Arvika Travel Trailer Bike Rack Review
Lightweight, Easy to Load, Keeps Bikes Safe & Secure!
Pros:
-easy loading/unloading
-no bike damage
-keeps bikes secure
-lock Included
-great after sale service
Features:
-made for most RV brands & types
-available in 2, 3, & 4 bike models
-includes lock
-no drill install for most rigs
Cons:
-can contact tow vehicle in jackknife scenario
-adds tongue weight
-need to be mindful of small parts
Full disclosure: We bought this bike rack with our own money (through the RV manufacturer) and this review is our honest opinion after three years of ownership. However, we do have a discount code for you at the bottom of this article! Now let’s get to the review: The Arvika bike rack on our teardrop holds two bikes, and is mounted on the front of the trailer above the A-frame. Although our rack is a specific model designed for our Safari Condo trailer, Arvika makes various similar models suitable for most campers, including standard travel trailers, NuCamps, Airstreams, and Teardrops. They also make racks to hold 2, 3, or even 4 bikes. Finally, they have a hitch mounted option for motorized RVs. After years of enduring the jigsaw puzzle challenge that is your standard hanging-cradle hitch mounted bike rack, this Arvika bike rack was truly a breath of fresh air.
The process of loading bikes is extremely simple and fast. The bikes are securely held in gutters and they do not contact each other, which means no scuff marks or scratches. I wish I could say the same about my old bike racks! Set up is as easy as adjusting the wheel stops to your bikes the first time you use the rack, and after that you simply put the bikes on the rack, secure the support arms, and strap each wheel. Removing bikes is the same easy process in reverse. Note that we demo all of this in our Youtube video linked above!
The fast load and unload has been a real game-changer for us. Ontario Parks (where we camp most of the time) allow you to check out at 2PM. If the weather is nice, we’ll use the morning of check out for outdoor adventure. This is only possible because we’ve got our teardown/pack-up process down to less than an hour, and the Arvika bike rack is a major contributor to the speed of our process.
The Arvika bike rack is very solid, yet it’s lightweight. It seems to have been designed using the everything you need and nothing you don’t philosophy. The bikes remain very secure in transit: I’ve watched the bikes in the rearview mirror during thousands of miles of driving, and I’m always surprised by the lack of movement. As an added bonus, the rack comes with a simple yet effective lock on the support arm for the outside bike. Twice we’ve needed to order replacement parts (both times our fault), and the customer service in getting replacements was top notch. And because it’s a North American company, shipping times for the parts are very reasonable.
It’s not all roses though. You do need to be careful not to misplace any of the small straps, nuts & bolts, and other pieces of the rack. You should also pay attention to tongue weight when buying any front mounted rack, since most of the added weight will transfer directly onto your tow ball. The next issue is more serious, and to be clear, it has never happened to us, but it did happen to one of our trailer renters (see image below of bent gutter). If you jackknife the trailer (something you should never do even without a bike rack), you can damage both the rack and the tow vehicle. It’s always best to have a spotter outside the vehicle when you’re doing tight turns such as backing into a campsite. If the spotter thinks the vehicle/rack clearance is too tight, you can always pop the bikes off and fold the rack up to give you 100% clearance. Note that in the case of our renter, the cause was less about the bike rack and more about towing inexperience.
All in all, we highly recommend the Arvika bike rack. This rack is lightweight and solid while keeping the bikes secure and damage free. The speed and ease of loading and unloading is also a big plus. And it’s nice to know you can count on the after sales service: something you don’t often find these days. Just make sure your tow setup can handle the added tongue weight!
If you are interested in picking up an Arvika bike rack for your travel trailer, click on the links below, and use the code DAYHIKER10 at checkout for 10% off!
***Use discount code DAYHIKER10 for 10% off Arvika bike racks, add-ons, and parts using the links below. Enter code at checkout. We’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a great way to support Day Hike From the Six!***