Last July I purchased a moderately used 2006 Zeppelin Z192 by Keystone. One of the features that I bought this unit for is the 1 1/4 receiver in the rear bumper that would allow me install my bike rake and transport my bikes.
Last summer immediately after purchasing the trailer I towed this unit with 2 bikes over 1000 miles with no incidents. However over July 4 weekend I took my bikes just over an hour away. On the return trip home just prior to pulling in my driveway the attachment to bumper failed allowing my bike rack to tip backward causing the bikes to drag along the pavement. Fortunately the only damage was to one bike tire.
I will be taking my trailer in for it's annual inspection next month and I am sure the dealer I purchased the unit from will be able weld this for some $. However I am wondering if anyone else has had similar experience with this or any other model rv.
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Was it where the bumper attached to the trailer that broke, or where the reciever attached to the bumper or... sorry, just having a hard time picturing it. Was the reciever attached to the frame or to the bumper itself?
If there is one thing i've figured out from all the rv sites i've looked at, it's that the bumpers are never strong enough to support the weight of a bike rack and you have to attach to the frame itself to carry the load.
__________________ Jay
2011 Zinger ZT26BH Pulled by
2011 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins
The receiver is only attached to the bumper with a small amount of metal between the bumper and frame to keep it stabile. This metal cracked allowing the receiver tube to tilt downward. I am hoping to replace this setup with an actual receiver hitch that can be attached to the trailer frame. I am wondering if there is any chance to get RV mfg to stop making substandard and unsafe products ei recall.
You have to watch a car going town the road with bikes on a receiver hitch rack to get an appreciation for the forces involved. Nearly 20 years ago I had one of those cheezy receivers that mounts to the underside of a truck bumper. I loaded up the rack and took off up I-5. I was going on some of the usual granite construction wavy pavement, looked in the rearview to change lanes, and saw the bikes moving more than a foot about the receiver. I had to stabilize the rack with ratchet ties to the corners of the bed. It cracked the bumper too.
75 pounds of bikes and 20 pounds of rack hanging off the receiver puts about a 150 ft/lb moment on the hitch. Now bounce the car up and down, that turns into more than 250 ft lbs of torque - over and over again.
Now I pay real attention to how high the tires are off the pavement on a rack. I want 'em about 18" up in a static condition. If they were to snag on the pavement at 70 mph or so - man that would be spectacular! Instant "yard sale".
Was the reciever attached to the frame or to the bumper itself?
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