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Old 11-04-2016, 09:38 AM   #1
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Bike racks on Trailer bumper Hybrid 233s

I have a 2013 233s and I am interested in putting my bike rack on the trailers back bumper. They make hitches that attach to the bumper that will work for me and I have about 3 bikes I want to store back there. I have a hitch mount rack so you can understand why I would need to add this adapter to the back when towing.
Universal Hitch - Ultra-Fab 35-946402 - Car Towing Accessories - Camping World


My question is, If I were to install this hitch, does anyone know what the bumper capacity is for weight? Obviously this type of rack will create about 150lbs of weight pulling down on the back bumper of the hybrid and I don't really want to get somewhere to find my bikes and bumper gone. Does anyone do this or similar?
thanks
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Old 11-04-2016, 09:44 AM   #2
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Long answer: There are NUMEROUS threads addressing this...please search and read.

Short answer: DON'T!
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Old 11-04-2016, 09:45 AM   #3
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This same question just received some discussion recently ...

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1353688

Opinions vary, but info you might use to make your own choice.

Good Luck
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Old 11-04-2016, 09:56 AM   #4
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Adding a bike rack and/or receiver to a RV bumper is a very hot topic and a question similar to yours is posted quite often. A common response to the question is that RV bumpers are rarely capable of handling the additional weight and stress placed on them when cargo such as a bike rack is added. But if you choose to do so, it is usually recommend that the bumper be reinforced or supported to reduce the risk of bumper failure.
One method is to add something like this:
https://www.mount-n-lock.com/mnl-car...ruts-hilohitch
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Old 11-04-2016, 09:59 AM   #5
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Highly recommend putting bicycles on the rear bumper if you are trying to remove the bumper and bicycles all at one time and possibly causing a bad accident for whomever is following you. ONE BAD IDEA!
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Old 11-04-2016, 10:01 AM   #6
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One other consideration besides strength of the bumper is weight distribution. Any weight added to the rear of the trailer will have a direct affect on tongue weight and could pose problems. If you decide to reinforce your bumper and install a bike rack, please get your rig weighed and make sure tongue weight is within specs.
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Old 11-04-2016, 10:04 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by windsurfdog View Post
One other consideration besides strength of the bumper is weight distribution. Any weight added to the rear of the trailer will have a direct affect on tongue weight and could pose problems. If you decide to reinforce your bumper and install a bike rack, please get your rig weighed and make sure tongue weight is within specs.
Regardless of how much you reinforce the bumper, the frames on light wt trailers will not take the added wt. So you don't tear the reinforce bumper, you tear a chunk out of the sheet metal I beam frames. Loosing proposition either way.
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Old 11-04-2016, 10:08 AM   #8
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MuddauberE,... you may find this thread helpful... I did when I had the same question...

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ts-118783.html
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Old 11-04-2016, 10:17 AM   #9
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Muddauber, the Roo bumper is too weak for using something like this.
The only safe way is to have a 2" receiver welded and braced to the frame and bumper.

Using something like you are talking about will result in the rack and bikes breaking the bumper off the trailer.
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Old 11-04-2016, 10:20 AM   #10
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I must not have been searching with the correct words. I highly appreciate the patience with my question and the answers I already got!
thanks a ton. Many things I have not considered and I will review the links!
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Old 11-04-2016, 10:37 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan View Post
Muddauber, the Roo bumper is too weak for using something like this.
The only safe way is to have a 2" receiver welded and braced to the frame and bumper.

Using something like you are talking about will result in the rack and bikes breaking the bumper off the trailer.
I agree. Trashing the adapter idea and looking for a frame mounted option. Don't want to be cheap now and pay later! I saw red flags with this idea regarding the structural integrity of the rear bumper on the hybrid. I don't think the bikes will make such a big impact that my tongue weight would be a problem.
thanks for your input!
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Old 11-04-2016, 11:15 AM   #12
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Muddauber:

The link in Post #8 above has pics of the receiver my dealer welded onto my Mini Lite (see post #22 in the link). Here are pics of a similar installation he put on my Roo 19. No problems for the 3 yrs I had the Roo (with the spare on the bumper). I've had the Mini Lite for 2 years now, no problems. I did move the spare tire under the frame in front of the axle on the Mini Lite to offset some of the bike weight (see the link in the Post 22). I'm carrying 2 bikes with a Thule TH990XT platform rack. See pic of it on the Roo.

People will tell you, "Oh, you'll void the warranty." Well, 1) the warranty is short-lived anyway, and 2) I feel the frame is alot stronger now, too.
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File Type: pdf Roo Hitch.pdf (213.0 KB, 66 views)
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Old 11-04-2016, 11:52 AM   #13
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Gotta agree with what 'Roo has done, it makes 100% sense. His welder / fabricator looks to have done very nice work, also.
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Old 11-04-2016, 12:24 PM   #14
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That's a great way to total your unit. Happened to my inlaws. My feeling that the weight distribution was off causing severe sway under certain conditions. ALWAYS do your weight calculations so you have enough tongue weight.
Just my experience, for what it's worth...
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Old 11-04-2016, 12:54 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
Muddauber:

The link in Post #8 above has pics of the receiver my dealer welded onto my Mini Lite (see post #22 in the link). Here are pics of a similar installation he put on my Roo 19. No problems for the 3 yrs I had the Roo (with the spare on the bumper). I've had the Mini Lite for 2 years now, no problems. I did move the spare tire under the frame in front of the axle on the Mini Lite to offset some of the bike weight (see the link in the Post 22). I'm carrying 2 bikes with a Thule TH990XT platform rack. See pic of it on the Roo.

People will tell you, "Oh, you'll void the warranty." Well, 1) the warranty is short-lived anyway, and 2) I feel the frame is alot stronger now, too.
Thanks a ton for the views. I will need to look into these options if I move forward. Posting here just saved a very bad thing from happening to me in the future. Thanks for the posts!
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Old 11-04-2016, 02:16 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot View Post
Highly recommend putting bicycles on the rear bumper if you are trying to remove the bumper and bicycles all at one time and possibly causing a bad accident for whomever is following you. ONE BAD IDEA!
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Old 11-04-2016, 02:19 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot View Post
Highly recommend putting bicycles on the rear bumper if you are trying to remove the bumper and bicycles all at one time and possibly causing a bad accident for whomever is following you. ONE BAD IDEA!
Agree.
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Old 11-04-2016, 02:42 PM   #18
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I wouldn't attach anything but the spare tire to the bumper.
The bumpers today are made with such thin steel that they will collapse
under the weight & bouncing caused by bicycles. If you must put
a bike rack back there get a trailer hitch attached directly to the frame
& don't touch the bumper at all.
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Old 11-04-2016, 02:44 PM   #19
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I've seen RV trailers with a rack that mounts on the front above the propane tanks. One company is Arvika.

You still have the matter of the tongue weight to consider.
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Old 11-04-2016, 02:55 PM   #20
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Keep in mind that all TT and RVs are not built equally. As you take advise from owners be sure to take into consideration the unit that the person making the claim owns.
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