Rear Hitch Receiver

[FlyboyTR]

I am considering building or buying a rear hitch receiver for our 3023. I have seen only one other TM with one. I can build/weld one...but am running short on time for our Thanksgiving trip (3 weeks). I am considering the purchase and install of one of the frame mount units listed on the eTrailer.com site (link below).

I want to add a storage box on the rear for additional "outside accessible" storage (when the camper is open or closed. Also looking at adding a truck toolbox to the tongue as well for storage of needed items such as blocks, chocks, etc.....stuff...

If you have used one of these type bolt on rear hitches please provide some feedback. Pictures would also be great.

I have also considered the addition of a swivel wheel trailer for the rear...but again...I need to look closely at the frame at the rear.

Let's not dive off into how much weight or too much weight on the rear. I am aware of the limitations. Thanks!

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-RV_...per_Hitch.aspx

[commodor47]

I have a bolt-on 2" receiver on the back bumper of our TM. It was purchased in 2006. I used it to carry our 2 mountain bikes with a Swagman 2 bike carrier. Several years later I opted to install a front receiver on our TV to carry our bikes which alleviated the need to remove them before the TM could be opened.
Dick

[FlyboyTR]

Originally Posted by commodor47

I have a bolt-on 2" receiver on the back bumper of our TM. It was purchased in 2006. I used it to carry our 2 mountain bikes with a Swagman 2 bike carrier. Several years later I opted to install a front receiver on our TV to carry our bikes which alleviated the need to remove them before the TM could be opened.
Dick

Dick,
Thanks for the reply and pictures. My 2010 3023 does not have the bumper like yours. It appears that I am going to have to go with a frame mounted unit. We spent the day adjusting shells and torsion springs. While under there I did take a look at the rear. There is a large cutout in the frame member behind the stabilizer. It is where the rear shell torsion bars pass through.

So, I am going to have to do some serious study on this and determine If I can weld on bracing (to my satisfaction) for the frame mounted hitch to attach. LOL.....nothing is ever easy!

[Larryjb]

Better to weld to the frame anyway.

Lots on this site have welded a hear hitch for carrying bikes and stuff. I know in my town there is at least one shop that is capable of installing custom hitch receivers. I'm sure, if you are under a time crunch, you could find a shop near you.

[FlyboyTR]

Originally Posted by Larryjb

Better to weld to the frame anyway.

Lots on this site have welded a hear hitch for carrying bikes and stuff. I know in my town there is at least one shop that is capable of installing custom hitch receivers. I'm sure, if you are under a time crunch, you could find a shop near you.

Thanks, Larry. It may come down to that.

[Shane826]

When the 3326 was being rebuilt at the factory I had them add a rear hitch. It’s bolted to the frame. I think they said it is rated for 350lbs. I will say that with three 26” bikes racked out back it does affect the handling of the rig… No sway but it does make the front end of the truck feel a bit squirrelly. I need to play with the WDH to come up with settings for with and without the bikes. I’ll try to get pics tonight or tomorrow.

[mickmanor]

as I did just that and they are attached.

Hitch is on a 2012 2720 but I don't know the history of the 2" receiver.

It is welded to the frame on each side, although one bead appears to
have a crack in the weld bead. There is only about 1/2" of clearance for
working room there, and the bead in that one area is not very thick.
Its partner bead is still intact and was done much better.

This area is difficult to view, and the small camera brought it to light.

I have carried 2 lightweight bikes on the carrier a few times, and don't
know about prior use.

I am not a welder, and would appreciate some insight about the crack.

Turns out to be a potential predicament that is good to know about...

[mickmanor]

this afternoon I did some scraping of the welds on the tabs of the receiver,
and I made a startling discovery.

The receiver has 2 vertical tabs that are apparently designed to be welded
to the frame. With ideal conditions and alignment, each tab could be welded
on their front and rear vertical ends. The tab on the street side was welded
on both the front and rear ends of the tab. However, the alignment of the
receiver to the frame members was not good enough to enable a weld on
both sides of the curb tab. A thick bead of weld was done on the frontward
side of the curb tab, but no weld was applied to the bumper side of the curb tab.
There was not enough room available, from overall improper alignment.
So, instead of having 4 welds done, there are 3 welds.

Some rust had formed on the curb bumper tab side, and that appeared to look
like a crack.

My explain may not be all clear, but all the welds are good. Apologies to the
welder, whoever did it.

"Uniqueness means things are not what you expect them to be."

[Wavery]

This was on my Class A motorhome.

Welds must be done properly (these weren't) and inspected yearly.

There is a lot of stress on trailer rear hitches. I was following a travel trailer one time and it had 3-bikes on one of those hitches. As we wen down the freeway, those bikes were bouncing like crazy and suddenly, the hitch broke off, just after I changed lanes to pass him.

[FlyboyTR]

Originally Posted by mickmanor

this afternoon I did some scraping of the welds on the tabs of the receiver,
and I made a startling discovery.

The receiver has 2 vertical tabs that are apparently designed to be welded
to the frame. With ideal conditions and alignment, each tab could be welded
on their front and rear vertical ends. The tab on the street side was welded
on both the front and rear ends of the tab. However, the alignment of the
receiver to the frame members was not good enough to enable a weld on
both sides of the curb tab. A thick bead of weld was done on the frontward
side of the curb tab, but no weld was applied to the bumper side of the curb tab.
There was not enough room available, from overall improper alignment.
So, instead of having 4 welds done, there are 3 welds.

Some rust had formed on the curb bumper tab side, and that appeared to look
like a crack.

My explain may not be all clear, but all the welds are good. Apologies to the
welder, whoever did it.

"Uniqueness means things are not what you expect them to be."

There is not much room to weld there. I'm glad you took time to scrape and look. At least you know! But, a fourth weld would have been much stronger.