How to Install Swagman Around the Spare Bike Rack on RV

Installing Swagman is simple. The rack, made of 1/2 inch thick steel and weighing about 28 pounds, bolts on to the back end of your RV’s spare bike rack with a single bolt. With no tools required for installation or removal from your vehicle, you can enjoy this product anywhere in the world!

The “spare tire bike rack” is a perfect place to store your bike when you are not using it. It will also keep the bikes out of sight and off the ground.

It’s possible that some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link, I may get a commission. In addition, I receive money on qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. —

I like to keep the rear end of my truck bike clear of cargo, which allows me to carry stuff like firewood, coolers, and generally a couple of scooters for the children. This Around the Spare Tire Bike Rack Swagman was the ideal fit for my Forest River 23IKSS Shamrock / Roo travel trailer.

The Swagman around the spare tire method is simple to set up and is ideal for transporting children’s bicycles. What is the best way to transport the adult bikes to our destination? The jack-it double bike carrier system, when paired with the Swagman system, enables us to transport four bikes in total.

Here’s where you can learn how to install it and how to use it. Let’s go back to how to install a Swagman around the spare tire rear rack system now that we’ve covered the bikes on the front of the camper.

What is the maximum size of bumper that the Around the Spare Rack can accommodate?

Two U-bolts are used to secure the Around the Spare Tire Bike Rack Swagman to the travel trailer. These U-bolts are meant to clamp on to a continuous welded square bumper that is 4 – 4 1/2 inches in diameter.

You should check to see whether your bumper is welded. Otherwise, you risk the bumper collapsing and getting pulled behind the camper. Make sure your camper’s back bumper is capable of supporting more than simply a spare tire.

Features of the Around the Spare Tire Bike Rack Swagman

According to Swagman, the spare tire bike rack has the following features:

Two nylon straps are included to attach the bikes by the top tubes, preventing excessive rattling.
2 release pins that enable you to easily remove the top portion of the rack, allowing access to the spare tire.
The anti-sway cradles contain three locations with robust rubber straps for the following purposes:
- The bike’s finish will not be scratched.
- Accepts bike frames with a diameter of up to 1 1/2′′.
- During transit, prevents bike-to-bike touch.
The Swagman bike rack around the spare tire is intended to handle two bikes.
Two U-bolts and brackets secure the bike rack to the square bumper.
The Swagman bike rack is made of black powder coated steel that is corrosion resistant.

Specs for the Around the Spare Tire Bike Rack Swagman

The maximum bike frame diameter is 1 1/2 inches.
The spare tire has a 12 3/4′′ clearance.
The distance between the cradle’s edge and the edge of the other cradle is 18 inches.
Maximum weight capacity per bike is 35 pounds.
4 – 4 1/2′′ square continuously welded steel bumpers are used in the design.

The distance between the bumper and the inside of the bottom bike rack is 12 inches. As it climbs to the top, the bike rack slopes out a bit, providing you an extra 1/4 – 1/2 inch of space.

The distance between the top of the bike rack and the underside of the bike support rails is 24 inches.

Around the spare tire bike support rails, the Swagman’s protrude 12 inches.

The bike rack support rail is 14 1/4′′ wide from center to center. This measurement varies somewhat depending on how far apart the bottom U-bolts are connected together.

Swagman Around the Spare Bike Rack Requires the Following Tools

(2) 1/2′′ ratchets or sockets
Ratchet or 15mm socket

How to Assemble & Install Swagman Around the Spare Bike Rack

To begin, wrap the U-Bolt around the bumper.

Place the lower around the U-extra Bolt’s bike rack assembly. On the top and bottom threads of the U-Bolt, place one locking washer followed by the nut.

Adjustments may be done by finger tightening to the conclusion.

Rep the procedure on the spare tire’s opposite side.

Take the upper arms from the spare tire assembly and install them in the lower assembly that was recently put together on the travel trailer’s rear bumper. The upper arms should be pointed in opposite directions.

Place the two pins in the pre-drilled hole between the top and bottom of the bike rack. This is a pin rather than a bolt, so the rack may be readily removed if access to the spare tire is required.

Use the supplied bolt to secure the stabilizer bar on one side. Before tightening the nut, be sure the locking washer is in position.

Reverse the procedure on the other side of the stabilizer bar.

It’s time to tighten everything down after all of the connections are finger tight and everything is aligned. Begin with the two stabilizer bolts and tighten them up.

Replace the four bolts at the bottom of the Swagman’s around spare tire rack and repeat the operation. Have a great camping season!

Time to prepare: 2 minutes

20 minutes of active time

Time spent: 22 minutes

Difficulty: Simple

Materials

Around the Spare Tire Bike Rack Swagman

Tools

(2) 1/2′′ ratchets or sockets
Ratchet or 15mm socket

Instructions

To begin, wrap the U-Bolt around the bumper.
Place the lower bike rack support on the U-Bolt. Add the locking nut and then finger tighten the nut on. Rep the procedure on the spare tire’s opposite side.
In the bottom foundation support, place the higher vertical bike rack support system. The bars should be bending inwards and away from each other. Place the safety locking pin in place.
Install the stabilizer bar on one side of the bike rack, then the other side, linking the two together. Before installing the nut, make sure a locking washer is in place.
Minor adjustments should be made to line everything up before tightening the stabilizer bracket and the four u-bolt nuts.
Have a great camping season!

The “diy rv ladder bike rack” is a project that allows users to install a bike rack in their RV. The project requires the use of two L-brackets, two screws, and one bolt.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you attach a bike rack to an RV?

A: On the back of your RV, there is a hitch or tow point that you can use to attach your bike rack. You will need some sort of pipe or tube to stretch it over top of this part on the back and then secure it in place with cable ties.

How do you mount a bike rack to an RV bumper?

A: You should check out our guide on mounting bike racks to vehicles.

Can you put a bike rack on the back of an RV?

A: No, this is not possible to do. The RV has a hitch for the car and cannot support anything else being attached to it.

Related Tags

rv platform bike rack
rv spare tire bike rack
swagman bike rack
rv 4 bike rack
bike rack for inside rv