If you're an Airstreamer looking for a solution to carrying your bikes while out on the road, look no further than the Airstream Carry-Bikes from Fiamma. Airstream teamed up with the experts in RV bike carriers to co-develop a unique bike carrier customized for your Airstream travel trailer.
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This bike carrier mounts securely on the rear of your Airstream, and allows for easy loading and unloading. It can be adjusted to fit most "silver bullet" Airstream travel trailers from 1969 to the present, so long as it has a bumper. Precision-manufactured from extruded aluminum, the Fiamma bike carrier is both light-weight and strong, with a carrying capacity of 75 pounds (35 kilograms) – suitable for two bicycles.
How to Install the Fiamma Bike Rack on an Airstream Travel Trailer
It’s best to lay out all of the components of your bike rack on a table or other designated space, so you can quickly and easily find what you need for each step.
You will also need a few tools in addition to what is supplied with your bike rack:
- Safety glasses
- Nylon hammer
- Measuring tape
- Power drill with #10 socket
- Open end wrench #10
Follow along in this video for a step-by-step guide to installing your Airstream Fiamma Bike Rack:
Step 1: Determine the width of the frame rails at the bumper of your travel trailer. There are three options, one of which you will encounter when you measure your bumper:
- 59”
- 65 ½”
- 67 ⅛”
Step 2: Take the long metal arms of the bike rack and locate the bushing. This bushing goes at the bottom of the rack. Position the metal arm with the bushing in the correct position and do the same with the second metal arm.
Step 3: You’ll notice three holes on top of each of the metal arms. These correlate to the width of the frame rails at the bumper of your travel trailer that you measured in Step 1. The hole closest to the center of the frame is for 67 ⅛” size, the middle hole is for the 65 ½” size, and the hole farthest from the center is for the 59” size.
Take the support pole and slide it in (sticker facing out) to each of the arms at the top, aligning the hole in the support to the hole required on the hole for the size you measured in Step 1.
Step 4: Repeat the Step 3 on the bottom by sliding the support into the bottom of the metal arms.
Step 5: Thread the M6x50 screws into the aligned holes on the front of the frame to attach the support to the 2 metals arms. Use one nut and one washer for each bolt to hold them in place on the back of the frame.
Step 6: Bring the bike rack to the front of the frame, aligning the bushings on the bottom of the frame with holes on the bike rack. Thread the M5x50 bolts from the outside of the frame to secure the bike rack to the frame. Use one nut and one washer for each bolt to hold them in place.
Step 7: Locate the eight brackets for mounting the legs to the bike rack. The small side is what attaches to the frame you just built. Use M6x50 bolts to attach four of the brackets to the frame. Don’t fully tighten these at this step.
Step 8: Locate the two support arms. Note that one is right hand side (roadside) and left hand side (curbside).
Take the roadside support arm and slide it through the bottom of the brackets that you affixed to the frame in step 7. Once it is slid through the bottom bracket, slide one of the small brackets onto the tube and let it hang loosely. There will now be three brackets on the side of the frame – two attached to the frame and one attached to the support arm.
Once this bracket is in place, continue to slide the support arm through the top bracket. Use an M6x65 to fasten the bracket to the support arm. Repeat for streetside. Completely tighten all frame brackets.
Step 9: Mount the supports to the frame rail of your travel trailer. Use a tape measure and mark 2” on the bottom of each support. This is where it mounts to the frame rail.
Place the support where it will be located on the frame rail and mark the holes that you need to drill on the trailer. Pre Drill the holes with #30, then finish with ¼”. While holding the support to the frame rail, leave ⅜” gap from the bumper. Line up the support rail and attach loosely with M6 x 25 bolts.
Step 10: Slide frame with support arms to the frame rail supports. Once everything is lined up correctly, fasten them together using M6 x60 bolts from the inside. Use one nut and one washer for each bolt on the outside of the support to hold them together.
Step 11: Tighten all bolts on the entire bike rack frame.
Step 12: Install the support arms to the brackets from Step 8 by measuring 4 ½” to the top of the bracket on both sides of the frame. The long side of the support arm goes towards the inside of the trailer. Place the support where you measured and use your drill to predrill holes in your travel trailer on each side. Select the rubber piece on the backside of the pad and use #10 x1” stainless steel screws to attach the supports to the trailer.