like material and excessive geometry would be cost-prohibitive with some back-of-the-envelope math. Too much going on to keep the fork/bottom bracket/rear derailleur/etc. off the support frame - I want to be able to use it in either direction and for all my bikes.

I'm leaning towards retaining the sideways-mounted pintle mount I have and welding this blue contraption to it. Yellow plane represents center of the truck and blue/red plane intersection being center point of spare wheel. Don't need the 1UP mounts to be symmetrical with the full-length T-slot. (I've drilled out a larger vertical receiver pin hole on the swingout to anticipate a locking pin - only direction it will fit with the lug position on the spare wheel)

1627414775339.png


1627414958556.png


Install the feet perpendicular from "usual"

1627415117793.png


and sandwich them around the bar stock.

1627415080252.png


Hope this doesn't cost a fortune...

I'll have to do some measurements for width. We definitely hit very dense stuff. I'd imagine those areas I probably won't be bringing the bike, though. It's a soupy mess down here.
 
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