Bike Carrier

What ever rack you go with- just make sure when it's loaded it doesn't obscure the number plate. The constabulary are having a field day booking people with the plate obscured..
It's OK to have a smaller' copy' placed visible at the rear of the rack..

I have a Rhino which carries 4 bikes. Plenty of adjustment and appears heavy duty enough. I am pretty sure Rhino's stuff is pretty good. I also have a rhino roof rack which has served me well. I have had it on the back of the camper trailer with 4 bikes on it bouncing around and wobbling and its been fine.
Scott

unko,

ive been using all types of racks for a while now. i have a few options and use the most suitable on the day. i carry them on the car (front wheel off rola fittings) - on the jayco eagle (same rola style on jayco rack) in addition to that - i sometimes put bikes on tow bar style rack - either with a reece style bike rack - or the rack bolted under the tow ball to enable me to tow.

the roof top rola racks on the car are best suited to low vehicles - unless you carry a step ladder. they are sturdy (i most often carry 2-4 adult mountain bikes). you also need to store the front wheels somewhere (i strap each front wheel to the bike)
the roof top method increases drag - especially with 4 bikes.

my jayco eagle rack requires a step ladder to put them on - and i have to unload them before winding up the camper if i want to use the bikes.

the tow ball rack is my least favourite method as the bikes get dirty and they restrict access into the back of my car. Ill use it when im not on dirt roads.

i have been using the front wheel off - roof type rack for 13 years now and have not had any troubles at all.

if you want to indulge yourself all the different configurations of bike racks. go to the yakima website (US site) they have thought of everything.

good luck.

Are you looking for hitch mounted, roof mounted or to go somewhere else on your camper?

Here is a picture of a Rhino Swagman XP, it's the one we used and adapted to our camper... (ebay ad because this site won't allow the word bleep in to lad the photo directly). I chose the Swagman because I own some expensive MTB's and they have sloping top tubes etc, so it's adjustable for that to carry the bikes with the wheels level.

Camper with swagman bike rack

Also for tow bar style carriers which are very sturdy check out www.gripsport.com.au he's a local Aussie manufarturer, not cheap but comparable to other bike carriers of the same style (Thule T2 for example).

Thule is another brand I would be happy to go with, they have a big range from ones to strap to the back of your boot, to roof mount to tow bar style.

If the number plate thing is an issue, I'm pretty sure in most cases it's acceptable to make your own smaller version - or you can actually buy a miniature version of yours for about $30.

In the end it really depends what your bikes are worth and what style of carrier you are looking for, when you consider which rack you want and how much you're willing to spend.