Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Click for more info and reviews of this Benton Hitch Bike Racks:
etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-Racks/Benton/B54VR.html
Check out some similar Hitch Bike Racks options:
etrailer.com/dept-pg-Hitch_Bike_Racks-pc-1_Bike.aspx
Search for other popular Airstream Interstate Nineteen Motorhome parts and accessories:
etrailer.com/vehicle/2022/Airstream/Interstate+Nineteen+Motorhome
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Full transcript: etrailer.com/tv-Review-Benton-Hitch-Bike-Racks-2022-Airstream-Interstate-Nineteen-Motorhome-B54VR.aspx
Hello, neighbor, this is Curt with etrailer, and today we're gonna take a look at the Benton LittleShift Bike Carrier. We're gonna see how it fits with our 2022 Airstream Interstate 19. So, a lot of folks, when they're out there traveling around in the country in their Airstream, they like to take a bike with them, be it an e-bike, mountain bike, whatever it may be, so that they have something to enjoy while they're out and about, whether it be at the state parks or wherever they may be visiting. The great thing about the LittleShift, it's got a great weight capacity at 80 pounds and it's got a lot of versatility, meaning the style of bike that you have can normally be accommodated by this bike rack. So, for instance, right now, we have it wheel-mounted. This is probably the most common way for people to carry their bikes, but if your bike has fenders, you're not gonna be able to wheel mount it like this.
If you depress this button, you can lift the hook off the post and move it back to the frame. (mount clicking) This way, if you do have those fenders, this won't interfere with them, and you're gonna still get a really good hold while you're going down the highway. Now, whenever you have a hitch bike carrier with a bike on it, you're gonna get some blockage in the back. So, with this, our license plate is gonna be partially blocked, our taillights are also gonna be a little bit blocked, but our camera won't be since our camera is located so high up. Now, I still think it's always a really good idea to understand what kind of footprint this is leaving behind the bike rack, though.
So if I measure from the center of our bumper out to the furthest point on the rack right here, we're sitting at a distance of just under 21 inches. So, we've still got more than a foot and a half back here. We're gonna have to account for whenever we're backing into a tight spot or trying to parallel part. Ground clearance wise, we're gonna be sitting at about 15 inches. Now, we do have a rise and a shank here that helps give it some elevation, but that's also something you're gonna wanna be conscious of when you're coming upon an incline or a steep driveway.
We've also got an 80-pound weight capacity, so you might have one of those heavier e-bikes that you're taking with you. And since we don't have any load assist with the LittleShift, you're gonna wanna make sure that you're comfortable getting that bike up and down from a height of at least about 18 1/2 inches in order to be comfortable getting your bike on and off the LittleShift. Now, this bike here that we have is a extra-large frame bike with 30-inch handlebars, so you can use that as a frame of reference with your bike. And as you can see, we've got a decent amount of distance in between the bike and the back of the van. Even on a rougher patch of road, we're really kind of still at least an inch or two away from this making contact.
However, when it's frame-mounted, it does tend to be a little bit looser on this wobble. Either way, if I have a bike this large, I'm probably gonna play it safe and pad this handlebar right here, whether you use some kind of cushioning or cloth. A lot of people like to cut down a pool noodle and use that on the end here, just to kind of stop it from hitting the back of the glass. Now, as far as how the LittleShift works, there are three points of contact. Each of our wheels have a ratcheting strap with a rubber pad that's gonna help pad and protect the inside of that wheel. And then we also have our post and hook, which we showed you a little bit of earlier. So, when I'm removing the bike, basically whenever I'm messing with the straps, I wanna make sure that the post and the hook is engaged to keep the bike upright for me while I'm using both of my hands on straps. So, first strap here, I just got to depress this tab, and I'm gonna feed it out and through the other side. I'm gonna do the same thing right back here. Take it out, feed it through the other side. Now, I'm gonna grab onto my frame depress this button here. I'm gonna get it all the way to the top of the post here and clear the wheel. At this point, I can easily bring my bike down to the ground. And if I've got the bike taken off of it
Click for more info and reviews of this Benton Hitch Bike Racks:
etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-Racks/Benton/B54VR.html
Check out some similar Hitch Bike Racks options:
etrailer.com/dept-pg-Hitch_Bike_Racks-pc-1_Bike.aspx
Search for other popular Airstream Interstate Nineteen Motorhome parts and accessories:
etrailer.com/vehicle/2022/Airstream/Interstate+Nineteen+Motorhome
etrailer.com
Don’t forget to subscribe!
youtube.com/user/etrailertv
Full transcript: etrailer.com/tv-Review-Benton-Hitch-Bike-Racks-2022-Airstream-Interstate-Nineteen-Motorhome-B54VR.aspx
Hello, neighbor, this is Curt with etrailer, and today we're gonna take a look at the Benton LittleShift Bike Carrier. We're gonna see how it fits with our 2022 Airstream Interstate 19. So, a lot of folks, when they're out there traveling around in the country in their Airstream, they like to take a bike with them, be it an e-bike, mountain bike, whatever it may be, so that they have something to enjoy while they're out and about, whether it be at the state parks or wherever they may be visiting. The great thing about the LittleShift, it's got a great weight capacity at 80 pounds and it's got a lot of versatility, meaning the style of bike that you have can normally be accommodated by this bike rack. So, for instance, right now, we have it wheel-mounted. This is probably the most common way for people to carry their bikes, but if your bike has fenders, you're not gonna be able to wheel mount it like this.
If you depress this button, you can lift the hook off the post and move it back to the frame. (mount clicking) This way, if you do have those fenders, this won't interfere with them, and you're gonna still get a really good hold while you're going down the highway. Now, whenever you have a hitch bike carrier with a bike on it, you're gonna get some blockage in the back. So, with this, our license plate is gonna be partially blocked, our taillights are also gonna be a little bit blocked, but our camera won't be since our camera is located so high up. Now, I still think it's always a really good idea to understand what kind of footprint this is leaving behind the bike rack, though.
So if I measure from the center of our bumper out to the furthest point on the rack right here, we're sitting at a distance of just under 21 inches. So, we've still got more than a foot and a half back here. We're gonna have to account for whenever we're backing into a tight spot or trying to parallel part. Ground clearance wise, we're gonna be sitting at about 15 inches. Now, we do have a rise and a shank here that helps give it some elevation, but that's also something you're gonna wanna be conscious of when you're coming upon an incline or a steep driveway.
We've also got an 80-pound weight capacity, so you might have one of those heavier e-bikes that you're taking with you. And since we don't have any load assist with the LittleShift, you're gonna wanna make sure that you're comfortable getting that bike up and down from a height of at least about 18 1/2 inches in order to be comfortable getting your bike on and off the LittleShift. Now, this bike here that we have is a extra-large frame bike with 30-inch handlebars, so you can use that as a frame of reference with your bike. And as you can see, we've got a decent amount of distance in between the bike and the back of the van. Even on a rougher patch of road, we're really kind of still at least an inch or two away from this making contact.
However, when it's frame-mounted, it does tend to be a little bit looser on this wobble. Either way, if I have a bike this large, I'm probably gonna play it safe and pad this handlebar right here, whether you use some kind of cushioning or cloth. A lot of people like to cut down a pool noodle and use that on the end here, just to kind of stop it from hitting the back of the glass. Now, as far as how the LittleShift works, there are three points of contact. Each of our wheels have a ratcheting strap with a rubber pad that's gonna help pad and protect the inside of that wheel. And then we also have our post and hook, which we showed you a little bit of earlier. So, when I'm removing the bike, basically whenever I'm messing with the straps, I wanna make sure that the post and the hook is engaged to keep the bike upright for me while I'm using both of my hands on straps. So, first strap here, I just got to depress this tab, and I'm gonna feed it out and through the other side. I'm gonna do the same thing right back here. Take it out, feed it through the other side. Now, I'm gonna grab onto my frame depress this button here. I'm gonna get it all the way to the top of the post here and clear the wheel. At this point, I can easily bring my bike down to the ground. And if I've got the bike taken off of it
