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Best Hitch Mount RV Bike Rack (Travel Trailer & Camper) 2024

What RV Hitch Bike Rack Should I Get For My Camper?

You want to bring your bike on the next camping trip, but where do you put it?

I’ve seen some people just throw their bikes into their travel trailer or RV and head off. But once the bike is used and covered in dust or mud, that method doesn’t seem so great.

Related Product: Protect your bikes during travel with a Team Obsidian Transport Bike Cover (click to view on Amazon)

You aren’t allowed to use just any hitch bike rack behind a camper or trailer. It has to be rated for RV use.

Because of how long RVs are, a lot of force is being put on the back with every bump and turn. Regular bike racks aren’t made to hold up against that extra pressure.

RV approved bike racks usually have a lot thicker parts and a more sturdy design to make up for the added force.

If you put a regular bike rack on the back of your RV, it could end up sagging forward and eventually break off. That’s why you should get an RV bike rack.

Luckily, there are RV approved hitch mount bike racks that can go in the hitch receiver behind your RV or travel trailer.

In this review, I’ll go over some of the best hitch RV bike racks out there that are made for RV use.

The bike racks that go in RV hitch receivers range from upright hanging racks to platform style.

I’ve also included some RV bike racks you can mount over the propane tanks on the front of a travel trailer.

Sometimes that style works better for travel trailers with large back windows.

If none of these are exactly what you are looking for you can check out the best ladder and bumper mounted RV bike racks in this article here (click to view).

Summary (Links to Amazon)

Best Hanging
YAKIMA - LongHaul Premium Hitch Bike Rack for RV and Travel-Trailer, 4...
HYPERAX Fuse Series - Upright RV Approved 4 Bike Hitch Rack - 2 inch...
Best Platform
Swagman DISPATCH RV Approved Hitch Mount Bike Rack, Black
Tow Tuff 62 Inch 500 Pound Capacity Steel Cargo Carrier Trailer Car or...
Best Front Mounted
Futura GP RV Bike Rack for Travel Trailer Tongue A-Frame Bike Rack...
Let's Go Aero - 429756 Jack-It Double Bike Carrier System
Number of Bikes
1 – 4
1- 4
1 – 2
4
2
2
Style
Hanging
Hanging
Platform
Platform
Platform
Hanging
Bike Rack Weight
32 lbs
28 lbs
54 lbs
62 lbs
36 lbs
25 lbs
Integrated Bike Lock
Max Weight For Each Bike
37.5 lbs
45 lbs
45 lbs
125 lbs
45 lbs
40 lbs

Best Hanging

YAKIMA - LongHaul Premium Hitch Bike Rack for RV and Travel-Trailer, 4...
Number of Bikes
1 – 4
Style
Hanging
Bike Rack Weight
32 lbs
Integrated Bike Lock
Max Weight For Each Bike
37.5 lbs
HYPERAX Fuse Series - Upright RV Approved 4 Bike Hitch Rack - 2 inch...
Number of Bikes
1- 4
Style
Hanging
Bike Rack Weight
28 lbs
Integrated Bike Lock
Max Weight For Each Bike
45 lbs

Best Platform

Swagman DISPATCH RV Approved Hitch Mount Bike Rack, Black
Number of Bikes
1 – 2
Style
Platform
Bike Rack Weight
54 lbs
Integrated Bike Lock
Max Weight For Each Bike
45 lbs
Tow Tuff 62 Inch 500 Pound Capacity Steel Cargo Carrier Trailer Car or...
Number of Bikes
4
Style
Platform
Bike Rack Weight
62 lbs
Integrated Bike Lock
Max Weight For Each Bike
125 lbs

Best Front Mounted

Futura GP RV Bike Rack for Travel Trailer Tongue A-Frame Bike Rack...
Number of Bikes
2
Style
Platform
Bike Rack Weight
36 lbs
Integrated Bike Lock
Max Weight For Each Bike
45 lbs
Let's Go Aero - 429756 Jack-It Double Bike Carrier System
Number of Bikes
2
Style
Hanging
Bike Rack Weight
25 lbs
Integrated Bike Lock
Max Weight For Each Bike
40 lbs

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Hitch Receiver RV Bike Racks Reviews & Info

1. Yakima Long Haul Hanging RV Bike Rack

YAKIMA - LongHaul Premium Hitch Bike Rack for RV and Travel-Trailer, 4...

Check Price at Amazon

Yakima is a big name in the bike industry. Its products are known for their quality, durability, and design.

The Long Haul is an RV approved hitch bike rack built to withstand bumps, highway speeds, and miles of rough roads.

The rack can hold up to 4 bikes that are secured using Yakima designed SuperCush Zipstrip cradles.

There is also an integrated anti-sway cradle for use when the rack is filled with bikes.

See Also: RV Truck & Trailer Towing Capacity – How Much Can I Tow?

As a special feature, Yakima has placed a bottle opener at the end of both arms. The hitch fits 2 inch receivers.

The arms of the RV hitch bike rack fold down so you won’t accidentally run into them when not in use.

There is also an SKS cable for locking the rack to the hitch and an integrated cable lock to secure the bikes to the rack.

The RV bike rack weighs 32 lbs and can carry 4 bikes weighing up to 37.5 lbs each.

That’s 182 lbs total the RV bike rack can weigh loaded down.

YAKIMA - LongHaul Premium Hitch Bike Rack for RV and Travel-Trailer, 4...

The Yakima Long Haul RV Hitch Bike Rack is the best of the best when it comes to this style of hitch bike rack for campers.

There are also platform RV bike racks available, but if you like the simple hanging style that can fit a lot of bikes, Yakima is the way to go.

PROS

  • RV Approved
  • Holds 4 Bikes
  • Arms Fold Down
  • Bottle Opener On Arms
  • Integrated Bike & Hitch Locks
  • Anti Sway Cradles

CONS

  • May Dent Thin Bike Frames
  • Requires Frame Mounted Hitch Receiver

2. Hyperax Hanging RV Bike Rack

HYPERAX Fuse Series - Upright RV Approved 4 Bike Hitch Rack - 2 inch...

Check Price at Amazon

Hyperax makes a simple, budget friendly hanging RV bike rack that’s rated to be used behind campers and trailers.

It’s not as fancy as some of the other options in this review, but if it’s used right, it’s a great way to bring up to 4 bikes on your next camping trip.

Each bike spot has rubber cradles that are made to fit different sizes of bike frames perfectly. Each cradle has a simple strap to anchor the bike.

The RV bike rack weighs a very manageable 28 lbs. Being lightweight is one reason to choose a hanging bike rack over a platform one.

Platform bike racks are very heavy and can easily put your hitch receiver over its weight rating.

See Also: 6 Best Oversized Camping Moon Chairs For RV Campers

The Hyperax can take individual bike weights up to 45 lbs and a total of 180 lbs.

Add the weight of the RV bike rack to the total weight capacity to get a 225 lbs total weight.

Make sure your hitch receiver is rated to hold at least 250 lbs if you are going to use this hitch bike rack.

The hitch part fits 2 inch receivers. There’s a 1/2 inch locking pin and a steel cable to secure you bikes included with purchase.

Like most hanging bike racks, the arms can fold down and out of the way.

The Hyperax RV Hitch Bike Rack is a fantastic option for RVers who mostly bring two bikes camping, but want the ability to bring more if necessary.

If you always bring 4 bikes and you travel a lot, you may want to get something a little more heavy duty.

PROS

  • RV Approved
  • Lightweight
  • 4 Bike Capacity
  • High Bike Weight Capacity
  • Arms Fold Down
  • Bike & Hitch Lock Included

CONS

  • May Dent Thin Bike Frames
  • Requires Frame Mounted Hitch Receiver
  • Flimsy Anchor Straps
  • No Bike Sway Feature

3. Swagman Dispatch Platform RV Bike Rack

Swagman DISPATCH RV Approved Hitch Mount Bike Rack, Black

Check Price at Amazon

Swagman makes a few RV specific bike racks and products. The Dispatch is one of their best.

It’s a heavy-duty RV approved platform bike rack that weighs 54 lbs on its own and can carry up to 2 bikes weighing as much as 45 lbs each.

That means the entire set-up can weigh as much as 144 lbs.

Because of the overall weight, I suggest using this with a frame mounted receiver instead of a bumper mounted one.

It fits 2-inch hitch receivers and a locking pin is included to lock the rack to the camper.

There are also locking straps to lock the bikes to the rack.

See Also: The 5 Things You Must Do When A Trailer Starts To Sway

The wheel trays can slide to adjust to the length of different bike frames and can take wheel sizes from 16-29 inches.

There are ratchet straps to secure the wheels to the trays as well as adjustable padded hook clamps to secure the bike frames.

The vertical bar used to secure the bikes folds down in case it’s blocking the view from a rear window or to make the rear of the trailer more accessible

Swagman DISPATCH RV Approved Hitch Mount Bike Rack, Black

The Swagman RV Dispatch Hitch Bike Rack is a high-quality platform style bike rack.

It’s perfect for those of you who prefer the peace of mind that comes with having bikes sitting on a platform instead of hanging by their frames.

It’s also easier to fit bikes with oddly shaped frames.

The Swagman is very adjustable to fit most bikes and it’s fast and easy to take them on and off.

The only downside is it can only carry two bikes and the rack itself is a little heavy.

PROS

  • RV Approved
  • Adjustable Length Wheel Trays
  • Integrated Hitch & Bike Locks
  • Vertical Bar Folds
  • Secure Straps Wheels
  • Padded Clamps For Frame
  • High Weight Capacity

CONS

  • Heavy
  • Only Fits 2 Bikes
  • Requires Frame Mounted Hitch Receiver

4. Tow Tuff Bike Rack Cargo Carrier

Tow Tuff 62 Inch 500 Pound Capacity Steel Cargo Carrier Trailer Car or...

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The Tow Tuff cargo carrier is a cool idea for campers because it’s a cargo rack and a bike rack with a very high weight capacity of 500 lbs.

It weighs 62 lbs on its own and if you’re planning on loading it down you are going to want to use a frame mounted 2 inch hitch receiver and not a bumper mount one.

The carrier is 27 inches long 62 inches wide and has a 3 inch lip. The extensions for holding bike wheels are removable.

It’s great for camping because you can put a couple of bikes on it, then load the space leftover with wood or anything else you might need.

See Also: Best Portable Quiet Inverter Generators For RV Camping

The RV bike rack part can carry up to 4 bikes. If you have heavy E-bikes this is a good option. A tie-down strap is included with purchase.

Tow Tuff 62 Inch 500 Pound Capacity Steel Cargo Carrier Trailer Car or...

The Tow Tuff Cargo Carrier with Bike Rack isn’t technically an RV-approved bike rack but that’s because it’s not just a bike rack.

The heavy-duty build of it can withstand being behind a trailer or RV, just make sure the bikes are strapped down extra tight.

The only downside to this style is there’s more risk of the bikes rubbing together as there is no vertical bar to sit between them.

It’s also very heavy even when there isn’t anything loaded onto it.

PROS

  • Can Carry Cargo & Bikes
  • 500 lbs Weight Capacity
  • Heavy-Duty

CONS

  • Heavy
  • Requires Frame Mounted Hitch Receiver
  • No Vertical Bar For Securing Bikes

5. Futura GP Travel Trailer Bike Rack

Futura GP RV Bike Rack for Travel Trailer Tongue A-Frame Bike Rack...

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This RV-approved platform bike rack is something special.

It only works if you have a bumper or tongue pull travel trailer which makes it unusable for 5th-wheel, van, and motorhome users, but the concept behind it is pretty genius.

Instead of letting your bikes bounce around on the back of your trailer, you can use this kit to mount them on the tongue over the propane tanks instead.

To top it all off, you can transfer it from your trailer to your tow vehicle’s 2 inch hitch receiver and use it as a regular hitch bike rack.

It comes with a 26 inch tall frame that clamps to the A-frame or tongue of the trailer.

The frame sits over the propane tanks and has a receiver on the top you slide the rack into.

See Also: Best Weight Distribution Hitches With Sway Control

Storing your bikes in front of the trailer not only keeps your bikes safer it also helps with towing.

Having more weight up front makes bumper pull trailers more stable.

The platform hitch mount bike rack is lightweight and made of aluminum.

It has rubber-coated hooks to secure the bikes to the rack and the vertical bar can fold down.

It is compatible with almost all bikes and is 69 inches wide. It can take bike wheels from 20-30 inches and tire widths up to 2.5 inches.

Futura GP RV Bike Rack for Travel Trailer Tongue A-Frame Bike Rack...

Things that are not included with this RV bike rack are safety cables and hitch pins.

The is a great product for travel trailer owners and a fantastic idea for expensive bikes.

You can see them the entire time you are driving and they don’t get bounced around near as much.

To top it all off you have a very lightweight bike rack for your vehicle when you aren’t using your travel trailer.

PROS

  • RV Approved
  • Can See Bikes While Towing
  • Has Hitch Receiver For Vehicles
  • Lightweight
  • Pad-Lockable
  • High Weight Capacity
  • No Hitch Receiver Required

CONS

  • Creates More Wind Resistance
  • Must Be Able to Lift Bikes High

6. Let’s Go Aero Travel Trailer Bike Rack

Let's Go Aero - 429756 Jack-It Double Bike Carrier System

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If you really like the type of RV bike rack that goes on the front of a travel trailer, but you want a more lightweight option than the one reviewed above, the Let’s Go Aero might be just what you’re looking for.

The Let’s Go Aero is a hanging bike rack that fits perfectly on the A-frame of a travel trailer.

It has enough clearance to go over propane tanks and its made to fit over electric front jacks.

The design is very simple. There’s the main frame, they call it the Jack-It,  that mounts to the travel trailer via the front trailer jack bolts.

To install the bottom frame you will need to remove the front trailer jack first, then you put on the Jack-It frame, followed by the tongue jack.

This makes it so you don’t need to drill any new holes, and the trailer jack is actually protected by the bike rack.

There are a few features your travel trailer jack must have to use this RV bike rack.

First, it needs to be small enough to fit inside the Jack-It mounting frame.

It’s made specifically to fit a Lippert Power Jack (click to view on Amazon).

So long as your travel trailer jack is similar to the Lippert, the Let’s Go Aero RV bike rack should be compatible.

If you don’t have an electric jack, now is a good time to install one!

But if you want to keep using the manual jack, the crank has to be facing out, not sideways.

If it’s a side crank this RV bike rack will not work.

Once the frame is installed, the arms of the handing bike rack can be put on top of it.

The bike rack part has cradles on each side to fit two bikes. There are also some anchor straps towards the bottom that will keep the bikes from swaying.

All the straps are the nice rubber kind.

On each arm there are cushions placed strategically to keep it from scratching or damaging the bike frames.

The entire RV bike rack weighs 25 lbs. It can hold up to 80 lbs, two 40 lbs bikes.

As far as design goes, this is one of the best travel trailer bike racks out there.

Even though it’s a simple hanging bike rack, the Let’s Go Aero Travel Trailer Bike Rack has enough straps and padding to keep your bikes safe and secure.

It might be a little difficult to get your bikes up there, especially if you’re hitched to your trailer.

But if you are able to lift your bikes onto a tall hanger, this is a fantastic way to bring bikes camping.

PROS

  • RV Approved
  • Can See Bikes While Towing
  • Lightweight
  • No Hitch Receiver Required
  • Very Secure Straps
  • Easy Install Over Jack

CONS

  • Creates More Wind Resistance
  • Must Be Able to Lift Bikes High
  • Only for Travel Trailer
Hitch RV bike rack on the back of a camper by a lake
Hitch RV bike racks are secure, durable, and can be used on regular vehicles as well.

What To Look For In A Hitch RV Bike Rack

Hitch Receiver Tongue Weight Rating

All hitch receivers are rated to take a certain amount of weight directly on them.

They can pull thousands of pounds, but weight that’s actually on the receiver won’t be that much.

Most frame mounted hitches will be fine with any size of hitch mount bike rack or cargo carrier but it’s always a good idea to check.

Bumper mounted hitch receivers like this (click to view on Amazon) have a much lower tongue weight capacity because they are not mounted directly to the frame.

The bumper on a camper is also not made to carry very much weight.

It’s difficult to find the exact weight capacity of a 4 by 4 inch RV bumper but not going over 150 lbs seems to be what most RVers say.

It’s unsafe to overload hitch receivers and bumpers because they can bend or break while driving.

Make sure you do your research and know how much weight the receiver can take before you load it up.

For more information about tongue weight capacity check out this article.

Individual Bike Weight Limit

If your bike rack has a weight limit of up to 37.5 lbs per bike and it can take up to 4 bikes, that doesn’t mean you can put one bike weighing 60 lbs on the rack, even though it can take up to 150 lbs of bikes.

The bike rack is engineered to take 150 lbs of distributed weight, that’s why the individual bike weight is important.

Total Weight

When choosing an RV bike rack make sure your hitch receiver can take the weight of the bike rack plus the weight of all the bikes it can carry put together.

Most of the bike racks in this review plus all the bikes they can carry doesn’t go over 200 lbs. Except for the cargo rack that can be well over 500 lbs if loaded down to full capacity.

Having a hitch with a tongue weight rating of 350 lbs should be plenty.

RV Approved

Not every hitch mount bike rack will work on an RV, travel trailer, or pop-up camper.

Bike racks on the backs of trailers and RVs take a lot more of a beating and have more force pressed on them than those behind a car or truck.

Because of this, you need to buy a bike rack rated to go on the back of an RV.

If you buy just any old bike rack it may start to wear and bend after a short amount of time and the company will often void the warranty.

It’s safer to buy an RV-approved bike rack than risk dragging your bikes down the road.

Anti-Sway

Platform style RV hitch bike racks don’t have the same problem as the hanging kind of bike rack with bikes rubbing together while the vehicle is in motion.

Higher-end bike racks, like the best options in this review, have extra cradles and straps in place to stop bikes from swinging around and damaging each other.

Ultra-lightweight road bicycles can get dents in them just from bikes rubbing together on the rack.

Bikes on the back of an RV or travel trailer bounce around even more than when they are on the back of a car or truck.

It’s a concern and something to think about when buying an RV bike rack.

travel trailer with rv bike rack on the back in a campground
An RV bike rack is a great place to store bikes in a campground.

Conclusion & My RV Bike Rack Recommendations

RV bike racks that go into hitch receivers are often the more premium option and for good reason.

They are made with sturdy parts and are mostly made by reputable companies.

The best thing about hitch RV bike racks is they can also be used on any vehicle that has a hitch receiver.

They are multi-use and a great investment for campers who love to ride bikes.

See Also: Best Portable Power Station/Solar Generator For Camping

YAKIMA - LongHaul Premium Hitch Bike Rack for RV and Travel-Trailer, 4...

Best Hanging RV Bike Rack – Yakima Long Haul RV Hitch Bike Rack

Yakima makes amazing, high quality bike racks. There aren’t many companies that compare.

It’s lucky for RVers that they make an RV approved one.

The Yakima Long Haul RV bike rack can hold up to 4 bikes, has lots of space for each.

It uses strong ratcheting straps, and there are locks on it for the bikes and the rack.

It’s going to be the perfect hitch RV bike rack for both your camper and vehicle.

Swagman DISPATCH RV Approved Hitch Mount Bike Rack, Black

Best Platform RV Bike Rack – Swagman Dispatch RV Hitch Bike Rack

There’s only one traditional platform style hitch bike rack in this review that is RV approved and luckily it’s one of the best.

The Swagman Dispatch has fully adjustable wheel trays, strong but gentle frame clamps, and extra wheel straps for added security.

The rack is built with durable materials that will hold up against anything you put your camper through.

It’s not only a fantastic choice for regular bikes but with a 45 lbs weight capacity for each one, it may also be a great choice for smaller E-bikes.

Futura GP RV Bike Rack for Travel Trailer Tongue A-Frame Bike Rack...

Best Travel Trailer Bike Rack – Futura GP Travel Trailer Tongue Bike Rack

The Futura GP RV bike rack is not only made to store bikes in front of a travel trailer above the propane tanks, it’s also a hitch bike rack you can put on any vehicle with a receiver.

The great thing about transporting your bikes in the front of your trailer is they have less pressure being put on them from bumps and hills and you can see them from the cab.

It’s a huge bonus if you to worry about your bikes while driving.

This over propane tanks bike rack is built to last with anti-rust aluminum that is durable but lightweight.

It’s the secure and easy to use platform style most people prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions About RV Hitch Bike Racks

Are hitch RV bike racks better than RV bumper mounted ones?

Normally the hitch bike racks are the more premium option when it comes to RV bike racks.

They are nice because you can use them behind both a camper and a car or truck.

Are they going to be the best options for you?

That depends on a couple of things, the main one being does your camper have a hitch receiver?

If it doesn’t and you don’t want to install one there are other options like the front travel trailer bike rack in this review or bumper and ladder mount RV bike racks you can read about in this article here (click to view).

How do I choose a hitch receiver for my RV bike rack?

There are two kinds of hitch receivers you can get for RV bike racks.

The heavy duty kind that are mounted to the frame of the camper or one that bolts around the bumper.

The bumper style has more limitations than the frame mount kind.

You should never put more than 150 lbs of weight on a 4 by 4 inch RV bumper.

That means if you want a heavy RV bike rack that can hold more than two bikes, you may want to consider getting a frame mounted hitch receiver with a tongue weight rating of at least 300 lbs.

What is the easiest RV hitch bike rack to use?

The platform style like the Swagman Dispatch RV Hitch Bike Rack are the easiest to get your bike on and off of.

The only downside to them is they often weigh more than a regular bike rack.

If you are planning on leaving your RV bike rack on the back at all times this won’t be a big issue.

If you’ll need to move your RV hitch bike rack around, a lighter style like the Yakima Long Haul RV Hitch Bike Rack will be easier remove, but it takes a little more time to put bikes on.

Have questions about hitch RV bike racks? Leave a comment below.

by Jesse
Jesse has always had an interest in camping, technology, and the outdoors. Who knew that growing up in a small town in Sweden with endless forests and lakes would do that to you?

1 thought on “Best Hitch Mount RV Bike Rack (Travel Trailer & Camper) 2024”

  1. I’m using Saris 3 trunk rack to carry three bicycles on a 4-door Toyota Corolla.
    After my last ride, I found out that the trunk door wasn’t fitting the trunk well, and was actually shifted by about 1 inch from where it is supposed to be. The repairman claimed that the arm carrying the trunk door has slightly changed shape because of the weight of the bicycle, and recommended not to use such carrier anymore.

    Have you heard of a similar case before? I’m carrying three reasonable-weight bicycle, all hard tail, no electronics.

    I love using the Saris trunk rack, and would like to find solutions to allow me to use that.
    My repairman suggested using a single bar roof rack, and mount the top straps or the Saris rack to it, such that the major weight moment will not hit the trunk door’s arm anymore.

    Reply

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