Just join and love all the info! I would like to put a hitch on back of our Puma 259RBSS to pull a trailer to haul my Trike or a golf cart. Know where I can get a hitch or how to make one?
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Randy
2021 Arctic Wolf
2020 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Gasser
Not possible....frame not designed to support the weight on that end. Changes the dynamics of the weight issue.
Not true, anything possible with metal. But like also said, will void warranty of frame. I put one on my 2014 model, with that being said. If I couldn't use my toys for what I want, then why have them. IMO
Herk: are those pictures resulting from stress to a frame from modifications or is it from regular use. I would think that anyone modifying the frame to add a trailer hitch may beef it up to exceed the manufacturers specs. Just saying.
Regardless of how well the hitch is welded to the stock frame, the entire frame from front to rear is not designed for the extra load and stress put on it by adding a hitch. You can do as you please as it belongs to you, but you are just asking for problems.
Dare I say it but I am with old coot .
You can throw all the steel you want at it and over fabricate the hitch and mounts but you still have a tin frame.....
Which was and always will be the weakest link.
Herk: are those pictures resulting from stress to a frame from modifications or is it from regular use. I would think that anyone modifying the frame to add a trailer hitch may beef it up to exceed the manufacturers specs. Just saying.
Funny you should say that. At Goshen I had a LONG talk with the frame engineers about a topic close to my heart.
My camper is perfect for us but I run it almost constantly at its max gross weight of 9217 pounds. My axles are 4000 pounds each and I believe (and the engineers (sorta) confirmed that the GVWR of MY camper is "most likely" based on the axles.
I was entertaining upgrading my axles to 5000 pounds to get a few hundred pounds of payload and wanted to know what the frame was "good for" so I would still be safe.
What I got back rocked me to my heels. The engineer stated that if I put on the heavier axles, my GVWR would NOT change because without a complete engineering study "OF THE ENTIRE CAMPER" they could not know "where the next Domino was."
When I asked, they said it was most likely the WALLS. They put more wall studs in the heavier gross weight campers to sustain the flexing that goes with a higher gross weight. He said my next "point of failure" would most likely be cracks at the slide openings.
That conversation saved me a small fortune.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Funny you should say that. At Goshen I had a LONG talk with the frame engineers about a topic close to my heart.
My camper is perfect for us but I run it almost constantly at its max gross weight of 9217 pounds. My axles are 4000 pounds each and I believe (and the engineers (sorta) confirmed that the GVWR of MY camper is "most likely" based on the axles.
I was entertaining upgrading my axles to 5000 pounds to get a few hundred pounds of payload and wanted to know what the frame was "good for" so I would still be safe.
What I got back rocked me to my heels. The engineer stated that if I put on the heavier axles, my GVWR would NOT change because without a complete engineering study "OF THE ENTIRE CAMPER" they could not know "where the next Domino was."
When I asked, they said it was most likely the WALLS. They put more wall studs in the heavier gross weight campers to sustain the flexing that goes with a higher gross weight. He said my next "point of failure" would most likely be cracks at the slide openings.
Funny you should say that. At Goshen I had a LONG talk with the frame engineers about a topic close to my heart.
My camper is perfect for us but I run it almost constantly at its max gross weight of 9217 pounds. My axles are 4000 pounds each and I believe (and the engineers (sorta) confirmed that the GVWR of MY camper is "most likely" based on the axles.
I was entertaining upgrading my axles to 5000 pounds to get a few hundred pounds of payload and wanted to know what the frame was "good for" so I would still be safe.
What I got back rocked me to my heels. The engineer stated that if I put on the heavier axles, my GVWR would NOT change because without a complete engineering study "OF THE ENTIRE CAMPER" they could not know "where the next Domino was."
When I asked, they said it was most likely the WALLS. They put more wall studs in the heavier gross weight campers to sustain the flexing that goes with a higher gross weight. He said my next "point of failure" would most likely be cracks at the slide openings.
That conversation saved me a small fortune.
Point taken, but you didn't answer my questions about the origin of the damage illustrated on the pictures. Was that frame modified? I agree with OC, Turbs and yourself about the limitations on the frames, but I also have suspicions that the frames are probably not strong enough even to withstand the factory , unmodified , within weight , camper. My point about adding a hitch is that anyone that would likely attempt this would beef the frame to strengthen it. Probably still not advisable. BTW, did you guys soften OC up a bit at the rally. He seems somewhat subdued.
Point taken, but you didn't answer my questions about the origin of the damage illustrated on the pictures. Was that frame modified? I agree with OC, Turbs and yourself about the limitations on the frames, but I also have suspicions that the frames are probably not strong enough even to withstand the factory , unmodified , within weight , camper. My point about adding a hitch is that anyone that would likely attempt this would beef the frame to strengthen it. Probably still not advisable. BTW, did you guys soften OC up a bit at the rally. He seems somewhat subdued.
Quite a bit of Limoncello and wine was consumed at the Rally. Perhaps the aftereffects?
That was not my frame, and the article/post the photos came from is unknown by me (typical of the Herkbrary the source is long lost).
I seem to recall it was frame damage above the axles from an "aftermarket" weld shop install of a generator/cargo shelf at the rear. I could have mixed that up with another frame failure from a bike rack (whose photos are also in the library).
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL