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Harry, we’ve reached the top

J.R. Quick

Chimp
May 12, 2019
1
0
Hi There!!!

Excited to see a forum forum that still exists. Used to be avid on bustedspoke (new England) and one other which was out of cali (name escapes me) - please remind!

I come here shamelessly seeking help and advice after re-entering cycling after a 4 year hiatus living in Nyc. I rode the five boro last weekend, blooming metric coming up, and more importantly, pan mass challenge in August.

I was the expert DH national champion in 2010 at age 19.

anyways; reason I post, while I digress, I purchased a stealth hitch for my Mercedes C class amg. I installed a 2” Kuat Sherpa 2.0 rack. When I put two bikes on it, My 2019 Pivot Mach 5.5(pro build) and my 2010 Morewood Shova (nostalgia build) the rack seems to sway and bounce quite a bit. Definitely when driving slow on bumpy roads, as well as highway. I have been driving 60mph on highway just to prevent a nuclear carbon explosion. Any help or commentary? I don’t remember racks moving or flexing or bouncing this much.

for those that help, I will send stickers, for those that don’t, I promise to add value to this site soon!

Best,

JR

edit: the other forum was ridemonkey!!!
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
Hi There!!!

Excited to see a forum forum that still exists. Used to be avid on bustedspoke (new England) and one other which was out of cali (name escapes me) - please remind!

I come here shamelessly seeking help and advice after re-entering cycling after a 4 year hiatus living in Nyc. I rode the five boro last weekend, blooming metric coming up, and more importantly, pan mass challenge in August.

I was the expert DH national champion in 2010 at age 19.

anyways; reason I post, while I digress, I purchased a stealth hitch for my Mercedes C class amg. I installed a 2” Kuat Sherpa 2.0 rack. When I put two bikes on it, My 2019 Pivot Mach 5.5(pro build) and my 2010 Morewood Shova (nostalgia build) the rack seems to sway and bounce quite a bit. Definitely when driving slow on bumpy roads, as well as highway. I have been driving 60mph on highway just to prevent a nuclear carbon explosion. Any help or commentary? I don’t remember racks moving or flexing or bouncing this much.

for those that help, I will send stickers, for those that don’t, I promise to add value to this site soon!

Best,

JR

edit: the other forum was ridemonkey!!!
Are you using a step down adapter from 2" to 1-1/4"?
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
1-1/4" receivers are garbage period. I had my hitch fabricated by a trailer place because 2" hitches weren't available off the shelf for my impreza
I disagree, you usually don't want to be loading more than two bikes on a light car like that, otherwise the rear squats and the front raises significantly, and you are usually above the tongue weight. In that idea, 1 and 1/4 works fine, especially if it's designed well. My T2 bolts in and the screw tightens against the receiver, so it doesn't really sway and bikes don't move around like crazy.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
I disagree, you usually don't want to be loading more than two bikes on a light car like that, otherwise the rear squats and the front raises significantly, and you are usually above the tongue weight. In that idea, 1 and 1/4 works fine, especially if it's designed well. My T2 bolts in and the screw tightens against the receiver, so it doesn't really sway and bikes don't move around like crazy.
Who said I was loading more than 2 bikes? Also, 1-1/4" is garbage.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
Who said I was loading more than 2 bikes? Also, 1-1/4" is garbage.
Then I'm just lucky, having used it with perfect success between 4 cars with never any problems. Maybe your problem is the rack?
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
Then I'm just lucky, having used it with perfect success between 4 cars with never any problems. Maybe your problem is the rack?
Same rack as you. I just don't settle for mediocrity. Plus when I got it I was doing a lot of highway driving for races. 6+ hours routinely.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
Same rack as you. I just don't settle for mediocrity. Plus when I got it I was doing a lot of highway driving for races. 6+ hours routinely.
There's got to be something else going on, like loose within your chassis or the rack. I've taken the rack with bikes on many mountain roads and speeds that...well...are very fast, with nary a problem. The bikes aren't swinging around and honestly, loading up a 1up with 4 bikes on a 2" swings/moves way more.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
There's got to be something else going on, like loose within your chassis or the rack. I've taken the rack with bikes on many mountain roads and speeds that...well...are very fast, with nary a problem. The bikes aren't swinging around and honestly, loading up a 1up with 4 bikes on a 2" swings/moves way more.
Never had a 1-1/4" rack. But every one I've ever seen shakes like Michael J Fox.
 

sundaydoug

Monkey
Jun 8, 2009
609
271
Did you use an 8mm Allen to tighten the hand ‘screw’?
This. I have a 2" Kuat rack on an STi hatch and I hand-tighten first then use an 8mm hex to get that thing nice and snug before loading bikes. Doesn't really move at all.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
I have/had the NV 2.0 not the sherpa, but got very little or no bounce with it in a 2.0 hitch. The hitch has a ball with a hand screw that presses against the hitch and keep motion to a minimum. It's pretty slick but I've seen no need for a wedge or any other anti-bounce system.
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,484
7,530
Exit, CO
I have a swing-away hitch extender that goes in the receiver, then the rack goes into that. The extra stuff made for some play and wobbling. I got a doo-dad like this and it has helped significantly: