Bumper supports and bicycle carrier

[tom39]

With the addition of my Trailair pinbox, I lost the use of the receiver I fabricated to mount my bike carrier. Trying to fabricate a new mount on the new pinbox without drilling or altering it was just more work than I wanted to take on at this time.

So my plan B was the reinforcement of my 4" RV tube bumper and the installation of a 2" receiver.

Ultimately, I settled on the Mount-n-Lock bumper supports and their 2" bumper receiver. Installation was fairly straightforward and with a little help from their CS, the whole process took a little more than an hour.

****Please Note*****
Before the naysayers chime in. I would like to ask that you please refrain from providing a doomsday statement about carrying something on a RV bumper, so that this thread does not turn into a "You can't do that because I have seen on the internet that RV bumpers fail!" thread.

Of course and it goes without saying, if you have had a failure, of your own personal experience, that occurred while your RV bumper was being supported by Mount-n-Lock bumper supports. Please, if you would, provide your experiences and assessment of the supports and why you feel they failed.

Anyway, as you may have noticed, the reason for this post is to provide my experiences and any information I have found about the supports and the 2" receiver.

Here are a few pics for those who are interested.

[WoodLark-SC]

I recently installed the Mount-N-Lock supports on my trailer. I certainly would not expect them to fail unless you put a lot heavier load on the bumper than a couple of bicycles! I mounted a toolbox on my bumper.

[tom39]

Originally Posted by WoodLark-SC

I recently installed the Mount-N-Lock supports on my trailer. I certainly would not expect them to fail unless you put a lot heavier load on the bumper than a couple of bicycles! I mounted a toolbox on my bumper.

With the weight of the tool box, have you noticed any stress to the bumper?

[rockfordroo]

I have yet to read of someone having a failure with these.

I know someone on the forum actually bought 4 and doubled them up, putting one on each side of the web of the frame, just to be sure.

[WoodLark-SC]

Originally Posted by tom39

With the weight of the tool box, have you noticed any stress to the bumper?

No, but it isn't a very heavy toolbox.

I do remember reading (on this forum, I think) that someone mounted two sets of the mount-n-locks on his trailer, back-to-back on each side of the frame. I don't remember what he was planning on carrying.

[itat]

I won’t post any doomsday predictions as I have no personal experience with the 4Square Mount-N-Lock Safety Struts product. It definitely would be an improvement over the stock, unmodified bumper. I chose to go with a front-mounted receiver as an alternative. There are pros and cons with any option.

I would recommend a platform-style bike carrier rather than one that the bikes hang off of though because you’ll get less movement of the bikes with a platform-style rack.

[rockfordroo]

I added LED's to my Thule 990XT platform rack; it allows me to cover the bikes if I want and still have tail lights and turn signals.





Also, stand by for the folks who will tell you that you need an "RV qualified" rack. It may be best to have one; you will need to decide for yourself.

My Thule is not "qualified," but it is currently 9 years old; I've used on both my Roo and Mini-Lite for 3 years each, as well as my vehicles, and it is doing just fine. I AM only hauling 2 bikes; more bikes means more loading on the system.

Here it is on my Roo (before I added the LEDs):



Here it is on my Mini Lite, covered:



As with anything else, you need to perform an inspection prior to each use to make sure it's not falling apart.

Also moved my spare tire to under the trailer with a BAL Hide-a-spare. It's in front of the axle, so it offsets the weight of the bikes somewhat. See here:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ite-91088.html

[tom39]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I added LED's to my Thule 990XT platform rack; it allows me to cover the bikes if I want and still have tail lights and turn signals.

Attachment 186652

Attachment 186653

Also, stand by for the folks who will tell you that you need an "RV qualified" rack. It may be best to have one; you will need to decide for yourself.

My Thule is not "qualified," but it is currently 9 years old; I've used on both my Roo and Mini-Lite for 3 years each, as well as my vehicles, and it is doing just fine. I AM only hauling 2 bikes; more bikes means more loading on the system.

As with anything else, you need to perform an inspection prior to each use to make sure it's not falling apart.

If you would, please elaborate on the RV qualified rack and how it differs from other racks?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by tom39

If you would, please elaborate on the RV qualified rack and how it differs from other racks?

That means the rack manufacturer has approved it for use on RVs. It generally means that the rack is beefed up for the bouncing and leverage physics that occur, when attached to the rear of a RV, especially trailers since they don't have shocks, like Motorhomes do.
Many rack manufacturers state "Not for RV usage", on their products paperwork or on the box.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by tom39

If you would, please elaborate on the RV qualified rack and how it differs from other racks?

I can't tell you how it differs.

The instructions for mine say "Not for use on trailers or towed vehicles." Of course, I didn't have a trailer when I bought it, and who remembers what it says 3 years later?

Here are the racks that Etrailer says are acceptable for towable trailers:

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-RV_...le_Camper.aspx

Just looking at the pics, I'm hard pressed to figure out why these are qualified and others are not. (Ignoring the tongue mounts and ball hitch mounts, of course.)

[rockfordroo]

Dan's big on qualified racks, but then, he's got $2500 bikes. Mine are $300, so I'm not too picky.

[wabakami]

Here is another bike rack manufacturer who makes them for both TT and FW RVs.
They're high-end but well built. Allows you to see how they're riding as you go down the highway.

http://www.arvika.ca/en/

I have the one on my trailer.

Geoff
.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by wabakami

Here is another bike rack manufacturer who makes them for both TT and FW RVs.
They're high-end but well built. Allows you to see how they're riding as you go down the highway.

Quality Bike Racks for your RV | ARVIKA

I have the one on my trailer.

Geoff
.

OP is putting a rack on his bumper. Arvika's are tongue mount.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Dan's big on qualified racks, but then, he's got $2500 bikes. Mine are $300, so I'm not too picky.

Ya got that right, Rockford![emoji6]
Your setup is an example of doing a rear mounted bike rack correctly.

[itat]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

OP is putting a rack on his bumper. Arvika's are tongue mount.

Plus the OP has a fifth wheel.

[itat]

Originally Posted by itat

Plus the OP has a fifth wheel.

My apologies to Wabakami. I just visited their website and it looks like Arvika has a unit for fifth wheels that mounts on the bolts that secure the pinbox. I didn’t know that.

[ProfChuck]

This summer I ran into a guy who had a bike rack mounted to his TT bumper. The rack was fine and held on well - but - the welds on the bumper let go on one side and the bumper was bending from the weight. The welds and bumper metal were pretty thin. He was going to add supports and have it re-welded. I was once told by a bridge builder that when a truck hits a brick on a bridge it creates a load about 2-3 times the actual weight of the truck. I would imagine a bouncing set of bikes adds quite a bit of stress on those thin bumpers.

[tom39]

Originally Posted by bikendan

That means the rack manufacturer has approved it for use on RVs. It generally means that the rack is beefed up for the bouncing and leverage physics that occur, when attached to the rear of a RV, especially trailers since they don't have shocks, like Motorhomes do.
Many rack manufacturers state "Not for RV usage", on their products paperwork or on the box.

That makes sense that the rack would be beefed up to compensate for the lack of suspension in the trailer.
Thank you for providing that information. I appreciate it.


Tom

[wabakami]

Sorry people, just back from 2 1/2 days in the bush, had sat phone but no internet.

I have used an Arvika for 8 years now, they're good units. Plus mounted on front you can monitor them fairly easily by tilting your mirrors and the ride is almost bounce free compared to the pounding they get hanging off the stern!


rockford,
I did see he is installing on his rear bumper, but it seems he is doing this because he can no longer mount his rack on the front of his 5er, so I was offering another possible solution.
Arvika is a Canadian company and maybe not so well known in the USofA.

itat,
I see you followed up and checked, no apologies needed.

Geoff


Photo of TT version on our 8310SS (sorry not a 5er)
(The tank cover will fit, I had it removed for this trip for some reason)

[tom39]

Just got back from the 1st trip since I installed the Mount-n-Lock bumper supports and receiver and I thought that I would update my thread.
The total round trip was 320mi and I am happy to report that the supports worked as advertised and no degradation of the bumper or bumper welds were identified.