Ok...so being a bit new to things and only having our Outdoors RV Timber Ridge, I have a question. I see threads all over the place about not putting your bike rack on the bumper because the bumper will fall off....how?When I look at my bumper, its at least a 1/4 thick steel with solid welds back to the frame. I would have to look under it to see if it has extra bracing, but curious minds want to know.Thanks for all of the questions.ps. Our bikes ride in the back of the trailer strapped to the wall where the bottom bunk folds up.

Check again, I think you'll find that steel is no where near 1/4" unless someone has replaced it. It will be more like 16 or 18 gauge and now days, it's not even a true steel tube but just a formed square with a few spot welds.The welds are another story. Do they look like caulk that has been laid down in a smooth bead on top of the metal? Most of the time the welds like like that and have no penetration. In my own case the bumper simply peeled itself away from the weld in some places and in others, the weld snapped free.

With about 150lbs of bikes hanging 2 feet out past the bumper, all that leverage will twist and tear the bumper apart! Now I have 4 bikes on the back, but they are secured so they do not bounce which is what will tear a bumper and/or rack apart! even if you put on a trailer specific hitch to the frame you still need to secure the rack so it will not bounce!

It's not the weight, it's the motion of the cargo as the TT goes over bumps in the road. That bumper will flex at its connecting points and break like a beer can.

I think it's both the weight and the movement that do the damage. The bikes do indeed create a perfect storm scenario though. If you reinforce the bumper and use a bike rack, also make sure it's rated for RV use. The common racks meant for auto's will break in short order - I destroyed two of them before getting a RV specific "Swagman" brand rack.

The new Roo I was looking at had a sticker that specifically said not to add anything to the rear bumper besides the spare tire. Possibly, some older units had more robust bumpers.

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dodge_guy
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2014
With about 150lbs of bikes hanging 2 feet out past the bumper, all that leverage will twist and tear the bumper apart! Now I have 4 bikes on the back, but they are secured so they do not bounce which is what will tear a bumper and/or rack apart! even if you put on a trailer specific hitch to the frame you still need to secure the rack so it will not bounce!
ScottG
Nomad
Sep 05, 2014
Check again, I think you'll find that steel is no where near 1/4" unless someone has replaced it. It will be more like 16 or 18 gauge and now days, it's not even a true steel tube but just a formed square with a few spot welds.
The welds are another story. Do they look like caulk that has been laid down in a smooth bead on top of the metal? Most of the time the welds like like that and have no penetration.
In my own case the bumper simply peeled itself away from the weld in some places and in others, the weld snapped free.

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