bike hitch on rear bumper 2012 3001w

[jarjar]

I want to put the spare tire in the storage compartment and put a hitch on the bumper to carry 2 bikes total weight less then 200 lbs. Is this ok? My first time on any forum and not sure if I posted this properly

[Triguy]

to FRF!

I do not know your particular trailer but most trailer bumpers are not adequate to hold that much weight. Windjammer might be different, of course.

[Boyd]

Originally Posted by jarjar

I want to put the spare tire in the storage compartment and put a hitch on the bumper to carry 2 bikes total weight less then 200 lbs. Is this ok? My first time on any forum and not sure if I posted this properly

I've had two types of bike racks, one single arm and the other a double arm. Both carried three bikes, but believe me, it's a struggle getting them on and off. Also a bike rack it pretty high up requiring a chest-high lift to place them on the carrier. This year I changed over to the platform type carrier. The price is comparable, even less than the cost of a good double arm carrier.

If you have a receiver (square tube) hitch, I'd say that would be the way to go. 500 pounds on a factory bumper, is a bit heavy. By the way, you're bikes, unless they are motorbikes, shouldn't be weighing in at more than 50 pounds max, each. Mine are about 25 pounds each.

You could give the factory a call, I'm sure they could tell you what the suggested carrying weight of the bumper would be.

Forrest River Customer Service
574 206 7600

[youroo]

We have the same size & type of bumper as your trailer has at the rear. We carry a sewer hose inside the bumper & a National Park decal on the outside, thats how much faith we have for these bumpers! Youroo!!

[bikendan]

ultra-lite travel trailers don't have strong bumpers like 5th wheels and motorhomes have. plus TTs don't have shocks, like these other RVs do. so the bouncing bikes work on the bumper welds enough to break/fail and the bikes are soon bouncing down the highway.
the bumpers of most can barely support just the spare tire.

most who want to do this, have to have a receiver tube, welded and braced to the frame and bumper.
but this mod voids most frame warranties.

[Boyd]

Originally Posted by bikendan

ultra-lite travel trailers don't have strong bumpers like 5th wheels and motorhomes have. plus TTs don't have shocks, like these other RVs do. so the bouncing bikes work on the bumper welds enough to break/fail and the bikes are soon bouncing down the highway.
the bumpers of most can barely support just the spare tire.

most who want to do this, have to have a receiver tube, welded and braced to the frame and bumper.
but this mod voids most frame warranties.

Good info Bikendan, thanks.