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Old 06-26-2015, 10:34 PM   #1
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Rear cargo carrier / bike rack

Has anyone welded a channel or tube onto the FRAME of an Ultra Lite trailer to mount a hitch receiver on? If so, do you have any pics you can post of how you did it?

I know it's not recommended to attach the receiver to the paper thin bumper of my Rockwood 2601 and I don't plan on doing so. I have seen several discussions on the no-no's of using the bumper but not much on welding something up on the frame that WILL work. I know someone out there has had to tackle this with some success. Looking to use it either for a 4 bike rack or a cargo rack for a generator, fire wood, etc. Thanks.
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Old 06-26-2015, 10:46 PM   #2
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All i'm going to say is that topic has been beat to death here and you will likely crack welds in your frame.
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Old 06-26-2015, 10:48 PM   #3
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You'll also likely be voiding your warranty.
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Old 06-27-2015, 01:04 AM   #4
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The frame warrant could be voided by such a mod.
Unless your frame's warranty has already expired.
From what I've seen on RV forums, most newer FR ultralight TTs have a warning sticker on the bumper.
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Old 06-27-2015, 04:42 AM   #5
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Putting any significant weight (more than say 50 pounds) much past the end of the original frame termination will cause stress at the flex point (just aft of the last axle attachment point) beyond the design specification of the frame desgn.

This excessive bending moment will fail the frame at some point down the road. Additionally, frame bend (flex) will be transferred to the structure of the camper causing premature separations in the cabinetry, wall sections could crack at openings, or delaminate.

Just not worth it, IMO.
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Old 06-27-2015, 06:05 AM   #6
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Works like a Charm! Here are some (Frame Mounted Failures)! Youroo!!
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Old 06-27-2015, 06:44 AM   #7
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So, assuming those campers are somewhat level, the carriers already show signs of impending trouble (significant down bend).

I doubt they installed them "unlevel" like that. Additionally, they are fairly new campers and may not have seen much road use yet.

Like any overstress, one or three times may not be the "charm."

The "Charm" none the less will most likely happen; typically without the owner's awareness until it is all over but the crying.

No vested interest here; and you, of course, can do as you will with your camper and expensive equipment/bikes in "hacked on" storage.

I would feel remiss if I didn't give you fair warning that this could be troublesome.
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Old 06-27-2015, 08:21 AM   #8
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Good enough. Thanks
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Old 06-27-2015, 09:46 AM   #9
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I have a bike rack from Camping World for two bikes on my back bumper of my previous RV without any problem. I had to remove the spare tire from the rear bumper to install the rack and the spare tire holder and tire weighed more than my bikes and bike rack.
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Old 06-27-2015, 10:06 AM   #10
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To the OP

If you do decided use the one from CW on the bumper check to see if there is clearance for the receiver to be installed on top of the bumper. Mine didn't have the clearance and I had to installed the receiver below the bumper and that only gives 18" clearance between the end of the bike rack and the ground.

We also tried the ladder mounted bike rack but with our ladder being on 2 inches from the edge of the RV the bikes would expend beyond the side of the trailer.
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Old 06-27-2015, 10:36 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CWSWine View Post
I have a bike rack from Camping World for two bikes on my back bumper of my previous RV without any problem. I had to remove the spare tire from the rear bumper to install the rack and the spare tire holder and tire weighed more than my bikes and bike rack.
Keep in mind that the cantilevering effect greatly increases the amount of leverage being applied to the bumper. If the spare tire and mount, for example, extended six inches from the bumper and weighed 50 pounds, it applied 25 foot/pounds of force. A bikes and a rack also weighing 50 pounds but extending two feet will apply 100 foot/pounds, or four times as much force on the bumper.

I'll refer you back to Youroo's photos and Herk's quite accurate analysis.
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Old 06-27-2015, 12:48 PM   #12
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My first bike sets at the same distance out from the bumper as the spare tire and the other bike sets less than 10" past outer aft edge of the spare tire would set. If a 20lbs bike hanging 10" pass the spare causes my frame and walls to crack I guess I will just have to take that risk. I had to remove the spare tire and the bracket to get the rack to fit because the tire was in the way of loading the bike.

Now if talking about generator hanging off the back bumper I would tend to agree (depending on RV since some come from the factory with cargo racks on the back bumper) Even a large storage box at some unknown weight could cause/will cause problem... I hope my frame on my RV is not built to that such close of tolerance that it couldn't carring extra weight of two bike would cause the frame to crack.
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Old 06-27-2015, 12:59 PM   #13
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My wife just reminded me that we had gas grill and bracket on the bumper that weight close to the weight of the both bikes. We removed that also because we didn't use it but it would also not let us mount the bikes if installed. That was installed by the factory as a factory option.

I believe that by removing the spare tire, spare tire bracket, gas grill, and gas grill bracket I have reduced the weight hanging off my bumper. Most Prime Time has the option of the gas grill hanging off the back bumper.

Grill and Bumper Bracket weights 46 lbs.

My bike rack weights 28.6 lbs
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Old 06-27-2015, 01:57 PM   #14
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I had a class 3 hitch bolted to the bumper when I bought my trailer. It was in the way when I mounted my generator so removed it. I assume it as for a bike rack and checked everything and found no sign of any damage anywhere.


I spoke with a FR tech before mounting my gen. He said that their concern isn't so much the weight but vibration causing stress cracks. My gen mount is welded solid and can't bounce at all. See:


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...eel-82307.html


I am more concerned about the way my spare is mounted. It can bounce all over! I am thinking about removing it.


Jim
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Old 06-27-2015, 03:27 PM   #15
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Rear cargo carrier/ bike rack

You probably will bend or crack your frame. I purchased an Arvika bike rack for my Mini Lite 2503 which mounts the bikes in the front above the propane tanks. You can mount from 1-4 bikes and works very well. Search Arvika on Google. They are a little pricey but worth it plus your bikes won't get bounced as they would on the back.
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Old 06-27-2015, 03:38 PM   #16
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Our 360IBL came with a factory installed bike rack that is warrantied for up to 150#. We used it once to carry home an empty ice chest (which was in the truck when it was full but DH just wanted to use the rack!). Soon we will be going on another short trip and will be putting our bikes back there (just two). Hoping this doesn't cause us issues down the line.....
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Old 06-27-2015, 03:56 PM   #17
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Bike Rack on Minilite etc 181

Before joining this Forum, I had a hitch receiver added to the spare tire bracket that mounted to the rear bumper with a couple of U-brackets. Into said receiver I placed a squirrel-tail bike rack for two bikes and went off down the road. A few hundred miles later, the whole contraption was keeling over, so the bikes came home on the floor of the trailer. After some more noodling, I added a bar that came up under the frame crosspiece under the bathroom so there wasn't a stress fulcrum on the bumper. That seemed to solve the problem, but after reading the posts here, I'm thinking that carrying the spare tire in the trailer or TV would be wise. The bikes are about as heavy as the spare tire. Any mechanical engineers out there want to weigh in on this? Oh, I forgot to mention why the contraption was keeling over. It was the rivets that were used to attach the bumper to the frame that had loosened up, so I removed two on each side and replaced them with 3/8" bolts with lock washers. There was no sign of weld cracks.
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Old 06-27-2015, 09:22 PM   #18
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I have a Rockwood 8317RKSS Signature Ultra Lite. two summers ago I was hauling my 2 bikes on a brand name receiver bike rack. The welding on the rack broke lost both bikes. Bikes were hit by a semi and mangled beyond use. Worst part when the truck hit the bikes it cut the air line on the semi trailer locking up the brakes on the big rig making it inoperable. Yes lots of conversations with insurance company made for an interesting summer. So I went to get the address of the rack mfg to complain of my troubles when I noticed the warning NOT TO BE USED ON REAR OF TRAVEL TRAILER.
My son was using a receiver rack he purchased at Harbor Freight it looked stronger so I planned to get one, but before I could make that mistake we were returning from the Outer Banks when he called me told me he was losing his trailer bumper! Luckily someone noticed the bikes dragging. We moved his bikes into the campers and used rachet straps to secure the bumper till he got home and had the bumper rewelded. After those two experiences within two months our bikes now travel in the bed of the truck!
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Old 06-27-2015, 09:46 PM   #19
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First Person accounts hold a lot more water than anecdotal ones.
Thank you for sharing.
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Old 06-27-2015, 09:58 PM   #20
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Here's the receiver my dealer installed on my Roo. Used for 3 years. No problems. Two bikes and rack, about 120 lbs. Most of the naysayers, if they have any actual experience, had something attached to the bumper itself. I have yet to hear of anyone with a problem that had a receiver and beefed up framing added. Some have shown pics of frame damage purporting to be due to a rack, but there never seems to be any actual story or pics to go with them. Even when I've asked.
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