First mods to camper

[Titanium-X]

Before I went to trade my 2001 Dutchmen for my new-to-me Flagstaff I decided to remove a few items. I installed them on my Flagstaff unit the other day. The bumper hitch is made by Buyers and it fits the 4" square bumper on the TT. It's great for the bike carrier or a rear rack. I also swapped over the Barker VIP 3000# tongue jack to the Flagstaff. The only complaint I have is that the Flagstaff has larger hole in the tongue. I used the supplied spacer that came with the jack originally, but it is a little wobbley because of that. Their 3500# model has the larger shaft and would be more stout, but I'll probably stick with what I have until it's shot.


I want to install a battery disconnect and possibly a slide-out awning too in the future. Other than that, she's good to go for hopefully many great seasons ahead.

[EXGMTech]

hate to rain on your parade, but it's not advisable to use a bumper mounted bike rack on an RV...wasn't built for the leverage that will be put on it....many a broken weld because of them.

[TURBS]

I had a bumber mounted bike on my flagstaff and was one of the first mods I regret.
Holes in the back of my camper from the bikes violently banging back and forth caused major damage to the back of my camper.

Turbs

[Titanium-X]

I had it on my last camper and never had any problems like that. I only carry two bikes and that's it. I see people carrying gas scooters, cargo trays of firewood, small motorcycles, pulling another trailer, etc. from their bumper hitches. This square tube bumper is steel and welded to the frame, it seems pretty rigid to me. As far as clearance is concerned with the bikes, this rack extends far enough out to keep the handlebars and pedals clear of the back of the last camper. If I put a bike up there and it hits anything on this camper or could, I won't be using it though. I just don't like putting mine and my wife's bikes into the back of the truck. The kid's bikes, gray water tote, and firewood fill it up anyway. I there a nother solution like an intermediate link for a bike rack between the receiver on the TV and the TT tongue?

[PHS79]

For the bumper hitch it all depends on the camper. Our old Kodiak hybrid only had about 3" of total weld length on each frame rail attaching the bumper to the frame, so I had a friend who is a welder reinforce the bumper for me, problem solved. On our Grey Wolf has 14" of total weld length on each frame rail connecting the bumper to the frame, had my buddy look at the bumper and welds, he said no problem. Good welds, good penetration in to the metal, about 2000 miles carrying the bikes on the rear last year and no problems at all.

So like I said, on some campers there is no way I would carry anything on them, others it is no problem.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Titanium-X

I had it on my last camper and never had any problems like that. I only carry two bikes and that's it. I see people carrying gas scooters, cargo trays of firewood, small motorcycles, pulling another trailer, etc. from their bumper hitches. This square tube bumper is steel and welded to the frame, it seems pretty rigid to me. As far as clearance is concerned with the bikes, this rack extends far enough out to keep the handlebars and pedals clear of the back of the last camper. If I put a bike up there and it hits anything on this camper or could, I won't be using it though. I just don't like putting mine and my wife's bikes into the back of the truck. The kid's bikes, gray water tote, and firewood fill it up anyway. I there a nother solution like an intermediate link for a bike rack between the receiver on the TV and the TT tongue?

I had two bikes on my flagstaff 832bhss and had plenty of room as well , bumber was also steel and welded to frame.
Your bumper end caps will also fall out.
What model and year is your tt?
Do as you please but you've been warned.
Good luck.

[bikendan]

maybe your Dutchmen was not an ultra-lite trailer, like the Flagstaff is.
seriously advise you to have a receiver welded and braced to the Flagstaff's frame cause the bumper is just for carrying a sewer hose.

[Crankshaft]

I also had the same desire as Titanium X in regards to a bumper hitch on my Windjammer to mount a box to haul firewood. There is a warning on the bumper saying anything being attached to the bumper will void the warranty. I have been advised against using the bumper for any attachments by mfg. reps and am heading there advice. However, as a curious sidenote, Rockwood mounts the spare tire to the bumper which is probably substantially heavier that two bikes including the bike carrier...go figure!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by WindJammer2012

However, as a curious sidenote, Rockwood mounts the spare tire to the bumper which is probably substantially heavier that two bikes including the bike carrier...go figure!

that's because the spare tire is right up against the back of the trailer, whereas bicycles are held out and away. it's different physics.
the weight of the tire is almost directly over the bumper. the weight of the bicycles will be farther out, causing more pulling back and down on the bumper.

[youroo]

I have so much faith in the rear (Thin sheet metal)bumper that I only have a (Nat. Park decal) on it! Youroo!!

[campfirefun]

Youroo you may want to rethink altering the bumber

[Titanium-X]

Originally Posted by bikendan

maybe your Dutchmen was not an ultra-lite trailer, like the Flagstaff is.
seriously advise you to have a receiver welded and braced to the Flagstaff's frame cause the bumper is just for carrying a sewer hose.

It was a Dutchmen Lite, though it was stick and tin. The frame is almost identical to the Flagstaff, but the running gear is different. The bumper and frame attachment points look identical too. I'll take it to a trailer shop and have it looked at before I put any load on it just to make sure.

[bodzcampers]

I think its rediculous that the welds, frames, bumpers or whatever are too weak for a couple if bikes. Its camping i thought. Bikes are a part of that often. Sheesh. Rediculous. Oh but lets have fancy countertops, glass enclosed shower stalls, electric fireplaces (lol), carved wood trim, etc etc. Just dont throw a couple of bikes on the back. Lmao!!!!!
Unacceptable.

[wolfpack21643]

Originally Posted by bodzcampers

I think its rediculous that the welds, frames, bumpers or whatever are too weak for a couple if bikes. Its camping i thought. Bikes are a part of that often. Sheesh. Rediculous. Oh but lets have fancy countertops, glass enclosed shower stalls, electric fireplaces (lol), carved wood trim, etc etc. Just dont throw a couple of bikes on the back. Lmao!!!!!
Unacceptable.

I second that comment above

And dont forget about Blue Tooth entertainment systems. Last summer my smart phone and camper audio system must have had a conversation I knew nothing about because while I was talking on my phone it all of a sudden started coming through my audio speakers, outside and inside of the camper. Good thing it was a wholesome conversation cause everyone around our sight heard the conversation until the DW brought my attention to the outside speakers beign on

I have never done anything with Blue Tooth in my life so It took me awhile to figure out what was going on. I thought I had entered the Twlight Zone for a while

[clancythecamper]

We want a bike rack too. Actually we have the tray and bumper mount hitch but are afraid to use them :P Last campout we saw a good number of folks with bike racks that extend up in front of their campers ~ primarily on fifth wheels but when we look on the website they make them for TT also. It was a company in Canada. We called them because there are no prices on the website but I am not aware of a phone call back. If we find out they're copacetic, we'll post it.

Found this post on Woodalls that looks interesting.....
Woodalls Open Roads Forum: Travel Trailers: Bike rack for front of TT

[Barney1]

The Canadian company with the tongue mount bike rake is ARVIKA. The are located in Quebec.
Here is their brochure www.arvika.ca/pdf/brochure/brochure2012.pdf
(English is in red text)

They make a 2, 3, and 4 bike tongue mount bike rack. (The 4 bike option is really their 3 bike rack with an extension kit called "Kit-4")

We were looking at these but decided against it in the end because of the added tongue weight with 4 bikes.