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starcraft69's avatar
starcraft69
Explorer
Dec 27, 2016

Rear racks Research

Started a new thread so i don,t hijack johndeerefarmer thread on his great job building a rear rack for his rig. so this is what I have found looking for threads on racks breaking and people losing generators and or bikes off the back of there rig.
In my original post i never said it can not happen but statistically it dose not seem to be the problem some make it out to be.



1. first search "Broken Rack" last 12 month's ZERO results found

2. second search "Broken Rack" more than 12 months ZERO results

3. third search "lost bikes" more than 12 months ZERO results

4. forth search "lost generator" more than 12 months ZERO results

As the Moderator pointed out i should do the search and i will find many post of people losing bikes and generators off the rear racks. I did not find one post in the last 12 months or going further back than 12 months. Nor did i find any pics. Maybe i have searched wrong or in the last five years on this board I just missed all the post with broken racks and lost generators and lost bikes of the back of rigs. I did find many post saying dont do it you will lose you generator but no proof or pics of this happening. It seems to me that this is as risky as driving with our frig on. Maybe i am wrong maybe this happens more than any of us actually see or experience.

I just get frustrated when someone works really hard on a modification or improvement, and shares it with the board. 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.

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  • dewey02's avatar
    dewey02
    Explorer II
    Dec 27, 2016
    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
  • Hammerboy's avatar
    Hammerboy
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2016
    Even if it doesn't fall off what are the effects on the trailer itself with something like a generator or four bikes bouncing on the back? Structural damage possibly or cracks on the trailer itself? I know a lot of manufacturers will void warranty if you add a hitch to the rear. I don't know, just a question.

    Dan
  • Bowti's avatar
    Bowti
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2016


    Thank You for your response.
    We are talking about rear HITCH mount racks not bumpers. I am sorry to hear you lost your generator

    My guess is that this is where much of the confusion comes in. There is a huge difference between someone tying a bike or anything for that mater to a weak ladder or thin walled bumper. Hitches fabricated from a competent welder is a completely different thing.

    Sorry, don't know what happened to quotation marks.
  • Lantley's avatar
    Lantley
    Nomad
    Dec 27, 2016
    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.
  • starcraft69's avatar
    starcraft69
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2016
    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 !


    Thank You for your response.
    We are talking about rear HITCH mount racks not bumpers. I am sorry to hear you lost your generator
  • starcraft69's avatar
    starcraft69
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2016
    I was never not civil I never jumped on anyone. As for the links being someplace and not easily found tells me it is not the big problem as some may think.
    Thank you BarneyS for your reply and taking the time.
  • wanderingbob's avatar
    wanderingbob
    Explorer II
    Dec 27, 2016
    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 !
  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Explorer III
    Dec 27, 2016
    Nothing in the rules that says you can't disagree with a moderator!
    Just be civil about it! :B

    Maybe, when I get some extra time (not too likely) I will try to find the posts for you. Believe me, they are there someplace! If we get lucky, one of those who posted in the past will see this thread and get the links.
    Barney

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