mkenyon2
Lebanon, PA
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I wanted to get a bike rack to bring along our 2 bikes when we go camping. My initial thought was getting a hitch rack, so we could use it on the truck or on the back of the trailer with a bumper hitch. (I did get a bumper hitch for the trailer already.)
However, I'm seeing product descriptions that make me think twice. I get the concept that the rear of trailer is going to bounce, putting more strain on the bike rack and the point where it connects to the bumper.
I'm looking to spend < $200, but wondering if I'd be able to get something of good quality that won't break the bank.
Note: This is the receiver I bought.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZBN1IC
MK and my Wifey from PA
TV: 2011 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD (V6 3.5L/213)
Trailer: 2013 Heartland Trail Runner 25 SLE
We've only camped in 2 states? Quick, pack the trailer we have to CAMP!
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MFL
Midwest
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I would not use the receiver you purchased on the TT rear bumper, unless the bumper has been strengthened by additional frame support. Yes even then the rear will bounce, so a good bike carrier is needed.
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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IMHO $200 and a bike rack on a trailer is not going to pan out. First, few bike racks are rated for TT use, those that are cost much more than $200 and are much beefier than the typical bike rack.
Now that said on our trailer I cut off the factory " bumper" and fabricated a new bumper welded to the frame with a 2" reciever welded on. We use the hollywood rack RV rider on the trailer (even though hollywood racks says 5th wheel only)
Expect to pay in the $400-600 range for a good rack AND add in $$ for making sure the attachment is adequate.
Every bike rack I've seen rated for TT use warns NOT to use a bolt on reciever like the OP posted.
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Boomerweps
Hills of PA
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RV bumpers are not designed as bumpers. They are more like sturdy black sewer hose storage tubes.
They are made of thin metal and the welds to the frame rails have been known to fail when weight is carried by the bumper.
They sell reinforcements that bolt to the frame and cup around the bumpers. Highly recommended if adding a bolt on receiver to the bumper for bikes or small platform racks.
My Wolf Pup came with a factory rack. It looks like it rests on the bumper when extended. It does not. It has two pins on each side that hold it and the other hinge part clamps around the frame rails.
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trailernovice
Mission TX
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Ditto on the 'don't use a bumper hitch without reinforcements' advice...personal experience...going down the road, people startzed pointing at our rig....our bikes are on the ground, dragging....the bike rack and the connections between the bumper and the frame rails stayed intact...what happened was, the thin metal of the bumper got jiggled and joggled one two many times, and the walls of the bumper peeled open like a banana...the bikes were at a 45 degree angle, and didn't go all the way flat only because the ground blocked them from falling further...
That would have been hugely dangerous and a huge liability if the bikes had actually disconnected from the trailer, as generally a person can be responsible for any damage caused by a falling load. I ride a motorcycle as a daily driver, and realize how extremely hard it would be to avoid a crash when two strapped-together bicycles suddenly appear on the road ahead, bouncing around unpredictably....run over those with a motorcycle or even a car, BIG problems....alternative of swerving could ALSO create big problems
After the fact, I got a welder to take the factory bumper off and replace it with one of much, much thicker metal...and even then, I only use the bumper rack when the truck bed is full
It's not the dead weight that's the bumper-killer...it's the lever action of however much the bikes weigh. extended above and behind the the bumper, bouncing up and down with every dip in the road.
Truth to tell, folks warned me about it.....but, given that I'm smarter than everyone else, I took my own path until they were proved right
Glenn and Toni
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ford truck guy
Pennsylvania
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I almost lost a set of bikes back in the day due to the back bumper almost falling completely off from the bouncing of the rack and bikes..
In My Opinion, you would need to BEEF UP the rear bumper and supports B-4 doing a bike rack
Me-Her-the kids
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afidel
Cleveland
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I solved this by getting a front hitch installed on my truck and putting a $150 Highland Sportwing carrier in it, it's spent about 30k miles up there in the last 6 years without any major issues. Total with installation for hitch was about $300.
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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another comment on trailer "bumpers" They aren't even a drawn steel tube, they are sheet metal with three bends to form a square and then a weld bead to close it up.
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Dadoffourgirls
China, MI USA
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I had a rear hitch that bolted to the trailer steel beams. My bike rack caused the steel beams to crack out where bolted. I suggest not putting bikes on the back of long trailers.
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schlep1967
Harrisburg, PA
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Bumper support
See the link above. I've watched a video just the other day where a couple put these on their trailer and then mounted bicycles on a hitch. I'm not guaranteeing it will work but it will work better than a trailer bumper without support.
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