RV bike rack guide
How to carry bikes with a travel trailer: 4 options
Where the bikes can go when you tow a travel trailer, which options manufacturers support, and what to check before the first trip.
A travel trailer is the hardest place to carry bikes. Of 74 checked racks, 39 are explicitly excluded on travel trailers and only 25 have manufacturer support. There are four realistic places to put the bikes, and each has its own rules.
Option 1: a rack on the trailer’s rear receiver
Use only a rack whose maker explicitly covers travel trailers. The rear of a bumper-pull trailer sits far behind its axles, and many makers that allow motorhome use still exclude it. These are the strongest current records:
| Rack | Status | RV per-bike limit | Conditions listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima LongHaul | Manufacturer supported | 37.5 lb per bike | 4 |
| Swagman Traveler XC2 | Manufacturer supported | 35 lb per bike | 4 |
| Let's Go Aero Jack-IT TS A-Frame | Manufacturer supported | No separate RV limit published | 2 |
| Let's Go Aero V-Lectric VFR | Manufacturer supported | No separate RV limit published | 2 |
| Let's Go Aero V-Lectric 3.0 | Manufacturer supported | No separate RV limit published | 3 |
| Let's Go Aero V-Lectric FAT PRO | Manufacturer supported | No separate RV limit published | 3 |
| Swagman Trailhead 4 RV | Manufacturer supported | No separate RV limit published | 3 |
| Swagman Dispatch | Manufacturer supported | No separate RV limit published | 4 |
| Küat Piston ION | Supported with conditions | 80 lb per bike | 5 |
| Swagman E-Spec Pro | Supported with conditions | 70 lb per bike | 3 |
See every travel-trailer record.
Option 2: an A-frame (tongue) carrier
Carriers mounted on the trailer’s A-frame keep the bikes between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Their weight adds to the trailer’s tongue weight, so include the bikes and carrier when you check tongue weight and the hitch rating, and confirm clearance for tight turns.
- Let's Go Aero Jack-IT TS A-Frame — travel trailer: Manufacturer supported
Option 3: a bumper-mounted carrier
RV bumpers are not all built to carry load. Bumper carriers are designed for specific bumper sizes and constructions, and their RV approvals differ by RV type:
- Swagman RV Bumper Rack 2 — travel trailers: Supported with conditions, fifth wheels: Supported with conditions, motorhomes: Not verified
- Swagman RV Bumper Rack 4 — travel trailers: Supported with conditions, fifth wheels: Supported with conditions, motorhomes: Not verified
Option 4: carry the bikes on the tow vehicle
A truck bed carrier, roof rack or an inside-the-vehicle mount keeps the bikes off the trailer entirely. That is ordinary tow-vehicle use, outside the RV approvals in this database: follow that vehicle’s and carrier’s normal instructions, and remember the tow hitch is already in use.
Check your exact rack
Pick the rack and RV type to see the manufacturer status, limits and conditions.