rear trailer hitch for a boat

[aceinspp]

Personally I would not do it but if you insist find you a good welding shop and fabricator. Good luck. Later RJD

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Ici will say call the company that built your unit.

That's not what they told me when I wanted to add one of their flip down racks. They asked for the manufacturer and model number of the trailer, and the info on the LCI frame sticker. It took 3 days but an engineer called me back. They told me I could use one of their fold down platforms. I ended up making my own for less than 1/2 the price. However, he would not comment on what the warranty ramifications were, and avoided that question like the plague.

They would love to sell the OP one of those boat receivers, that's why they make them, sell them to the general public, and tell you to contact them if you need assistance finding one that will fit your RV. I highly doubt they would recommend towing a boat, but for some reason they do call one model a "boat receiver".

[Flybob]

The issue here that many people forget is the frame capability. You can purchase the best hitch on the market, have it welded on by a professional welder and reinforce the mounting points, but none of that increases the load carrying capacity of the frame. In most RVs ( except MHs that may be designed to tow) the frame is very close to its max limits when loaded for camping. This is an financial decision to lower costs .

[prairiecamper]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

Pass the popcorn.....


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LOL LOL

[AquaMan]

LCI manufactures many things for many different types of industry. To say they sell a boat hitch doesn't necessarily mean they intend for it to be put on the rear of a lightweight RV, or any RV for that matter. The frame tag they apply to their frame before it leaves their factory has nothing to do with what an end fitter may have done to it. In the case of an RV they order one frame for one model RV. LCI knows what that frame is and the specs the manufacturer gave them. They don't know what options were added to that trailer or if the manufacturer decided to change the model. The frame was built to a specific weight class and that's it. For LCI to tell someone you could do it without knowing those specifics is ludicrous. That's why they would tell you anything about your warranty.


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[TURBS]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

LCI manufactures many things for many different types of industry. To say they sell a boat hitch doesn't necessarily mean they intend for it to be put on the rear of a lightweight RV, or any RV for that matter. The frame tag they apply to their frame before it leaves their factory has nothing to do with what an end fitter may have done to it. In the case of an RV they order one frame for one model RV. LCI knows what that frame is and the specs the manufacturer gave them. They don't know what options were added to that trailer or if the manufacturer decided to change the model. The frame was built to a specific weight class and that's it. For LCI to tell someone you could do it without knowing those specifics is ludicrous. That's why they would tell you anything about your warranty.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

Totally agree!


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

[Joe-Barb]

I have a 2013 Rockwood 2608 and had a 7ft 1/4 in piece of angle iron welded across the back and top of bumper and attached to frame then added the hitch receiver.it's strong enough to tow a boat or car.This is what we did and it works great. And my warranty was never voided. Good luck with what you decide to do.

[Taranwanderer]

Heading to Sam's to buy a case of popcorn. And a few pairs of bad idea jeans.

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by Taranwanderer

Heading to Sam's to buy a case of popcorn. And a few pairs of bad idea jeans.

They have the popcorn cookers in Stock, might save some money that way!

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

LCI manufactures many things for many different types of industry. To say they sell a boat hitch doesn't necessarily mean they intend for it to be put on the rear of a lightweight RV, or any RV for that matter. The frame tag they apply to their frame before it leaves their factory has nothing to do with what an end fitter may have done to it. In the case of an RV they order one frame for one model RV. LCI knows what that frame is and the specs the manufacturer gave them. They don't know what options were added to that trailer or if the manufacturer decided to change the model. The frame was built to a specific weight class and that's it. For LCI to tell someone you could do it without knowing those specifics is ludicrous. That's why they would tell you anything about your warranty.

I stand corrected. I should of realized that LCI was just trying to keep the IT dept busy when they made a web store open to the general public and offered a "boat hitch receiver" along with 3 pages of other taboo items made to attach to frames, that evidently you can't attach to frames. Then they add a statement just to use up bandwidth that states; "contact us and our well trained customer service team is here to assist you". Nice of them to do all of that for no reason.

Maybe the intent of all of it is to only sell those add on items to people who only buy bare frames and tow them around?

Thanks for the education.

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp

I stand corrected. I should of realized that LCI was just trying to keep the IT dept busy when they made a web store open to the general public and offered a "boat hitch receiver" along with 3 pages of other taboo items made to attach to frames, that evidently you can't attach to frames. Then they add a statement just to use up bandwidth that states; "contact us and our well trained customer service team is here to assist you". Nice of them to do all of that for no reason.

Maybe the intent of all of it is to only sell those add on items to people who only buy bare frames and tow them around?

Thanks for the education.

There's no need to be a smart *****, but think about it. They will sell you anything, but won't tell you if it will void your warranty or not on those items, and you're going to take the word of a salesman? I'm quite certain engineers are not manning the phone lines. My point was, just because they sell it, doesn't mean that you can add it to your RV and maintain your warranty. This is the vibe you are giving off and I wouldn't want some unsuspecting member to take your advice and regret it later.


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[TURBS]

Mr havercamp, forest river and Lci are two separate companies.
Lci cannot dictate forest river warranty.
As Tim said, just because Lci makes and sells a hitch does not mean it's intended for every unit forest river sells.
Some frames are light weight fabricated tin I beams some are heavier true I beams and even better some are boxed triple wall heavy duty !

I've called palomino and they will void warranty if you install a trailer hitch on the units they sell period.




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

[B and B]

Originally Posted by Flybob

The issue here that many people forget is the frame capability. You can purchase the best hitch on the market, have it welded on by a professional welder and reinforce the mounting points, but none of that increases the load carrying capacity of the frame. In most RVs ( except MHs that may be designed to tow) the frame is very close to its max limits when loaded for camping. This is an financial decision to lower costs .

Actually we are to blame as the consumer. We want something less expensive. We want our IRA to do better on the stock market. Had we not want less expensive things or a higher return on our investments all things would be made here. We consume inexpensive goods made in the Far East or buy smokes online made in Russia or Bulgaria.

[pdqparalegal1]

Originally Posted by mattsny

How can it be done Don t care about warranty and be done safe

Most warranties are useless, modify as you want to meet your needs. I wish double tow was legal in NC. I have 24' TT and an 18" boat.

[pdqparalegal1]

It could not have added that much weight to the frame. Golf cart about 7-8 hundred pounds. Wheels on G/C trailer should have taken most of that weight. I'm missing something.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by pdqparalegal1

It could not have added that much weight to the frame. Golf cart about 7-8 hundred pounds. Wheels on G/C trailer should have taken most of that weight. I'm missing something.

It really doesn't matter if the cart being towed behind the 5th wheel did the damage or not as palomino strictly prohibits it and since it did happen and the cart was being towed the warranty was denied on a unit less then year old.
Did you not see this picture?



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

[B and B]

That picture is a accident waiting to happen. I can not imagine the stresses placed in the middle going down a rough road, hence the frame all bent to crap.

[youroo]

Hey the front Vent Lid has not broken off, Yet! Youroo!!

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by youroo

Hey the front Vent Lid has not broken off, Yet! Youroo!!

Nopt yet its next .............


Popcorn dang made me hungry..

[B and B]

We seem to have lost the OP