Installing hitch on bumper

[JIMDI-VA]

I have 2018 2716g tent camper. Would like to install class 3 hitch bumper for a bike rack. Is there anyone out there that engineered a system to work???

Thank you in advancece,
JIM

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by JIMDI-VA

I have 2018 2716g tent camper. Would like to install class 3 hitch bumper for a bike rack. Is there anyone out there that engineered a system to work???



Thank you in advancece,

JIM

Popups have very thin frames. That's why most put bikes on the roof or A-frame.
You would need to have a hitch receiver welded and braced to the frame. Most Popups only have a C-channel bumper.

[flyerdp]

You would probably be better off hanging a bike rack on the back of your TV.

The bumper frame is not heavy duty and as I understand it, modifications on some models can void warranty.

[Soft 17]

Ive seen it done correctly but its a lot of work! Better to find a different solution. Roof racks are nice. I want to mount a front reciever for my SUV.

[ppine]

Mount your bikes on top of the pop up.

[MaryLynn]

We had a bike rack that clamped onto the 2” hitch - between the tow vehicle and the pop up. Held 3 bikes - worked great.

[Leatherman]

Not knowing the type of TV you have, I would opt for installing a front mount receiver. I need the same and I am going to put on on the front of my Ram.

Here is one from etrailer for a draw-tite model but everyone sells them. https://www.etrailer.com/Front-Recei...f6c089b3d39f2a

[NormTn]

I can tell you what I did, it worked great. Mine has a tube frame, I opened the rear frame cover, slide 1.5x3 steel tube about 3 ft up in the frame, 2 1/2 bolts thru frame and steel about 1.5 ft apart. Took to weld shop they welded 1.5x3 tube cross bar, then hitch to that with angled gussets for strength. the frame extends to be behind the spare tire. I carry 2 bikes so to limit movement I had 2 hoops welds closer to the camper on the extended tubes, then i Put a chain with turnbuckles to the top of the bike rake frame and tighten.

[hack522]

Originally Posted by JIMDI-VA

I have 2018 2716g tent camper. Would like to install class 3 hitch bumper for a bike rack. Is there anyone out there that engineered a system to work???



Thank you in advancece,

JIM

Previously owned a Dutchmen Pop-up. Installed a bike rake to the roof for four bikes. Modified it for two kayaks and bikes instead. I did use an extended hitch with a four bike rack but felt it was bending somewhat. You may want to look into the tongue mounted bike rack.

[Tundra 2014]

I had a welder build a rack w/ square tube and 2” receiver. After it was done I could jump up and down on it, no problem. But, going down the road, bikes were bouncing over the top of the camper. That was a Kuat rack, problem is w/ single axel and thin frame. Same rack on my truck, rock solid.

[aeblank]

The back of a trailer is rough, regardless of frame. It's the whipping action, because there axle is in the middle...

Kind of like riding in the very back of the school bus....

[Underthedog]

Jimdi,
I did not see a mention how many bikes.

I did this on a Coleman Utah pup some years back. It was a solid installation that I do not think could be replicated on our FR 2514G owing to the lighter construction. We used a Swagman original 4 bike rack
https://www.bing.com/th?id=OP.vnVZLN...&dpr=1.25&c=17

PROBLEM: Mounting 3 adult and 1 kid bikes unbalanced the load leading to extreme sway problems. Made it about 30 miles through a 1600 mile trip, then tied two of the bikes to the front trunk of the pup to complete the trip with decent weight distribution.

PROBLEM: Had to dismount the bikes to open the rear bunk since bikes rode too high and also interfered with the bed supports.

SOLUTION: Purchased a ProRac pop up bike rack
https://camperguide.org/best-pop-up-camper-bike-rack/
Although it was necessary to dismount the bikes to raise the camper roof, the process went quick, faster than getting them off the Swagman. When we traded the Coleman for the FR I just moved the ProRac to the new pup.

I first tried this bike rack on the Explorer receiver with the Coleman attached to the ball on the bike rack. With four bikes tight turns were a problem. We only did this for one trip.