NEW: Bike-Hook Ladder Mount Bike Rack for RVs & Campervans
Craig Waller
Your RV already has a ladder. Why add another giant bike rack?
That question started our next project. The new Bike-Hook Ladder Mount System is designed to give an RV or campervan with a suitable rear ladder a mounting point for our removable Bike-Hook. It takes the fork-mount idea behind our van-door product and adapts it to a vehicle that already has a ladder on the back.
We are close to launch, and this is your first look at the hardware. The featured photo shows the mounting bar, aluminum clamps, Bike-Hook fork mounts, and removable safety pin on the workbench. We will add photos of a complete ladder installation and bikes loaded as soon as we can shoot them.
What is the Bike-Hook Ladder Mount System?
The system uses a 5 mm powder-coated aluminum mounting bracket that attaches to a rear ladder with aluminum truss clamps. That bracket provides the top edge the Bike-Hook needs: the removable Bike-Hook slides over it much as it slides over the top of a van door. The bicycle then attaches at the front fork after the front wheel is removed. The removable Bike-Hook itself is made from stainless steel for corrosion resistance.
A 3/8-inch safety pin holds the Bike-Hook on the ladder bracket. For owners who want an additional locking option, a suitably sized long-shackle lock can replace the pin. We will specify the lock fit when we publish the final installation and product details.
Who are we making it for?
We have heard from RV and campervan owners who want to bring their bikes but do not want another large carrier hanging from a hitch. Some already use the hitch for towing or cargo; others simply want a more compact way to make use of the rear of the vehicle.
If your vehicle has an exterior rear ladder, this may be an option worth considering. Ladder construction and attachment vary from vehicle to vehicle, so fit cannot be assumed from a photo alone. We are preparing the measurements and installation guidance you will need to check your ladder before ordering.
Why build it this way?
I built the original Bike-Hook to be small and removable while giving the bike a clear mounting point. For this project, I wanted to keep that idea and make use of a ladder that was already there, without building a bulky carrier around it.
My 35 years as a Key Grip in film and television also influenced the hardware choice. I have spent a career building and securing equipment for camera and lighting setups. Professional aluminum truss clamps—a type of hardware used in the entertainment industry to attach equipment to structural truss—were a familiar starting point for a bracket that grips round ladder tubing. The ladder and its attachment to the RV still need to be suitable for the intended load; the clamp alone does not establish the capacity of the complete setup.
What happens next?
We are finishing the launch details and getting a complete setup photographed on an RV ladder. Next we will show the mounting steps, explain ladder fit, and share pricing and availability. Until those details are final, this article is a first look at the design rather than an installation guide.
Have an RV or campervan with a rear ladder? Send us your vehicle model and a clear photo of the ladder. It will help us answer fit questions as we prepare the release. Contact Bike-Hook.
