Depending on your vehicle another option to consider is a front hitch. When we were heavy into the pop-up scene we had three kids and two adults and associated bikes. I considered all of the options above but didn't like them for various reasons. I ended up having a standard 2inch receiver hitch mounted on the front of our Suburban. Then I used a 5 bike rack to haul the bikes. Worked great and had zero issues with about 10,000 miles over the years with that setup. Of course, these were just cheap tool around campsite bikes. I'd never put one of my expensive bikes up there. Those got buckled into the third row passenger seat.

It's gonna be my tri-bike, my wife's mountain bike and "possibly" my mountain bike. Unfortunately there won't be room inside the minivan, unless I strap the dog to the roof.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

Don't be so extreme. There's always the kids.

Had a pop up camper for a few years and also looked at numerous options. Finally settled on something like this
It worked reasonably well. I didn't buy that brand, don't remember the brand, but the rack had just a bit of sway which I didn't like.

I looked at that, but I don't think it will work with my configuration. I have to run the hitch in a "rise" configuration rather than a "dropped", so I don't think there will be sufficient clearance between the hitch and the bottom of the rack.

I'm considering one of these , which would double as a workstand while we're on the road..

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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Would something like this work?

https://www.amazon.com/Stromberg-Carlson-CC-275-Bike-Cargo/dp/B00KQPLJVI/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M37PF4TW0HT5TSWQJNQS

just to be clear, you're talking about tent trailer, right? not a pop up camper. because, if you want to talk pop up campers, you talk to monty and me.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

Is that picture representative of the #2 option? Doesn't look like anything is drilled into the roof of the pop-up but rather attached to the tongue of the trailer. Seems like a decent option without the risks of roof leakage.

Is a roof rack for the van off the table?

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Formerly DrD

I gotcha. I have a 1up rack that has a slight rise to it so I could attach the pop up to the bottom of that and the rack to the top and I had plenty of clearance and and turning radius. My only complaint was despite all of it being straight 2 inch the rack would wiggle. I guess not a tight enough quality control on the hitch manufacturer.

forgive my naivete (I'm new at this), but what's the difference?

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

yeah, but still have to tie down the rear wheels with "something", and to set up the trailer that bar needs to come down. Plus they're more expensive than a hitch mount, and a hitch mount I could use even when not towing the trailer.

bike racks aren't recommended for the roof rack on my van. It's really just for light cargo.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

look closer, they are tied down

I looked at a Taxa Cricket. Know anything about them? Matches my fondness for bay window Westys (or I might get a Vanagon Westy).

There are straps there. I don't know that I trust how well the rear is tied down, based on where the attachmentpoints are relative to the fork clamps.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

Never mind, I figured out what you were on about. I'd like to get one of those eventually as well. Or maybe a Winnebago.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

to me, a pop up camper is like a northstar (the one i have) that goes on the back of a pickup truck.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

I’ve been in the market for a camper... I always immediately ruled out a pop up camper... I am concerned about the security, my bikes will be worth more than the camper and while I’m out riding my dogs will have to be locked up inside... I always just assumed that the screen windows immediately made the pop up camper not a option...

maybe that's a regional difference then? that's a camper truck. it can be a pop-up, or a camper van can be a pop-up (like a westfalia). or a trailer can be a popup. At least thats how I've always understood it. But then, like I say, I'm new at this and usually wrong.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

My working assumption is that any camper is going to be easy for a potential thief to break into. I've never had anything stolen from a tent (or campsite, for that matter) while camping before, and nothing of value gets left inside the tent (or camper). Valuables get locked out of sight inside my van.

We wanted the pop-up because anything bigger would be harder for the vehicle to tow. Popup tows pretty nicely behind the minivan.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

The pop up campers Dan and I have are no less safe than a full blown motorhome. It has glass windows with screens when down to give your animals some air, and probably less of a target than a big motorhome. Looks like nothing could be in there when down, and when up, you are there, so no big deal..

Yeah, kind of a bad picture. Doesn't look that secure.

I had a rack system on a Toyota Sienna that worked great. I would think bikes would be considered light cargo.

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Formerly DrD

I have a grand caravan with a built in rack system. I can't remember where (maybe yakima or thule's site?), but I did read (after buying of course) that my rack system was not compatible with bike mounts. I'd guess because of the torque / forces from sidewinds...

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

I think that if you are handy, you could make a rack system for that roof. You would have to reinforce it inside and outside with long pieces of wood or steel, and then use lots of caulk to seal up every single area where you cut a hole. I would try and go with some sort that just locked down one wheel, and then figured out how to secure the back wheel off the roof. I mean you are never driving with bikes on and the camper up anyway, so maybe some extension from the tongue up or other spot where you are not drilling into fiberglass.

I usually kept bikes inside but it was nice to have the roof rack available when a full load. Bummer it's not an option for you.

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Formerly DrD