What Style Of Bike Rack For Pop Up Campers Is Best?
Pop up campers are known for their lightweight and short height, which makes them very easy to tow with all kinds of vehicles.
But there are still a few things you need to think about when loading them up with bikes to go camping.
Related Product: Ditch the crank and use a drill to set up your camper using a Slotted Drill Attachment for Pop-Up Campers & Scissor Jacks (click to view on Amazon)
Most of them are just single axle trailers, which means trailer sway is still a possibility when loaded wrong.
You want to make sure the front is loaded heavy enough so the tongue weight is 10-15% of the pop up campers’ total weight.
Also many pop up campers don’t have a back bumper which is what a lot of RV bike racks attach to.
For these two reasons, the best kind of bike rack for a pop up camper isn’t going to be a rear one.
With that being said if your pop up camper has a hitch receiver on the back and you want to put a hitch RV bike rack (click to go to review) on it make sure you balance out the weight of the bikes with something heavy in the front.
See Also: The 5 Things You Must Do When A Trailer Starts To Sway
In this review, I’m going to go over some of the best pop up camper bike racks that are mounted in front of the camper’s axle. This includes roof mount bike racks and trailer tongue bike racks.
If you are towing with a truck you can get a truck bed tailgate bike pad like this (click to view on Amazon) but this review will focus on bike racks that will hold the bikes on the pop up camper.
At the end of this article, I’ve also included a cool do-it-yourself idea for a pop up camper bike rack.
Last update on 2023-06-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Bike Rack For Pop Up Camper Reviews
1. Swagman Roamer RV Cross Bars
Probably the simplest way to tow your bikes around on a tent trailer or pop up camper is to just add cross bars onto the roof.
The Swagman Roamer RV cross bars are rated for RV use. They measure 84 inches across but they can be cut shorter to fit any width of pop up camper.
They can hold anything from bikes to kayaks so long as the total weight of the items don’t go over 75 lbs.
The side brackets use a rubber pad that sits between the roof and the metal to protect it. There are bolts included as well as instructions.
Many pop up camper roofs are made with thin sheets of plywood and fiberglass.
If you bolt the cross bars to just the plywood and fiberglass roof the connection may not be secure enough to hold bikes when you start towing.
Make sure you are getting the screws into either a roof support or the metal trim that is commonly found around the inside edges of a tent trailer’s roof.
See Also: Best Weight Distribution Hitches With Sway Control
If the screws go all the way through the roof and stick out the other side you can add some blocks of wood or metal to better anchor the cross bars to the camper roof.
After getting the cross bars installed you can now add a roof mount bike rack like the Swagman Fork Mount Rooftop Bike Carrier (click to view on Amazon) or the Swagman Upright Roof Mount Bike Rack (click to view on Amazon).
The cross bars are compatible with most roof mount bike racks and the upside to this style of bike rack is if your tow vehicle has cross bars you can transfer the bike racks from the pop up camper to your vehicle.
The Swagman Roamer RV Cross Bars are technically not a bike rack but it’s a step in the right direction to getting a bike rack for your pop up camper.
Many pop up campers come with cross bars pre-installed. In that case, you can check out the linked to roof mount bike racks or see the Yakima one reviewed below.
The only downside to this style of bike rack for a pop up camper is you will need to load and unload the bikes before setting up the camper.
The upside is they are completely out of the way and won’t cause any issues when turning while towing the pop up camper.
PROS
- Can Be For More Than Just Bikes
- Lightweight
- Keeps Bikes Out Of The Way When Towing
- Good For More Than Two Bikes
CONS
- No Bike Rack Included
- Bikes Must Be Removed To Set Up Camper
- Must Drill Holes In Camper Roof
2. Futura GP RV Trailer Tongue Bike Rack
If you don’t want to put holes in the roof of your pop up camper another popular option is to use a trailer tongue bike rack like the Futura GP.
This RV bike rack comes with a steel stand that bolts to the frame of your pop up campers tongue hitch. The frame will raise the bike rack 26 inches from the frame which is enough to sit over most standard camper propane tanks.
The frame can fit trailer tongues that have steel tube widths from 2 to 6 inches.
The bike rack part is made of aluminum with steel bike tire holders. It’s basically a platform style hitch mount bike rack that uses tire trays and padded bars to hold bikes by the frame.
From end to end the bike rack measures 67 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and 38 inches tall from the center support bar.
It can hold up to two bikes that weigh no more than 40 lbs each.
The entire platform bike rack weighs only 23 lbs which is incredibly light for a bike rack.
See Also: Best Folding Camping Tables (All Types Reviewed)
The way this works is the trailer frame has what’s basically a hitch receiver on it. The trailer frame raises the hitch so the bike rack can be installed over the propane tanks and out of harm’s way.
The aluminum bike rack can be transferred from the trailer frame to the hitch receiver on your vehicle when you aren’t towing your pop up camper.
It’s the perfect two bike racks in one solution for cyclists who want to leave their camper at the campsite and transfer bikes somewhere else.
The Futura GP RV Trailer Tongue Bike Rack is a safe way to transport your bikes on your pop up camper without having to mess with the roof at all.
The weight of the bikes will be on the tongue which is better for towing and you can see your bikes the entire time you’re driving.
It’s also a safer, cleaner spot for bikes since they are higher up and away from whatever your trailer tires kick up from the road.
The only downside to using this trailer tongue bike rack with a pop up camper is they will be sitting above the roof of the camper and the bike rack will need to be removed before you can slide out the bed that hangs over the hitch.
It can also be difficult for larger vehicles like suburbans to make sharp turns because the tall sides might hitch the edges of the bike rack. This is only a problem with large SUV’s and trucks with shells.
PROS
- Bikes Weight Is On The Tongue Of Camper
- Can Be Used As Hitch Bike Rack On Vehicle
- Safer Location For Bikes
- Easy To Install
- No Holes On Roof Required
CONS
- Not Super Compatible With Large SUVs
- Bikes Must Be Removed To Set Up Camper
- Only For 2 Bikes
3. Let’s Go Aero Trailer Tongue Bike Rack
The Let’s Go Aero trailer tongue bike rack is another way to transport bikes on your pop up camper without having to put them on the roof.
It’s similar to the Futura bike rack because it comes with a trailer stand that is mounted to the tongue of a pop up camper or travel trailer.
Unlike the Futura, the trailer stand mounts over the tongue jack instead of over the propane tank. it uses a mounting plate instead of long U-bolts to secure to the trailer tongue.
A support bar is then added to the frame mount that moves the bike rack back towards the trailer and away from the tow vehicle so it still has room to turn and maneuver.
The bike rack part is two bars that stick up vertically creating a “V” shape. On both sides of the arms, there are two cradles that stick out you use to hang the bikes from.
There is also foam on the bars themselves to help protect the frames of the bikes.
The concept is the same as with a standard hang mount bike rack but the bars stick up instead of out.
See Also: Best Propane Camping Stoves – From Small To Large
The bike frames are then secured to the cradles with rubber straps.
It’s definitely like no bike rack you’ve ever seen but it’s very effective, saves space, and it’s compatible with most styles of bikes.
The trailer tongue bike rack can hold up to two bikes weighing up to 40 lbs each.
The trailer tongue frame is 22.5 inches tall, the support bar that angles the bike rack back towards the camper is around 7 inches tall, and the bike rack itself is a little over 31 inches tall.
When put together the entire height is 60 3/8 tall and 46 3/4 wide when the arms are fully extended. All of the parts together only weigh 36 lbs.
The Let’s Go Aero Trailer Tongue Bike Rack is an awesome way to go if you like hanging bike racks.
It’s lighter than the platform style trailer tongue bike rack but it can’t be transferred to a tow vehicle.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Easy Set Up
- Bikes Weight Is On The Tongue Of Camper
- Safer Location For Bikes
- No Holes On Roof Required
CONS
- Can’t Be Transferred To Tow Vehicle
- Only 2 Bikes
- Not Compatible With All Bike Frames
4. Stromberg Carlson Bike Bunk
If you already have a hitch mount bike rack and you like the idea of being able to put it over the tongue of your pop up camper instead of on the back.
You can also get just the frame/reciever part that mounts to the tongue instead of having to get an entire bike rack/trailer frame combo like the two bike racks reviewed above.
The Stromberg Carlson Bike Bunk is a steel stand with a 2 inch receiver on it. It is compatible with any hitch mount bike rack like the ones in this review (click to go to article).
The way it works is there’s a base that clamps around the frame of the trailer on the tongue.
All of the hardware is included and it can fit widths from 14 to 55 inches which gives you the freedom to choose the location of it on the tongue of the trailer.
The clamps can fit frame tubes that are up to 6 inches wide.
See Also: Best Pop Up Screen Tents & Camping Shelters
The side bars will raise the cross bar with the hitch receiver on it about 36 inches which is enough to clear the propane tanks on a pop up camper and get your bikes up and out of the way for towing.
The bike bunk can support up to 100 lbs so make sure the weight of your hitch mount bike rack and the bikes doesn’t go over the weight capacity.
The frame weighs only 15 lbs.
The Stromberg Carlson Bike Bunk is a fantastic option for pop up camper owners who already have a hitch mount bike rack that they want to use with their camper.
It will keep the bikes on the front of the trailer which stops the weight from being all the way in the back and it’s a safer way to transport bikes on a tent trailer.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Bikes Weight Is On The Tongue Of Camper
- Safer Location For Bikes
- No Holes On Roof Required
- Can Be Used With Most Hitch Mount Bike Racks
CONS
- No Bike Rack Included
- Bikes Must Be Removed To Set Up Camper
- Not Super Compatible With Large SUVs
5. YAKIMA Front Loader Roof Bike Rack
The Yakima Front Loader roof bike rack is not specifically for a pop up camper or trailer but I wanted to add it to this review as another option for transporting bikes when camping.
If your pop up camper has cross bars on the roof or you install the Swagman Roamer RV Cross Bars (click to view on Amazon) the Yakima should be compatible with them.
I’m also reviewing it as an option for the roof of your tow vehicle as well.
From what I’ve seen, most pop up camper owners prefer to put their bikes on the roof of the tow vehicle to keep the weight of the camper down and to allow them to transport their bikes when the camper isn’t hooked up.
Yakima makes some of the best bike racks on the market today and the Front Loader is a great overall choice that is compatible with most bikes.
It can fit bikes with wheels that are 20 to 29 inches wide and up to 3 inches thick.
See Also: Best Portable Power Station/Solar Generator For Camping
Using universal clamps it can attach to round, square, or flat aerodynamic cross bars that are mounted with 16 to 48 inches between them.
The roof bike rack uses two bars to secure the front tire. There’s a back “U” bar that holds the back of the front tire and an adjustable front “U” bar that has a moving clamp on it to secure the tire between the two bars.
The back uses a strong zip-strap to keep the back tire in place. The back clamp can be moved to fit different sizes of bike frames.
Each roof mount bike rack is made for one bike but you can add multiple racks to cross bars. Each rack weighs only 18 lbs and can hold bikes up to 40 lbs securely.
The YAKIMA Front Loader Roof Bike Rack is definitely on the higher end as far as bike racks for pop up campers go but it’s a safe and easy to use option if your tow vehicle or pop up camper has cross bars.
PROS
- Universal Clamps To Fit Most Kinds Of Cross Bars
- No Frame Contact (Clamps To Tires)
- Lightweight
CONS
- For 1 Bike Only
- Requires Cross Bars On Either Camper Or Vehicle
My Choice For Best Pop Up Camper Bike Rack
Since all of the bike racks for pop up campers in this review are so different it’s hard to pick one as the best overall.
It mostly depends on what kind of tow vehicle you are using and where you want the bikes to be stored.
The crossbars are a great choice if you need to bring more than two bikes with you camping or if you don’t already have a hitch mount bike rack.
The roof mount bike rack is an excellent option if you don’t think transporting bikes on your pop up camper is a good option. But it takes a lot of work to lift bikes on top of an SUV or car.
See Also: Best Portable Quiet Inverter Generators For RV Camping
The trailer tongue bikes racks are probably the most creative option and one of the better choices if you are towing with a truck or small SUV. They aren’t the best choice for larger SUVs like Suburbans or Expeditions.
Hopefully, this review has helped you decide on what style of bike rack is going to be the best option for your pop up camper.
Bikes are awesome to have when camping and you shouldn’t have to leave them home just because your RV doesn’t have space inside for them or there’s no way to add a bike rack to the back.
DIY Bike Rack For Pop Up Camper
If none of the bike racks for pop up campers in this review are for you there is another do-it-yourself option you can try if you like to build things yourself.
Note this is just an idea for how to transport bikes on your pop up camper. It’s not an actual bike rack and if you decide to build one it’s at your own risk.
This bike rack incorporates a very simple design that uses some wooden 2×4 boards and MBP Alloy Quick Release Fork Mount Bike Blocks (click to view on Amazon).
All you have to do is cut a 2×4 down to size so it fits the width of the roof of your tent trailer.
You then take about 4-6 6 inch pieces of 2×4 and screw them to the bottom of the main board so it’s sitting on “feet”.
You can also add pieces of a rubber mat like this (click to view on Amazon) between the wooden “feet” and the roof to help protect it.
You then install the fork mount bike blocks to the top of the 2×4. The number you want to add is up to you but just make sure they are spaced enough to allow room for the handlebars of the bikes.
You can now secure the homemade pop up camper bike rack to the roof near the front.
You can secure it to the roof by either screwing it in permanently or using a long ratchet strap to wrap around the rack and the entire pop up camper.
You will also need a few more extra long ratchet straps to go around the back tires of the bikes and the frames.
You’ll have to measure the circumference of your pop up camper and add the height of the bikes and bike rack to know exactly how long the straps need to be but somewhere between 30 to 40 feet long should be more than enough (click to view extra long ratchet straps on Amazon).
Make sure the bikes are strapped down tight at multiple points so they will not slide around.
This will put some pressure on the roof of your pop up camper.
For pictures and more info on how to make a bike rack for a pop up camper check out this forum post here.
We take no responsibility for any damages to bikes, campers, or others from this DIY bike rack for pop up campers.
Have any more questions about bike racks for pop up campers? Leave a comment below.
