RV Bike Rack Ideas: 10 Ways to Attach Bikes to Your Rig

Whether you’ve recently purchased a new e-bike, upgraded your mountain bike, or tuned up your road bike, all cycling lovers with RVs need safe and secure RV bike rack ideas. Otherwise, you’ll have no way to transport your bikes to explore once your RV is set up in a campground. 

The main hurdle for most RVers is finding a bike rack that’s compatible with their coach. Not all racks are made for a universal fit, and you may prefer to carry your bikes in a certain way for easy access or efficient storage of your other RV gear and accessories. 

Fortunately, you’re in the right place to explore creative RV bike rack ideas and learn how to choose the right bike rack for your RV. So let’s dive in – here are the best ways to attach bikes to your RV. 

RV Bike Rack Ideas

Here are 10 of our favorite RV bike rack options for you to explore: 

Thule T2 Pro XTR

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Hitch
• Number of Bikes: 2
• Weight Capacity: 60 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 52 pounds

We start with Thule’s T2 Pro XTR because it’s available to fit two hitch receiver sizes: 1.25” and 2”. Once you’ve selected the right size for your RV, you can turn your attention to the versatility of this bike rack. 

It can fit tires from 20-29 inches in diameter and up to five inches wide, making it capable of transporting fat tire bikes like this one from iDeaPlay. It also comes with an integrated lock so you can enjoy more peace of mind when it comes to your bike’s security. 

Although it’s a slightly heavier rack than some, Thule built integrated wheels into the design to aid in easier installation and removal. You also won’t need any specialized tools to secure this bike rack in your RV’s hitch receiver. 

The platform-style rack includes bike mounts that are spaced far enough apart to minimize bike frame interference. In other words, there’s less risk of your bikes rubbing or clunking together when your RV hits a pothole or speed bump. 

Finally, the T2 Pro XTR tilts up and out of the way when you aren’t using it, thereby reducing your overall vehicle length. That folded design also means it takes up less storage space when you remove it and set it in the garage for the winter.  

Stromberg Carlson Post Mount Bike Rack

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Hitch
• Number of Bikes: 4
• Weight Capacity: 30 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 27 pounds

One of the more affordable RV bike rack ideas out there is this hitch mount rack from Stromberg Carlson. It easily installs in a 1.25” hitch receiver but comes with an adapter sleeve to make it work with 2” hitch receivers as well. 

The horizontal arm folds down when you aren’t transporting up to four bikes and it comes with an anti-rattle hitch pin to reduce movement and vibrations as you’re traveling.  The base tilts away so you have better access behind and it’s made of heavy-duty steel with zinc-plated hardware for added durability. 

Kuat Sherpa 2.0

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Hitch
• Number of Bikes: 2
• Weight Capacity: 40 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 32 pounds

Kuat’s Sherpa 2.0 is another platform-style rack with the ability to hold bikes with a wheelbase measuring up to 47 inches and tires up to three inches wide. It can be assembled without any specialized tools and features a semi-integrated bike lock for added security. 

When it’s not in use, the rack quickly folds up to eliminate the risk of running into it and reduce your overall vehicle length. Unlike many other racks, it features a foot lever that then allows you to fold it down without using your hands. 

If you’re worried about your bikes rubbing or bumping together with other racks, this is the best bike rack for you. The Sherpa 2.0 places the two bikes roughly 14 inches apart to completely eliminate the chances of them damaging each other in transit.

Yakima HighRoad Bike Mount

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Roof
• Number of Bikes: 1
• Weight Capacity: 45 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 18 pounds

Ideal for small campers or pop-up trailers, Yakima’s HighRoad Bike Mount installs onto your existing RV or tow vehicle roof rack. It’s a single track that fits wheels from 26-29 inches in diameter and from 23 millimeters to four inches wide. 

The easily adjustable hoop at the back of the rack secures your bike’s rear tire while the V-shaped cradle holds your front tire. An integrated TorqueRight knob tightens everything down for secure transport. 

One of the best parts of this bike mount is that it folds completely flat when it’s not in use. So you don’t have to worry as much about RV height clearance when you aren’t hauling your bike around. 

It also comes with universal mounting hardware that fits most roof racks and doesn’t require any specialized tools. The integrated lock loop also makes it easy to add your own bike lock for extra security when you leave your vehicle and bike behind. 

Let’s Go Aero Jack-it

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Tongue
• Number of Bikes: 2
• Weight Capacity: 40 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 25 pounds

For those that need a tongue-mounted RV bike rack idea, we bring you the Jack-it Double Bike Carrier system from Let’s Go Aero. This design fits all bike frames and works well with rear-entry travel trailers or those that want to keep the rear hitch receiver free for a cargo carrier.

It can be installed on most A-frame travel trailers and supports your bike’s wheels for better stability and balance. Foam bumpers on the rack arms also protect your bike’s frame from damage when in transit. 

The base of this system is their PowerTower frame, which protects your trailer’s tongue jack from impacts. It’s also designed to fit most standard three-bolt patterns over your tongue jack on the trailer’s frame.

Swagman Around the Spare Deluxe

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Bumper
• Number of Bikes: 2
• Weight Capacity: 35 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 21 pounds

Swagman’s Around the Spare Deluxe bike rack gives you a bit of a different option. Instead of worrying about a hitch, roof, or tongue installation, this is a bumper mounted rack that mounts under and around your RV’s existing spare tire. 

Of course, you’ll need a spare tire to make this work, but this rack can fit on any 4 to 4.5” square RV bumper. The manufacturer recommends that any bumper used for installation be made of continuously welded steel. 

The two bike cradles on top of the rack are designed with anti-sway technology to prevent your bikes from shifting or contacting each other. They each also include two bungee straps on each cradle for added bike security. 

INNO Tire Hold

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Hitch
• Number of Bikes: 2
• Weight Capacity: 60 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 48 pounds

The INNO Tire Hold bike rack is also available for 1.25” and 2” hitch receivers and it’s a platform-style rack that tilts when not in use to reduce your RV’s overall length. It’s also capable of holding everything from carbon frame bikes to semi-fat and e-bikes with up to 27.5” tire diameters. 

The individual bike trays also fold completely in when bikes are unloaded, reducing the risk of walking into them and damaging your knees or shins. Whether your bikes are loaded or unloaded, the rack also tilts away to allow for easier access to anything behind it. 

INNO’s lightweight aluminum tray doesn’t require any tools to install to your RV’s hitch receiver. It also comes with a lock, keys, and security cable for both bikes and the hitch itself. 

Yakima Frontloader Bike Mount

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Roof
• Number of Bikes: 1
• Weight Capacity: 40 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 14 pounds

Yakima’s Frontloader is perfect for installing on a roof rack on your tow vehicle or a small camper. It can accommodate wheelbases up to 48 inches and crossbar spreads from 16 to 42 inches. 

For bikes with tire diameters from 20-27.5 inches, it works for tires up to three inches wide. For 29-inch tires, it works with tire widths up to 2.7 inches. It conveniently allows you to leave your bike’s front wheel on as long as it falls within those specifications. 

The Frontloader is compatible with all Yakima square, round, and factory-installed crossbars and it features a no-tool assembly. It also works with bikes with disc brakes, thru-axles, and full suspension.

Swagman Traveler XC2

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Hitch or Bumper
• Number of Bikes: 2
• Weight Capacity: 35 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 41 pounds

This is the best choice if you want a hitch-mount bike rack for your truck and a bumper-mount bike rack for your RV. The Swagman Traveler XC2 comes with a square bumper adapter that fits 4.5” square steel RV bumpers. 

The adapter then features the 2” hitch receiver that’s used to secure the platform-style bike rack. Without the adapter, the rack itself is compatible with all class III 2” hitch receivers on an RV or tow vehicle. 

The two hooks on the rack’s vertical arm are controlled with a push-button operation to help you hold your bikes down and in place once they’re installed in the tire slots. Those slots also adjust along the rack’s horizontal arm to accommodate nearly any bike size. 

It fits bikes with tire diameters from 20-29 inches and tires up to 2.5” wide. The rack also tilts back to provide easier access to your tailgate or the back of your RV (especially useful for diesel motorhomes). 

Thule Apex XT Swing

Bike Rack Specs

• Mount Type: Hitch
• Number of Bikes: 4
• Weight Capacity: 35 pounds per bike
• Rack Weight: 42 pounds

A swinging bike rack is super convenient for truck campers, but it’s also the best RV bike rack for retaining access to anything on the back wall of your RV. Some RVs place the outdoor shower compartment on the back wall, for example. 

While a tilting rack may give you access to that compartment, it sure isn’t going to make it easy to rinse your feet or wash your dog after a muddy romp. That’s when you’ll wish you had Thule’s Apex XT Swing bike rack. 

In addition to swinging out of the way when needed, this rack holds up to four bikes and provides a whopping seven inches of space between each bike to prevent damage. It also features ratcheting cable straps that secure your bike to the horizontal arm. These straps are less likely to stretch over time than the traditional bungee-style alternatives. 

Thule’s Apex XT Swing bike rack folds down to reduce your RV’s length when you need to fit in a smaller campsite. It also boasts an integrated cable that quickly and easily locks your bikes to the hitch (a locking hitch pin is recommended for added security). 

How to Choose an RV Bike Rack

Now that you have all those RV bike rack ideas floating around in your head, it’s time to start narrowing down your options. Ask yourself these three important questions when comparing and contrasting the best RV bike rack ideas above. 

How does the RV bike rack mount to your rig?

There are four main ways an RV bike rack mounts to your RV: on the hitch, on the bumper, on the spare tire, or on the tongue. Occasionally, you’ll also see travel trailers that come prepped for a roof rack where you can install one of the best RV bike racks, like the Forest River No Boundaries or the Coleman Rubicon.

So let’s discuss each of these bike rack mounting styles: 

Hitch-Mount RV Bike Racks

This rack style tends to work best on motorhomes and towable RVs equipped with hitch receivers. Hitch-mount bike racks are arguably the easiest to install and they can be removed and installed on your tow vehicle when you aren’t RVing.

Explore hitch-mount bike racks at REI. 

Bumper-Mount RV Bike Racks

A bumper mounted rack is an excellent alternative for motorhomes and towable RVs that don’t have a hitch receiver. They still allow you to easily carry your bikes on the back of your RV, but they do require a more in-depth installation and sometimes require more than hand tools for installation and removal. 

Tongue-Mount RV Bike Racks

If you already have something mounted to your RV’s hitch receiver or you have a trailer with a rear entry door, a tongue mounted design might be the best RV bike rack for you. Your bikes will store above the propane containers and the battery above your trailer’s tongue. 

It can be a little more difficult to load and unload bikes from this style of rack, especially when your trailer is connected to your tow vehicle. In addition, consider how a tongue-mount bike rack will impact access to your trailer’s propane containers to ensure you can easily open or close the valves and remove the containers when you need to refill propane. 

Spare Tire-Mount RV Bike Racks

There are also bike racks that can mount around the spare tire on the rear of your RV. This setup is more appropriate for travel trailers and fifth wheels that come with a bumper-mounted spare tire. 

The benefit is not having to utilize a separate install location, but these racks usually offer lower weight capacities and you’ll need to remove them if you need access to your spare tire for any reason. 

Roof-Mount RV Bike Racks

Storing bikes on the roof of your RV is the final option to consider. However, there are two very important things to consider. 

The first is how this will impact your RV’s overall height and, subsequently, your ability to navigate underpasses and bridges. Ensure you have enough height clearance to avoid damaging your bikes and your RV’s roof by hitting something with low clearance. 

The second is accessibility (i.e., how easy it is to load and unload your bikes). If your RV isn’t equipped with a ladder to access the roof, loading bikes on and off the roof is going to be extremely difficult.

With these two things in consideration, roof-mount bike racks are really only the right bike rack for pop-up campers or small campers with a lower overall height, such as the Coleman Rubicon 1200RK or the Forest River NoBo 10.6. 

Shop roof-mount bike racks at REI.

How much capacity does the RV bike rack offer?

When we speak about capacity, we’re referring to the number of bikes a rack can hold and the rack’s overall weight capacity. In many cases, bike rack manufacturers will also specify the maximum allowable weight for each bike loaded onto the rack (i.e., 50 pounds per bike). 

Simply put, the best RV bike rack for you must hold the number of bikes you need to transport and be capable of supporting the individual and combined weights of those bikes. 

Fat-tire e-bikes, for example, will often require a more heavy-duty bike rack because they’re heavier themselves. Lightweight road bikes are easier to transport with a variety of bike rack types, including those that mount to the roof of your tow vehicle. 

What are the extra features of the RV bike rack?

Most RV bike racks don’t come with a ton of extra bells and whistles. However, there are a few important features to look for that can make or break your decision. 

The first is whether the rack pivots or articulates in any way. Some racks can swing away to one side or the other to help with accessibility to anything behind. Others articulate down to achieve the same purpose. 

This feature is very important for retaining access to your truck bed if the rack’s installed on a truck, but it can also be useful on an RV. It can help you maintain access to RV features like your spare tire, outdoor shower compartment, or electrical hookup. 

The second feature to look for is whether the rack comes with tie-downs or extra accessories. Most RVers like to add an additional tie-down or bike lock for extra security when transporting their bikes. A rack that comes with anything extra saves you the time you’d otherwise spend searching for and purchasing them separately. 

Here’s a quick synopsis of other bike accessories you might need to go along with your RV bike rack: 

• Keyed or combination bike lock
• Tie-down straps or bungee cords
• Bike rack cover
• Bike padding (to keep bikes from rubbing or colliding)
• Tube top adapter (for securing step-through bikes to a bike rack)

Where to Buy the Best RV Bike Racks

There are plenty of places to shop for bike racks online once you know what you want. Comparison shopping is a great idea, as you may find the best RV bike racks at very different prices depending on where you look. 

Here are a few of our favorite retailers you can explore to find the best RV bike racks: 

• REI
• Camping World
• Amazon
• Backcountry

Where to Go with Your New RV Bike Rack Setup!

Now that you have your RV bike rack, you’re ready to load your bikes and hit the road. But where will you go? 

Here are some of our favorite bike-friendly destinations for your next RV road trip: 

• Moab, UT: An excellent hub for mountain biking and national park exploration.
• Truckee, CA: A beautiful mountain town with a variety of paved bike paths and mountain bike trails. 
• Bend, OR: Plenty of options for trail riding, road biking, and delicious aprés-ride beverages.
• Sedona, AR: Great for novice bikers and red rock lovers – check out the Intro to Sedona trail!
• Crested Butte, CO: Plan at least a week’s stay to enjoy all the road and mountain biking in this beautiful Rocky mountain town.

Conclusion on the Best RV Bike Racks

Transporting any gear with your RV is a bit of a Tetris game. But the best RV bike racks give you a simple, effective way to transport your bikes without wasting valuable space inside your RV or tow vehicle. 

We hope these RV bike rack ideas have helped you find the right bike transport solution for your RV. If you need other storage or organization tips, here are a few more articles that might be useful: 

• 19 Space-Saving RV Storage Ideas for your Camper Kitchen
• 12 RV Bathroom Storage Ideas to Stay Clutter-Free
• Fun and Functional Camper Van Storage Ideas

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Do you have any other RV bike rack ideas that you’d recommend? Share them with your fellow RVers in the comments below!