rear bumper weight capacity

dardeau2 wrote:
I have a 2002 Tioga 26Q. I want to bring a motorcycle on a bumper carrier. In addition to the standard 2" hitch receiver, a welder attached additional 2" receivers to the frame at each side of the bumper. So, I have three receivers, each attached to the frame of the Tioga. QUESTION: What is the maximum weight I can carry? Carrier and motorcycle. Is there a maximum or should I only be concerned with the rear axle maximum? Thanks in advance for any help.

First thing is to go on the scales and get your weights now as is. Compare that with the weight specs on your door info.

Now you and only you can decide what you think you can get away with. For sure you will be going over a rating. Maybe two. So are you one of the many who pooh-pooh ratings, or do you take them seriously?

BTW, our Class C seems to have been built already overweight at the back by the company that put the RV part onto Ford's "incomplete truck" that could have been an ambulance or whatever. So we have no allowance to add anything. But of course you have to, so it all comes down to "how much can we get away with?" I guess you know that when you end up in the ditch. Now you know! :(

How about a single wheel trailer that hooks the tow vehicle and the wheel casters.

fourthclassC wrote:
I have considered this also. Just want to add that I once saw a honda shadow 750 on a carrier similar to what you (OP) describe. It looked ok to me from following it down the highway for a few miles, which is far from a complete evaluation.

I think if one really does all the math they'd discover that this is WAY to much weight for just about any Class C. Putting anything more than a small scooter on the bumper is something hat should only be considered on a larger Class A. But that's just my opinion based on my own research when looking for ways to haul my motorcycles.

Before committing to a bumper carrier of some sort take a long hard look at the multitude of choices in small motorcycle trailers. I am currently on my third and hopefully last trailer. Recently sold my Kendon folding trailer replacing it with a 6 X 10 {14' overall} cargo trailer. The Kendon worked very well and had the added advantage of standing vertically against the wall in the garage with a very small footprint. If storage is an issue check out the Kendon line.

I like the added protection/security of my new cargo trailer but you have to store it somewhere {mine cost me an additional $15 a month as it just lives behind my Clss C in a slightly longer slot at the storage yard}.

Adding the weight of an MC to the rear of a Class C is tricky. You will at the very least need to add air bags - I just did to deal with the extra hitch weight of the single axle Cargo trailer... and they help a lot. You will need to end up when all is said and done with 33 per cent of your coach weight on the front axle and be careful not to overload the rear axle.

Several trips to the CAT Scale were necessary for me to get things right. If you would like any pics of the various set ups I used just send me a PM as I no longer have the ability to post photos here.

:C

I have considered this also. Just want to add that I once saw a honda shadow 750 on a carrier similar to what you (OP) describe. It looked ok to me from following it down the highway for a few miles, which is far from a complete evaluation.

Glad to read that it isn't "Bumper" but frame mounted receivers. Very common for the 4-inch "square tubing" (actually sheet metal) "Bumper" to tear at the brackets and fail, with only a spare tire!
You'll feel the change when the motorcycle's loaded up. Say you have a spec for "hitch weight." Could be 350#, 500#... That's on a Ball, right at the bumper. The bike could weigh 350, 500, but the carrier's going to shift it to the rear, providing leverage that loads rear axle more (and lightens front axle!) more than a trailer would.

If you have a 5000 pound hitch capacity, you can put 500 pounds on it. Having three hitches will distribute the load, but you might have some serious rear weight issues and be unloading the front to the point of having steering issues if you add more than 500 pounds.

It really depends on the loading of your Tioga and that is determined by how much stuff you put in it.

It is a F450, but you will have to watch your rear axle weight. Your overall maximum is still 14,050 pounds.