back bumper cargo carrier capacity on 21 FBRS?

[jb33r]

Hello out there in RV world -

Just got a 2013 21FBRS and am wondering about the rear bumper.

It came with a 2 inch bike hitch which probably weighs about 40 pounds without bikes attached to the rear bumper.

I want to add a rear cargo carrier (about 50 pounds) centered on the bumper close to the bike hitch as well, to carry about 100 pounds of stuff i don't want to bring into the motorhome.

Can the bumper take the weight of these additions?

Thanks.

jb33r

[bikendan]

Nope. That bike hitch is not factory, on a 2013 model. A previous owner must have installed it.
You would need to have the receiver welded and braced to the frame and bumper. The welds on the bumper are too weak to support this kind of mod.

[rickj514]

I'm planning on installing a Curt Model 13703 adjustable trailer hitch with 2" receiver that is mounted to the frame.

Here's the AMAZON LINK.

IMO, this is a better solution than putting weight and stress on the bumper, which may cause it to eventually fail.

There are some products on the market called Safety Struts for transferring some of the weight from the bumper to the frame.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Nope. That bike hitch is not factory, on a 2013 model. A previous owner must have installed it.
You would need to have the receiver welded and braced to the frame and bumper. The welds on the bumper are too weak to support this kind of mod.

X2

Many R/V rear bumpers just cannot hold ANY weight.
The welds are bad and the metal thin. They are not all that way but LOTS are!

There are supports you can add to the bumper and several folks have reported doing successfully so. SafetyStruts by Mount n Lock

As mentioned, the best bet is to add something to the frame and reinforce it.

[jughrad]

I used put my bikes on the rear cargo rack, however, I preferr to use the rack for generator, cooler and firewood so I installed a Jack-It Bike Carrier. It is installed over the tongue jack on the trailers A-Frame.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=42gtfnfMz6Q

[Bluepill]

Another option:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1031894

[dward51]

Just remember that ultra light frames are usually going to be just thick enough to accomplish the job of handling the trailer 'as is'. Most even have warnings not to add items to the rear bumper.

[bjaspud]

The bumper on my 268rks Vibe is attached with four clench type bolted fasteners. I put three bikes on the bumper and quickly had the bumper fail and dump the bikes on the highway. It was my fault not the manufacturer’s. Bottom line....don’t put anything heavier than a barbecue o the rear bumper unless you weld in additional supports. Period.

[ncebeemer]

I added the Mount n Lock with struts to carry my 3000w generator. Holding up well.

[rockfordroo]

I had beefed up receivers put on my Roo 19 (Post #2) and Mini Lite 2503S (Post #12); see here:

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

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by ncebeemer

I added the Mount n Lock with struts to carry my 3000w generator. Holding up well.

Your Windjammer isn't an ultralight, like the OP's trailer.

[Feel Swift]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Your Windjammer isn't an ultralight, like the OP's trailer.

Which means?


Ultralight is nothing more than a marketing buzzword, which in this case the word is Microlite.


A Flagstaff 21FBRS weighs 4171 lb and is 22' long, that's 189 lbs per ft.


A Windjammer 2715 weighs 6870 and is 32' long, that's 214 lbs per ft.


So 25 lbs per ft, or less than 1/2 a lb per cubic ft, makes a difference in what you can do with a bumper?


The bumpers are both 14 gauge, and on the longer trailer I would bet dollars to donuts Lippert used the same gauge (11) steel to make the machine welded fabricated beams for both trailers. They would of just increased the web and flange sizes to accommodate the additional length.


It all comes down to how they attached the tube bumper to the frame rails. If they just butt welded the 4X4 tube to the end on the main frame rail that's weak. If they actually notched the main frame rail to fit the 4X4 and added angle gussets like Rockwood / Flagstaff has been known to do then the OP may be able to do what he describes.

[jb33r]

the tube bumper on my 21fbrs is notched to the frame and "resting" on top of the lower part of the i-beam. Everything is welded together and just behind the bumper are two stabilizers bolted to the frame as well. Looks very solid. The bumper is not simply welded to the butt end of the I beam - its resting on the frame itself. The non-factory bike rack was there when I bought it. Just wondering how weight capable that bumper is with that kind of notched construction.