Bicycle mount for 4 seat Bearhawks

[rv8bldr]

Hey everyone

A discussion on the "General" forum this morning regarding building a single seat rear vice the bench seat spurred me to start this thread (I'll be posting it in the other 4 seat forum too).

I'm scratch building a 4 seat with the major purpose of carting my wife and I around with our camping gear and our normal, full size mountain/hybrid bikes. I'm in the process of designing (in my head for now) a removable bicycle mount for these bikes that would fit in the rear seat mounting lugs. I haven't seen anything like this yet so I thought I would start a design discussion here and maybe we can design something cool amongst all of us who want one.

To kick things off, I thought I would list a few requirements to generate discussion and ideas. Please feel free to add to the list or make suggestion for changes.

The Bearhawk Bike Rack shall:

1. Be easily mounted and removed and utilize the rear seat mounts
2. Be able to safely secure at least two full size (non-foldable) bicycles
3. Leave room for the storage of camping gear, knapsacks, etc
4. Keep the bicycle parts (pointy bits) away from the sidewalls (fabric) and front passenger heads
5. Allow bicycle mounting with a minimum of bicycle disassembly (as a software engineer, I HATE requirements worded like this :-)

I realize these are obvious requirements, but it is a start. I've been researching bicycle components that might help, and I've found pedals that are quick release (no wrench required) which is a big help. The handle bars are more problematic.

Anyway, I hope this interests a few of you folks enough to help me design something.

Cheers

[X'N]

How about mounting one of these on each side.

[rv8bldr]

Now those are kinda cool. I'm not sure I'd want one on either side as that would mean I'd have to stack the camping stuff in between the bikes, which might be a chore, but there might be a way to use the wall mount version from below.

Thanks, Dan

[X'N]

Oh I just had another idea. This may be kind of hard to explain. Picture both bikes upside down

The main mounting I'm thinking about would be attached to the floor using seat track rail or say the little quick release anchor pucks. From there make a sub plate that could be removed when you don't need to mount the bikes. Remove the front tire & seat w/post (easy enough to do with quick releases) On your sub plate you would have post that would slide into where the seat post was and then say a small pad to capture the handle bars along with say a strap like a motorcycle helmet has. For space savings I'd have one bike facing forward and one aft.

[X'N]

Here's something I drew up quick to help explain what the mount could look like. I would say it would maybe work best if the seat post part could pivot for and aft.

[X'N]

Double bike mount.

[rv8bldr]

Hey Dan,

You rock, man! That is a great idea. I think I will have to add a separate support that attaches to the fuselage sidewall to brace the bikes laterally. I wouldn't want that upright seat post pipe to take all of the bending moment of the bikes trying to tip over.

Thanks a lot for this.

[X'N]

No problem my only requirement is you post pictures when done

[rv8bldr]

Deal

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