Bumper weight rating if any

[hunter99-FRF]

Please don't shoot the messenger. I am simply asking a question to of curiosity.

I have a 2019 Forester 3051. I have a tow dolly and use a Curt pitch with the extra hitch welded at the top. I have a bike carrier I am using with a single eBike and the hitch is rated at 80lbs. Bike on hitch weighs right at 72lbs. When bike it mounted I only use the inside mount for it closest to the rear of my RV. The bike rack has a 3000lb rated rig that screws into the top i use a set of ratchet straps with, looped around the bumper past the mounts, to add extra stability.

With the tow dolly I am within the 750lb weight limit as the whole setup is around 500lbs so not problem there. Now I would never do this with a travel trailer bumper as the 4" tube is much thinner, but the bumper and welds on the Class C are much heavier. The steel bumper is much more substantial and the mounts are a much stronger weld for the mounts that bolt to the frame.

I am curious if I would run into problems if I mount a 2" receiver to the bumper and move the bike rack there? I would still use the ratchet straps, along with a bolt on anti-rattle hitch stabilizer with the bike rack. It would also still only be the one bike. That will not change. Total weight with the hitch as weighed is 91lbs. With is stabilized so it cannot bounce, the bike mounted to the inside, would this even be possible?

I am only considering this as I currently have to remove the bike rack to unhitch the dolly. Not always convenient to do. As I mentioned I know the limitations of doing this, the bounce can cause extreme twisted loads to the bumper, and that this isn't remotely possible on any trailer. Just wondering about thoughts on a motorhome.

 

[Duckogram]

I believe your hitch weights are 500 and 750 WDH which puts you at max with 500. Would have to see the label on your hitch to be sure.

 

[hunter99-FRF]

I believe your hitch weights are 500 and 750 WDH which puts you at max with 500. Would have to see the label on your hitch to be sure.

You are probably right. One good thing is I guessed it high. I need to get it weighed but I am pretty sure the tongue weight of the dolly and car is actually lower around 200lbs. If so I would be under by a safe margin.

I am doing a overnight run to test the dolly without the bike and plan to stop and get a weigh along the way. When I have done this in the past with a mini-van on a dolly behind a pickup to do a family member a favor, it only had a tongue weight of 300lbs. I won't have the bike on that quick trip.

I was wondering about the bumper if it could handle a single bike if I use the eyelet on the rack and strap it to the bumper. I mean I am not asking guy and got on it and jumped up and down and it doesn't even defect a tiny bit. filmed it with a tripod so I could be sure. Looked at the welds and they are in good shape and fully cover the bracket.

 

[retireearly]

I assume you have already ruled this out- but we always carry bikes on the rear hitch of the toad. The toad rides better than the motorhome or a trailer, so they have less bounce back there.

 

[hunter99-FRF]

I assume you have already ruled this out- but we always carry bikes on the rear hitch of the toad. The toad rides better than the motorhome or a trailer, so they have less bounce back there.

2 problems for me. First the towed car is a Mini. I have a hitch kit but the maximum tongue weight is only 200lbs. It's really not able to tow much. The other problem is I am using a tow dolly. the angle wouldn't really work for me anyway.

So back to my original question if anyone knows if the bumper will support a single bike. On our TT, with thinner and weaker bumper, still was rated for 85lbs and the spare was mounted from the factory. Of course this was not in addition to the spare. If anyone has researched this before I would be curious.

 

[hunter99-FRF]

I was hoping someone would have an idea of the weight capacity of the bumper. I tried contacting FR and they didn't;t seem to want to say.