What Are Bumper RV Bike Racks?
Some travel trailers, pop-up campers, and small RVs don’t have a hitch receiver for an RV bike rack.
You can buy one that clamps onto the bumper like the Towever bumper hitch receiver (click to view on Amazon) and get an RV hitch bike rack, or you can go with a bumper bike rack that clamps directly to the bumper.
RV bumper mount bike racks work well and they are a more basic option when compared to receiver hitch bike racks.
I have a bumper RV bike rack on my travel trailer because I didn’t want to install a hitch receiver, and I needed something that would fit over my spare tire.
It was easy to install and both of our large mountain bikes fit perfectly. So far we’ve been happy with it and had zero issues.
Related Product: Check out the Swagman Bumper Bike Rack (click to view on Amazon) here.
What Are Ladder RV Bike Racks?
Some RVs don’t have a bumper you can clamp a bike rack around, but many motorhomes, travel trailers, and 5th-wheels have ladders.
If you want to use that ladder space, you can get a ladder RV bike rack that hangs from the already installed ladder.
You can even use these to hang chairs and other camping gear from, so there’s a multi-use capability.
You hang your bikes vertically from it, so if you prefer the horizontal way you should go with a bumper mount style or a hitch receiver one.
This is a review of the best bumper and ladder RV bike racks you can get for a motorhome, pop-up camper, 5th-wheel, or travel trailer.
Even if you have a ladder, you may decide on a bumper bike rack. Each kind has its benefits and I’m here to help you decide which is best for you.
Summary (Links to Amazon)
- Best for RVs with Bumper Mounted Spare Tires – Swagman Around The Spare Delux RV Bike Rack
- Best Bumper Mount Platform Style – Swagman Traveler XC2 RV Bike Rack with Bumper Mount Adapter
- Best RV Ladder Bike Rack – Swagman Ladder RV Bike Rack
Best For Spare Tire
Best Platform Style
Best For Ladder
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Bumper Mount RV Bike Racks Reviews & Info
1. Swagman Around The Spare Delux RV Bike Rack
The Swagman spare tire RV bike rack carries up to two bikes and is one of the few around the spare tire bumper mount bike racks for RVs, travel trailers, and pop-up campers on the market today.
It secures bikes horizontally using two anti-sway cradles that use 4 thick rubber straps for each bike.
It mounts around most RV spare tires and fits onto 4 to 4.5-inch steel bumpers. It can carry up to two bikes that weigh up to 30 lbs each.
This is the one I have for my travel trailer. I got it because my spare tire is also mounted to the bumper and it takes up a lot of space.
It didn’t seem possible to put another bike rack next to the spare tire, and Swagman is one of the only companies that make an around the spare RV bike rack.
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It was easy to install and fit around the spare tire like a dream.
There’s plenty of room for our 2 mountain bikes and as an added security, I strap the bikes, the bike rack, and the spare tire together, which makes everything solid and very secure.
I highly recommend the Swagman Around the Spare Delux RV Bike Rack to those who have a bumper with a spare tire mounted to it behind their camper or travel trailer.
It makes it so you can easily see the license plate even with 2 bikes on the back there and it’s not too crowded.
To top it all off, it’s also very budget-friendly.
PROS
- Fits Around Spare Tire
- Can Strap Bikes To Rack & Spare Tire Mount
- Durable Rubber Straps
- Anti-Sway Cradles
- Won’t Scratch Bike Frames
- Fantastic Basic Option
- No Hitch Insert Required
CONS
- Front Bike Tires Need To Be Removed To Fit Right
- May Bend Forward If Bikes Exceed Weight Limit
- Must Remove Entire Bike Rack To Use Spare Tire
2. Quick Products Bumper Mounted RV Bike Rack
Some people dislike the kind of bike rack where you hang the bike from the frame, and I get that.
There are stories of bikes flying off them on the freeway or having their frames dented.
While I think adding a couple of straps is a good way to stop that from happening, sometimes having a platform RV bike rack gives peace of mind.
Normally a platform bike rack, where the bikes stand on something instead of hanging, is the more premium option.
But because we are mounting the RV bike rack to a bumper, Quick Products has made a secure platform bike rack that is very budget-friendly and easy to install.
The way it works is you get two separate steel platforms that mount to a 4-4.5 inch camper bumper.
The cool thing about this RV bike rack is you can change the distance between the platforms, making it custom to your bike’s length.
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Each platform has slots for holding bike tires. One platform has a stabilizer bar you can use to secure the bikes.
The only downside to the slots is fat tire bikes and wheels over 29 inches will not fit in them. Most standard mountain and road bikes will fit fine though.
The platform RV bike rack can carry up to two bikes weighing up to 30 lbs each.
The Quick Products Bumper Mounted RV Bike Rack is an excellent product for RVs with no hitch receiver.
But if you have a spare tire mounted to the bumper like a lot of RVs, travel trailers, and pop-up campers, make sure it won’t be in the way.
You may need to move the spare tire or make adjustments to make it fit.
PROS
- Secure Platform Style
- Can Customize Length
- Fantastic Basic Option
- No Risk Of Denting Bike Frame
- No Hitch Receiver Required
- Front Bike Tired Don’t Need To Be Removed
CONS
- Won’t Work For Fat Tire Bikes
- May Not Work With Bumper Mounted Spare Tire
- Vertical Secure Post Not Padded
3. Swagman Traveler XC2 RV Bike Rack with Bumper Mount Adapter
The Swagman Traveler is technically a platform hitch receiver RV bike rack, but I added it to this bumper mount bike rack review because it comes with a bumper hitch receiver adapter.
It still mounts to an RV bumper, but the bike rack can also be removed simply by pulling a pin like a hitch receiver RV bike rack.
The huge pro to this camper bike rack is you can also use it on your tow vehicle, which comes in handy if you want to take your bikes to a trail or town for exploring.
It’s easier to take bikes on and off of than the simple bumper mount platform RV bike rack reviewed above because it requires no straps and has a better vertical bar and clamp secure system.
There are a lot of features on this RV bike rack that make it user friendly and a fantastic choice for travel trailers or campers.
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First, after you’ve installed the bumper mount hitch receiver, you can take the bike rack off easily.
The stabilizer bar that sticks up in the middle also folds down if you need quick access to rear storage or if it’s blocking the view.
The bumper mount part is compatible with 4-4.5 inch RV bumpers and uses a 2 inch receiver. The receiver is a good size because it’s probably the same size your tow vehicle has.
Once you unhitch your trailer, you can transfer the bike rack to your tow vehicle so you can transport your bikes that way.
The platform’s wheelbase is up to 52 inches, it can take tire widths from 0.5 – 3 inches, and each bike can weigh up to 35 lbs.
The upright arm uses two padded hooks to clamp onto the bike frame for a quick and very secure connection.
The only downside to this platform RV bike rack is the bikes will be close to the back of the camper.
If you have a large rear window, the handlebars of the bikes may bump up against it, which may shatter your window while you’re driving.
This is only a problem for a few kinds of RVs. It shouldn’t be an issue for most people, but it is something to think about if your camper has a rear window.
The Swagman Traveler XC2 RV Bike Rack with Bumper Mount Adapter is very versatile because you can use it on your tow vehicle and the back of your camper.
The vertical secure bars are padded and easier to use than the strap down systems.
All things considered, this really is one of the best RV bike racks you can get for 2 bikes.
PROS
- Safe & Secure Platform Style
- Bumper Mount Hitch Receiver Included
- Can Be Used On Vehicles With 2 Inch Receivers
- Fast & Easy To Use
- High Weight Capacity
- Center Bar Folds Down
CONS
- Doesn’t Fit Well With Bumper Mounted Spare Tires
- May Not Work With Low Rear Windows
RV Ladder Bike Rack Reviews & Info
1. Swagman Ladder RV Bike Rack
Ladder mount RV bike racks are a simple way to go if you have a ladder on your camper.
The Swagman RV ladder bike rack is very simple to install. Just hook it onto your ladder.
The aluminum rack is very lightweight and has two arms that stick out for you to hang your bikes on.
There are two anti-sway rubber cradles for each bike with a rubber strap on them to secure the frame. That’s two rubber secure straps per bike.
The Swagman ladder rack can hold two bikes up to 35 lbs each.
The bikes will hang vertically off the ladder, so make sure you place the rack high enough so the bikes will have space to hang.
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I recommend using a strap or bungee to secure the bikes to the ladder as well for added security. You can never be too careful.
You can also use it to hang chairs and other camping gear, which makes it versatile and multi-functional.
The Swagman Ladder RV Bike Rack is simple to set up, but it can be harder to take bikes on and off because they are mounted higher up.
It saves a lot of space and you can secure bikes to your trailer by using the rest of the ladder as anchor points.
It even works well for campers that have a spare tire on the back.
If you want to turn your RV ladder into a bike rack, the Swagman is one of the best options for RVers out there.
PROS
- Easy Install
- Takes Up Less Space Behind RV
- Works With Rear Mounted Spare Tires
- Lightweight
- Small
CONS
- Low Weight Capacity
- Must Also Strap Bikes To Ladder To Make It Secure Enough
- Must Remove Bikes To Use Ladder
- Low Weight Capacity
2. Camco RV Ladder Bike Rack
Camco also makes an easy to install RV ladder bike rack.
There’s even a handy feature that makes it so you can fold the rack arms up so you can use the ladder while the bike rack is still on it.
It’s a little heavier than the Swagman reviewed above because it’s made of steel and not aluminum.
The steel makes the parts themselves stronger, but the hinge at the elbow used to fold up the arms weakens it slightly.
It can’t handle over 2 bikes weighing 30 lbs each.
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There are two form-fitting rubber cradles for each bike that have a rubber strap. That’s two rubber straps per bike.
The bikes hang vertically from this RV bike rack.
Like the Swagman RV ladder bike rack, you can secure the bikes to the ladder at multiple points for extra security when driving down bumpy roads.
The Camco RV Ladder Mount Bike Rack is another lightweight and basic RV bike rack that saves a lot of space on the back of your trailer or RV.
Taking bikes on and off of it is a little more difficult, but sometimes it’s worth it to save on space and weight.
PROS
- Easy Install
- Takes Up Less Space Behind RV
- Works With Rear Mounted Spare Tires
- Small
- Arms Fold Up
CONS
- Low Weight Capacity
- Must Also Strap Bikes To Ladder To Make It Secure Enough
- Must Remove Bikes To Use Ladder
What To Look For In An RV Bike Rack
Space
Travel trailers and RVs can only be so wide and bikes can fill up that space quickly, especially if you have more than one.
There’s often a spare tire you have to worry about back there too, and don’t forget about the license plate.
Most states require the license plate to be visible on an RV or trailer.
For more info about license plates on recreational vehicles by state, check out this table here.
Number of Bikes
For bumper and ladder mounted RV bike racks, they are usually only for up to 2 bikes.
You can find some for more than just 2, but they normally aren’t very secure.
If you need a bike rack for over 2 bikes, I suggest getting a hitch mount bike rack instead (click here to go to best hitch mount RV bike rack article)
Weight
Weight matters for RVs, campers, and travel trailers.
You don’t want a bike rack to weigh too much and you don’t want your bikes to go over the total weight limit rating.
Most bike racks can take bikes that are 30-35 lbs.
If you have ebikes or just hefty bikes, you may need to get a heavy-duty platform bike rack that has a very high weight capacity.
Just make sure it’s rated to be used on the back of an RV.
Secure Straps
Most of these RV bike racks come with rubber secure straps.
I think just a few rubber straps aren’t enough security for going down a freeway or a bumpy washboard road.
I always take an extra ratchet strap and secure my bikes to the rack and the spare tire.
It also keeps my bikes from swaying and protects the frame of the bike.
Some platform RV bike racks have a heavy-duty hook that clamps down the bike.
These are nice because they are very secure and make it easy to take the bike on and off.
If you don’t want to mess with extra straps or just want to know that your bikes will not fall off a platform bike rack is a good way to go.
Conclusion & My RV Bike Rack Recommendations
There are three basic kinds of RV bike racks out there.
The classic hitch receiver style you can read more about in this article here (click to view), the kind that bolts right to the bumper, and the ones that hang off of the RV ladder.
Deciding on the right style for you mostly depends on what the back of your camper looks like.
If there is a large bumper mounted spare tire back there, you may want to consider getting the around the spare RV bike rack by Swagman.
If your RV has a ladder you want to use, that option is there as well.
If you have lightweight road bikes that dent easily, the platform style might be the safer option.
No matter what your RV bike rack needs are, the good news is there are lots to choose from. Here are my recommendations.
Best RV Bike Rack For Back Spare Tire
Swagman Around the Spare Delux RV Bike Rack
Tons of trailers and campers have a spare tire mounted to the bumper. That’s why the Swagman around the spare RV bike rack is my first recommendation.
It’s easy to install, and it works with the spare tire instead of against it.
The mounting bracket used to secure spare tires to the rear of an RV is usually very heavy duty and is a fantastic anchor to strap your bikes to for extra security.
Because it’s mounted around the spare tire, there’s no risk of the bikes hitting the rear of the camper, which is a big pro if your RV has a large rear window.
Saving space by mounting bikes around the spare tire is genius and it makes this RV bike rack even better for pop-up campers, travel trailers, and 5th-wheels.
I highly recommend it for anyone with a spare tire on the back of their camper.
Best Platform RV Bumper Bike Rack
Swagman Traveler XC2 RV Bike Rack with Bumper Mount Adapter
Sometimes the platform option is the better way to go, especially if you don’t like hanging your bikes for fear of damaging the frame.
The Swagman Traveler has platforms for two bikes and is a fantastic lightweight option.
The main thing that makes this one of the best RV bike racks is the high quality padded lock bars you use to anchor the bikes to the platforms.
It also can be used in a vehicle’s hitch receiver, which really comes in handy because campgrounds can be far from the local towns or mountain bike trails you may want to explore.
Best Ladder RV Bike Rack
The Swagman may not fold up like the Camco, but it’s very easy to remove if you need to move it out of the way.
I like how lightweight it is. Sometimes simple is better, and that’s exactly what this RV ladder bike rack is.
A lot of RVers buy these for more than just bikes.
You can hang chairs, ladders, and other camping gear from them and you can get multiple racks to hang from the same ladder for lots of storage options.
Just make sure you don’t go over the recommended weight limit since it is made of aluminum, which isn’t as strong as steel
Frequently Asked Questions About RV Bike Racks
Are RV ladder bike racks safe?
Like any bike rack, the RV ladder kind is safe, if used correctly.
They often have lower weight capacities than regular bike racks and you need to be careful not to go over what the manufacturer recommends.
One way you can make mounting bikes to an RV ladder bike rack safer is to strap or bungee your bikes to different parts of the ladder as well.
This not only stops them from moving around, it also adds some backup security in case any part of the RV bike rack fails.
Can I put a bike rack on my travel trailer?
Yes, there are many styles of RV bike racks you can put on the back of a travel trailer.
If it has a ladder, there is an RV bike rack for that. If the bumper is strong enough, you can mount one directly to that.
Last but not least, you can also have a hitch insert installed on the frame and use an RV approved hitch receiver bike rack (click here to go to post on the best hitch RV bike racks).
Are hitch mount RV bike racks better?
Hitch mount RV bike racks are normally considered the more premium option when it comes to camper bike racks.
They are nice because they can also be used on the back of your tow vehicle and they are easy to install if your camper already has a hitch receiver.
That being said, they aren’t necessarily better for every kind of camper.
Sometimes a ladder or bumper mount RV bike rack will work better depending on things like the spare tire location, windows, and storage compartments.
Also, not just any hitch mount bike rack will work on the back of an RV.
It has to be an RV approved bike rack since the forces are stronger behind large vehicles and a more heavy duty bike rack is required.
What is the easiest RV bike rack to use?
The platform style RV bike racks with vertical clamp bars are the easiest and fasted to use.
Most of them don’t require any extra straps and the hitch receiver ones can be removed quickly by releasing a pin.
How much weight can an RV bumper hold?
Trying to figure out how much an RV or trailer bumper can hold is often a topic for discussion since not many RV manufacturers give out exact information.
The general consensus seems to be 150 lbs on 4 by 4 inch RV bumpers, but some ultra light travel trailers have bumpers that are not made to take any weight at all.
The best thing to do is to look at how the bumper on your RV is connected to the frame.
If it has thick steel and good welds, chances are it will be able to handle a few bikes.
Make sure you test it before you start driving. You don’t want to end up dragging your bikes and bumper down the road.
Have questions about RV bike racks? Leave a comment below.
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