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  • Swagman e-Spec Bike Rack

    Moderator Note: Copied Flystar's posts from https://gdrvowners.com/towing-and-hi...-mod#post54832 to this new thread. -Howard

    I too have as swagman e rated rv rated bike rack and two 60 lb e-bikes. I’m sort of afraid to use it and will probably put the bikes inside the camper. Maybe. Anxious to hear hour next report.

  • #2
    Note the added tail lights on the rack.

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    • #3
      FlyStar

      Have you mounted a bike on the rack? Last night I put an old standard bike up for the first time and there's a distinctive slant (lean) toward the camper. So much so that when a bike is loaded on the inside the bike's handlebars touch the rear window.

      If you could (please) take a few pictures of the rack installation with emphasis from the side, about level with trays, it would be very helpful. I'm not sure if I messed up putting it together or what's going on. (Was too late last night to mess with it.)
      Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

      2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

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      • #4
        I used that Swagman on many, many trips. We've got two ebikes and there was never an issue of stability. Nice idea for the extra brake lights.

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        • #5
          Great to hear the positive report on the swagman and heavy bikes. Regarding a pic from the side, can do when I visit the storage place and have my “love the rv” day on 10/20.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by howson View Post
            FlyStar

            Have you mounted a bike on the rack? Last night I put an old standard bike up for the first time and there's a distinctive slant (lean) toward the camper. So much so that when a bike is loaded on the inside the bike's handlebars touch the rear window.

            If you could (please) take a few pictures of the rack installation with emphasis from the side, about level with trays, it would be very helpful. I'm not sure if I messed up putting it together or what's going on. (Was too late last night to mess with it.)
            I have the Swagman Dispatch, not the e-Spec, but I loosen the stem bolt on the bike closer to the camper and turn the handlebars 90 degrees when putting the bike on the rack. Just takes a second, and gives plenty of clearance.
            John & Kathy
            2014 Reflection 303RLS
            2014 F250 SC SB 6.2

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Jkwilson View Post

              I have the Swagman Dispatch, not the e-Spec, but I loosen the stem bolt on the bike closer to the camper and turn the handlebars 90 degrees when putting the bike on the rack. Just takes a second, and gives plenty of clearance.
              That's crazy, John. Should not have to do that. If Swagman's product requires that change to mount a bike on the inboard side to keep it from striking the RV they should state so in the literature. If I'm buying an "RV-approved" rack the bikes should fit without modification.

              Below are pics I just took of the issue.

              The red level is vertical (90 degrees) in this first pic.
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              The second shows the degree of inboard tilt.

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              Third pic shows the digital level at 90 degrees--really shows the amount of inboard tilt.

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              It's this part--how the holes are drilled--that I believe is inducing the tilt.

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              In case someone wonders, where the bike rack inserts into the camper is nearly perfectly level (since the camper is level).

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              I'm not a happy camper right now.

              Howard

              TucsonJim -- heads up since I know you're looking at this rack, too.
              Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

              2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

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              • #8
                howson Problem is, adding even a few inches to the length of the drawbar makes a serious difference in the forces on the rack. I’d rather do the handlebars than have more bounce.
                John & Kathy
                2014 Reflection 303RLS
                2014 F250 SC SB 6.2

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                • #9
                  what happens if you put the stabilizer clamp on turned over ?
                  2021 Solitude 390RK
                  No truck - don't travel

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by tortuga View Post
                    what happens if you put the stabilizer clamp on turned over ?
                    Yes this. Put the clamp on upside down so it pulls the draw bar down instead of up, the play in the receiver is causing your issue.

                    Brian
                    Brian & Michelle
                    2018 Reflection 29RS
                    2022 Chevy 3500HD

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                    • #11
                      tortuga and Country Campers

                      No, the stabilizer is not affecting the upright bar. I knew that would be a question thus why I posted the picture (last one in post 7) showing the bottom bar is almost exactly horizontal.

                      The DW found the drawing below on Swagman's website. It appears the 6 degree angle is an intentional design / engineering choice by Swagman. Ridiculous.
                      Note: I originally wrote "13" in the previous sentence so I changed it read 6, the correct value.

                      Jkwilson -- the bike rack would not need to be extended if the upright bar was straight (90 degrees) as one would expect. I've had several bike racks over the years (including another Swagman) and the upright bars have never leaned into the attached vehicle. At least not to the extent where the bike contacts the vehicle necessitating some disassembly of the bicycle.

                      https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/20...F?v=1617210720

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                      Last edited by howson; 10-12-2022, 02:14 PM.
                      Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

                      2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

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                      • #12
                        Thanks for the heads up on this howson. I really don't like the idea of having to turn the handle bars either.

                        Jim
                        Jim and Ginnie
                        2024 Solitude 310GK
                        GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
                        GDRV Rally Support Coordinator

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                        • #13
                          howson Well, looking online at my rack, it appears to be tilted forward too. I’d have bet otherwise and I’m hardheaded enough I HAVE to go look when the rain quits. 😀 While I can see tilting the bikes forward would help move the weight toward the hitch, it obviously works against the clearance at the back of the RV.

                          Just in case I’m clouding the issue, my hitch is not a GD factory installation so the amount it protrudes in the back may be more or less than other rigs. But that raises the question as to what the normal hitch protrusion beyond the rear of the trailer is and whether some rigs have geometry that places the bikes closer than others.

                          But after using ours many times, I can assure you twisting the handlebars is a very small price to pay for a very robust and stable rack. I have the needed hex key in the seat bag on the bike, so it’s always handy.

                          Also, as an FYI, ours rubbed a bit of paint off the bike tubes where the hooks grab the bikes. I responded by applying touch-up paint, then adding a single wrap of duct tape where to hook grabs. Clear tape would be a better option, but I used what I had.
                          John & Kathy
                          2014 Reflection 303RLS
                          2014 F250 SC SB 6.2

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                          • #14
                            First off--my math was off. It's 6 degrees, not 13. I'll fix the earlier post.

                            A Swagman engineer responded to me via email stating the 6 degrees is intentional due to expected, ...play or clearance in the hitch causes the rack to tilt down​​... I find that logic a bit incredulous, but there it is.

                            Being a Star Trek Next Generation fan I often find that along with Data's father (who was known as "Often Wrong Soong") I also find that I'm frequently wrong about something or am stuck in a paradigm. So, to ensure this wasn't the case with Country Campers and tortuga's input I swapped around the hitch clamp. Made .5 degree of difference. Not enough, but it was something.

                            The Swagman engineer recommended loosening all the bolts on the "main gusset", pulling back, and retightening all the bolts. Result (including the clamp change) was 4.2 degrees vs the 6 degrees initially. This now allows the bike to not hit the window upon installation, but the handlebar is only 1" from the window. There's too much play in the upright bar so I'm convinced the handlebar will strike the window at some point. Not willing to risk it.

                            The only way I can see getting the upright bar vertical is to wallow out the inner bolt hole on the main assembly. I'll leave the hole on the main gusset the same size--just open up the inner one so the main assembly doesn't tilt up so much (thus allowing the vertical bar to come back to 90 degrees). I'm waiting on the Swagman engineer's response.

                            Jkwilson -- I'd be very curious to know the measurement on your trailer. Mine is 17.25" from the rear of the camper to the end of the lower assembly as shown below.

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                            Some pics below of what I'm referencing for those that are curious.

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                            This last picture shows the clearance of the handlebar with the upright bar nearly vertical. I didn't measure it exactly, but there's plenty of clearance where I'd not be concerned about the rear window.

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                            Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

                            2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

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                            • #15
                              My vertical ost leans only 3.5 degrees as opposed to the 5.7 degrees shown above. Receiver tube is dead level on the horizontal.

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