RE: [A/S] bike rack

["Perry Joe Scudder" <perryjoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Don,
I did tons of research trying to find a bike rack that would work between my
trailer and the back of my truck. I even have a Hensley Hitch, which adds
about a foot more space than most hitches. I found there is not enough room
to put bikes that would clear everything when I turned. I even purchased a
class 3 hitch receiver for the front of the truck and tried using a receiver
mounted bike rack up front. I did not like the obstruction of my view while
driving a 17,000 pound rig down the highway, so I had a $200 receiver
hanging under my front bumper for the rest of the time I owned the truck. 
I did not give up sense Mary and I like to ride our bikes 8 to 10 miles 5
days a week. I designed a rack using part on the receiver mounting rack (the
parts that cradle and hold the bikes) mounted on two cross bars between the
side rails I have mounted along the sides of my truck bed. I took the design
to a local shop that makes tops and such for boats. He made the custom parts
out of heavy 2.5" aluminum tubing using clamp type ends that clamp on the
truck bed side rails. My bikes set just behind the cab and cross ways on the
truck where they are out of the way, and take up no usable space in my
truck. They are easy to get to while standing in the truck bed, and are
locked to the frame of the truck by two heavy duty cables. The bikes have
been riding there for 2 years and about 20,000 miles with no problems. I
just have to remember they are higher than the truck when driving under
overhead obstructions of any kind. I have not hit anything but bugs so far.
I mention this "custom truck design" just to point out it is quiet possible
to look at your rig, and figure out a way to do a "customer to your rig
design" and have it fabed up in a local metal working shop.

Joe Scudder
WBCCI 8624