5’ camper shell with bikes

I apologize if this is already covered somewhere. Couldn’t find the Search option.

I presently have a 2012 Tacoma with a shell on it. 5’6” bed. I love it. I keep my mtn bike in it using a fork mount, and it works great.

My question is, is anybody doing the same thing with a 5’ shell? I’m about to get a 2019 with the shorter bed. Eyeballing it looks like it should squeeze in. My biggest concern is the handlebars coming out too far and hitting the back window.

Thanks in advance.

 

I've had two bikes under my 5' cab-high topper with plenty of room for firewood and camping gear. I pull the front wheel and put the handlebars up near the cab and use the two wheels to keep the bikes apart. One of them I had to pull the seatpost out.

 

Check out the 3rd gen “All things Bikes and Tacos!” thread. Lots of pictures there. The short answer is that it’s a tight fit for a 5’ bed, depends on topper height and style, bike size, etc. but it usually works ... I used to carry our two 29-era with short travel suspension, fairly short stems, but slight riser bars inside. I used Kuat fork mounts with front wheel removed of course, and bikes facing forward so the bars don’t clash with the rear liftgate.
Here’s an example ... not sure if this is 5’ bed but the idea is the same.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/all-things-bikes-and-tacos.445155/page-290#post-19246818