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Old 10-11-2018, 11:42 PM   #1
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Adding a bike rack?

Has anyone added a bumper receiver hitch to their TT to use with a bicycle rack for 2 bikes?


Any issues?


Thanks
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Old 10-11-2018, 11:45 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by Sparkz View Post
Has anyone added a bumper receiver hitch to their TT to use with a bicycle rack for 2 bikes?


Any issues?


Thanks
Dude. Search.

Yes people do it.
Yes there are issues.
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Old 10-12-2018, 01:02 AM   #3
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You apparently have a Rockwood, which is an ultralight. This means the thin metal bumper with weak welds, won't support a loaded bouncing bike rack.
Therefore you have to have a receiver welded and braced to the frame and bumper.
This mod may void the frame warranty if it causes issues.
As was said, there are hundreds of posts here about this.
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Old 10-12-2018, 09:31 AM   #4
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Ok. Thanks
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Old 10-12-2018, 09:49 AM   #5
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You're better off installing the bike rack on the front of the TT, that way you can still keep an eye on the bikes while towing. Outside of what's mentioned about it bouncing around, etc., the other drawback to having one on the rear bumper is should the bikes fall off, you may not know until you reach the campground.
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Old 10-12-2018, 10:00 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparkz View Post
Has anyone added a bumper receiver hitch to their TT to use with a bicycle rack for 2 bikes?
No...nobody has ever done that...

Couldn't resist!

Anyway, not all bike racks or rear bumpers on campers are capable of that.

Might want to call Forest River first with your Vin# handy and ask them if your specific trailer has a rear bumper strong enough for this first.
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Old 10-12-2018, 10:23 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by JohnD10 View Post
No...nobody has ever done that...

Couldn't resist!

Anyway, not all bike racks or rear bumpers on campers are capable of that.

Might want to call Forest River first with your Vin# handy and ask them if your specific trailer has a rear bumper strong enough for this first.
No need. He doesn't. (Why would they take the risk of saying yes anyway?)

I did the front front mount with customizations.
https://imgur.com/a/xvMB5
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Old 10-12-2018, 02:25 PM   #8
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Rockwoods and Flagstaffs were coming from the factory, with warning stickers on the bumpers.
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Old 10-12-2018, 03:33 PM   #9
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This bike rack I have maybe an alternative. It holds 2 bikes and the brand is Thule. And have had no problems at all with the mounting points on the rear wall.

just a thought

Cheers Scotty
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Old 10-12-2018, 04:21 PM   #10
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Forest River says NO NO NO (Mini Lites anyway)

I recently bought a 2019 Rockwood Mini Lite 2507S. I actually contacted the Rockwood factory and asked this very question....bike rack on rear bumper. Their reply was NO NO NO...don't do it. Basically the rear bumper on the Mini Lite is not designed for this (in their words, add nothing to the bumper that didn't come factory installed....in my case, the spare tire only.) I was more interested in one of those fold down racks/shelf, but same basic idea. My TT did come with a factory installed Jack-It 2 bike rack on the front tongue so I'm covered there....I was inquiring in case grand kids came camping with us, etc. Having said all that, I've no idea about other trailer models. But, I'd imagine if it's from Forest River and is some version of a "Lite" model, their answer would be the same.
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Old 10-12-2018, 04:45 PM   #11
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As an avid cyclist, with expensive bikes, I would NEVER put my bikes on the rear of the trailer. Can't see them and wouldn't want to risk them on the flimsy bumper.
I would definitely go with a A-frame mounted rack, like Jack It or the Bike Bunk, if I didn't have room in my truck.
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Old 10-12-2018, 05:05 PM   #12
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Having a rockwood mini lite, I wasn't going to risk it on the bumper. I had looked at the lippert jack-it bike rack for the front of the TT. I had also toyed with the idea of upgrading the bumper. I finally settled on buying and installing a front receiver hitch for our TV. I already had a Yakima receiver mount bike rack so for us, this was the cheaper of the 3 options.
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Old 10-12-2018, 06:28 PM   #13
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See Post #2 here for what I put on my Roo 19 and Post #12 for what I put on my Mini Lite 2503S.

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

There are some other options discussed in the thread.

Bottom line: DO NOT just clamp a rack to a stock bumper. It isn't up to the task.
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Old 10-14-2018, 12:27 AM   #14
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I'll give you a different reason: it's likely to TOTALLY throw off the weight and balance of your camper. Our last camper was '00 Hornet 27'. The previous owner had put a bumper mounted hitch on it with a bike rack. I'm two different occasions I mounted only two bikes on the back. Both times the camper was nearly out of control if I try to go over 50 miles an hour. I didn't realize what it was at first, but the weight of only two bikes was taking so much tongue weight off of the camper that it was all over the road. I have had several different friends tell me they were having all kinds of sway problems and that they were debating getting super expensive hitches. Each one of them was also hauling bikes on a bike rack on the back bumper. I suggested they try taking those off and every single one of them who did was shocked at the difference it made in the ride. Our current camper is a Coachmen Catalina. It has a sticker right on the bumper saying that any additions will void the warranty. I have heard many people say that the welds on the bumper will snap off if you put any weight on them. And as others have mentioned you can't see your bikes unless you have a camera. But to me the biggest issue is that it makes such a huge impact on the balance of the camper and will seriously affect your ride. I would not do it.
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Old 10-14-2018, 08:48 AM   #15
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I put this on mine, only I welded the mounts to the frame on each end. Works great I haul 4 bikes. Mount-n-Lock SafetyStruts Prevent RV Bumper Failure (TM) … (SSN-Standard, Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JM3GJD..._dJ0WBb1WHBCBK
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Old 10-14-2018, 08:49 AM   #16
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I then bolted this part to the center etc..
CURT 19100 RV Bumper Hitch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007M1ZGE..._bL0WBbMR5055A
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Old 10-14-2018, 09:10 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A2pfunk View Post
I'll give you a different reason: it's likely to TOTALLY throw off the weight and balance of your camper. Our last camper was '00 Hornet 27'. The previous owner had put a bumper mounted hitch on it with a bike rack. I'm two different occasions I mounted only two bikes on the back. Both times the camper was nearly out of control if I try to go over 50 miles an hour. I didn't realize what it was at first, but the weight of only two bikes was taking so much tongue weight off of the camper that it was all over the road. I have had several different friends tell me they were having all kinds of sway problems and that they were debating getting super expensive hitches. Each one of them was also hauling bikes on a bike rack on the back bumper. I suggested they try taking those off and every single one of them who did was shocked at the difference it made in the ride. Our current camper is a Coachmen Catalina. It has a sticker right on the bumper saying that any additions will void the warranty. I have heard many people say that the welds on the bumper will snap off if you put any weight on them. And as others have mentioned you can't see your bikes unless you have a camera. But to me the biggest issue is that it makes such a huge impact on the balance of the camper and will seriously affect your ride. I would not do it.
Yes, adding weight to the back of a unit can lead to sway. It's more of an issue with lightweight rigs with low tongue weights (especially pop-ups, don't ask me how I know) than heavier ones. Moving stored items up front can offset it.

In my case, although I didn't have issues with my Roo or my Mini Lite, I did decide to move my spare tire under the rig in front of the axles just to help out, using a BAL Hide-a-spare. See here:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ite-91088.html
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Old 10-14-2018, 11:44 AM   #18
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Has anyone added a bumper receiver hitch to their TT to use with a bicycle rack for 2 bikes?


Any issues?


Thanks
Hi the ARVIKA.ca has a light weight two bike front mount rack you might want to check out.
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Old 10-14-2018, 11:50 AM   #19
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Hi the ARVIKA.ca has a light weight two bike front mount rack you might want to check out.
Hate to say that they are EXPENSIVE and hard to do find in the US. There are cheaper front mount sustems.
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Old 10-14-2018, 11:56 AM   #20
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When considering responses to this question, be sure to look at the model of the RV the responding member has. Larger units have HD real "I- beam" frames and can support a rack attached to the frame. Light weight ( lite and ultralite) units use a manufactured frame and may not be able to support a rear mounted rack even if attached to the frame.
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