Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Travel Trailers: Bumper mount bike rack

Print | Close

Topic: Bumper mount bike rack

Posted By: Sarah8 on 07/02/16 12:07pm

We have a 2017 coachmen freedom express 236bhs. We recently purchased a hitch adapter so we could use our bike carrier behind the rv. Does anyone else use one? How do you know if the bumper is strong enough?

Posted By: Gdetrailer on 07/02/16 12:15pm

99.9% of the time no, RV bumpers are not strong enough.

Ask your RV manufacturer, only the manufacturer can really answer your question.

Most RV bumpers are nothing more than 14ga sheet metal (1/16" thick), which is only two ga sizes heavier than your automobile sheet metal.

And inspite of a lot of folk who will be chiming in I NEARLY lost a pair of bikes when my bumper started tearing away from the welds. So don't believe the folks that say "I have done it for x amount of years and never lost one", not all bumpers are 14 ga, and that person may have a 1/8" thick bumper.. But yours may not.

Posted By: SoundGuy on 07/02/16 12:16pm

Sarah8 wrote:

How do you know if the bumper is strong enough?

It's not. You want the receiver the bike rack is mounted to welded or bolted to the trailer frame. Another option might be these 4-SQUARE Safety Struts. Neither of course will offset unloading of the trailer tongue, ergo the reason many of us would instead recommend carrying the bikes over the trailer's tongue with a system like the Canadian made Arvika Bike Rack System.

2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

Posted By: Second Chance on 07/02/16 12:21pm

Search the forum(s). There are dozens - if not hundreds - of posts on this topic. Bottom line is this: you will end up dragging your bikes and rack down the road by one remaining weld on the end of the bumper or just by the locking cable you used for security. As stated above, have a true hitch receiver welded or bolted to the frame.

Rob

U.S. Army retired
2020 Solitude 310GK-R
MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
(Previously in a Reflection 337RLS)
2012 F350 CC DRW Lariat 6.7
Full-time since 8/2015

Posted By: camp-n-family on 07/02/16 12:54pm

Been there, done that. Won't do it again. I even had the bumper reinforced at the welds, still cracked the welds and nearly tore the bumper off.

'17 Ram 2500 Crewcab Laramie CTD
'13 Keystone Bullet Premier 310BHPR
Hitched by Hensley

Posted By: dahkota on 07/02/16 12:55pm

We were behind a guy leaving the campground the other day. He went over a speed bump maybe a bit too fast and the 3 bikes on the rack bounced so hard they hit the back of the tt. Didn't seem to do any damage (but a very loud thunk) but I'm pretty sure over time or one very good pot hole, those bikes will be toast.

2015 Jeep Willys Wrangler
2014 Fleetwood Bounder 33C
States camped: all but Hawaii
more than 1700 days on the road

Posted By: ChooChooMan74 on 07/02/16 01:11pm

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseac........d/28844904/gotomsg/28845035.cfm#28845035

I saw a trailer with a severely bent bumper with bikes the other day. Wish I would have turned around and see if the guy was around. I see a disaster in the future.

I personally have one of those hitch adapters. I wouldn't trust any more than 1 or 2 child bikes close to the trailer, on a solid mount. Now that i have the truck, I came up with this solution.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28939990.cfm

Great American Anti-Towing Conspiracy
2015 Ram Truck 1500 Ecodiesel Tuned By Green Diesel
2006 Jeep Liberty CRD Tuned By Green Diesel (Retired to Daily Driver)
2015 Rockwood Roo 183
Stop on by and read my Camping Blogs
Nights Camped in 2015 - 19 and Winterized

Posted By: BB_TX on 07/02/16 01:28pm

I have been behind trailers with rear mounted bike racks and watched how violently the bikes can bounce up and down and side to side. I would not do it.

Posted By: Chopperbob on 07/02/16 02:01pm

No. Buy a frame mounted hitch mount. Peace of mind.

Posted By: Dirtpig on 07/02/16 05:23pm

I would not just go from the RV bumper alone as others have stated. Possibly if you only had 1 bike, but id say there is a small amount of risk in it even still. Have one either welded up to the frame or get the front A-frame style mount, which i think is killer. Here is my trailer bike hitch, or rack hitch. Notice how its not really mounted to the bumper but instead its to the frame in 3 places.

2015 Nash 25C bumper pull /w 300watts solar my install
My Truck & RV youtube channel
2005 F-350 Diesel 4x4 CC SB SRW
2001 Honda XR400: many mods
12ft Lund WC boat & 9.9 Yamaha 4 stroke on custom loader.

Posted By: IBcarguy on 07/02/16 06:31pm

I bought the MnL 4 Square Safety Struts and have used my bike rack a couple of times with no indication of problems. The struts really gives support to the bumper and I would be very surprised if the bumper failed with these braces bolted in place. I only load 2 bikes and tie everything down firmly to reducing any bouncing over bumps.

Posted By: Hannibal on 07/02/16 08:28pm

We've been carrying our bikes for many years on a bumper mounted bike rack using the 2" U-bolt receiver from one camper to the next. The spare tire comes off and rides in the truck. The bike rack is a Thule that the bikes' tires rest in so they're not swinging in the breeze. The two Trek mountain bikes with rack probably weigh less than the spare tire with bracket. Just the same, with our 2017 Jayco 28RLS, we ordered the optional hitch receiver since it was available. The spare tire will still have to ride in the truck.

2020 F250 STX CC SB 7.3L 10spd 3.55 4x4
2010 F250 XLT CC SB 5.4L 5spdTS 3.73
ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins; '05 Hemi
2017 Jayco 28RLS TT 32.5'

Posted By: jamesu on 07/02/16 09:30pm

10 yrs ago I spent the $$$ to have a receiver set up fabricated at a local welding shop and welded to the chassis of my old 27' Trail Bay. Always towed with bike rack and 2 bikes attached wherever we went. Safe and secure. Never a problem. Just traded in the old Trail Bay for the Creekside in my signature and have an appointment at a local welding shop for another receiver welded to the chassis.

Do not attach bike racks to the TT bumper. It is just not strong enough. Call 2 or 3 welding shops and tell them what you're looking for. You might be surprised.

2011 Chevy 2500 Duramax diesel
2019 Timber Ridge 24RLS (Outdoors RV)
Go Cougs!

Posted By: FKT4387 on 07/05/16 06:12pm

Go to the Coachmen site and send them an email. I own a Freedom Express and have always got quick responses to technical questions.

Posted By: is it friday yet? on 07/05/16 06:38pm

I bought one of those receiver adapters with the U-bolts and put it on our first trailer. Apparently I tightened it too much and crushed the bumper with our sewer hose inside. I never got that hose back out. I had a hitch welded to the back of the trailer by a professional shop just for our bikes the next time.

2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins SRW, Airlift airbags, Bilstein shocks, Smarty Jr., stainless turbo back exhaust, B&W Patriot 18K

2015 Grand Design Momentum 328M, disc brakes, Progressive Industries 50 amp EMS

Posted By: dewey02 on 07/05/16 06:48pm

Spoiler Alert - this post is off the track since this is NOT a bumper mount. This past weekend, I decided to do a mod that I'd been thinking about for 2 years. I wanted a tongue-mounted bike rack for our two bikes. I'd looked at the Arvika, but it was WAY too expensive. I also looked at the bike bunk, but didn't like the price or the lack of versatility. I finally settled on getting a Stromberg/Carlson Trailer Tray and mounted a Maxx-Haul bike rack onto it. The Trailer Tray was actually cheaper than the Bike Bunk. Total cost for Trailer Tray and Bike rack was about $280. Less than 1/2 the cost of Arvika. I also like the versatility of the Trailer Tray. If not taking the bikes on a trip, I can remove the bike rack by taking out 4 bolts and use the Trailer Tray for anything else. Only bad thing is that I have to remove the top of the trailer tray to remove and refill the propane tanks, but only have to undo 4 bolts to take off the tray. And I just filled the tanks, so they'll be good until it gets real cold again.

The Trailer Tray was under $200 with free shipping from RV Upgrades Link to RVUpgrades

The bike rack was $78 from Amazon. I like the fact that the rack supports the bikes by their wheels and also clamps them at the crossbar. Much better than a hanging rack, in my opinion Link to Amazon MaxxHaul Bike Rack

The bikes are up high, but are fairly easy to load and unload by standing on the pickup's tailgate which puts me pretty level with the bikes.

[image]

Posted By: BadBeans on 07/05/16 08:39pm

Wow, thanks for the write up dewey02. I was very interested in this thread because I want to add rack for 4 bicycles for the family to the trailer. I may not be able to use your idea because I need something for 4 bikes, but I think this will be better than a rear hitch option.

Any negatives that I'm not thinking of for a forward mounted system?

Posted By: dewey02 on 07/05/16 08:58pm

BadBeans wrote:

The best part is that, unlike a rear mount, your bikes are ALWAYS in view, and they ride gently...very little bouncing on a tongue mount.
The trailer tray is probably big enough to hold a bike rack for four bikes. It can hold up to 300 pounds, so physically it can support them. The down side is how much tongue weight you can handle. With your battery or batteries, two full propane tanks and the trailer tray, the bike rack, and four bikes all on the tongue, you might be exceeding your tongue weight which should be 10 to 15 percent of your trailer's total weight.

* This post was edited 07/05/16 09:50pm by dewey02 *

Posted By: BadBeans on 07/06/16 03:45pm

dewey02 wrote:

BadBeans wrote:

Does having the bikes in this position add directly to the tongue weight?!? I am already trying to keep the tongue weight down because my tow vehicle is only a Toyota Tundra, which can pull 9500# but has only 1400# payload capacity. If I have a hitch added to the rear frame then add my bikes in the rear will it only add to the overall trailer weight instead? If so, then this may be my only option because I need to keep my tongue weight down. My truck is already carrying the family and kayaks. Thanks!

Posted By: IdaD on 07/06/16 03:54pm

I bolted a 2" Curt receiver tube to my frame. The tube was about $20 on Amazon and I went through a couple of drill bits to get through the tube and frame. I probably have $60 into it but it works great and was an inexpensive solution. I do have to mount my bikes vertically so they don't stick out but my fifth wheel is so tall that's a non-issue. I use a bungee cord to keep them all from swinging around too much. Something to consider anyway.

2015 Cummins Ram 4wd CC/SB

Posted By: dewey02 on 07/06/16 04:33pm

BadBeans wrote:

Does having the bikes in this position add directly to the tongue weight?!?

Yes. Anything forward of your axles will add something to the tongue weight. And these are within a couple feet of your hitch, so yes they will definitely add to your tongue weight.

BadBeans wrote:

If I have a hitch added to the rear frame then add my bikes in the rear will it only add to the overall trailer weight instead?

It will add to your overall trailer weight and it will decrease your tongue weight. Average bike weighs around 20 pounds give or take. You have four - that's 80 pounds. A solid platform bike rack to hold four bikes will be around 60 pounds. Your hitch will weigh a minimum of 30 pounds. So you are adding 170 pounds to your trailer weight. That will counterbalance and remove some weight from your tongue, but I don't know how much. You'll have to weigh it.

Posted By: Hannibal on 07/07/16 04:48am

Just a FWIW, the average adult cruiser style bike weighs close to 50 lbs. My all aluminum Trek Rumblefish weighs 26 lbs.

Posted By: dewey02 on 07/07/16 06:33am

Hannibal wrote:

Just a FWIW, the average adult cruiser style bike weighs close to 50 lbs. My all aluminum Trek Rumblefish weighs 26 lbs.

Thanks for the correction. I guess I should have said "20 pounds give or take 30 pounds" [emoticon]

So just his 4 bikes might add 200 lbs.

Posted By: SoCalDesertRider on 07/07/16 10:03pm

To calculate weight added to, or removed from the tongue, you need the distance from center of axles to tongue, and the distance from bikes to center of axles, and the total weight of the bikes, plus carrier, hitch, etc.

For bikes on rear bumper, calculate this way (numbers used for example)-

Tongue to axles distance = 15'
Axles to bikes distance = 10'
Weight of bikes, etc = 200 lbs

10 / 15 x 200 = 133
133 - 200 = -67
200 - -67 = 267

The bikes will remove 67 lbs from the tongue and add 267 lbs to the trailer axles.

For bikes mounted on front of trailer, use this-

Tongue to axles distance = 15'
Tongue to bikes distance = 2'
Weight of bikes, etc = 200 lbs

2 / 15 x 200 = 27
200 - 27 = 173

The bikes will add 173 lbs to the tongue and 27 lbs to the trailer axles.

01 International 4800 4x4 CrewCab DT466E Allison MD3060
69Bronco 86Samurai 85ATC250R 89CR500
98Ranger 96Tacoma
20' BigTex flatbed
8' truck camper, 14' Aristocrat TT
73 Kona 17' ski boat & Mercury 1150TB
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6 285 BFG AT 4.56 & LockRite rear

Print | Close