Addition of hitch receiver and cargo carrier to Flagstaff ePro 14fk, the epilogue

[Sarahcat]

Using a modified, multi-fit Reese hitch receiver kit, a hitch extension, a lot of hardware, not included in the hitch kit, and drilling holes in the two longitudinal frame beams, we succeeded getting a 2 inch receiver added to the TT. We then needed to narrow the width of the cargo basket by 2⅛ inches to clear the rear ladder, fully. The good news, only redesigning, metal cutting, and drilling were required, meaning, no welding!

We plan to transport a small inverter generator and/or a Dometic Veranda Room kit on this cargo basket, which should be a total of less than 90lbs. We would not attempt to tow with this addition. Yes, we’re crazy.

[rsdata]

did you think about shortening the ladder a bit?

[Jay2504]

That looks like a nice installation. Can you please tell me how much the cargo rack weighs and how wide it was before you shorten it. Jay

[Sarahcat]

Originally Posted by rsdata

did you think about shortening the ladder a bit?

No. We didn’t wish to compromise the ladder and the change to the width of the cargo carrier was minimal.

[Sarahcat]

Originally Posted by Jay2504

That looks like a nice installation. Can you please tell me how much the cargo rack weighs and how wide it was before you shorten it. Jay

Thanks! The cargo rack weighs about 25 lbs and was originally 48” wide. It is now just a fraction of an inch less than 46”. It’s built from aluminum extrusion, with a 2” steel ‘spine’. It’s rated at 500lbs when mounted directly on a vehicle. Mounted in the rear of the trailer, we will be using at less than one-fifth of its rating. Before we bought the trailer last October, we used it on the class IV hitch on our Escape for a driving trip from Illinois to the Pacific Northwest last September. We selected this cargo carrier because it was extremely light, so we could easily remove it when not in use.

Since we cannot use it on our tow vehicle with the travel trailer attached, we thought of repurposing it as a rear carrier for a generator for boondocking, since we do not use a truck bed we can use for extra cargo.

[Mrprovy]

That looks rally nice! Did you take any pictures of the install and hitch mounting?

[Hamerjk]

Looks nice , but can the bumper handle that extra weight? Don't for get to add the hitch, cargo and what you carry. I know they can not handle to much weight. I wanted to put a bike rack on mine and I had to reinforce the bumper before I could and that did weigh less than what you are going to carry. Might want to check into that before you carry the generator and end up finding out you lost it somewhere on the road.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Hamerjk

Looks nice , but can the bumper handle that extra weight? Don't for get to add the hitch, cargo and what you carry. I know they can not handle to much weight. I wanted to put a bike rack on mine and I had to reinforce the bumper before I could and that did weigh less than what you are going to carry. Might want to check into that before you carry the generator and end up finding out you lost it somewhere on the road.

I was wondering the same thing. That trailer has an ultralight frame and as far as I know, the bumper has the typical thin metal with weak welds.
Without some additional welding and reinforcement, the bouncing load will cause the bumper welds to fail, especially since the platform holds the weignt farther away from the trailer and the trailer has no shocks.

[Sarahcat]

Originally Posted by bikendan

I was wondering the same thing. That trailer has an ultralight frame and as far as I know, the bumper has the typical thin metal with weak welds.
Without some additional welding and reinforcement, the bouncing load will cause the bumper welds to fail, especially since the platform holds the weignt farther away from the trailer and the trailer has no shocks.

The modified receiver is mounted to the two parallel, longitudinal frame members, with multiple ½” automotive bolts on each side. Lastly, zoom in on the photos, to see that there is a nice gap between the rear bulkhead of the trailer and the cargo carrier.

The photo shows the receiver system bolted to the frame, forward of the ‘bumper, just prior to the final coat of black paint on the mounting area and bolt heads.

Also, we considered considered gross weight of the assembly and maximum payload, as well as cantilever stress. That is why we are using a multi-ton rated hitch receiver system to carry a tiny fraction of its rating and a carrier, rated at 500 lbs, to carry less than 18% of its rating.

ICYW, the bottom of new assembly is well above the bottom of any of the holding tanks and the bottom-mounted spare wheel. We also will stencil a “Cannot be Used for Towing” and a maximum payload rating onto the rear of the receiver system.

[Bluepill]

A bit more involved, but greater capacity:

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ml#post1031894

[dalford]

Originally Posted by Sarahcat

Using a modified, multi-fit Reese hitch receiver kit, a hitch extension, a lot of hardware, not included in the hitch kit, and drilling holes in the two longitudinal frame beams, we succeeded getting a 2 inch receiver added to the TT. We then needed to narrow the width of the cargo basket by 2⅛ inches to clear the rear ladder, fully. The good news, only redesigning, metal cutting, and drilling were required, meaning, no welding!

We plan to transport a small inverter generator and/or a Dometic Veranda Room kit on this cargo basket, which should be a total of less than 90lbs. We would not attempt to tow with this addition. Yes, we’re crazy.

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Nice job but 1 warning. My buddy added a beefed up receiver to his 5th wheel and a platform. The issue was that the platform being mounted low like that bottomed out a couple of times when entering or leaving somewhat steep drives. He had to buy an adapter to raise the platform. Be careful when entering drives that have a larger than normal slope.

[Sarahcat]

Originally Posted by dalford

Nice job but 1 warning. My buddy added a beefed up receiver to his 5th wheel and a platform. The issue was that the platform being mounted low like that bottomed out a couple of times when entering or leaving somewhat steep drives. He had to buy an adapter to raise the platform. Be careful when entering drives that have a larger than normal slope.

Quite true. We are planning to add a 6-8” riser to the receiver, but until we knew we would succeed with the receiver mounting, we didn’t want to incur the expense. We will be buying the riser before we actually take this on the road.

[mogman]

Looks like you did your homework!! Good luck and enjoy your travels.

[Jay2504]

Thanks for the reply Sarahcat. The rack that I am currently working on installing is 60”. I need that much length to carry my mini bike that weighed about 100 pounds. Or I can carry my generator, also about 107 pounds. Or a 100 pounds of firewood. Because my rack will stay mounted with the possible exception of winter storage, it will be directly bolted to the frame in 2 places. For my use, that results in a lighter installation than putting on a hitch and plugging into the receiver. I will post pictures when I am done. Jay.

[gtbee80]

Very cool! Can you post a pix of the other side (with the hitch extension tube)?

Did you start with this hitch...Reese Towpower 37042 Class III Multi-Fit Receiver Hitch or a different/better one? That one claims to extend to 43" and I think the frame beams on the EPro/GeoPro are 60" so you needed at least a 18" hitch extension tube (or longer)?

[Lee Pedrick]

Be sure when you have that generator on the rack while traveling, that it is well locked down, I mean security lock down. Theres incidents out there that travelers were simply stopped at red lights and had their unsecured generators stolen right off the rack, and didn't even know it.