spare tire bracket
As I took ownership of my new used fifthwheel I notice that the spare tire and bracket was in the basement. So I went to the back of the fifthwheel and notice that the welds on the square tubing had b...
Forum Discussion
IAMICHABOD wrote:
If you want to use your bumper you might consider the Safety Struts .
You continue to amaze me! How have I been on this Forum all this time, and not known about these???
I found little tears at the bracket welds on our 4" cardboard steel bumper and had a reinforcement welded to it. Also took the spare off and now store it under the bed. I doubt the PO's carried anything else on the spare tire or its mount. And I've heard of others with torn bumpers with the original welds.
It seems that SSN and SNU brackets are my best bet. SSN actually, since it seems SNU is the SSN brackets with extra fasteners for box chassis rails. We have a channel with the hitch through the bottom and bumper brackets (welded to the bumper, that's where it tore) bolted to the sides of the channel.
So, concerns me that the Safety Struts need to mount OVER the existing bumper bracket bolts, which are 1/2" with washers. Awkward. I printed the SSN/SNU Template and verified that it printed to scale. Next step I make a cardboard or wood paneling template and see where it falls in my setup.
All this triggered what I think is a GREAT IDEA!!! When our cardboard steel square bumper is damaged, torn, or rusted through (only a matter of time), the new tube is inexpensive. Problem is, it doesn't come with brackets! So we still need to find a shop to fab new brackets, or cut the old ones off and weld to the new. It seems to me that Safety Struts could BE the brackets for a new bumper tube. Mount it up and go to a shop with a wire welder to tack the new tube to the Struts...
