Receiver Hitch

[corocky1998]

We are looking to add a 2 bike bike rack to our 2016 29rlx 5'er and I am debating adding a whole class 2 or 3 receiver hitch to the frame or just adding the support brackets and the bumper hitch to the existing bumper.

What have people found to be the best?

Would the brackets on the bumper be strong enough to add a cargo carrier to the bike rack to put my 2200 watt inverter on too? See the picture attached. The bike rack I am looking at has the option to add a cargo rack to it.

Thanks!

[nayther]

receiver, they make bolt on kits you can buy on etrailer. I had one professionally installed as I'm hauling a dirt bike but if just bikes the bolt on should be adequate

[rockfordroo]

You will get responses all over the map on this.

See this thread for lots of info on adding hitches. Don't just bolt something to the bumper, it's not adequate by itself. Either beef it up as I did in Posts #2 and #12, or add the Safety Struts.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...oo-107358.html

[hack522]

Couldn't agree more with rockfordroo. I added safety struts to the existing bumper for added support. I inspect the welds each spring and fall to insure nothing has deteriorated. Safety is paramount.

[5picker]

Yep... been debated here heavily.

Most bumpers simply are not made to have something more than a spare tire bolted to them let alone bikes cargo rack AND a generator. (even some spare tire mounts have had issues)

[corocky1998]

I wasn't planning on just bolting a bike rack on, if I did, I would just get one of these ladder bike racks, lol.

I guess my main concern with my Wildcat is attaching a receiver hitch to the main I-frame and then messing with the underbelly covering or do people attach it to the 2" * 4" boxed framing between the main I-frame and the 4" bumper?

It looks like most of the factory installed cargo racks are attached to the box framing between the I-frame and the bumper. I wonder if they attach the box framing differently to the main I-frame when they add the cargo racks or if it just welded to the bottom of the I-frame like mine is?

[Justice12t]

Originally Posted by corocky1998

or do people attach it to the 2" * 4" boxed framing between the main I-frame and the 4" bumper?

That is what I did. I have a boxed 4 inch plus beam that is very securely welded to the main frame. I attached the universal receiver to that. 4 bolts on either side I believe. I mainly use it for a bike rack, I've carried 4 bikes for thousands of miles. Honestly, the bottom of the mounting brackets do hang a little low in it has dragged a little a few times (Inclines like gas stations, ect) but nothing crazy. I installed it myself in a few hours with the right tools. I got it from etrailer.

It has worked very well for me. As others have said answers will be all over the place. Really I think you need to do what you feel safest and most comfortable with. If it fails you might only lose some bikes and a genny but what about the people traveling behind you??

[Justice12t]

Here's a few pictures of where I mounted it and the clearance. It is only mocked up at this point...

[5picker]

Originally Posted by corocky1998

We are looking to add a 2 bike bike rack to our 2016 29rlx 5'er and I am debating adding a whole class 2 or 3 receiver hitch to the frame or just adding the support brackets and the bumper hitch to the existing bumper.

What have people found to be the best?

Would the brackets on the bumper be strong enough to add a cargo carrier to the bike rack to put my 2200 watt inverter on too? See the picture attached. The bike rack I am looking at has the option to add a cargo rack to it.

Thanks!Attachment 194144

Originally Posted by corocky1998

I wasn't planning on just bolting a bike rack on, if I did, I would just get one of these ladder bike racks, lol.

I guess my main concern with my Wildcat is attaching a receiver hitch to the main I-frame and then messing with the underbelly covering or do people attach it to the 2" * 4" boxed framing between the main I-frame and the 4" bumper?

It looks like most of the factory installed cargo racks are attached to the box framing between the I-frame and the bumper. I wonder if they attach the box framing differently to the main I-frame when they add the cargo racks or if it just welded to the bottom of the I-frame like mine is?

Well you did say... "or just adding the support brackets and the bumper hitch to the existing bumper." LOL!

In any case... every quality installation of a hitch receiver I seen included brackets to the frame members with the receiver mounted to those brackets.

Unless you have a rig with special, heavy frame extensions to hold the bumper (from the factory) I would be leary about just the bumper extensions.

There are some out there though and we were fortunate our Flagstaff was built with rear cargo carrying capacity in mind. Our bumper extensions are an extension of the main frame.

Here are a couple of photos of the factory bike/cargo rack (1st photo) and the cargo rack I built for mine.

Note: In my set-up, the folding bike rack wasn't installed when the photos were taken but the concept is the same. I simply wanted my bike rack removable but still have some cargo carrying space.

[corocky1998]

5picker, nice rack! That is cool, I wish I had some welding skills. The sliding part is a really great idea.

I guess I wonder if my bumper extensions are designed to hold a rack. Other Wildcats I have looked at with factory racks seemed to have a similar bumper construction as mine that did not have the factory rack installed.

I worry too about adding a receiver below my bumper, it would probably scrape my driveway everytime I leave and park the camper.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by corocky1998

I guess I wonder if my bumper extensions are designed to hold a rack. Other Wildcats I have looked at with factory racks seemed to have a similar bumper construction as mine that did not have the factory rack installed.

I'll bet if you contact Forest River with your Vin# handy they can look it up and tell you what the rear bumper is rated to hold.

[Indy500]

Originally Posted by nayther

receiver, they make bolt on kits you can buy on etrailer. I had one professionally installed as I'm hauling a dirt bike but if just bikes the bolt on should be adequate

What does professionally mean? Did you have it fabricated and welded to the frame ,or bumber

[18CrewDually]

On my Wildcat (and an Everest 5er) I fabricated a 6' x 4" x 4" .25" thick wall square tubing subframe with 3 seperate 2" recievers that are 2' on center. Then I gussett & weld it to the trailer's I-beam frame.
Having receivers gives you options to build interchangeable racks or a motorcycle carrier and still be able to tow a utility trailer if I want to.

[Indy500]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

On my Wildcat (and an Everest 5er) I fabricated a 6' x 4" x 4" .25" thick wall square tubing subframe with 3 seperate 2" recievers that are 2' on center. Then I gussett & weld it to the trailer's I-beam frame.
Having receivers gives you options to build interchangeable racks or a motorcycle carrier and still be able to tow a utility trailer if I want to.
Attachment 194167Attachment 194168

I really like this, great job

[nayther]

Originally Posted by Indy500

What does professionally mean? Did you have it fabricated and welded to the frame ,or bumber

Yes, custom built torque tube welded to the frame, after it was beefed up at the location of attachment. The receiver is OVER the bumper. I'll try to get some photos this weekend and post. It's very clean and does not interfere with the folding rack (this is an either/or deal, we don't/can't use both at once so don't flame me).

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Indy500

What does professionally mean? Did you have it fabricated and welded to the frame ,or bumber

Indy: FWIW or FYI - In the thread link that I posted in Post #3 (re-posting here: http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...oo-107358.html ), if you look at the beefed up receivers in Posts #2 and #12 of that thread, they were installed by my dealers certified welder. Dealer charged me $600. However, I know at least one person on the forum here subsequently had a local welder do his for about $300. Dealer takes his markup - LOL. It was worth it for me because the dealer installed it before I even took delivery, so I didn't have to deal with getting it installed.

[Boomerweps]

My factory "bumper" rack only lays on the bumper some. It's mounts are clamped around the frame, bolted together.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by Indy500

I really like this, great job

Thank-you. And along the same lines of topic, for bike transport I made a reciever for my bike rack on the pinbox. I use a Thule tilting 4 bike rack. I usually just unload from the back of the truck while standing on the tool/fuel box but it can be unloaded from the ground if I kneel the hydraulic landing gear down.

[corocky1998]

Adding a hitch to the pin box was a thought and ideal, but I think I might hit my cab with the bikes on my short bed Silverado.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by corocky1998

Adding a hitch to the pin box was a thought and ideal, but I think I might hit my cab with the bikes on my short bed Silverado.

That could depend on the rack. I think this rack puts the bikes higher than the cab. A little bit of measuring and you could know for sure.