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06-09-2014, 03:28 PM
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#21
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnF
But Herk, wasn’t your damage done by more than a bike rack? I seem to recall you loaded up your bumper with a lot more than a couple of bikes.
John
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This forum actually saved me from a similar horrible fate.
I made a rack for my Flagstaff to carry my generator and my sewer hose.
It LOOKED awesome! A real beauty.
I proudly posted my pictures and then got the advice that saved my bacon.
"Have your wife drive it around the block while you follow in the car as see what it does."
Well, let me tell you we did not get all the way around before I was unloading everything from the rack. It still sits back in the shed; a "not quite" total waste of money. I learned a very valuable lesson and it was CHEAP because of this forum.
That rack was bolted right to the frame and it moved up and down almost a foot! 
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-09-2014, 03:30 PM
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#22
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NELA
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,221
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Two people speaking from *first hand experience* and still some people don't want to accept the answer that it's NOT something that should be done. (SMH)
Do what you what y'all want but don't cry to fr when you've done damage.
X eleventy
__________________
If age is a state of mind, and I've lost my mind, I'm AGELESS, right?
Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around:
Flagstaff 5er 2014 8528 IKWS, Platinum Package, Regency Interior "Buffy"
F250 Super Duty 2013 Tuxedo Black "Biff"
Days camped 2014: 30
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06-09-2014, 03:36 PM
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#23
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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To further my post....
I had a 2005 flagstaff 832bhss ultra light signature series.
TURBS
"Sabre owners united"
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06-09-2014, 04:41 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 211
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Bikes inside = no worries.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forest River Forums mobile app
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06-09-2014, 04:42 PM
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#25
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,796
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadman99
Went to check my 5th wheel today and looked at the mounting of the rear bumper. The main i-beam exits the back and is about 12" back from the body. The i-beam is cut to accept the 4" bumper. The bumper sits on or in the i-beam and is welded on all sides. As extra caution a reinforcement plate could be added on the top of the i-beam.
I assume not all are built like this but I still doubt, in this case, that a bike rack is going to damage or break the bumper or frame member as long as the bikes are securely tied down to prevent unnecessary bouncing.
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cadman, it would probably be helpful if you posted what brand/model of 5th wheel you have or put it in your sig line.
yours may not be an ultralight trailer.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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06-09-2014, 05:01 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Georgetown, TX
Posts: 337
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It's an 8285WS Signatuire Lite 5th wheel - 2008. It is in my profile.
I understand a few folks have tried this and failed. What we don't know how many have not failed. I don't know why some failed - I don't know what kind of weight they had on it - My observations of the construction (of mine) say it should be able to support a bit of weight. Now we can talk about the folks who have done ladder mounts and failed.
Put enough weight back there and anything will fail. I think bumper pull will create more chassis bow and bounce than a fifth wheel. I am still debating on exactly what to do but I tend to be on the cautious side. I am sure the mount itself has to be solid and the bikes need to be firmly attached.
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06-09-2014, 05:15 PM
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#27
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadman99
It's an 8285WS Signatuire Lite 5th wheel - 2008. It is in my profile.
I understand a few folks have tried this and failed. What we don't know how many have not failed. I don't know why some failed - I don't know what kind of weight they had on it - My observations of the construction (of mine) say it should be able to support a bit of weight. Now we can talk about the folks who have done ladder mounts and failed.
Put enough weight back there and anything will fail. I think bumper pull will create more chassis bow and bounce than a fifth wheel. I am still debating on exactly what to do but I tend to be on the cautious side. I am sure the mount itself has to be solid and the bikes need to be firmly attached.
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Sweet. Let us know how it turns out.
Herk
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-09-2014, 06:13 PM
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#28
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3
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Thank you all for your suggestions and warnings.
I will look at a vertical mount ladder rack instead.
I assume the ladder is designed to support at least a 200 lb person.
Two bikes and the rack should be under 75lbs.
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06-09-2014, 06:35 PM
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#29
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Few more pics.
TURBS
"Sabre owners united"
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06-09-2014, 06:46 PM
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#30
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3
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Will be looking at a rack for vertical mounting of bikes on the ladder .
Thanks again
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G730A using Forest River Forums mobile app
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06-09-2014, 07:33 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Georgetown, TX
Posts: 337
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Nope - you can't use a ladder mounted bike rack either. Just wait the comments will come.
The pics posted show two pieces of butt welded rectangular tubing welded together with no weld on the bottom and probably no weld on the top. Then add two flimsy brackets with a bit of a spot weld. It is interesting to me it is again a failure at what appears to be the jack location and the crack indicates an upward stress.
The diagram I furnished of my trailer is completely different. The the i-beam is notched with the bumper resting in the notch and it is welded all the way around and it is a 7 1/2 i-beam. Try a few pics of it. Do you see imminent failure?
Apples and oranges.
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06-09-2014, 07:49 PM
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#32
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NELA
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,221
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__________________
If age is a state of mind, and I've lost my mind, I'm AGELESS, right?
Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around:
Flagstaff 5er 2014 8528 IKWS, Platinum Package, Regency Interior "Buffy"
F250 Super Duty 2013 Tuxedo Black "Biff"
Days camped 2014: 30
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06-09-2014, 07:52 PM
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#33
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
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As others have said, your "I"beam is not a structural steel beam. It is 3 pcs of steel welded together. They do this to save weight. Your bikes WILL bounce and produce undo stress on your welded frame. Your bumper may not fail. Your frame, may not fail. But it's not designed for what you are wanting to do. You can put your trust in an engineer, or you can do what you think your welded beam will hold. It's your camper, but I doubt you will get a majority here that will agree with putting a bike rack on the back. We all wish you good luck, though.
__________________
2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
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06-09-2014, 08:13 PM
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#34
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaMan
As others have said, your "I"beam is not a structural steel beam. It is 3 pcs of steel welded together. They do this to save weight. Your bikes WILL bounce and produce undo stress on your welded frame. Your bumper may not fail. Your frame, may not fail. But it's not designed for what you are wanting to do. You can put your trust in an engineer, or you can do what you think your welded beam will hold. It's your camper, but I doubt you will get a majority here that will agree with putting a bike rack on the back. We all wish you good luck, though.
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X2 Timmy from another 'retired' design engineer.
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06-09-2014, 09:03 PM
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#35
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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Those of us who have done it successfully (2" receivers with beefed up framing - NOT just something stuck on the bumper) have been beaten into submission by most everyone posting above.
Notice they given you pics, but have NOT told you what they actually had loaded onto their bumper, if anything - as one person said: jacking problem, maybe?? You don't know if they had one 25lb bike, or a 200 lb generator loaded up. In spite of my requests for such info, it's never been forthcoming, with the only exception being the guy with the storage rack/generator who just posted above (and we don't really know if it would have been too much, since he took it off right away). And to me that load he's got is a far cry from a bike rack. But no one will tell you what they were carrying. What's up with that?
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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06-09-2014, 09:24 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
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1600 plus miles with no problems.
__________________
2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
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06-09-2014, 09:29 PM
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#37
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford Idaho
Both bikes are about 40 pounds plus the weight of the hitch.
It did have a spare tire and mount bolted to it.
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Good luck, only time will tell. I'd keep a close watch on the top welds on the 4" tube.
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06-09-2014, 09:36 PM
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#38
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot
Good luck, only time will tell. I'd keep a close watch on the top welds on the 4" tube.
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Oh I have and shall, but as I have posted before, no worries.
__________________
2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
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06-10-2014, 07:18 AM
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#39
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 359
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I have considered taking the spare tire off the rear bumber and mounting a bike rack in the back. The bikes would weigh less than the tire and the tire rack.
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06-10-2014, 07:29 AM
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#40
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo
Those of us who have done it successfully (2" receivers with beefed up framing - NOT just something stuck on the bumper) have been beaten into submission by most everyone posting above.
Notice they given you pics, but have NOT told you what they actually had loaded onto their bumper, if anything - as one person said: jacking problem, maybe?? You don't know if they had one 25lb bike, or a 200 lb generator loaded up. In spite of my requests for such info, it's never been forthcoming, with the only exception being the guy with the storage rack/generator who just posted above (and we don't really know if it would have been too much, since he took it off right away). And to me that load he's got is a far cry from a bike rack. But no one will tell you what they were carrying. What's up with that?
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3 kids bikes
1 spare tire
1 bike rack
Pictures?
I really need to provide pictures from 10 years ago?
I think my word is good enough.
Here's a pic.
TURBS
"Sabre owners united"
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