Bike racks on the rear bumper?

[Sopper]

Looks great! Did TM start putting a rear hitch on standard sometime later? My TM (2010) has one stock.

[Troglodyte]

Thanks Moaboy but I can't take the credit for this one. I will pass you comment along to my brother. Padgett-I doubt we would make more since it's entirely custom and welded on. I suppose it could be fabricated with bolt on flanges though.

[gjmaker95]

[QUOTE=Troglodyte;110075]We have been struggling with how to carry our bikes since picking our rig up last year....

That would've been my ideal solution also, and it looks like you did an admirable job of it. I just ended up taking it to my local camping world and having them custom weld a standard 2" receiver hitch to the back. It hangs below, which may prevent me from parking in some campsites, but the utility of it can't be beat. Had I a friend that could weld, I definitely would have used them!

My 2000 3023 (bought used) came with a spare tire mounted on the rear bumper. Do you think it would be beneficial to move that weight forward? Where do you carry your (Trailmanor) spare?
Thanks in advance
Don

[gjmaker95]

Don: my 2006 2023 has the spare mounted on a factory installed carrier located just aft of the front right leveling jack. After reading the posts in this thread, I would personally be a little leery of putting the spare on the back with my bikes, but it may be fine without a set of bikes. It's all about weight distribution and tongue weight. I am still experimenting with mine as the hitch receiver I had my local camping store install failed on my first outing. Now that it's been replaced with a more robust set of tubing, I'll be testing it out this summer on trips across the southeast.

We have the receiver on the back of ours, HOWEVER, most major bike rack companies like Thule/Yakima will NOT cover the rack under warranty if you use it on the back of a trailer/RV, so we don't use it. It states it on their websites. Friends of ours use a 2 inch ball mount that has an additional receiver welded on the top of the bar for a bike rack. We're going to have one made by a local Eckhart dealer as the ones I've seen for sale online (like below) only have a straight bar and we need a 2" rise.

http://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/Curt/D210.html

There are some other brands that say they've been tested on RV's, but the customer ratings are not good. Several people say the arms "just broke" and their bikes fell off.

[Craigrrr]

Originally Posted by Troglodyte

We have been struggling with how to carry our bikes since picking our rig up last year. The best option we had was the rear bumper rack but the factory option just isn't substantial enough. After spending the last 12 months looking for a ready made solution we gave up and made one. It helps to have a brother who loves to weld. We ended up cutting the paper thin rear bumper off then fabricating a new bumper by welding a receiver tube into 2"x3"x3/16" steel tube. This was then welded on the TM where the old bumper was and the white plastic cover replaced. We then cut the 2" receiver square out of the bumper cover for access. This weekend will be the trial run and I will report back on results. If it causes sway I will redistribute the moveable weigh to increase tongue weight but I don't think that will be a problem. If anyone is coming to the New England rally you could see it in person. If nothing else I now have a bomb-proof bumper for a total net weight increase of 12 pounds. (I will have a shorter bar prior to travel...the one in the pictures is from an older setup.)

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After seeing this post, I think this will be the route I take. What a great job you guys did here!!!

Was your metal 1/4" thick ? Would you happen to have more pics or info on the making of this. I love the idea that it raises the receiver to the middle of the bumper per say.

[Craigrrr]

After removing the wrap around cosmetic cover I see the TM bumper is pretty thin, I can not imagine it holding up in a rear end collision and the frame of the TM is pretty thin too for what it is IMHO . Now to start fabricating or If the guy on craigslist still has his adjustable for sale, I will just go that route and make it simple

[Shane826]

What made you give up on the front rack already?

[Craigrrr]

My wife could not see to drive with the bikes up front. So i was told.