Rear hitch installation. Unusual frame
I’d like to add a rear hitch to my Grand Design Reflection 303RLS to mount a bike rack.
I dropped the coroplast this weekend to measure things and plan for the job. I had hoped to use the Curt 13703 mounted to the I-beam frame.
I learned that this trailer has a bit of an unusual configuration. The bumper is welded to two short box beams that are welded to the bottom of the I-beams. This results in the bumper sitting completely below the frame. Of more concern to me is the fact that the Curt hitch would end up with the receiver at the same level as the bumper.
So I maybe have about three options:
I could have a custom hitch fabricated that would drop the receiver below the bumper. I’m a little concerned it would end up too low since the bumper already extends 4” below the frame.
I could remove the bumper. This would require some cutting to finish the rear of the trailer and then the fabrication of a new hose store tube up front.
Finally I could install the Curt hitch far enough forward that I could attach a custom drawbar that would clear the bumper or weld a second receiver under the one on the hitch so a standard drawbar will work.
Thoughts, suggestions or criticisms?
I dropped the coroplast this weekend to measure things and plan for the job. I had hoped to use the Curt 13703 mounted to the I-beam frame.
I learned that this trailer has a bit of an unusual configuration. The bumper is welded to two short box beams that are welded to the bottom of the I-beams. This results in the bumper sitting completely below the frame. Of more concern to me is the fact that the Curt hitch would end up with the receiver at the same level as the bumper.
So I maybe have about three options:
I could have a custom hitch fabricated that would drop the receiver below the bumper. I’m a little concerned it would end up too low since the bumper already extends 4” below the frame.
I could remove the bumper. This would require some cutting to finish the rear of the trailer and then the fabrication of a new hose store tube up front.
Finally I could install the Curt hitch far enough forward that I could attach a custom drawbar that would clear the bumper or weld a second receiver under the one on the hitch so a standard drawbar will work.
Thoughts, suggestions or criticisms?
