Installation of a hitch receiver on back of camper

[PTHutch]

Hi Everyone,

I’m thinking about getting a hitch receiver installed on the back of our Sunline. It would primarily be used for a bike carrier (2 adult bikes).

The hitch receiver would be a straight 2” combo bar that our dealer would weld to the bumper and frame. The dealer would also fortify the bumper to increase its strength and carrying capacity.

Before I do this I thought I would make this post to see what others thought and if you had any advice or recommendations.

I’m thinking the extra weight on the back bumper, including the receiver, fabrication, bike rack, and bikes wouldn’t be more than 50 lbs. Can anyone confirm this? Our Sunline, with the front kitchen already has a heavy tongue weight of around 1200 lbs, so I don’t think the added weight on the back will impact the overall loading distribution of the camper. Agree / disagree?

Does anyone else have a bike rake installed off the back bumper? Any issues or advice with regard to traveling with bikes loaded on the back of the camper?

Any advice, recommendation, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Hutch

[Sunline Fan]

Hi Hutch,

I've never put anything other than a spare tire on my bumpers. In case you don't have a sticker near your bumper, remember it is only rated for 100 lbs. If you add a hitch, make sure it is really beefed up. The bikes may weigh x amount, but with the shaking and bouncing from going down the road, the welds will actually have a greater force at times. On the 2653, the spare tire actually broke the welds on the bumper, with the spare mounted right in the center. Since then, I always mount the spare to one side.

Jon

[PTHutch]

Hi Jon,

Good point. I hadn’t considered the forces from vibration. Thanks.

Like you, all we carry on the bumper right now is the spare tire. I also have the spare mounted to the side. But that’s because our unit has a rear storage door located in the center and I didn’t want the spare tire to interfere with getting into the storage area.

Still deciding if I want to do this or not. Like you said, I also would prefer to keep stuff off the back bumper, particularly so I maintain free access to the rear storage area.

But I’m trying to figure an easy way to take the bikes along. I’ve looked at the Toppoprails (web site: http://www.toppoprails.com/ that go on the front of the camper, but those will block the front window.

I’ve found a couple of idea to make a bike rack to secure the bikes in the truck bed.
PVC Bike Rack Design:
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/bikerack/makerack.htm

I also saw this bike rack on the Open Road Forum (link: http://www.trailerlife.com/cforum/in...g/1/page/1.cfm that some one made to store bikes inside the camper. I like this design the best and think it will also work to secure the bikes in the truck bed.

Then there always the option to just leave the bikes at home.

So I have my options, just trying to figure out which one I want to take.

Thanks again for the input.
Hutch

[Doug]

Hutch,

Even though I haven't picked up my trailer yet (T-286)... I'm planning on doing the same thing.

Until I climb underneath and do some measuring... I can't give you my exact game plan. I already have a great hitch bike rack and hope to be able to use it on the back of the trailer. It is just a matter of getting a hitch mounted to the frame of the trailer. I won't be touching the bumper at all.

I talked with someone who did the exact same thing... but different brand of trailer. They pointed me to this website:

http://www.usa-trailer-hitches.com/motorhome_hitch.htm

I'll let you know if I figure something out.

My hitch is a draftmaster that can carry my tandem and two individual bikes.

http://draftmaster.com/

I hope this turns out to be a workable solution,

Doug

[Sunline Fan]

Hi Hutch,

I had that same issue with the storage door on the back of my 2251. I had the tire on the right (the plate was on the left) and I had to move it over a little to accomidate the storage door. It wasn't a very big door and couldn't hold much, but I still used it. I tried the flip down model and put it in front of door, but the tire sat higher (It was a good thing) and the whole system bounced just by touching it. I decided to stick with the solid mount. I can't really say much about hauling bikes because we have Dahon fold up bikes. I'm not a hard core mountain biker, so the Dahon's do fine. In the 2653 (which is what we mainly hauled them in), they fit perfectly between the table and refer and couch. They were a little inconvenient if we stopped for lunch, etc., but that was it.

Jon

[PTHutch]

Hi Doug,

When do you pick up your T-286?

We basically have the same trailer. Our T-280SR was the precursor to the T-286.

I would be happy to take some measurements on ours if you're interested in getting some ideas of what you're looking at prior to you picking up your trailer.

You'll really enjoy your T-286. It's a great floor plan, but then again I'm a little bias.

Hutch

[JohnB]

Hutch

Let me pass this along so you do not make a similar mistake like I did.

See this post of mine which has a lot on the topic, and links to a post where I tried to do the rear of the TT bike rack. I finally end up going front mounted receiver on the TV. Front mounted rack on Suburban

If you are still set on going the rear bike rack mount, let me pass these bits of info along.

Do not use the Sunline bumper for anything to do with a bike rack. Do not try to reinforce it either. Mine is 1/8” thick thin wall low carbon steel tube. It is held to the TT by 1/8” thick small plates welded to the bumper in only a few places and then bolted to the TT frame. If you torque the bumper tube much, it will defect right at those weld tab places.

If you do go the rear mount, start with a completely new heavy receiver frame bolted directly to the TT frame and never touch the bumper for any type of support.

Avoid using the type of bike rack that hangs bikes from the top bike support bar. These type of racks create about a 6 foot long lever when the bikes are attached. That lever creates 1 large twisting action into the receiver and creates a high degree of bounce in the rack that over time will lead to issues.

Some of top hanging bike racks have small stickers in fine print that state “Do not mount on the back of an RV”. The Reese top hanger I had had that sticker. They do not tell you why, but it is the heavy banging that does them in.

If you do use a rack, use the kind that holds the bikes by the tires. The lever effect is a lot less and puts less stress into the receiver. Swagman is one brand that is good and is what I now have. My 2nd bike rack….

The bikes way back behind the rear TT axle will do some heavy bouncing. The reciever mount is many feet behind the rear axle (92" on the T2499) and not like when you put the rack in the back of a truck receiver (65" on a Suburban) that is less from the rear tires. Plus the truck has shocks and a lot better suspension to handle the bumps.

Use some type of ratchet strap system tie down to add a double back up protection to the bikes bouncing up out of the rack if the TT drops in a pot hole.

Good luck and hope it helps as you try to sort out how to do this.

John

PS Weight: My 2 adults bikes and rack weighs 109#. The bikes alone are 85# to 90#. I scaled them both.

[emam]

Hutch had asked me to post some pictures of my hitch set-up that we had General RV install on our 2499TT.


In this shot you can see that they used 2" sqaure stock and welded it up the back of the frame. They went back a few feet as to tie it in real strong.


This is a different shot of the passenger side. But shows that nothing touches the bumper.


This shot shows from the center looking straight up at it. They used a few different pieces to support the Female receiver end and distribute the weight evenly

Now I'm sure this type of set-up is overkill for most people, but we're using our trailer full time and haul a Dual Sport Motorcycle that weighs in at 220lbs. We've traveled over 7000 miles so far and havent had the slightest bit of trouble (Knocking on Wood as I type this)


This is what it looks like all put together and on the road. The bike sits on a custom made channel that holds the front wheel. A few rachet straps from the handle bars and it hasnt so much as moved since we left. The rack behind the bike was for a Honda 2000i generator, but so far we have been able to use our solar panels to power us for everything and decided we didnt need the generator. If we can go the first year without needing it, then I think I'll stop somewhere and have them torch the basket part off to save on some weight.

Like I said, this is over kill for a few bikes, but it should give you an idea. On a lighter note (No Pun intended) Hutch, you could save some serious weight by spending some money on bikes that dont weigh a ton. My wife and I are avid mountain bikers and an 85lb bike is unheard of??!! What a workout that must be just to pedal the thing! My bike weighs in around 22lbs and the wifes is around 25lbs as it is aluminum and not all carbon fiber. Just a thought on ways to lighten the load

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by emam

On a lighter note (No Pun intended) Hutch, you could save some serious weight by spending some money on bikes that dont weigh a ton. My wife and I are avid mountain bikers and an 85lb bike is unheard of??!! What a workout that must be just to pedal the thing! My bike weighs in around 22lbs and the wifes is around 25lbs as it is aluminum and not all carbon fiber. Just a thought on ways to lighten the load

Eman. thanks for posting the pics. Pics allways help. Good info and good setup on the receiver. And in my book, what you have is not over kill for your load. For 2 bikes, well 109# is 1/2 your load. About the only thing different for a bike rack may be the diagonal braces. Which when you are doing it, just plain do it.

The 85# bikes. You may have read that out of my post. That was 85# for qty 2 adult bikes. = about 40 to 43# each and then add the entire bike rack. Total is 109#, Both bikes and rack.

They are middle of the road touring bikes. Alumn frames. Plus I burn more calories on them....

John

[PTHutch]

Thanks everyone for your replies and suggestions.

I’ve decided not to put a receiver on the back of our TT.

I’m thinking now about making some type of bike stand that I can put in the truck bed to carry the bikes.

Hutch

[kanyonkitty]

Hi Hutch,

I just read/looked at a pvc bike rack that someone on RV.Net made. He had it installed on the roof of his pop-up, but it can also be used in a truck. Hopefully is a link to it.



http://www.gonebowlin.com/camping/br.htm

Kitty

[264SRinPA]

PTHutch,

How about something like this
http://www.rei.com/product/10488870.htm

[PTHutch]

Hi Kitty & 264SRinPA

Thanks for your suggestions.

Hutch