While watching your video I noticed that when you installed the bike rack to your receiver on the RV you installed the locking bolt correctly but you installed the lock washer incorrectly. The washer goes on 1st and then the lock washer goes on. The lock washer always goes against the head of the bolt never ever ever the way you installed it. Check your video and you will see what I am talking about.
Thanks for the question. It does not add more bounce. I do want to point out though the rack is very beefy and has held together very well. It is important to get an RV approved Rack.
If the entire bike rack is bolted on (where you attached it in the beginning) what's the point of having a lock on the hitch? All someone has to do is unbolt the bolts and take your entire rack with bikes on it. Shoot! What am I missing?
Your are missing nothing. LOL. Keeping the honest, honest I guess. The lock is so no one takes the hitch lock pin. We throw a cable lock around the bikes to the bumper to slow someone down. The biggest deterrent is to keep the bikes covered so no one will know what you have. Thanks for the comment.
Great Video - a few questions - 1 is it still RV Rated if you add a hitch extension? 2 Any reason for the Roadmaster hitch extension? I have a Curt hitch extension and was wondering if there was a reason or just the one available to you. Looking at the Escape and the E-Spec. Thank You
Very good question and I struggled with that myself with the hitch extension. To answer the second question first, I went with Roadmaster because they are heavy duty with fantastic welds. And because it is heavy duty, there is no wiggle or loss of strength. Bare in mind that we are only using it for two 30 lb bicycles and not ebikes which are heavier. Knock on wood, all has been great. The reason that the rack is RV approved is that the materials making up the rack are overdesigned to take the bouncing of an RV. The extension really does not effect the rack. You just have to make sure the hitch extension does not wobble. I use the silent hitch pin for both the extension and the rack. No wobble for me. Thanks for the questions.
@@RMAGarage Thank You very much - my bikes are fat tire bikes but only 40 lbs each going on a 30’ Travel Trailer with a 2” factor installed receiver. I had a feeling on the extender Curt is made in China yours made in the USA 👍
I@@RMAGarage I spoke with someone today at Swagman and asked about adding an extention and the response was do not do it if you are hauling ebikes. It seems fine on yours since you don't have the added weight. So I am in the process of waiting for an ebike that weighs about 52 lbs and trying to find the proper bike rack for my RV. I am also concerned about the steering wheel hitting the side of the RV. I will have to put the bike on the furthest bike holder. My regular mountain bike will be right up against the RV if I bring that one too. This is so upsetting to find out there's not much to choose from when hauling ebikes on an RV. Why call it RV capable but it's really not if your handlebars are hitting the RV? Makes no sense.
Tim, I have to say that after a second look I agree with your logic. I do not have e-bikes but what I understand, they can get pretty heavy. With the rack having a combined maximum weight of 60lbs, I would think on one e-bike would be the limit. We bought the rack to just our regular bikes which does the job fine. Thanks for the comment.
My Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay C70 is 51lbs. I think it's a "heavier than average" rating for most e-bikes. EDIT: It's 60lbs x2 unlike the combined weight of 60lbs that was mentioned as tomhessey3534 said.
I looked up the specs for the bike rack and it is only rated for 60 lbs per bike. That means that your bikes would be too heavy for the rack. Thanks for the comment
Something seems a bit odd as we have the same bike rack that we use on the back of our Grand Design Solitude 5th wheel RV. Our bike handles do not come at all close to the back of the RV and our bikes sit vertical but yours are leaning towards the RV which may be why the handlebars are touching. Is it possible you put the bike rack back together wrong after you sowed it away?
@@RMAGarage I have this same exact bike rack and I agree that the bike rack is put together correctly in your video. I do not know why swagman has the rack angled to tilt the bikes to the front of the vehicle, or in my case it tilts to the rear tailgate on my pickup truck. I have even contemplated reworking mine to make it sit level.
I think the tire Ratchet hook must be positioned adjacent to fork. Otherwise the bike may fall off during travel.
That is correct. As a tip, we use a rag between the fork and ratchet so not to scratch the fork. Thanks for the comment.
While watching your video I noticed that when you installed the bike rack to your receiver on the RV you installed the locking bolt correctly but you installed the lock washer incorrectly. The washer goes on 1st and then the lock washer goes on. The lock washer always goes against the head of the bolt never ever ever the way you installed it. Check your video and you will see what I am talking about.
You are so right. I missed that. Thanks for the comment.
When you add the extension, does that give you more bounce in the back?
Thanks for the question. It does not add more bounce. I do want to point out though the rack is very beefy and has held together very well. It is important to get an RV approved Rack.
If the entire bike rack is bolted on (where you attached it in the beginning) what's the point of having a lock on the hitch? All someone has to do is unbolt the bolts and take your entire rack with bikes on it. Shoot! What am I missing?
Your are missing nothing. LOL. Keeping the honest, honest I guess. The lock is so no one takes the hitch lock pin. We throw a cable lock around the bikes to the bumper to slow someone down. The biggest deterrent is to keep the bikes covered so no one will know what you have. Thanks for the comment.
Great Video - a few questions - 1 is it still RV Rated if you add a hitch extension? 2 Any reason for the Roadmaster hitch extension? I have a Curt hitch extension and was wondering if there was a reason or just the one available to you. Looking at the Escape and the E-Spec. Thank You
Very good question and I struggled with that myself with the hitch extension. To answer the second question first, I went with Roadmaster because they are heavy duty with fantastic welds. And because it is heavy duty, there is no wiggle or loss of strength. Bare in mind that we are only using it for two 30 lb bicycles and not ebikes which are heavier. Knock on wood, all has been great. The reason that the rack is RV approved is that the materials making up the rack are overdesigned to take the bouncing of an RV. The extension really does not effect the rack. You just have to make sure the hitch extension does not wobble. I use the silent hitch pin for both the extension and the rack. No wobble for me. Thanks for the questions.
@@RMAGarage Thank You very much - my bikes are fat tire bikes but only 40 lbs each going on a 30’ Travel Trailer with a 2” factor installed receiver. I had a feeling on the extender Curt is made in China yours made in the USA 👍
I@@RMAGarage I spoke with someone today at Swagman and asked about adding an extention and the response was do not do it if you are hauling ebikes. It seems fine on yours since you don't have the added weight. So I am in the process of waiting for an ebike that weighs about 52 lbs and trying to find the proper bike rack for my RV. I am also concerned about the steering wheel hitting the side of the RV. I will have to put the bike on the furthest bike holder. My regular mountain bike will be right up against the RV if I bring that one too. This is so upsetting to find out there's not much to choose from when hauling ebikes on an RV. Why call it RV capable but it's really not if your handlebars are hitting the RV? Makes no sense.
Thanks for the information and I agree, the selection is slim.
How can this be ebike approved if recomended weight per bike is 60lbs.
Tim, I have to say that after a second look I agree with your logic. I do not have e-bikes but what I understand, they can get pretty heavy. With the rack having a combined maximum weight of 60lbs, I would think on one e-bike would be the limit. We bought the rack to just our regular bikes which does the job fine. Thanks for the comment.
@@RMAGarage The Swagman Escapee is Swagman’s most versatile RV-approved bike rack. It carries 2 bikes up to 60 lb each, making it ebike approved.
@@tomhessey3534The E Spec is rated at 80 lbs per bike but goes down by about 25% with the extension as per Swagman.
My Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay C70 is 51lbs. I think it's a "heavier than average" rating for most e-bikes.
EDIT: It's 60lbs x2 unlike the combined weight of 60lbs that was mentioned as tomhessey3534 said.
Great review. Now almost a year later, would your review be just as positive or have you had any issues along the way?
No Issues with the rack. Still loving it and holding up great.
Can this bike rack be used for efat tire bike 26x4. Each bike 74 lbs x 2?
I looked up the specs for the bike rack and it is only rated for 60 lbs per bike. That means that your bikes would be too heavy for the rack. Thanks for the comment
Why didn't you just loosen the handle bar bolt and turn the handle bar away from the trailer?
We are hard core bikers and do not like to constantly adjusting the bars. We like to leave it just the way we like it.
Something seems a bit odd as we have the same bike rack that we use on the back of our Grand Design Solitude 5th wheel RV. Our bike handles do not come at all close to the back of the RV and our bikes sit vertical but yours are leaning towards the RV which may be why the handlebars are touching. Is it possible you put the bike rack back together wrong after you sowed it away?
Not sure....but I will look into it. My wife actually put it together. Don't tell her I said that.
@@RMAGarage I have this same exact bike rack and I agree that the bike rack is put together correctly in your video. I do not know why swagman has the rack angled to tilt the bikes to the front of the vehicle, or in my case it tilts to the rear tailgate on my pickup truck. I have even contemplated reworking mine to make it sit level.
@@tomhessey3534 Thanks for the comment and for watching.
Maybe your handlebars aren't as long as his on his bike or maybe your hitch sticks further out from your Rv than his does.
I was wondering about a hitch extension just so you could get in the back storage door. I used a swagman 4 bike hitch to carry my dogs exercise pens
Just make sure you buy name brand. There welds are better.