Maverick fits Four 26" Mountain Bikes

[RogueCheddar]

looks like you're blocking the rear view camera? my fox has inserts to fill the gap where the tailgate handle and camera are, but I don't use them. if I pull the pad down a little bit, just rearward of perfectly centered on top of the tailgate, I can see out of the backup camera normally with no bikes, and fairly well with 1-2 bikes if I angle the tires outward like you have done. (passenger side pointing the other way.)

The race face has a movable pad which I'm too lazy to adjust as I dont tend to use the back up camera much

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[BlueOval5.0]

I like this setup. My son has an e-bike that weighs about 50lbs and has 26 inch tires I believe as does my mountain bike.

I have the factory hard tri-fold cover. I wonder what adjustments I would need to make to get this to work. I was going to get a hitch mounted rack but much prefer this idea. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Milqueman]

I like this setup. My son has an e-bike that weighs about 50lbs and has 26 inch tires I believe as does my mountain bike.

I have the factory hard tri-fold cover. I wonder what adjustments I would need to make to get this to work. I was going to get a hitch mounted rack but much prefer this idea. Thank you for sharing.

No worries, glad you like it and hope you can get it to work with your tonneau cover.

 

[FiremarshalBill49]

I figured I would share this because I couldn't find anywhere else that this has been done.

So.. when I ordered my Mav a year ago, I was curious if I could fit Four 26" Mountain bikes in the bed, without taking the tires off OR Hanging them over the tail gate. I searched through these forums and the internet, but didn't see anybody that had done it.

I didn't want to use a tailgate pad because eventually sand and debris will get between the pad and the gate and wear away at the paint.

I didn't want use the 2x6 with a bracket for the front fork method either, as not all my bikes have quick release tires and that's just an extra step I'm trying to avoid.

I did see where people who own larger trucks have used a homemade PVC "bike rack" and thought that might work, but without the truck I wasn't unable to gauge the length and width of the bed to see if they would all fit. So I waited.

Well... I got my Mav 4 months ago, but I've been working, traveling, doing family things, etc.. you know, life. Anyway, I finally got around to putting the bikes in the bed and measuring everything out. It looked like it would work, so I made the plan and bought all the PVC and fittings, then got to work making a "Bike Rack" for the bed.

Turns out, it works perfectly. You can fit Four 26" Mountain bikes in a Maverick with ease! I had to stagger the bikes front/back/front/back, so the handle bars don't entangle with each other. Also, with the tail gate in the "half up" position, it actually pushes the bikes into the bike rack, holding them into place better.

My Wife and our two kids (both teenagers) went bike riding today and the Maverick is the perfect truck to accomplish this.

I built a similar (1 1/4 inch) PVC rack for 1 or 2 heavy ebikes. So far it's working out flawlessly!

 

[Milqueman]

I built a similar (1 1/4 inch) PVC rack for 1 or 2 heavy ebikes. So far it's working out flawlessly!

That's awesome!

 

[rightmuch]

I built a very similar 4-bike rack for my Maverick's truck bed as well, also using PVC! I just took it for its maiden voyage fully loaded this past weekend for a bikepacking trip in New Hampshire. We were even able to keep the majority of the bike bags on which was very convenient. Bikes definitely had to be staggered front to back but I was pleasantly surprised at how well they all fit.

If anyone else wants to build their own, I based my build off these plans I found online, made specifically for a Ford Maverick: https://formufit.com/blogs/news/build-a-pvc-truck-bed-rack-ebikes

I made adjustments to those plans and 1) used smaller diameter pipe and 2) built 4 tire slots instead of 3 slots, since the person who made those original plans built them around much thicker tires than I'll ever transport in my truck. It was pretty straightforward, the most time-consuming part was gluing everything together once it was all measured and cut and test fit.

Thank you, thank you!!!

 

[rightmuch]

I built a similar (1 1/4 inch) PVC rack for 1 or 2 heavy ebikes. So far it's working out flawlessly!

 

[rightmuch]

I built a similar (1 1/4 inch) PVC rack for 1 or 2 heavy ebikes. So far it's working out flawlessly!

This is terrific. I've searched all over for an e-bike solution, and this looks like the perfect one. Can you give me any measurements, instructions. I'm relatively handy, but always like exact steps if I can get them. Thanks so much!

 

[FiremarshalBill49]

This is terrific. I've searched all over for an e-bike solution, and this looks like the perfect one. Can you give me any measurements, instructions. I'm relatively handy, but always like exact steps if I can get them. Thanks so much!

Here's the website that I used to get me started. His measurements are pretty spot on for the Ford Maverick. I didn't glue the pieces together (just in case something ever broke) and use stainless steel self-taping screws to hold everything together instead. I have seen others that use 1" pipe but I like the heftiness of the 1 1/4 inch pvc pipe for my heavy ebikes. Good luck with it! https://formufit.com/blogs/news/build-a-pvc-truck-bed-rack-ebikes

 

[rightmuch]

Here's the website that I used to get me started. His measurements are pretty spot on for the Ford Maverick. I didn't glue the pieces together (just in case something ever broke) and use stainless steel self-taping screws to hold everything together instead. I have seen others that use 1" pipe but I like the heftiness of the 1 1/4 inch pvc pipe for my heavy ebikes. Good luck with it! https://formufit.com/blogs/news/build-a-pvc-truck-bed-rack-ebikes

Thanks so much. When I initially scanned that article I thought it was a $150 kit, which seems very high for that much PVC. Went back and saw the graphic with the measurements. That’s the key. And you’re right about using larger diameter PVC. This is the perfect solution!

 

[Herbert Charles]

Like several of the people who've posted in this thread, I want to carry 2, 3, or 4 bikes in the bed, without taking the wheels off or hanging them over the tailgate. I had done some preliminary shopping searches, and was interested by products such as the Ride88 and the Pipeline racks, but I thought that they seemed pretty expensive for what they are. And I was assuming that I would need to use some sort of bed extender on the back of the Maverick bed. So now I'm really excited to build a DIY PVC rack, along the lines of some that have been displayed in this thread.
I have a couple of questions for those of you who are successfully employing one of these DIY PVC racks in your Maverick:
1.) What sort of straps/tie-downs do you use to secure the bikes in the bed, once they're lined up in the rack?
2.) I had assumed that a bed extender would a)hold down the tailgate in the open position, and b)keep the bikes from flying out the back of the truck when you hit a bump at high speed. It appears form the solutions illustrated in this thread that a bed extender is not necessary. So what keeps the tailgate from swinging up-and-down, and what keeps the contents of the bed (the bikes) from flying out the back?
Thanks for your insights.

 

[colinl]

I'm curious how his setup is holding together after a year. the use of screws surely weakens the pipes, creating likely areas for fractures that wouldn't exist if they were instead glued.

I would also not be surprised if they tipped, depending on where the batteries are located and the overall weight and weight distribution.

there are reasons bike racks are made of aluminum and steel rather than plastic.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

So what keeps the tailgate from swinging up-and-down, and what keeps the contents of the bed (the bikes) from flying out the back?
Thanks for your insights.

I haven't done this, but the tires sitting partially on the tailgate should keep the tailgate from "bouncing" up.

I use a cable bike lock as a precaution to keep my bike from falling out, even though it's laying down and shouldn't. But also adds a tiny bit of piece of mind from someone walking by and taking off with the bike. I strap kayaks down with a strap- even though they '"houldn't" fall out, just good to have some extra assurance.

 

[Milqueman]

1.) What sort of straps/tie-downs do you use to secure the bikes in the bed, once they're lined up in the rack?
2.) I had assumed that a bed extender would a)hold down the tailgate in the open position, and b)keep the bikes from flying out the back of the truck when you hit a bump at high speed. It appears form the solutions illustrated in this thread that a bed extender is not necessary. So what keeps the tailgate from swinging up-and-down, and what keeps the contents of the bed (the bikes) from flying out the back?

1. I use bungee cords. Works great. You can get a variety of sizes so the tension, when stretched, fits your needs.

2. The weight of the tailgate is generally sufficient to hold it down itself, but as you can see in my OP, the tailgate is in the Half up position and the wheels of the bikes are on the tailgate, this also helps keep the bikes pushed forward. With the bikes strapped down, that holds the tailgate down. Also, I made the space between the pipes at such a width that the tires have to be pushed into the rack. (the small diameter PVP pipe bends enough to allow the tires to pressed between them). This, combined with the bungee cords, and the tailgate in the half up position, keeps the bikes from rolling out the back.

 

[colinl]

I would use a pair of ratchet straps always, but especailly for an ebike. I have had an ebike tip on a tailgate pad, fortunately it didn't fall all the way over. the amount bikes can weigh and how much force they're subjected to when hitting a bump, braking and cornering can be pretty significant. using a better strap will help keep the bikes from damaging each other, and your truck.

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