Community Forums

Jeepster360 · 01-29-2018, 10:36 AM

I am wanting to install some kind of rear bumper/receiver hitch for a rear cargo carrier. I will most likely make it myself. I own a creekside 22rb. The rack will stick out about 2 feet behind the trailer.

My concern is extra weight that far to the rear upsetting the trailer while towing. Rack max weight is 500 lbs. Any thoughts on this?

BFlinn181 · 01-29-2018, 10:55 AM

I think my concern would be sufficient strength in the trailer frame to support the weight. Also, consider the distance from the axle and how a lever can magnify movement. If you're thinking it could hold 500 lbs, I think you're not considering tire load, tongue weight, and all the other factors that could make this dangerous. You might instead consider a larger RV.

spsm · 01-29-2018, 11:12 AM

Just watching those two bicycles in their rack on the back end of my toad flex up and down makes me cringe. Now you know my thoughts of a rack sticking out two feet with a load on. I can hear the sound of music now, " hurry up and pass that guy"

1bigmess · 01-29-2018, 12:12 PM

Five hundred pounds really is a lot of weight. I'm no engineer, and I don't play one on TV, but without a lot of math, this might be very risky. I've seen racks on the back carrying a one hundred twenty pound gennie and five gallons of gas, which probably maxes out at two hundred pounds.

GoLeafsGo · 01-29-2018, 12:22 PM

Nash has offered a Safari Tuff Rack for a number of years...it looks scary, but they're still offering it, so maybe there's a good mount?

I tried including the picture of it but adding a pictures to posts on this website is way too complicated. If you click the link below and scroll down to the options you'll see it.

http://northwoodmfg.com/travel-trail...sh/nash-24m-2/

1bigmess · 01-29-2018, 12:52 PM

That Safari Tuff rack goes into a receiver hitch. There is no information that I could find for a cargo weight rating. The hitch could probably handle the weight with no problem, but I don't know about the rack itself.

BFlinn181 · 01-29-2018, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoLeafsGo

Nash has offered a Safari Tuff Rack for a number of years...it looks scary, but they're still offering it, so maybe there's a good mount?

I tried including the picture of it but adding a pictures to posts on this website is way too complicated. If you click the link below and scroll down to the options you'll see it.

Northwood | Nash 24M

That rack is nothing like a "some kind of rear bumper/receiver hitch" the OP wants to add to carry up to 500 lbs. The Safari Tuff Rack is small and fastened to rails bolted to the back wall of the trailer. A receiver requires welding to the frame rails, which aren't usually very robust in a travel trailer.

MisterT · 01-29-2018, 01:01 PM

since your 'making' this rack yourself, why not at the same time add some supports that attach to the rear of the RV itself, such as at the top of the rack. The hitch can hold the weight, and the supports can stop the side-to-side wobble that is typical for this type of scenario.

we went to Alaska last year and I added several things to my existing tow bar/toad and 4-bike rack: 2 100w solar panels, a kayak, and a cargo carrier... all on the rear hitch. No issues, but all of this did not weigh more than the 1,000 downforce rating on the hitch, and I used no less than 5 'anti rattle/wobble' adjusters to each connection. We came home after 13,000 miles still with everything on board. But, my motorhome is also not a trailer/5th wheel.

Jeepster360 · 01-29-2018, 01:37 PM

Ok, I ment to say the rack had a 500 lb rating, not that I was going to load 500 lbs. On it necessarily. Also, this is a rack mounted into a 2" receiver. I was planning to frame mount it & tie into the rear bumper also. I could also put in support for the ends of the rack to keep it level & not tilt side to side.

I do not need a larger trailer. Some items are just bulky like bicycles, inflatable boat, or 2000 Honda gen. ice chest, tarps, extra chairs. Not necessarily all at once mind you. The honda gen, gas can & inflatable boat would be a typical load. 200-250 lbs.

BFlinn181 · 01-29-2018, 02:04 PM

Since it's not legal to ride inside a travel trailer, I don't understand why the items mentioned can't be stowed inside. When you arrive at a campsite, take those items out of the trailer.

Damion · 01-29-2018, 02:13 PM

And I'm nervous about hanging a spare tire on hitch receiver on the back of my DP! Weight, distance, and vibration!

Cumminsfan · 01-29-2018, 04:00 PM

I've made several attachments for items that connect to my rear bumper on my Northwood 5er.
Both NW and ORV build the best frames on the market for trailer other than some of the very high end units,
If it were me and I wanted to haul somewhat heavy off the rear bumper then I'd weld two 2" receivers under the bumper attaching to the main frame rails. Then I'd fab up a rack that would slide into those two receivers.
That way you're tied into the frame and not the bumper. Zero flex. I'd also install a 3/4" bolt and welded nut to the receiver to use as a lock for up and down wiggle.
I've done something similar for my two bikes. I made a custom rack that is our bikes specific. I mounted two fork clamps on it as well as fab'd up a down tube clamp. Bikes are rock solid.
FWIW I saw a guy a week ago towing a Grand Design Reflection 5th wheel. He had a regular bike rack like a Thule or Yakima stuck in his 2" receiver. Every time he hit a dip or bump his bike were flopping big time. I guess he's never seen them in action or he'd do something else.

Bugslinger · 01-29-2018, 08:03 PM

ORV was offering a swing out carrier added to the rear bumper. Don't know if they still offer it.

Jeepster360 · 01-29-2018, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

I've made several attachments for items that connect to my rear bumper on my Northwood 5er.
Both NW and ORV build the best frames on the market for trailer other than some of the very high end units,
If it were me and I wanted to haul somewhat heavy off the rear bumper then I'd weld two 2" receivers under the bumper attaching to the main frame rails. Then I'd fab up a rack that would slide into those two receivers.
That way you're tied into the frame and not the bumper. Zero flex. I'd also install a 3/4" bolt and welded nut to the receiver to use as a lock for up and down wiggle.
I've done something similar for my two bikes. I made a custom rack that is our bikes specific. I mounted two fork clamps on it as well as fab'd up a down tube clamp. Bikes are rock solid.
FWIW I saw a guy a week ago towing a Grand Design Reflection 5th wheel. He had a regular bike rack like a Thule or Yakima stuck in his 2" receiver. Every time he hit a dip or bump his bike were flopping big time. I guess he's never seen them in action or he'd do something else.

I could build a custom rack I guess. The one I have is aluminum that I use on my jeep wrangler for extra storage capacity since there isn't much room for anything in a 93 wrangler.

I will say I have seen quite a few trailers with racks like this on the back of trailers. I'm surprised that this seems to be a no, no to most here. I did have some concern but not expecting this. May have to rethink this.