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Dual hitch receivers

What is the general consensus on these dual hitch receiver's? I need to find a way to carry two bicycles with us and I would prefer to not put the rack on the toad. Are there any gotchas that I need to be aware of, besides the extra foot or so That it adds to my overall length?
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #1 –
The added length of the tube is a multipler for the loads to your hitch. Max capacity for tongue weight should be reduced. Always prudent to stay as short as possible. Will also affect side loading stresses during very tight turns. Light toad and normal bicycles will probably be within limits but will need more frequent hitch stress inspections. IMO
Scott
FYI I too plan to add a extension to my coach to haul motorcycles but plan to add two more receiver mount points to reduce loads on coach hitch. Probably will disallow pulling toad for me.
Scott

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #2 –
Clearance to the engine hatch to open it with or without bicycles needs to be checked.

We looked at doing it this way. We opted for a Küat bike rack mounted to the back of the Jeep, easy to remove if we need to, allows us to take our bikes to where we want to ride.  Either way you need a bike rack.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #3 –

Personally I don't like bike racks. They are rickety and always in the way. I put the back seat down in my Xterra, remove both wheels from the bike and lay it in. Then put a folded moving blanket on top of it and place another bike on top. Another moving blanket and then put the wheels on top. If the area if really tight you can remove the pedals for more clearance. Buy a Park Tools pedal wrench if do this.

Park Tool Pedal Wrench

Bikes are out of the weather and out of sight. The Xterra has tinted windows all the way around.

Yes it's a little bit of a pain to pack up & put back together but I've been doing it for 10 years now and I'm getting pretty good at removing & putting wheels on. :)

DWMYH

see ya
ken

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The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #4 –
I've used the dual hitch.  It is what it is. No problems. Used to pull something or insert a step for slide in camper. 
Freightliner MT55 w 24 ft box
All aluminum.

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #5 –
What about a roof rack on your toad?
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #6 –
I've used one for several years now on our U320, no issues... Towing a small Fiat, doesn't leave many options to carry the bikes on the toad as the bikes obstruct completely the tail lights on the toad. 

This one clears the engine hatch, so we can open and check fluids, etc.

We use a bag cover and a stretch cargo net over the bag to reduce size and wind wear when underway. When camping,, at the end of the day we just hang the bikes back up, secure and cover. Keeps them dry and off the ground out of the way.

Jeff
Jeff & Kristen
2002 U320 build #6039
Living the Dream!

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #7 –
I store my bike in the basement and the basement is so wide I don't have to remove the wheels.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #8 –
Like Roger said, with that dual receiver installed, you won't be able to open the engine hatch.  PIA to remove it to check oil, etc.  Woody.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #9 –
Thanks guys, storing inside the toad or in a bay isn't viable for us as full timers. I don't want to block the rear hatch on the toad, and I don't want to block access to the engine bay or block the ladder either so it seems as though I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. Someone needs to invent a rack that can be affixed to the back of the rig to the left of the ladder.

I don't want to put them on top of the toad either because that's a huge pain to get on off and the reality is that they spend most of their life on the racks.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #10 –
Can you put them on the front?
Frank & Connie Williams
1999 U320 '36
Build: 5466
MC: 18335

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Phranko –
Can you put them on the front?
In truth, that is really the only option that satisfies all my requirements. They're just so.... ewwww
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #12 –
Elliott,
On the front is where we hang our bikes, had a cover made for them by a nice lady who makes photography umbrellas. When we had boats we always put a hitch on the front, it's a lot easier to put a boat in the water when you can see it. IMHO
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #13 –
Quote from: oldguy –
I store my bike in the basement and the basement is so wide I don't have to remove the wheels.
Jealous! After ten years on the road to fit a piece of paper in my bay I have to throw something out!  :)

see ya
ken 
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #14 –
All GVs have twin hitch receivers just inside the removable panels close to the fog lights. Easy to make a very stable bicycle rack or for that matter, a small motorcycle rack. They didn't space them far enough apart to be able to get a spare tire up inside but they will support a lot of weight. I remember another GV gave us the air horns coming the other way with two bikes up front.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #15 –
I had a rear bike hitch that would fold down. It was mounted on a hitch extender
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon
 

Re: Dual hitch receivers

Reply #16 –
The dual receiver did not work on my coach (couldn't get engine cover up). Like Roger, we have a Kuat (Transfer 2) with a Kuat Pivot 2. Expensive, but it allows us to swing the bike rack out of the way when getting into the pickup bed. It also will fold up to reduce our footprint if we leave the bike at camp when we go into town. The Kuat Transfer 2 is rated for use behind a RV and ebikes, has handled some rough roads with pickup. It also accommodates a wide variety of tire widths. I had a different style and nearly lost an ebike. My inexpensive rack almost became very expensive. When it comes to heavy bikes, rough roads and full time travel, I eventually decided that the Kuat was worth the money. I don't have coach storage for a bike and my wife has a recumbent bike that lives in the pickup along with my kayak and fishing gear and a Clam Quickset Screen shelter.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.