Bike racks on Trailer bumper Hybrid 233s

[itat]

MuddauberE, the issue is not so much the weight as the bouncing and twisting that the bike rack does as you drive down the road. The metal that they use to make the bumper is thin and can rip away from the welds at the frame with all the bouncing. If you tie in a normal hitch receiver to the frame similar to what rockfordroo did you should be OK. Just be aware that the "I" beam used on these lite trailers is actually flat steel pieces (2 horizontal flanges and a vertical web) welded into the "I" shape and the vertical web is not very thick.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Flybob

Keep in mind that all TT and RVs are not built equally. As you take advise from owners be sure to take into consideration the unit that the person making the claim owns.

And also make sure if they tell you there's a problem, ask for details, especially pics, of what and how they attached and what load they put on it. I'm unaware of anyone with a beefed up receiver such as the two put on my Roo and Mini Lite ever even posting that they had a problem, much less producing any proof of an issue. The one pic someone did once provide of a "problem" was a pic of his frame near the axles that appeared to actually be due to lifting the TT on the stabilizer jacks (i.e, the damage was from flexing in the "opposite" direction as a bike rack would cause). When someone stated that to him, there was no response from him. Also, his post had NO information on what kind of load may have been on the back of the TT, if anything.

While I agree with not just clamping a receiver on my bumper, that doesn't mean you can't install appropriately.

There is a LOT of hear-say on this subject, with little to no facts, on this forum.

[Windjammin]

I have a Windjammer with the factory spare mounted to the bumper. Looking carefully at it I would not put anything else on it as it appears to me to be barely capable of supporting the spare tire much less anything else. Also the label on my bumper says if I put anything else there the warranty is void.

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

There is a LOT of hear-say on this subject, with little to no facts, on this forum.

Well you said a mouthful there R.F.R. I might add you need a good quality pair of chest waders to wade through all of it also.

Originally Posted by Windjammin

Also the label on my bumper says if I put anything else there the warranty is void.

No it doesn't, it says it "MAY" void the warranty.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Windjammin

Also the label on my bumper says if I put anything else there the warranty is void.

Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp

No it doesn't, it says it "MAY" void the warranty.

And this is EXACTLY how all the rumors and hear-say start on these forums. People are not careful about what they post, or they're just loose with the wording to support their POV.

[my new roo]

I just bought a 2017 ROO 21SS this spring, the frame company said no way to anything on the bumper except spare. I have used a bike bunk with a little modification all summer carrying 2 bikes. Your best bet is call e-trailer they were very helpful and shipped out same day and installed by camping weekend. The bike bunk mounts on front above propane tanks. When towing never knew the bikes were there and you could see them in your mirror. Used the ROO way more then our pop up and love it. Twice as many trips this year then last.

[Glindz233s]

I wish. I thought about adding a rack to my tonneau hard cover or cab of my truck but usually just stuff them in the camper and bungie them.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by my new roo

I just bought a 2017 ROO 21SS this spring, the frame company said no way to anything on the bumper except spare. I have used a bike bunk with a little modification all summer carrying 2 bikes. Your best bet is call e-trailer they were very helpful and shipped out same day and installed by camping weekend. The bike bunk mounts on front above propane tanks. When towing never knew the bikes were there and you could see them in your mirror. Used the ROO way more then our pop up and love it. Twice as many trips this year then last.

IMHO, this is the best solution if you can't carry bikes on or in the tow vehicle.
They are visible and simply mount to the A-frame.

There are at least 3 different makes of A-frame mounted bike racks.

[Blazer]

Remember what tony said in the scar face movie "Its not for you"

[uhduh camping]

Mount a hitch to the front of TV and not worry about it. It will help a little with weight distribution as well. I have seen the welds on my bumper, I'm not sure I trust the bumper itself. It might fall off due to the weight of the stinky slinky that's in it.

[jjuscg]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Muddauber:

The link in Post #8 above has pics of the receiver my dealer welded onto my Mini Lite (see post #22 in the link). Here are pics of a similar installation he put on my Roo 19. No problems for the 3 yrs I had the Roo (with the spare on the bumper). I've had the Mini Lite for 2 years now, no problems. I did move the spare tire under the frame in front of the axle on the Mini Lite to offset some of the bike weight (see the link in the Post 22). I'm carrying 2 bikes with a Thule TH990XT platform rack. See pic of it on the Roo.

X2 on the consensus that MOST bumpers aren't strong enough to safely support even the weight of a few bicycles. I had a receiver hitch fabricated similar to rockfordroo, and am very satisfied with the result. A few hundred dollars is well worth it to eliminate the fear of a catastrophic failure!
While I do agree with the concern for the effect on tongue weight, it shouldn't be as much as you might think. I am hauling a 400lb motorscooter on my rear hitch and it only affects tongue weight by a little over 100lbs. I am still within the margin of safety for my axle:tongue weight ratio.

[OK3wire]

@Muddauber: I had the same issue and went with this solution to carry my bikes inside my trailer http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ad.php?t=96027. Works like a champ! Hit me up if you have questions on how I did this mod.

[naturegreen]

We went with a front hitch and it works great. We use a 4 place bike rack and no problems. very east to install also.

https://www.etrailer.com/fmr-2013_Ford_F-150.htm

let me know if you have any questions

[RolltideRoo]

I fabricated a hitch for the back out of 3/16" 2x3 stainless and 1x3 channel with a 18" long receiver from HF tig welded together. It's solid as a rock, if it moves the trailer moves. Initial 300 mile round trip had two adult bikes on the way up and all 4 on the way back. No issues with the set up, and with all the additional metal from the I beam, the bumper attachments and the stabilizer plates, it's probably stronger in the rear. I couldn't set it up like the other guys, my 233s is different where the bumper attached!

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by RolltideRoo

I fabricated a hitch for the back out of 3/16" 2x3 stainless and 1x3 channel with a 18" long receiver from HF tig welded together. It's solid as a rock, if it moves the trailer moves. Initial 300 mile round trip had two adult bikes on the way up and all 4 on the way back. No issues with the set up, and with all the additional metal from the I beam, the bumper attachments and the stabilizer plates, it's probably stronger in the rear. I couldn't set it up like the other guys, my 233s is different where the bumper attached!

My feeling, too.

[RolltideRoo]

Yep

[Mr Havercamp]

That's a nice piece of work. Do you think you may have possibly over engineered it just a smidgen LOL.

How much do you think it weighs?

I took a long look at the bumper on my 2017 23WS and how it was attached, and just went with my Curt bolt on bracket last season. Mostly it's only a steel cargo platform with a Barker tote and a bag of charcoal or two on it. When I went to Vermont in the fall I did have the most important item on it though, an 80qt refreshment cooler.

You do know you can not do this kind of thing to these lightweight trailers? It's totally impossible. LOL.

That 2x3 is S.S.?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Forest River Forums mobile app

[RolltideRoo]

Yes SS, and easy to tig but a PIA to drill, unless you have a good lube like boeblue or lithium grease. Over engineered? Nooooo! 4 bikes (2 adult/2 kids, which eventually be basically 4 adult) is a lot of wt.! I'm 185lb and can hang off it with nothing giving but the torsion axles. Probably weighs 50lbs roughly!

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by RolltideRoo

Yes SS, and easy to tig but a PIA to drill, unless you have a good lube like boeblue or lithium grease. Over engineered? Nooooo! 4 bikes (2 adult/2 kids, which eventually be basically 4 adult) is a lot of wt.! I'm 185lb and can hang off it with nothing giving but the torsion axles. Probably weighs 50lbs roughly!

The over engineered comment was humor, I would not have second thoughts carrying a couple of beer coolers on yours or Rockfordroos. I just may break out the welder when the weather breaks. I do not worry much about the Lippert garbage frames much having put together a dirt car or two over the years, nothing some tube or a few gussets can't take care of if required but the short length from axle mounting to rear comes into play, and that counts for a lot, as does having your bracket tied in at 4 points.

[RolltideRoo]

Lol! On the humor!