Rear bumper addition

[VizJedi]

My Chaparral 390 was one of 2 Chaparrals that doesn't come with a bike rack mounted on the rear bumper. I suspect being over 42 ft may be the reason.

But there are 2 stickers on the rear that contradict each other. This one says mounting anything on the bumper is prohibited and may void the warranty.


And this one says what ever I mount on the bumper can't exceed 135 lbs or 24 inches.



I would like to put a bike rack on the rear.

Thoughts?

j

[Sierra360PDEK]

Don't do it. In the last two years I've seen two bumpers fail and bikes damaged. I put a Curt front mount hitch on my truck and use a Swagman XC bike rack. Solid as a rock, easy to install and I can keep my eyes on our bikes.

[Rrickim63]

This post will certainly start a debate. I lost a bike doing the bumper thing. The forces exerted on the bumper from a bike bouncing ( regardless of how secure it is) may damage the bike/ bumper and/or frame...yes the frame of the camper

[TURBS]

I got a big hole in the back of my camper when I put a bike rack and bikes on it.
Bikes bounced so violently on the flimsy bumper that one of the handle bars went right through the back of the camper.
Run from this idea.


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

[VizJedi]

Thanks everyone. I really don't like the idea of it hanging out back where I can't see it anyway. I have a very expensive road bike ($5,000+). I had a fork mount that I put in the bed of my truck right against the cab, but I added an auxiliary fuel tank in the bed and that took my bike space.

The factory rack looks fairly robust and mounts to the frame rails and not the bumper. The frame doesn't extend as far on my 390 as in this pic though.



Looks like I go with my old option of putting it in the 5er. Keeps it out of the weather that way too.

j

[CWSWine]

Interesting, because my Crusader came with a Grill, Swing Extension Arm and tire on a steel rim that weight the amount on your second sticker of 135 lbs. That grill bounce up down by about 12 inches going down the road. I took all that off and put on a bike rack and 2 bike that weight 95 lbs and didn't bounce near as much as the grill. If I had the sticker I won't put anything on the bumper that would void the warranty but after the warranty I would contact Lippert that makes the frame on your 5er and get their advice on installing one of the hitches they have on their website.

Here is the website of the people that made, designed, and test your frame and the hitches they designed to go on it...
RV Bike Racks & Receivers for Sale

[DaveandSue]

I ran into the same problem. Our 370 fl couldn't get the rack. I'm having the dealer put a 2" receiver on it for a bike rack
I'm going to miss that rack.450 # wieght limit. Had the genny and a 4' tool box on it.

[tande]

Originally Posted by Sierra360PDEK

Don't do it. In the last two years I've seen two bumpers fail and bikes damaged. I put a Curt front mount hitch on my truck and use a Swagman XC bike rack. Solid as a rock, easy to install and I can keep my eyes on our bikes.

Ding/Ding/Ding! .....we have a winner!....

[VizJedi]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

Here is the website of the people that made, designed, and test your frame and the hitches they designed to go on it...
RV Bike Racks & Receivers for Sale

CWSWine,

Thanks for the Lippert link. That lists the bike rack that mounts to the frame rails that is standard on the shorter Chaparrals. I'll contact them about the install specs to see if I have enough frame rail to mount it.

j

[DaveandSue]

If you look closely,the gwo rear frames are not alike. Ours on our short Chapy is much beefier where it comes out for the rack. Much different on the longer Chapy.
We were told from the factory rep that it couldn't be added.YMMV.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by VizJedi

CWSWine,

Thanks for the Lippert link. That lists the bike rack that mounts to the frame rails that is standard on the shorter Chaparrals. I'll contact them about the install specs to see if I have enough frame rail to mount it.

j

I give that advice a lot and I have had feedback both ways that's fine or no your frame won't handle it. My Crusader they said I could install the receivers but not the platform style since I didn't have enough frame rail extending past the rear of the 5er.

[VizJedi]

Originally Posted by DaveandSue

We were told from the factory rep that it couldn't be added.YMMV.

I haven't contacted the rep yet. I'll get a better look and pics of the rear frame rails, but I'm pretty sure the full 10 inch frame goes all the way to the rear where the thin square bumper is attached. If I have enough of that 10 in frame rail, I should be able to weld or bolt the Lippert factor rack.

I'm looking into this assuming my DS18 and DW will want to take their bikes along on trips. DW has never wanted her's, but is acting more interested in "getting into shape". DW hasn't been much interested in his bike since he got his driver's license.

If it's just my bike, I probably won't bother and just stick my bike inside the bunk room, like I did on my old 5er.

j

[Dave53]

Don't do it. I lost a bike off the back of my 5ver. Didn't even know it went.

[VizJedi]

Originally Posted by Dave53

Don't do it. I lost a bike off the back of my 5ver. Didn't even know it went.

For those that lost a bike from a rear rack, what happened?

Bike came off the rack or rack came off the camper?

The Lippert frame mounted rack from the factory on the shorter Chaparalls looks pretty beefy and securely mounted to the frame rails.

j

[DaveandSue]

With a 450# rating,that rack ain't going any where. I had a generator and a 4' aluminum tool box on ours and they stayed put for over 12,000 miles..I'm going to see today if it will fit on the new one.If so, I'm ordering another rack to put on our 370FL.

[Dave53]

Mine came off the rack.

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by VizJedi

For those that lost a bike from a rear rack, what happened?

Bike came off the rack or rack came off the camper?

The Lippert frame mounted rack from the factory on the shorter Chaparalls looks pretty beefy and securely mounted to the frame rails.

j

I had a SOB, 318SAB Cougar that had a slide out bike rack that was part of the rear bumper and frame. We traveled with our bikes just once using this bike rack. The bikes could not be secured will enough to prevent motion from the bouncing of the trailer at the back end. They rubbed each other and wore through the rags I used to protect them, damaging the paint and the cables on the bikes.
We never travelled with the bikes again on the bike rack and this just stayed in the close position for the remaining time we own that trailer.

[garmford]

On my first two campers we had a bumper bike rack. It was a stand off model so it would go out around the spare. I've had up to three bikes along with the spare tire and never had a problem besides losing the end caps of the bumper from it twisting.
Would I recommend his to anybody? NO!!! I consider myself lucky that nothing happened.
On our current camper there's a sticker on the rear bumper telling you to never mount anything to it. Not even the spare tire.
Another blogger on this forum did a homemade pin box bike rack so I made my own version of that. Works awesome!!


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[VizJedi]

I like those pinbox mounted carriers a lot. It's probably a ridiculous question, but I wonder how much the bikes impact fuel mileage.

And how many bugs the bikes catch. DW and DS don't care how nasty their bikes get, but my road bike is a different story.

j

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Dave53

Mine came off the rack.

So it had NOTHING to do with putting a rack on the back. This is how these ugly rumors get started. People say "don't do it," but never give the details.