Bumper Capacity

[Chillbilly]

I have a FR Rockwood 5th Wheel which has the standard 4 in rear bumper with a spare tire mounted to it. I want to use the Swagman Around-The-Tire bicycle mount (AROUND THE SPARE RACK 80500 « Swagman). Anyone know the capacity of the bumper? Will it support this extra weight attached to the spare tire?

[Rugged Brown]

Do a search on this forum and expect some great reading on why that's not a good idea.

[kerrlakelover]

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

Do a search on this forum and expect some great reading on why that's not a good idea.

x2! You will have more reading and warnings than you want if you search bumper or bike rack(s).

[Chillbilly]

So, where do you recommend hauling your bikes ????

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by Chillbilly

So, where do you recommend hauling your bikes ????

I carry 2 bikes. I put one in the truck bed, just in front of the hitch and I carry the other one in the camper. It's a pain in the butt, but for now, that is my only option. Others have rigged a bike carrier to the fifth wheel pin. Again, do a search and you will find something like this.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ics-25204.html

[kerrlakelover]

Originally Posted by Chillbilly

So, where do you recommend hauling your bikes ????

Challenges like this are things that make camping fun for many of us. It gets your creative juices flowing and you get a chance to come up with a neat solution.

Many folks also put a hitch on the front of their TV and then use a bike rack. Here's one company that makes a fairly easy on/easy off hitch that requires no welding or fabrication on your truck. I don't think they make one to fit your 2014 Ram, but it will give you and idea. Bodiak Hitches

Personally, I've been working on mounting our 2 bikes on the top of the tool box in the bed of the truck. I've attached pics of my very first run at it. Since then the bikes are much further forward on the box and I turn the handlebars parallel to the bike frame. All this really increases the clearance between the bikes and the front cap of the FW. As always, I am very slow and cautious any time I make sharp turns. I or my wife watch the clearance constantly. So far we've made 2 trips with the bikes mounted here and it works great. I may ultimately do away with the 2x6s and attach the bike mount directly to the top of the tool box.

[BiigDaddy]

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

Do a search on this forum and expect some great reading on why that's not a good idea.

Not to mention the fact that you could potentially void all your warranties. You will find a little sticker somewhere in your rig that specifies mounting anything to the bumper will in fact void it. My sticker is in my pantry cupboard.

[BiigDaddy]

Originally Posted by Chillbilly

So, where do you recommend hauling your bikes ????

Front receiver is my solution....

[Canonman]

Originally Posted by Chillbilly

I have a FR Rockwood 5th Wheel which has the standard 4 in rear bumper with a spare tire mounted to it. I want to use the Swagman Around-The-Tire bicycle mount (AROUND THE SPARE RACK 80500 « Swagman). Anyone know the capacity of the bumper? Will it support this extra weight attached to the spare tire?

X2 on the Bodiak front receiver hitch. Bikes are out where you can see them and the whole set up is strong and safe without any questions about clearance etc. Price is reasonable compared to a welded hitch too.
Have a look:

Bodiak Front-End Receiver Hitch - YouTube

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Chillbilly

So, where do you recommend hauling your bikes ????

In the camper, on the pin, on the truck are your basic options:
Learn To RV: Bikes and Fifth Wheels

[GeneFail]

Does no one use the ladder mounted bike racks?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by GeneFail

Does no one use the ladder mounted bike racks?

I wouldn't trust it.......
Sure they'll hold a 250# man but they won't endure bikes hanging on them bouncing down our nation's great hi ways.

TURBS

"SABRE OWNERS UNITED"

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Chillbilly

I have a FR Rockwood 5th Wheel which has the standard 4 in rear bumper with a spare tire mounted to it. I want to use the Swagman Around-The-Tire bicycle mount (AROUND THE SPARE RACK 80500 « Swagman). Anyone know the capacity of the bumper? Will it support this extra weight attached to the spare tire?

In short, what is on the bumper AND the ladder from the factory is ALL that should be installed PERIOD! NOTHING ELSE!

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

In short, what is on the bumper AND the ladder from the factory is ALL that should be installed PERIOD! NOTHING ELSE!

I hate this...... I agree with him

TURBS

"SABRE OWNERS UNITED"

[DutchF]

Not the same RV as the OP's, but the general consensus seems to be the same, regarding hauling or towing behind a RV.

So I'm curious if it's such a bad idea, why is a large flip down rack available as a factory installed option on a Columbus 5er (and probably quite a few other RV's) and it's rated to carry 400lbs???? (BTW, I have a model with the optional rear cap, so it didn't get the rack)

In my case, I just want to carry a 280lb motorcycle. Or at the very least tow a small motorcycle trailer (grosses out a little under 800 with 2 small motorcycles on it) with about a 80lb tongue weight.

Just curious...

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by DutchF

Not the same RV as the OP's, but the general consensus seems to be the same, regarding hauling or towing behind a RV.

So I'm curious if it's such a bad idea, why is a large flip down rack available as a factory installed option on a Columbus 5er (and probably quite a few other RV's) and it's rated to carry 400lbs???? (BTW, I have a model with the optional rear cap, so it didn't get the rack)

In my case, I just want to carry a 280lb motorcycle. Or at the very least tow a small motorcycle trailer (grosses out a little under 800 with 2 small motorcycles on it) with about a 80lb tongue weight.

Just curious...

Because there not ultra lights or a lite trailer.
And they also have a "real" I beam frame not a fabricated I beam frame like ultra lites.

Ultra lites have a sheet metal welded to look like an I beam .

And if the factory puts it there then it's "ok"

A fold down bike rack is ten times better than a receiver hitch and a bike rack that is cantilevered past the bumber that hangs several feet past the bumber.

TURBS

"SABRE OWNERS UNITED"

[DutchF]

Thanks Turbs. I kind of figured that and I realize I was somewhat out of the OP's context, as our RV has (real) I-beam frame, unlike a lot of ultralites. It just bugs me that my exact model can have an optional 400lb capacity rack on the back and nobody says a word. But if I contemplate adding one, lots of folks recommend against it. (seriously, I'm *NOT* trying to start anything)

In our case, I am going to look at how the optional rack is installed and then build one for ours that (in my opinion) will be significantly stronger and distribute the load more effectively to the frame. It will be to carry a 300lb motorcycle, *OR* pull a lightweight motorcycle trailer with two 300lb motorcycles on it (in states that allow it). Total length with motorcycle trailer will be kept to no more than 65' for TV, 5er and MC trailer combined.

If we travel to a state that doesn't allow triple tow, I'll put one motorcycle on the front of the TV and the other on the back of the RV.

Our warranty runs out next month anyway, so no worries there.

[BiigDaddy]

Hey Dutch, if I'm not mistaken the frame has a 5 year warranty. Just something to add to the discussion...

[DutchF]

Awww! Dang.

[DaveSchwartz]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Because there not ultra lights or a lite trailer.
And they also have a "real" I beam frame not a fabricated I beam frame like ultra lites.

Ultra lites have a sheet metal welded to look like an I beam .

I don't know if this is a new change but I think this is no longer valid as a blanket statement.

My 2015 Rockwood Signature Ultralite has 2 real I-beams running from end to end. Judging from the cut end at the bumper, they have all the appearance of having come off the rolling mill in a single piece, Either that, or those are 4 of the smoothest, best radiused welds that I've ever seen. Its not the beefiest (8" high, 2 1/4" wide, top and bottom ~11/64", vertical web ~5/32") but hopefully there are enough cross-members to keep it from folding up like a wad of tinfoil like my previous TT did when hit by a deer on the front corner at highway speed.

Still has the sticker with the injunction against anything other than the spare on the bumper