crott
Full Member
I just bought a 2500 Av (not for hauling 20 lb bicycles), and would like to know if anyone has figured out a simple way to haul bikes on the bed covers (seems like a natural).
crott said:I just bought a 2500 Av (not for hauling 20 lb bicycles), and would like to know if anyone has figured out a simple way to haul bikes on the bed covers (seems like a natural).
Hmm... just thought of a "gotcha" to my reverse mounted bikes idea as I was reading your post. The sail panels should keep the bike's back tire from sliding sideways off the top of the bed covers, but what's to stop the bike from flipping over completely? Granted, that may take a huge gust, but driving at 70 with the wind blasting the underside of the bike seat I wouldn't rule it out completely (another good reason to remove the seat before mounting this way). Depending on how long your bike is the back tire MIGHT actually be under the top of the sail panel and not able to flip up, but that's worth checking ahead of time. Better to be safe than to have a bike flip over and plant it's handle-bars firmly in the back of my tailgate.crott said:That said, an appealing feature of mounting the forks on the back is that the rear wheels on the bike can't go too far, even if they come "un-bungeed".
You'll still have access to the bed with the cross-bars on, I'm leaving just enough room under them to accomodate for how much the bedcover raises when you remove it (not much actually). So you'll be able to remove or replace the bed covers as much as you like without removing the cross-bars if that works best for you.Y-Guy said:How would you remove the cross bars? That is a key issue for me, I still need access to the bed.
Any details you can provide on Yakima/Thule racks and mounting requirements would be great since I have none of those. Pictures and web links are useful, and if you live in the area even better.Off to a great start if you ask me, if I can lend a hand let me know I have a couple styles of Yakima racks for bikes and my ski racks too.
The brackets will be bent so that they don't "rest" on the gaskets. We want the mounting point to carry the load, not the gaskets. Good point though, and I'll make sure that the gaskets aren't flexed so water tightness isn't compromised.kodio said:My only concern would be the front supports that attach under the drain. It looks as if the arm for the support would be sitting on top of the gasket for the hard top. How would this affect water tightness?