KZ Sportsmen 16BH, Bike Rack on Rear Bumper
Hi all, new forum member and owner of 2010 KZ Sportsmen 16BH. Towing with 2013 Kia Sorento EX V6. I know, it's pushing it, but we might be changing our tow vehicle for next season, but will need to stick to something that can be my wife's daily driver. So the following challenge will likely stick around.
We often haul around 3-4 bicycles on a Thule T2 rack with 2 bike add on. So the rack weighs around 100 lbs and bikes on the rack 50-80 lbs. Hith receiver tube and hardware to mount everything on the TT rear bumper probably another 10-15 lbs. Total weight pushing 200 lbs or might sometimes be over depending on the bikes we take with us. This makes me doubt the option of mounting the rack on the rear bumper for two reasons. 1) Fair bit of weight and leverage. Is the bumper strong enough? 2) 200 lbs with the leverage would reduce the tongue weight. I could test this myself and weigh everything, but I was hoping that somebody would have experience.
If we stick with the Sorento, the tongue weight "window" is quite narrow. Trailer dry tongue weight is 290 lbs and Kia max 350 lbs. Based on my feel, I feel the bike rack pretty much the same as our 2200 lbs "training" PUP, except of course not when braking, so I think a 4' long 200 lbs bike rack assembly at the back of the trailer might change the tongue weight quite a bit. Or I might just have to carry the bikes in the trailer...which is starting to encroach into the "park and go to sleep" option that we are looking for with the TT.
We often haul around 3-4 bicycles on a Thule T2 rack with 2 bike add on. So the rack weighs around 100 lbs and bikes on the rack 50-80 lbs. Hith receiver tube and hardware to mount everything on the TT rear bumper probably another 10-15 lbs. Total weight pushing 200 lbs or might sometimes be over depending on the bikes we take with us. This makes me doubt the option of mounting the rack on the rear bumper for two reasons. 1) Fair bit of weight and leverage. Is the bumper strong enough? 2) 200 lbs with the leverage would reduce the tongue weight. I could test this myself and weigh everything, but I was hoping that somebody would have experience.
If we stick with the Sorento, the tongue weight "window" is quite narrow. Trailer dry tongue weight is 290 lbs and Kia max 350 lbs. Based on my feel, I feel the bike rack pretty much the same as our 2200 lbs "training" PUP, except of course not when braking, so I think a 4' long 200 lbs bike rack assembly at the back of the trailer might change the tongue weight quite a bit. Or I might just have to carry the bikes in the trailer...which is starting to encroach into the "park and go to sleep" option that we are looking for with the TT.
