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Does anyone have a front mounted bicycle rack on their van?
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BrickFan
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:25 pm    Post subject: Does anyone have a front mounted bicycle rack on their van? Reply with quote

I am thinking of making a front mount to haul my bicycle and wondered if anyone else had done it and if you did, did you have any problems with cooling? I am worried that a bicycle on the front would disrupt the air flow coming into the radiator.
I don't want to mount it on the roof and it would be a hassle mounted on the back hatch. If mounted in the front, It would not be in the way of anything and I could always keep an eye on it.
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buildyourown
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cooling will be fine.
The issue I see is visibility.
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presslab
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a front receiver hitch mounted pretty low, about where the bottom of the stock bumper is. I use it for a cargo carrier.

I tried my Thule T2 carier, with one bike it's okay as long as you put the handlebar on the passenger side and drop the seat. With the handlebar on the driver's side it's pretty much dead center and in the way of viewing the road.
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IrideWheelies
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've considered it but think it may block the headlights. Also, there may be dead bugs all over your bike. Not cool.
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Rhinoculips
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The visibility is fine, headlight work alright and flow to the radiator is uneffected. The downside is that the bike will be more exposed to driving rain, muck, sand etc. that can do a number on the bearings and creep into crevices. I used a cheaper bike rack that is normally used on the rear bumper. Just under the windshield I riveted two attachment points that are identical to those found in the roof luggage rack on Westies. I used these to mount the straps that would normally go to the back hatch (when mounted on the rear bumper) Then the bottom section is fastened to the stock front bumper with bolts that hook into two small holes. I prefer the front mount over all options.
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buildyourown
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As an alternative, I would suggest a hitch mounted swing away. They are affordable and allow access to the hatch w/o lifting.
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kevtherev
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This rack opens with the gate

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It can hold up to 4 bikes
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vanis13
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd love to see some pics of front racks.

I've been thinking of installing a front hitch just so I have the option to install a hitch mount bike rack on the front.

PS. I have a swing away on the back and its ok but its heavy and the back sags w/all the other crap I carry around and its quick but not super quick to swing out (and it swings to the passenger side where we tend to do most of the living when parked so its a little in the way).
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ajdenette
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

We have a couple clamp on racks for steel bumpers on the wety my grandfather ties the top of the rack to the lugage rack however to keep good wiper operation he has a block of wood he places unter the roap at the bottom of the face of the lugage rack to space the roap. i find on my syncro without the upper mount it tends to bounce around a bit.
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BrickFan
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for all the tips guys!
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noganav
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gary, the guy that makes the awesome roof racks, ladders and tire carriers makes a front mounted bike rack.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/front/front.htm
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0to60in6min
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 5:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a bike rack in the front of my rig, it holds 2 bikes.. but..

I do not have lot of infos since it came with it when I bought the van.. the brand is Graber, I send them email for infos but never get any reply.. so I sent it to a shop to make one similar but stronger (thicker wall tubing)..The receiver is quite simple, a L-shape tube welded to the front bumper mount...

btw.. I don't think it's straight from Graber... it's being modified to fit...

Visibily is fine, cooling is fine, may be a bit of reflection from the headlights on the chrome parts of the bike at night but easily fix by covering them with some rags..

also I am not worry about the bikes, they are mountain bikes, not high end/expensive bikes...

Very Happy

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