R1T Bike Transport - Range Impacts

[DawgPound]

Has anyone tested bikes over bed vs bikes behind bed on hitch rack?
Curious if there is any significant impact on range between the 2 options.
This would be on a longer trip where bed is already occupied with other gear.

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Has anyone tested bikes over bed vs bikes behind bed on hitch rack?
Curious if there is any significant impact on range between the 2 options.
This would be on a longer trip where bed is already occupied with other gear.

No examples that I recall. But, most of the bed is in wake of the truck's cab. Unless there is a lot of additional frontal area being presented to on-coming air, there wouldn't be much effect on aero. So if you want to minimize impact (and wind buffeting) show as little to the air as possible.

This demo of a CFD simulation software provides an idea on how air flows over and around the R1T.


In case someone trot out the old Mythbusters episodes, those are not relevant... since the trucks they tried do not have all of the aero devices, or design considerations, the R1T has.

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

Has anyone tested bikes over bed vs bikes behind bed on hitch rack?
Curious if there is any significant impact on range between the 2 options.
This would be on a longer trip where bed is already occupied with other gear.

I experienced a solid 5%+ hit with two MTB's on a 1 UP hitch mounted bike rack. Multiple long road trips to Utah, CA and throughout AZ as my data points. 10%+ mounted on cross bars over the bed of our R1T. As always, YMMV.

 

[DawgPound]

I experienced a solid 5%+ hit with two MTB's on a 1 UP hitch mounted bike rack. Multiple long road trips to Utah, CA and throughout AZ as my data points. 10%+ mounted on cross bars over the bed of our R1T. As always, YMMV.

thanks - that is exactly the type of info looking for

 

[DawgPound]

No examples that I recall. But, most of the bed is in wake of the truck's cab. Unless there is a lot of additional frontal area being presented to on-coming air, there wouldn't be much effect on aero. So if you want to minimize impact (and wind buffeting) show as little to the air as possible.

This demo of a CFD simulation software provides an idea on how air flows over and around the R1T.


In case someone trot out the old Mythbusters episodes, those are not relevant... since the trucks they tried do not have all of the aero devices, or design considerations, the R1T has.

Thanks - very helpful.

 

[Weck]

I experienced a solid 5%+ hit with two MTB's on a 1 UP hitch mounted bike rack. Multiple long road trips to Utah, CA and throughout AZ as my data points. 10%+ mounted on cross bars over the bed of our R1T. As always, YMMV.

This is very similar to my experience, except a little worse with 3 bikes versus two. I have a set of 1 Ups mounted to the bed cross rails as well as a rockymounts monorail hitch rack set up for 3 bikes.

One thing to consider with the hitch mount racks is the R1T tailgate gooseneck hinges, I need to take my rack off to drop the tailgate as it sits too high even when tilted down.

 

[DawgPound]

good call on the bed access with the hitch on. I need to play with that and look to see if a drop hitch receiver would help with that.

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

This is very similar to my experience, except a little worse with 3 bikes versus two. I have a set of 1 Ups mounted to the bed cross rails as well as a rockymounts monorail hitch rack set up for 3 bikes.

One thing to consider with the hitch mount racks is the R1T tailgate gooseneck hinges, I need to take my rack off to drop the tailgate as it sits too high even when tilted down.

This ^^^. I had two bikes mounted on the rails (1 UP rails) and two bikes on the 1 UP hitch mount on a trip to Sedona and it was a solid 15-20% hit at freeway speeds.

 

[Weck]

This ^^^. I had two bikes mounted on the rails (1 UP rails) and two bikes on the 1 UP hitch mount on a trip to Sedona and it was a solid 15-20% hit at freeway speeds.

I have a very similar setup except a third one in the middle. I have two of the three facing backwards to help keep them from wiggling around as much. Oddly I have no pictures...

 

[Noplacelikeloam]

I have rack mounts with front wheel off. Maybe 5% impact or less. Same for hitch rack with bikes horizontal. Not much impact. However, vertical hitch mounted, 10% or a bit more IME.

 

[RivianXpress]

Two motorcycles (dual sport and ADV) in bed I'm seeing a hit of 25% or more. Gonna run some test with my dual sport on a hitch next and hoping for less of a hit.

 

[Cycliste]

Didn’t notice any impact when I had a fork mount in the bed near the tailgate and a road bike. I used that setup for over 2 years. The downside is I would climb into the bed and had to be careful not to fall.

I haven’t noticed any impact with the crossbars and two Thule bike racks with one bike. The fork is near the tailgate.

That is on a 20 km trip to the start, so not sure I would really be able to notice.

Most of the time now, I have a tonneau cover and just slide the bike into the bed with the front wheel off, and the wheel in a wheel bag. That way, I don’t climb into the bed at the ‘orthopedic height’ (the height where you’ll need a surgeon if you fall and fracture a hip—House of God)

 

[DawgPound]

Didn’t notice any impact when I had a fork mount in the bed near the tailgate and a road bike. I used that setup for over 2 years. The downside is I would climb into the bed and had to be careful not to fall.

I haven’t noticed any impact with the crossbars and two Thule bike racks with one bike. The fork is near the tailgate.

That is on a 20 km trip to the start, so not sure I would really be able to notice.

Most of the time now, I have a tonneau cover and just slide the bike into the bed with the front wheel off, and the wheel in a wheel bag. That way, I don’t climb into the bed at the ‘orthopedic height’ (the height where you’ll need a surgeon if you fall and fracture a hip—House of God)

I am also at the hip breaking stage of life, so much so that I ride a recumbent. If my bed wasn't going to be full of other gear I would just lay it down back there.

 

[Dman250]

In our gasoline pickup having 2-3 bikes in the bed with the forks over the tailgate is about 5% mpg hit. In our VW Golf with 2 bikes on the hitch rack (1Up) is about 10%. We haven’t taken many long trips with the pickup and the hitch rack but it’s probably more than 5% hit. Obviously different aero and frontal area but just more data points.

 

[Mousetrap]

Two motorcycles (dual sport and ADV) in bed I'm seeing a hit of 25% or more. Gonna run some test with my dual sport on a hitch next and hoping for less of a hit.

Any chance you have a picture of that setup with two in the bed? I've carted 1 big Adv around plenty (GSA & KTM Super Adventure), but am not picturing how you'd fit two in at the same time...

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