Bike rack advise January 12, 2012, 12:18:11 am Yahoo Message Number: 127778Would like feedback on what is the best bike racks out there. We would carry two women's bike frames and would like it to be hitch mount to be able to carry on coach while roadless or on the back of a Wrangler toad when hitched up.Any ideas? Lydia
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #1 – January 12, 2012, 07:27:08 am Yahoo Message Number: 127779Lydia, You can purchase a special bar that will accomodate the women's bike. I have one that I use to carry one of my bikes. It locks across the "v" and then you can use any bike I also purchased a light weight rack for my PT Cruiser at Camping World which the tires fit into rather than the cross bar which keeps your wheels turning. It can be used on with a 1 1/2" or 2" hitch. I outfitted my PT at U Haul with the 1 1/2". I also have a rack (much too heavy) which fits over the the tow bar hitch to my LD. My technical words are not wonderful but hope you get the idea. Hope this helps.Betty Jean Subject: [LD] Bike rack adviseWould like feedback on what is the best bike racks out there. We would carry two omen's bike frames and would like it to be hitch mount to be able to carry on oach while roadless or on the back of a Wrangler toad when hitched up. Any ideas? ydia[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #2 – January 12, 2012, 07:50:40 am Yahoo Message Number: 127780It depends on your budget, the design of your bikes (to some degree) and how often you want to remove/store them. The best, easiest, and most expensive way to carry a couple of bikes is a rack like this: http://www.saris.com/en/bike-racks/vehicle-racks/hitch-racks.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&product_id=235&category_id=8Bikes are easy to get on and off,
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #3 – January 12, 2012, 09:53:33 am Yahoo Message Number: 127782"any ideas?LydiaIf you want the best, you have build it yourself. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157602104740537/> This one was designed for use on the LD or Jeep. I built a second receiver for the LD's rear bumper to allow carrying the bikes, while towing You proved your technical skills by installing your Wave heater, it's time move up to metal fabrication .Larry
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #4 – January 12, 2012, 10:16:59 am Yahoo Message Number: 127784We have a Thule rack with cable lock included to lock the bikes on. Bought at REI. http://tinyurl.com/74oavss If you don't have a top tube on your bikes you can buy a Yakima Top Tube Adapter bar like this one http://tinyurl.com/7dnqpfn It works great with my Bike Friday. The hitch mounted bike racks can be very heavy especially the ones that you see on the front of buses. We don't tow so rarely take our rack off the LD. Hope this helps. Have fun using your bikes!Marti in Seattle[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #5 – January 12, 2012, 10:56:35 am Yahoo Message Number: 127788SARIS to be avoided at all cost ! these racks are bike-killers. Take advantage of my experience and RUN AWAY ! They also have zero customer service , so there's nobody to compla
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #6 – January 12, 2012, 12:01:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127789I take it you had a bad experience? My Saris has been great.Lifetime Warranty- http://www.saris.com/warranty-information-2.htmlCustomer Service Phone Number- 1-800-783-7257 http://www.saris.com/customer-support.htmlAlso, if you buy at a place like REI, the retailer will give you a refund for any reason, no questions asked, at any time.Hope that helps-Rich '03 MB
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #7 – January 12, 2012, 05:56:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127800I don't know about the bike racks but I will second REI standing behind their equipment. They repaired a zipper
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #8 – January 12, 2012, 06:41:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127803Quote Would like feedback on what is the best bike racks out there. We would carry two women's bike frames and would like it to be hitch mount to be able to carry on coach while roadless or on the back of a Wrangler toad when hitched up. We bought a Thule hitch-mounted rack years ago. Incredibly overbuilt, and easily will outlast us. Available everywhere, just Google. -- Jon & Loni ('06TK)
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #9 – January 12, 2012, 06:45:18 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127804QuoteWould like feedback on what is the best bike racks out there. This topic comes up a few times a year. Perhaps the more knowledgeable on the topic will write up the pro's and con's of some of the many different styles to be published in The Companion.
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #10 – January 12, 2012, 10:26:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127811QuoteYou proved your technical skills by installing your Wave heater, it's time move up to metal fabrication .Larry LOL! Well I keep finding other means to do metal work that get around the whole welding thing. I can solder circles around lots of people. Would love to have the best welders money could buy! But I hate it too, because I know that's what I would end up doing.... Bless Unistrut!On the other hand, you offering welding classes?Nice job BTW. I like it a lot. The bike issue and the add on tube for a hanging rack like this might be an issue. The size of bike and the leg lengths all add up to no room under the seat to strap the bar to. SO I would be adjusting the seat every time I racked the bike. Annoying, but perhaps that will end up being the trade off. The Wrangler has a right hand hinged door, so a flop down might be dangerous to get to the cargo area. I've seen some that grab the spare tire, but don't use a hitch point. There goes the idea of just one rack.Brain still cogitating. Thanks everybody! Lydia
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #11 – January 13, 2012, 11:11:28 am Yahoo Message Number: 127814Years ago, I had a Thule bike rack that attached to my 2" receiver. It would carry two bikes hanging from the top bar between the handlebars and the seat. (Not sure how a girl's bike would mount to it.) There were two bars that cradled the bikes. Adding a shock cord to the pedal kept the bike from bouncing around. A pin allowed the rack to lay down to the rear so the rear hatch on my Blazer could be opened. It was reasonably light , very sturdy, and very easy to use. Mine was similar to http://tinyurl.com/77eb2l6Ken F in NM[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: welding alternatives Reply #12 – January 13, 2012, 12:06:36 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127815"I keep finding other means to do metal work that get around the whole welding thing. I can solder circles around lots of people."Have you tried Alumiweld, Lydia?http://www.alumiweld.com/ It's a brazing rod that lets you join aluminum or "pot metal" using familiar soldering techniques. The only tools required are a propane or MAPP gas torch and a stainless steel wire brush. And it's cheap. Even if you have to buy a torch and a brush, you can be in business for about fifty bucks. The claims made on the company's website may sound exaggerated, but I can testify from experience that they're not. The stuff works; I've used it to build aluminum brackets for my Fan-Tastic Endless Breeze fans and to repair a pot-metal bracket in a satellite dish tripod, among other things. Alumiweld is simple to use if you know how to solder, and it makes joints that are stronger than the metal you're joining--I've verified that in my tests. You can use it on bar stock, or on very thin-gauge metal. The company's claim that you can weld up a hole in a Coke can is true. More practically speaking, their video shows it being used to repair stripped threads (add Alumiweld and then drill and tap), fix a broken blade tip on an outboard motor propeller (build up Alumiweld to replace the broken-off metal, then grind and file to shape), and other tasks. The stuff is really amazing, but few people seem to know about it, which is why you'll hear me sing its praises from time to time. Perhaps people don't take it seriously because it sounds too good to be true, but I assure you it's the real thing. If you're already a skilled solderer, Alumiweld is a natural; it will let you do all kinds of things that you thought could only be accomplished with a TIG welding outfit.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: welding alternatives Reply #13 – January 13, 2012, 02:40:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127821Interestinghttp://www.alumiweld.com/What I find funny is they use the word "repair" a lot. How about making something with this? I am trying to make a custom lava lamp that holds 4 gallons of liquid but got stuck because of heat I have to use metal and I am not a metal worker. I do not see why I could not use this to "weld" alum stock to make a frame for the jar but just curious why they use "repair" and not say that something could be made. Can I assume that small alum items could be made with this using alum angle stock?Does Lowes or Home Depot sell this?tks__
Re: welding alternatives Reply #14 – January 13, 2012, 06:46:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127825"What I find funny is they use the word 'repair' a lot. How about making something with this?" Alumiweld is just a way of joining aluminum together. Whether you use that capability to repair or construct is up to you. "Can I assume that small alum items could be made with this using alum angle stock?" I did exactly that when I made the gimbaled support brackets for my fans, using Alumiweld to join aluminum angle and bar stock purchased at Lowe's. They held up through tens of thousands of miles of travel in my old rig, and as far as I know are still intact."Does Lowes or Home Depot sell this?" I've never seen it there. Easiest way to get it is to order from the manufacturer's website.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: welding alternatives Reply #15 – January 13, 2012, 07:36:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127826The reason "Repair" is used a lot in the sales of this product, is because any previously welded joint with this material will un-weld if the material reaches 700 plus degrees.Hard to weld multiple alm. joints when this happens, especially with alm. and a torch as it transfers heat very rapidly.Neal[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #16 – January 14, 2012, 10:37:18 am Yahoo Message Number: 127831"Would love to have the best welders money could buy! But I hate it too, because I know that's what I would end up doing.... Bless Unistrut!"Lydia I have been a fan of unistrut for decades. Most of our LD's kayak rack and crane system is made from it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157602095130748/> As you know, there are dozens of various attachments and accessories for the stuff. http://www.strutchannelfittings.com/> Nuts and bolts are a fine way of joining metal too You can also weld unistrut, after removing the anti-corrosive coating. The best of both worlds."On the other hand, you offering welding classes?"You never know. You would be surprised how easy MIG welding is...point and shot. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_metal_arc_welding> There is little more to it but there is no easier to learn welding technique. Just like soldering or brazing, proper preparation is the key to a successful project. You would be surprise of what you can build with a MIG machine, a 4-1/2" grinder, a sawzall and a vise.Larry
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #17 – January 14, 2012, 05:08:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127838"You would be surprise of what you can build with a MIG machine, a 4-1/2" grinder, a sawzall and a vise." I don't doubt it, Larry, but you're talking about $600-$1,000 worth of rather bulky tools... vs. a propane torch, a wire brush, and a 1" x 12" tube of Alumiweld rods. Any RVer has the room to store those, and the $50 to buy 'em. Clearly you can do more with the setup you described, but it's not a luxury all of us (especially fulltimers) have space for or can afford.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #18 – January 14, 2012, 10:35:25 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127844QuoteYou would be surprise of what you can build with a MIG machine, a 4-1/2" grinder, a sawzall and a vise.Larry Grinder?... Check Sawzall?... Check Bench Vise?... Check Welding Gloves?... Check (don't ask) MIG machine?... Ooops Arc Helmet?... Nuts! Took that back. (OK, I was going to borrow a welder once)So where do you get one of these MIG machines?Lydia
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #19 – January 15, 2012, 01:09:40 am Yahoo Message Number: 127845"you're talking about $600-$1,000 worth of rather bulky tools... vs. a propane torch, a wire brush, and a 1" x 12" tube of Alumiweld rods."Andy My response was playfully aimed at Lydia. I carry mostly the same metal repair stuff as you. There are small and very pricey MIG welders that are compact enough for some to consider carrying, wouldn't surprised if bumper has one. If they were not so expensive, I would buy one and carry it for our more serious desert trips. Millermatic Passport Plus http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/product.php?model=M00197> There are popular among field mechanics since they are so small, lightweight, can be operated on 120 or 240 VAC power and can weld aluminum when equipped with a spool gun. Another pricey machine is the Ready Welder. It uses two or three auto batteries to provide the power for field welding. They are popular among the rock-crawler crowd for trail repairs. http://readywelder.com/> With two to four AGM batteries, a Ready Welder would be a potent welding machine.Larry
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #20 – January 15, 2012, 01:22:41 am Yahoo Message Number: 127846"So where do you get one of these MIG machines? "LydiaWelding supply shops, Home Depot, Lowes, online, the list is long. I used an stick arc-welder for many years before buying a relatively inexpensive Lincoln 175-amp/240-VAC MIG machine. It will easily weld 1/4" steel, about as thick as most will every need. Stick with a brand name like Miller or Lincoln to ensure availability of replacement and expendable parts (tips, guards, liners, etc.) A 240-VAC machine is preferable, if the power is available. Also get an auto-darkening helmet, it will make learning so much faster. http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/weldingdepot/PWH9843.html>Larry
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #21 – January 15, 2012, 10:49:59 am Yahoo Message Number: 127848If you are carrying higher end bikes, often with carbon fiber frames, probably the best type bike rack is the 'tray hitch' style, as the bike is supported by and held in place by its wheels rather than hanging by the frame . http://www.bikerackshops.com/vehicle_racks/hitch_bike_racks/tray_hitch_racks/t2_xtr/ I my hangar shop, I have both Miller MIG and TIG welders, along with several ways of cutting steel, including a plasma cutter (way cool!). Larry's right, a MIG machine is by far the easiest to learn, and also the best for 'production' type work where speed is important. But, the TIG machine is more much more capable, and able to do precision work - - sort of like comparing a hunting knife to a scalpel. For welding thicker steel, where penetration is important, it's either stick welding or a larger MIG machine. As Andy says, none of this metal working machinery is practical in an RV - - a three axle trailer with large generator and all the machines comes to mind :c). Aluminum brazing has it's place, though fatigue strength may be an issue with parts that are loaded or don't have much overlap. For more info, including some recommendations as to which aluminum brazing rod may be best (there are several choices) see http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/archive/index.php/t-8342.html, the last post pretty much sums it up.bumper[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #22 – January 15, 2012, 02:28:26 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127851"For more info, including some recommendations as to which aluminum brazing rod may be best (there are several choices) see http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/archive/index.php/t-8342.html>, the last post pretty much sums it up." Thanks for that link, Bumper--that's an interesting discussion among people who know a lot more about both welding and brazing aluminum than I do. It's clear that both techniques have their place. If I were building a bike rack, I'd probably want it welded. On the other hand, as some of the people posting to that discussion pointed out, brazing (a la Alumiweld) is quick, efficient and can make a strong joint, and it can be used to join or repair thin metal that would be difficult to weld. For example: "I do lots of AL brazing of thin AL sheet and in many cases, welding would not even possible because of the necessity of not melting the base metal, and brazing is strong enough. But brazing large 1/4" AL plates would not be practical or in most cases, not strong enough for the application." "Ive done some aluminum brazing with a rod called alladin 3 in 1,worked real good cleaned with a ss brush did a little preheat and it flowed right in, was a hole patch on an aluminum row boat:cool: they also use this rod for rebuilding boat props" Repairing holes or tears in aluminum boats is a use I often see mentioned for Alumiweld-type brazing rod, and I gather this would be difficult to do with welding equipment. (Tell me if I'm wrong about that.) With regard to the comments about fatigue strength, here's how I tested, for what it's worth. Using Alumiweld, I joined together (butt joint) two pieces of aluminum bar stock--as I recall, it was about 1/8" thick by 3/4" wide. Then after the joint had cooled completely, I grabbed each end with pliers and bent back and forth repeatedly until something broke. What broke was the aluminum bar, about an inch away from the joint--the joint itself remained intact. I wouldn't claim that was a scientific test of fatigue strength, but it does suggest that an Alumiweld joint is pretty strong. :-) My feeling is this: even if I had welding skills and MIG/TIG welding equipment at my homebase (assuming I had a homebase!), I'd want to carry a torch and a tube of Alumiweld in my RV for on-the-road repairs such as that satellite-tripod fix I did for a friend, and for small projects such as those fan brackets I made for Gertie. Given the minimal cost and storage space requirements of Alumiweld, it makes sense to have it on hand. By the way, you can find photos and dimensioned plans for those brackets here: http://www.andybaird.com/travels/gertie/fans.htmThat'll give you an idea of the kind of project that's easy to do with Alumiweld or similar brazing rod.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #23 – January 15, 2012, 02:34:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127852If you are carrying higher end bikes, often with carbon fiber frames, probably the best type bike rack is the "tray hitch" style, as the bike is supported by and held in place by its wheels rather than hanging by the frame . Bumper, I agree. A Raxter tray rack offers a more simplified design for securing bikes than most other brands. It's a quality product made in the USA. http://www.raxterracks.com/Malcolm
Re: Bike rack advise Reply #24 – January 15, 2012, 11:40:46 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127854"Repairing holes or tears in aluminum boats is a use I often see mentioned for Alumina's-type brazing rod, and I gather this would be difficult to do with welding equipment. "Andy Actually, most shops I have been in use MIG spool guns for aluminum boat repairs. Riveted or bolted batches are also common. Aluminum wire does not like to be pushed through several feel of flex line, leading from the MIG machine to the gun. The soft wire will kink and jam. The solution is a spool gun, a MIG gun with a motorized roll of aluminum wire mounted on it. http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/weldingdepot/300199.html> While TIG is the Cadillac of aluminum welding, it is painfully slow when a lot of metal needs to welded and the appearance is not of primary concert. A MIG is the choice for fast production on thicker aluminum. You might see aluminum brazing rod used on a small boat but not much on larger ones. For the thinner metals, that you or I may use building or repairing parts for our LD's, aluminum brazing rod is a great choice to carry in the parts box. As you said, it doesn't take up much space and just requires a MAPP gas torch and a stainless steel brush to use. I have had a tube of it on board for years, along with soldering gear. Brazing aluminum or steel can be very strong when done right. You don't not see as much of it anymore due to how slow the process is compared to other joining methods. For use in an RV, this is probably the only welding method that is practical, other than a small oxy-acetalyne torch, that would be useful for welding thin steel. http://www.bernzomatic.com/PRODUCTS/KITS/TORCHKITS/tabid/215/ctl/Detail/mid/1147/xmid/6954/xmfid/3/Default.aspx > Part of the reason why I prefer to use steel is it's superior resistance to fatigue fractures. After having an aluminum mountain bike frame break under me, several years ago, I not so favorably disposed to use it for anything critical. Aluminum structures need to be properly engineered for a long life. Flex aluminum and it will eventually break. You should see some of the multiple repairs on older commercial aircraft. Some 737s, I have seen at LAX, had very large, multilayer, riveted patches, located where the wings join the fuselage. There is a good reason why aircraft manufacturers require periodic inspection of all aircraft for cracks. Having a wing fall can't ever be good. Many times rivets or bolts are preferable to welding because they do not damage the heat-treating that gives certain types of sheet aluminum its strength. Aircraft, built with aluminum frames and skin, are constructed with thousands or millions of rivets and not so much welding. 99% of the the things I have made with sheet aluminum have been pop-riveted together, a good way to join thin aluminum.Metallurgy is a fascinating topic.Larry
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