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Old 06-02-2014, 02:41 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rico1971 View Post
Need to haul 4 bikes with us when we go camping. Dealer told us that our TT (Apex Ultra-Lite 259BHSS) couldn't handle more than 100# on the back bumper or it would void the warranty. Past 2 trips I've been sticking the bikes inside, but already made one scratch that's driving me crazy...don't want to have the bikes doing any more damage.

I've seen one 4-bike rack on-line that sits above the propane tanks, but it didn't look like it was worth the $500 price tag...

Suggestions?
This question comes up frequently and I am not sure there is a one size fits all solution. Generally anything mounted to the back of your travel trailer is a problem in the making. creating something heavy duty enough to hold a 4 bike carrier and attaching will void any frame warranty etc. Plus add a lot of weight to the rear of the trailer, which can be it's own problem.

For us, I have been successful putting 4 bikes in the bed of my truck. not an option for some.

I would re-evaluate your interior storage option. Some people have posted some pretty ingenious interior mounting ideas.
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Old 06-28-2014, 07:49 AM   #22
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I got creative and made my own hitch on the back of my 320 BHDS. It attaches with 7 bolts to hold my bike rack that holds 4 bikes. It was a little tricky since the rear of the 320 runs up at an angle.
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Old 06-28-2014, 02:54 PM   #23
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I got creative and made my own hitch on the back of my 320 BHDS. It attaches with 7 bolts to hold my bike rack that holds 4 bikes. It was a little tricky since the rear of the 320 runs up at an angle.
I would very much appreciate any information/plans you would share with me for this. I have wanted to do this with our 320 as well.

thanks in advance.
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Old 06-28-2014, 03:02 PM   #24
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Looks like a lot of work, I just bought a Swagman and bolted it on.
Took it on a 3500 mile trip with no problems with the frame, bumper or the rack.



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Old 06-28-2014, 03:42 PM   #25
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IMO, you're just lucky and need to play the lottery.

Hope you're not too attached to the bicycles is all I can say.
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Old 06-28-2014, 03:50 PM   #26
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IMO, you're just lucky and need to play the lottery.

Hope you're not too attached to the bicycles is all I can say.
I can assure you they are well attached.







Tell the rest of the anti bike rack crew I said hi.

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Old 06-28-2014, 03:54 PM   #27
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Ford Idaho,

Watch the caps on your bumper. If they fall out or are consistently "almost out" at every campground; you are torquing your bumper. At some point the bumper weld seam or the bumper attachment welds are going to let go.

For the OP, have your spouse or another driver follow you down the road and watch the bounce on your bikes. Excessive movement in the vertical will be magnified by the distance to the rear axle attachment point.

Keep a close eye on your frame and the attachment bolts for your receiver.

Gray powder at the bolts means bad news happening in your bolt holes.
Watch for cracks radiating from the bolt holes. Watch for frame cracks just aft of the axles.

Good luck.
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Old 06-28-2014, 04:15 PM   #28
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Ford Idaho,

Watch the caps on your bumper. If they fall out or are consistently "almost out" at every campground; you are torquing your bumper. At some point the bumper weld seam or the bumper attachment welds are going to let go.
Ah, so you have owned a trailer the same make model and year as mine, that's cool.

An FYI for you.

The end caps will fall out with nothing on the bumper but dust according to the service tech who did the our PDI AND he was right, I kicked both in before we left the lot and both were about half way out after a 42 mile drive.


Quote:
For the OP, have your spouse or another driver follow you down the road and watch the bounce on your bikes. Excessive movement in the vertical will be magnified by the distance to the rear axle attachment point.

Keep a close eye on your frame and the attachment bolts for your receiver.

Gray powder at the bolts means bad news happening in your bolt holes.
Watch for cracks radiating from the bolt holes. Watch for frame cracks just aft of the axles.

Good luck.
I agree that not every trailer should haul bikes on the bumper, but I am not of the school that swears no trailer should have a bike rack on the bumper because someone had one fall off.

I have driven this country from one side to the other, from top to bottom and have not seen one trailer that had a bumper fall off.
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Old 06-28-2014, 08:08 PM   #29
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I can assure you they are well attached...
Wasn't referring to how they are held to the rack as they will probably still be on the rack/bumper, but the bumper will not be attached to the trailer.

Good luck and buy a lottery ticket for me please.
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Old 06-28-2014, 08:22 PM   #30
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Wasn't referring to how they are held to the rack as they will probably still be on the rack/bumper, but the bumper will not be attached to the trailer.
OH?

And just how is it you are so positive?

How many bumpers have you seen that were torn off a trailer by a bike rack with a couple of bikes in it?


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Good luck and buy a lottery ticket for me please.
I play the lotto now and then, if I can afford it so to can you.





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Old 06-28-2014, 08:37 PM   #31
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...I play the lotto now and then, if I can afford it so to can you.
Oh, I'd send you the money for the lottery ticket, but just don't have your luck.
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Old 06-28-2014, 08:47 PM   #32
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Oh, I'd send you the money for the lottery ticket, but just don't have your luck.
I'd love to help, but the contributing to the delinquency charge for doing so is just not worth it......






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Old 06-28-2014, 09:39 PM   #33
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Ah, so you have owned a trailer the same make model and year as mine, that's cool.
Different model, but the bumper could be mine's twin.
Obviously your mileage may differ.
Wish you continued luck.
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Old 06-28-2014, 09:59 PM   #34
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So there are no forth coming links or picture of ALL the failed bumpers that were summarily ripped right off trailers, save for one that was destined for failure due to the way it was welded.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Rico1971 View Post
Need to haul 4 bikes with us when we go camping. Dealer told us that our TT (Apex Ultra-Lite 259BHSS) couldn't handle more than 100# on the back bumper or it would void the warranty. Past 2 trips I've been sticking the bikes inside, but already made one scratch that's driving me crazy...don't want to have the bikes doing any more damage.

I've seen one 4-bike rack on-line that sits above the propane tanks, but it didn't look like it was worth the $500 price tag...

Suggestions?
Just a couple.
First off, get a roof mounted bike rack for the Durango and put two there.
Second figure out the total weight of your two lightest bikes and carry them like this.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...69837884,d.cGU
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:21 PM   #35
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Ford, many members have posted pics of failed bumper welds and detached bumpers, on various threads on the same topic.
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:47 PM   #36
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I can attest to Bumper flexing with nothing on it. My caps fall out, replace the most used side with a actual rubber one that stays in, taped the other one on. I did mount a bike rack but never drove with it as it was unsafe. Use a Thule on top of the truck cab.
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Old 06-29-2014, 07:32 AM   #37
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This is an open forum and everyone is free (within the rules) to post their experiences and recommendations on topics and questions. It is up to the reader to decide what course is appropriate for them.

It is certainly appropriate for you, and others, to post material contrary to what others have posted and that makes a world. As you stated previously, not all trailers are created equal and what might work for one, might not be good for another.

Some heavy duty campers can even take tow points on their frames and handle even heavy double tows just fine. Others, like my buddies Grand Surveyor could not handle the flex from his OEM spare tire for more than 5 years when it fell off on the way to the campground.

As always on an open forum; Caveat Lector.

If someone takes advice presented here and burns up their trailer, cracks their frame, or in some other way damages it while trying something presented here; I am sure no post contributor will pony up a few hundred bucks to say "I am sorry it did not work out for you."

There are lots of folks who are quick to post:

"Yea, no problem you can tow that with that; I do it all the time"
"Just re-wire it this way; the engineers have no idea what they are doing."
"There is a 200% safety margin in those numbers; you can safely exceed them!"
"Lawyers; not Engineers make up those numbers."
Etc. You can find them in every thread.

I am sure all are well meaning folks and they are completely sincere in their advice. However, in an open forum it is like putting a loaded gun in a room full of strangers of varying familiarity with firearms. Some are able to separate the wheat from the chaff and determine what is within their capability and what is not; others not so much and get in over their head before they know they are in trouble.
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Old 06-29-2014, 08:06 AM   #38
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I would very much appreciate any information/plans you would share with me for this. I have wanted to do this with our 320 as well.

thanks in advance.
I made this a year ago and wanted to get some miles on it before posting. My bolt count in my earlier post is off by a few, my apologies for this. The bottom I-beams on the camper have a 3" lip this is why I started with attaching a 3" angle iron.
2-3"X20"X3/16" thick angle irons
1-2"X4"X1/4" thick tube that is 71.25 inches long
8-7/16X1" length bolts, nuts and lock washers. 5/8" head
4-1/4"X1" length self tapping bolts with washers. 3/8" head
1-2"X12" Receiver
2.5"X4" Plate 3/16" plate cut in half diagonally to support Receiver
5.5" tall gusset welded in middle vertically and attached with self tapping bolts to inside rear tube of camper.
After I bolted up the angle Irons to the bottom of the camper I slid the 2X4" tube (horizontal) between them and leveled fore and aft, then tacked into place. After positing the receiver and center gusset, tacking them into place I removed the whole unit and finished welding, installing side gussets to the receiver.
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Old 06-29-2014, 08:12 AM   #39
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Super 8 you should be good as you have a structural I beam frame and not the 3 pc 0.075" thick welded I beam used on Lite weights and Ultra lite weight units.
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Old 06-29-2014, 08:27 AM   #40
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Super 8 you should be good as you have a structural I beam frame and not the 3 pc 0.075" thick welded I beam used on Lite weights and Ultra lite weight units.
This is what I figured also, thanks.
Yesterday's project was to install a bracket that attaches the plastic bow that carries the wiring on the rear slide out. The rear slide out travels 3/4" further than the bow is allowed to stretch causing it to rip the end off.
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