Bike Rack

[Karla Bahr]

Does anyone have a recommendation for adding a Bike Rack to the back of our Oliver? Mike and Karla Bahr

[roguebooks]

Other than the Oliver-installed bike rack it is my understanding rear-mounted bike racks are not only unsafe for the bikes but create a possible hazard for vehicles traveling behind you. There are multiple posts here regarding bike racks. Through online research (google and youtube videos) I discovered that mounting a bike rack to the back of your tow vehicle is the safest way to go.

[Alison]

Ross is going to attempt an inside “bike rack” that will hold the bikes upright in the aisle of the Oliver, similar to what you sometimes see in the back of trucks. I will report back on our success/failure at this effort.

[Overland]

Definitely get the Oliver rack - it's really solid. You might ask them about just getting the base and then adding your own rack to it, which is what we did, though the rack they supply is good quality.

[John E Davies]

Ross is going to attempt an inside “bike rack” that will hold the bikes upright in the aisle of the Oliver, similar to what you sometimes see in the back of trucks. I will report back on our success/failure at this effort.

 

I would be really interested to see if this works, but I have doubts that you will ever be able to maneuver past a couple of bikes secured to the floor, to the back of the cabin. Pedals and other hard points will scrape, tear and soil the interior, plus the mount will be a real toe knocker when the bikes are gone. I just can't imaging it working very well in such a narrow isle. In a full sized van, it can be great.... Good luck and please post pics of the experiment!

 

Any competent welder who is comfortable with aluminum (not all are!) can build a custom bolt-on bumper bike/ storage rack like the Oliver one, to your specifications. Don't even think about welding it to the frame! Consider the high shipping cost if ordering from the factory. If I made one I would be sure to include red LED turn and running lights and an expanded metal floor. plus tie down loops. Be aware that the rear of the trailer is its most dirty/ wet location when moving fast. Nice bikes or equipment need to be covered. If you don't have a backup camera, you will definitely want to install one to keep an eye on the bikes as you travel on bumpy roads! "HEY, didn't there used to be two bikes back there?!"

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

[ShallowGal]

Someone at the Rally had built one for the front of their trailer that was very nice. I'm sorry I don't remember who but hopefully someone will chime in who does. Bill? Jason? Foy?

[Roadrunner]

The Oliver bike rack is no longer being offered. I had ordered it back in October for my delivery in July and recently told it's not being offered now.

[Karla Bahr]

We were just told that the bike rack is being remodeled and would not be available for several months. Thanks Jason for the update.

[Overland]

That’s the second redesign - I’m curious if there have been issues with it.

[ShallowGal]

Duke took a photo of the bow mounted bike rack. It was an entry in the modification contest at the Rally. I'm sorry I don't have more information. Again, hopefully, someone who does will give us the details.

 

 

 

[doug14]

This is now a concern for me also.  I have the recommended Let'sGoAero bike rack, which is fine, but after adding a cover for the bikes (made by Swagman), it partially obscures the tail lights of my Ollie.  Not too badly if someone is following me in an automobile, but sitting higher in a pickup or big rig would probably block my tail lights from their view.  Of course eliminating the cover solves that problem, but it doesn't keep the bikes protected.

 

A rack at the front of the Ollie seems to be the best solution.

 

Doug

 

 

 

 

[mossemi]

[postquote quote=178926][/postquote]

Since you already have the bike wing rack, you might think about this mount.  It’s the Lippert version aka “Jack-It”.  I don’t think you can buy the tower alone, but you could think of something along those lines.

 

Mike

 

[doug14]

That seems to be the best location, thank you.

[doug14]

I changed my thinking and instead took my Aero rack to a welder who made a taller center post.  Now, even when covered, the bikes are above the tail lights.

 

Doug

 

Bright Star

 

451

[Trainman]

We have the Oliver bike rack that we got with our new 2019 Elite II, works great and had no problem using it with the Yakima bike rack. We have decided to get E Bikes that fold and just carry them in the back of the pickup bed, at 60 lbs. each I could probably manufacture a rack for them, but have decided the back of the pickup would be better place to carry them, plus we can carry them to other places when we just want to ride when not camping. I will probably just get a cargo carrier for the rear trailer bumper and carry light weight items in there that weigh less them a 100 lbs. or so. I may just pull the four pins and store it at home, but I'm glad to have a rear bumper rack for that just in case time it might be needed.

 

trainman

[GarryandKristi]

 

Since you already have the bike wing rack, you might think about this mount. It’s the Lippert version aka “Jack-It”. I don’t think you can buy the tower alone, but you could think of something along those lines.

Mike

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Watched a video from the manufacturer site and the “jack-it” seems to have a lot of deflection (wobble) when the vehicle/trailer is in motion. The unit is a novel idea but have you found excess or concerning wobble in yours?

Thanks.

 

 

[GarryandKristi]

 

 

Since you already have the bike wing rack, you might think about this mount. It’s the Lippert version aka “Jack-It”. I don’t think you can buy the tower alone, but you could think of something along those lines.

Mike

<noscript><img class="gdbbx-bbcode-attachment-image" alt="20190522_153445" src="https://olivertraveltrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/20190522_153445.jpg" /></noscript>

 

The video on the manufacturers site shows quire a bit odd deflection (wobble) due to the tower and high center of gravity. (Jack-it). Have you had any issues with this?

 

[GarryandKristi]

Since you already have the bike wing rack, you might think about this mount. It’s the Lippert version aka “Jack-It”. I don’t think you can buy the tower alone, but you could think of something along those lines.

Mike

<noscript><img class="gdbbx-bbcode-attachment-image" alt="20190522_153445" src="https://olivertraveltrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/20190522_153445.jpg" /></noscript>

 

The video on the manufacturers site shows quire a bit odd deflection (wobble) due to the tower and high center of gravity. (Jack-it). Have you had any issues with this?

Thanks.

[GarryandKristi]

doug14 wrote:

This is now a concern for me also. I have the recommended Let’sGoAero bike rack, which is fine, but after adding a cover for the bikes (made by Swagman), it partially obscures the tail lights of my Ollie. Not too badly if someone is following me in an automobile, but sitting higher in a pickup or big rig would probably block my tail lights from their view. Of course eliminating the cover solves that problem, but it doesn’t keep the bikes protected.

A rack at the front of the Ollie seems to be the best solution.

Doug

Since you already have the bike wing rack, you might think about this mount. It’s the Lippert version aka “Jack-It”. I don’t think you can buy the tower alone, but you could think of something along those lines.

Mike

 

Does the tower flex as much as it appears to do on the manufacturers video?

 

Thanks,

Garry

<noscript><img class="gdbbx-bbcode-attachment-image" alt="20190522_153445" src="https://olivertraveltrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/20190522_153445.jpg" /></noscript>

[GarryandKristi]

doug14 wrote:

This is now a concern for me also. I have the recommended Let’sGoAero bike rack, which is fine, but after adding a cover for the bikes (made by Swagman), it partially obscures the tail lights of my Ollie. Not too badly if someone is following me in an automobile, but sitting higher in a pickup or big rig would probably block my tail lights from their view. Of course eliminating the cover solves that problem, but it doesn’t keep the bikes protected.

A rack at the front of the Ollie seems to be the best solution.

Doug

Since you already have the bike wing rack, you might think about this mount. It’s the Lippert version aka “Jack-It”. I don’t think you can buy the tower alone, but you could think of something along those lines.

Mike

 

Does the tower flex as much as it appears to do on the manufacturers video?

 

Thanks,

Garry

<noscript><img class="gdbbx-bbcode-attachment-image" alt="20190522_153445" src="https://olivertraveltrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/20190522_153445.jpg" /></noscript>

[GarryandKristi]

Does the jack-it tower sway as much as it appears to do in the manufacturers video?

 

thanks,

 

Garry

[mossemi]

Does the jack-it tower sway as much as it appears to do in the manufacturers video?

 

thanks,

 

Garry

 

There really isn’t any movement in tower on my install, but I modified my installation from the stock instructions.  All of the movement happens above the Snap Pin, marked by the red arrow.

 

If you would like more detail, let me know.

 

Mike

 

[BackofBeyond]

I've gone around and around with the bike carrier locations. Put 7k miles on the rear mounted one, but I hate how the road grime covers them - ok on my mountain bike, but not on my carbon road bike. I looked at mikes front location, and that was a nice set up - but it also is a dirt magnate location, and harder to load.... . I'm really considering putting the bikes in the truck bed under the camper shell, and moving some of the stuff to a carrier where the bikes were located. Cleaner and much more secure. Time will tell.

 

 

 

I have thought about adding a smaller, front loading alum storage box to the rear, which would elevate the bikes, clearing the rear lights, and then I could cover the bikes, and have good vision of the trailer lighting.

RB

[John E Davies]

I looked at mikes front location, and that was a nice set up – but it also is a dirt magnate location, and harder to load…. .

 

FYI with a Stone Stomper the front of the trailer and also the back of the TV remains VERY clean, dry and chip free, even on dusty roads or highway trips at 60 mph in torrential rain. It is astonishing. I seldom need to use the rear wiper during rainy highway trips. All the crud and chaos (water spray, rocks, tar, road debris) stays down below the A frame. But you definitely need rubber flaps down there to catch and deflect downwards the rocks before they pepper the frame and lower curve of the hull, and those create a lot of drag.

 

As an alternative, you could install vortex generators on the back of your Ollie to dump the dirty airflow further away from your bikes.

 

 

I haven't tried them but they are on my To Do List, someday. ... http://www.airtab.com/application-rv.htm .... The Ollie hull is pretty streamlined but the junk on the roof is pretty horrible for smooth airflow. Even with the rounded back corners, the rear gets filthy. You should see a slight improvement in towing mpgs too. Airtabs are ineffective below about 35 mph, so dirt roads will not be any better.

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

 

 

[BackofBeyond]

I have seen these on the back of a RV - though they were really - unappealing. Yes the SS is a great detriment - but more than I want to deal with - After looking more closely, If I can find the right sized alum front opening box, I will mount on the rear supports, and put the bike rack on top. Will relocate the License plate nd light. Gives me a great space to store the various light weight fric and frack.