Add hitch on the back of Popup Camper

[Lancescar]

We have a 2009 Forest River - Flagstaff High Wall HW29SC I was wanting to see if you can add a hitch that will be primarily used to hold a bike rack to carry bikes.

Thoughts? Suggestions on who could install?

Thank you!

[rsdata]

typically the bumpers on RV's and trailers are made of thin wall tubing and use thin welds to the frame... the danger is, especially with hanging bike racks that bonce down the highway , the torque ( rotational force) produced by the rack will tend to tear the welds and make the bumper fail, scattering your bikes on the pavement behind you... Your trailer flatly states NOT to mount anything to the bumper by the mfg... you do so at your own risk.

At the very least look into Mount n Lock struts to augment the thin welds at the frame attachment... these attach to the frame and keeps the bumper from tearing away from the frame. Some people have even doubled up on them, using a set on each side of the two frame members.

I have used them successfully for 5 years... but do not overload that bike rack... keep the bike close to the bumper... the further it hangs off the rear the more destructive force applied to the thin walled bumper...

This subject is brought up often... look through previous threads for other's ideas including buying a bike rack that mounts above the front propane tanks.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Lancescar

We have a 2009 Forest River - Flagstaff High Wall HW29SC I was wanting to see if you can add a hitch that will be primarily used to hold a bike rack to carry bikes.

Thoughts? Suggestions on who could install?

Thank you!

Popups have very thin frames and most only have a C-bumper, which won't work.
The only way to safely do this, is to have a receiver welded and braced to the frame.
Personally I would go with a roof rack or something like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ProRac-2-Tw....m46890.l49286

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Popups have very thin frames and most only have a C-bumper, which won't work.
The only way to safely do this, is to have a receiver welded and braced to the frame.
Personally I would go with a roof rack or something like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ProRac-2-Tw....m46890.l49286

I strongly recommend the roof top bike rack. With as light as these pop-ups are, bikes on the back would be real easy to unload tongue weight to the point of causing dangerous sway.

[mlmay12]

Originally Posted by Lancescar

We have a 2009 Forest River - Flagstaff High Wall HW29SC I was wanting to see if you can add a hitch that will be primarily used to hold a bike rack to carry bikes.

Thoughts? Suggestions on who could install?

Thank you!

Easy, I welded 2 Receivers to my Frame and used it to build a firewood carrier that could be removed by pulling two pins. Just have to be careful because it is aft of the axel so weight is increased on your springs by lever effect. (The "Moment" for Pilots/Aircraft Mechanics) the further back it is from the axel the more force on it. Wouldn't be a problem for a bike rack. I broke a leaf spring when carrying 300 lbs of firewood. Didn't worry about tongue weight as I had 3 batteries, an inverter, air compressor and cargo area in front but it is definitely something you need to watch.

[REL]

I would put the bikes on the roof of the tow vehicle.

[Beervana]

Originally Posted by Lancescar

We have a 2009 Forest River - Flagstaff High Wall HW29SC I was wanting to see if you can add a hitch that will be primarily used to hold a bike rack to carry bikes.

Thoughts? Suggestions on who could install?

Thank you!

Mark from Robertssales in Denver put one rear receiver on our HW27SC. Perfect job. Then they did again on our new HW29SC. After 3600 miles and 4 bikes on the rack the receiver is still like new !

https://robertssales.com/options/rear_receiver.html