Rear racks Research

wanderingbob wrote:
I confess , I lost a generator on hiway 27 just south of Tallahassee . I never even knew it was gone until I stopped at camp site . The thin walls on bumper distorted enuff to allow the generator to fall off .
I have also broke the frame just behind spring shackle , I had a lot of weight on bumper plus stuff lashed on rear of trailer . I have since switched to a toy hauler for the heavier frame , springs and tires !

This is why, when I wanted to put a receiver for a bike rack on my FW, I had the rear bumper replaced with a heavier tube. I purposely did NOT want it heavy enough for a rack, though I'd use one for a =light= load. Welder said 300 lbs, no problem, so I figure that, if needed, I've got it. Were I wanting one for a full-on cargo rack, I'd've had the bumper replaced with an even heavier tube =and= had a sub-frame built with dual receivers for the rack.

Lyle

Starcraft I did not quote your entire thread because it is a waste of bandwidth. original post is there for all to see there is no need for me to quote the entire thing. I quoted the relevant part.
Statistically speaking you nor I have any figures on how many RV's have rear racks but I imagine it to be a small percentage. Of that small number with rear racks there are even less that fall off.
Nevertheless they do fail. I don't believe they need to fall off in huge numbers to make dissenting post relevant.
I do not have the time,desire,ability or faith in the forum search feature to display old post. But I have read of such failures as Barney mentioned in the original post.
I had a big fat rear genset rack on my prior TT and I always travel with the LP on. So far I have never had an issue with either.
However I know fridge fires do occur and racks do become detached as well. I don't need forum post to prove it to me.
Murphy's law and Darwin are alive and well. I know people will/do fabricate foolish things rear racks included.
Believing it can't happen or I don't believe it unless I see a supporting post is silly.

This is a post in the 5th wheel forum,so I will state this would not work for a nearly 200# generator, but is perfect for our two bikes.

starcraft69 wrote:

Sorry for the misunderstanding.
I didn,t argue or blame you.
I simply thanked you.

Oh...as Emily Litella would say: "Never mind" :S
Again, you are welcome.

dewey02 wrote:

starcraft69 wrote:

Thank you for your time
I do understand how to search I also mentioned in FIVE years on the board have not seen.
You mention my first post being about bikes????? My post about this was from another thread and was about Hitch mount generator.

Thank you for the link to a failed Bumper.

You are welcome! :)
I am well aware of the previous thread and that the subject dealt with a rear hitch mount for a generator. Also, I wasn't a person who was criticizing the OP for his post.

But your first post in this thread did INDEED mention bikes.
And I actually stated that this issue was primarily hitch related, but since you specifically said you couldn't find previous threads or references here on the forum dealing with bike falling off the back of a rig, I found one for you. Don't blame me for giving you information that you couldn't find in your search because you didn't search correctly.

And I actually agree with you that I don't think failures happen very often. You don't need to argue with people that agree with you, there are plenty of others who don't agree with you that you can focus on.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.
I didn,t argue or blame you.
I simply thanked you.

starcraft69 wrote:

Thank you for your time
I do understand how to search I also mentioned in FIVE years on the board have not seen.
You mention my first post being about bikes????? My post about this was from another thread and was about Hitch mount generator.

Thank you for the link to a failed Bumper.

You are welcome! :)
I am well aware of the previous thread and that the subject dealt with a rear hitch mount for a generator. Also, I wasn't a person who was criticizing the OP for his post.

But your first post in this thread did INDEED mention bikes.
And I actually stated that this issue was primarily hitch related, but since you specifically said you couldn't find previous threads or references here on the forum dealing with bike falling off the back of a rig, I found one for you. Don't blame me for giving you information that you couldn't find in your search because you didn't search correctly.

And I actually agree with you that I don't think failures happen very often. You don't need to argue with people that agree with you, there are plenty of others who don't agree with you that you can focus on.

dewey02 wrote:
And to the OP:

How you conduct a search determines the results you get, just like on google.
Just because you don't get any results doesn't mean they aren't here on the forum.

I know that we are talking primarily about a frame-mounted rear hitch and not a bumper hitch, but your first post on this forum just was talking about losing bikes off the rear end of a "rig". And there most certainly are examples of that.
How you conduct a search determines the results you get, just like on google. Just because you don't get any results doesn't mean they aren't here on the forum. I know that we are talking primarily about a frame-mounted rear hitch and not a bumper hitch, but your firt post on this forum just was talking about losing bikes off the rear end of a "rig". And there most certainly are examples of that. Here's one:link here

Thank you for your time
I do understand how to search I also mentioned in FIVE years on the board have not seen any evidence.
You mention my first post being about bikes????? My post about this was from another thread and was about Hitch mount rack generator.

Thank you for the link to a failed Bumper.

dewey02 wrote:
Here is information from a site that specializes in rear-mount bike racks.
Note that only a select few bike racks are actually recommended by their manufacturer for use with RVs.

RV Bike Racks:

There are two main styles of RV racks - front mounted (to a travel trailer A-frame or fifth wheel kingpin) or rear mounted (to a hitch, bumper, or ladder).

For front mounted RV bike racks, check out our Arvika RV bike rack blog.

Not every bike rack can be used on the rear of a trailer. In fact, most manufacturers specifically exclude the use of their products on the back of a travel trailer, tent trailer or 5th wheel trailer.

No, it’s not the same as mounting the rack on the back of your vehicle. Trailers have a different type of suspension than passenger vehicles (which makes it a much rougher ride back there!) Combine that with the fact that the rear axles are very far from the back of your trailer and you end up with a force that we call whip. This whip action will snap or bend most bike racks whether yours last 100 miles or 10, 000 miles, it’s inevitable. So, you need to look for specific racks that are designed for this purpose.

RV Bumper Mounted Racks

These racks attach to a square 4"x4" to 4.5"x4.5" steel bumper that is continuously welded to the frame of your travel trailer or fifth wheel trailer. The maximum capacity on a trailer bumper is three bikes.

Swagman 64684 Dispatch 2 bike RV platform rack - The best RV approved solution for two bikes. Purchase the Swagman 64025 RV Bumper Adapter separately.
Swagman 64663 XC 2 bike RV platform rack – A simple two bike platform rack which includes an RV Bumper Adapter.
Swagman 64910 XP 3 bike hanging rack - This 3 bike hanging rack is the highest capacity hanging style bike rack for use on RV bumpers. Purchase the Swagman 64025 RV Bumper Adapter separately. **Please note that frame adapters like the 64004 Bar Adapter or 64005 Deluxe Bar Adapterare often required for bikes with unique frame shapes, ladies bikes or small kids bikes**

RV Trailer Hitch Mounted Racks

With a hitch welded to the frame of your trailer or fifth wheel trailer you can carry up to four bikes. For this application we use Swagman’s 64940 XP 4 bike rack, or any of the bumper mounted bike racks above.
reference link here

Love it real info real data
Thanks for posting

Lantley wrote:

starcraft69 wrote:
Started a new thread so i don,t hijack johndeerefarmer thread on his great job building a rear rack for his rig. Then a bunch of people or a few. proceed to tell them that its wrong or wont work or is dangerous. When it is statistically not really a problem.
As for me I hope i am not punished or banned for disagreeing with a Moderator.

Statistically, I don't believe it is a major problem either.
Nevertheless racks do fail and fall off. In each case there is a major risk faced by the traffic behind the RV that losses something.
Furthermore the driver often does not realize anything has happened an just keeps going. Hopefully things remain attached and are dragged along. Worst case items/rack become detached and create a major road hazard for the traffic behind the RV.
Thanks wanderingbob for posting your experience.
Ultimately the racks construction is only as good as the person who designed the rack. In some cases the rack was fabricated by a certified welder, other times by a shade tree mechanic.
In either case I imagine there is seldom any real engineering or certification of the racks. It's a big country out there to think there are not racks that fail is a bit naive.
No it's not an epidemic but it does happen.
Much in the way you will/should not be punished or banned for stating your opinion even if it disagrees with the moderator.
You should also keep an open mind concerning post that disagree with your point of view.
Simply see them as a dissenting opinions and not an attack or challenge to your post.
Some may love the rack posted in the prior thread and some may question the design or see flaws.
These are Open Forums designed to discuss all things RV'ing. Every opinion/post with not agree with you, its just the nature of the forum.

Lantley

Thank you for your time. I see you Quoted me in your post and highly edited it to fit your post. Please allow me to have "dissenting opinion"

Quote Lantley
"Nevertheless racks do fail and fall off. In each case there is a major risk faced by the traffic behind the RV that losses something.
Furthermore the driver often does not realize anything has happened an just keeps going. Hopefully things remain attached and are dragged along. Worst case items/rack become detached and create a major road hazard for the traffic behind the RV."

Wow this sounds really scary for the new guy or gal to rving but yet you still did not show any examples of it. Buy posting other threads and or pics from this forum to show this to be a real concern.
I never said it couldn,t happen but you edited that out.


Quote Lantley
"It's a big country out there to think there are not racks that fail is a bit naive."

I admitted it could happen but you edited it out and the proceeded to call me "NAIVE"


Quote Lantley
"You should also keep an open mind concerning post that disagree with your point of view.
Simply see them as a dissenting opinions and not an attack or challenge to your post."


I always keep an open mind concerning post that disagrees with my point. I just would like to see some evidence from some of the posters on here that keep the same old fears going post after post.
"Racks Break"
"Frig danger while driving"
"Honda or nothing"
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.

Quote lantey
"Some may love the rack posted in the prior thread and some may question the design or see flaws.
These are Open Forums designed to discuss all things RV'ing. Every opinion/post with not agree with you, its just the nature of the forum."


I have no need to have opinion or post agree with me. I would like to see post that tell someone that something is wrong or dangerous when replying to someones thread, simply have evidence/referance to prove there opinion not just an opinion. And mostly the same old subjects.
This is just a disservice to the new RVer

And to the OP:

How you conduct a search determines the results you get, just like on google.
Just because you don't get any results doesn't mean they aren't here on the forum.

I know that we are talking primarily about a frame-mounted rear hitch and not a bumper hitch, but your first post on this forum just was talking about losing bikes off the rear end of a "rig". And there most certainly are examples of that.
Here's one:link here