Forum Discussion

Bears_Den's avatar
Bears_Den
Explorer
Mar 27, 2022

Bike carrier

For those of you who use a bike carrier on the rear bumper of your TT. What did you do to reenforce your bumper? Did you add a a receiver under the bumper welded to the frame? I’ve read plenty of posts of how the rear bumper isn’t strong enough to carry bikes so I’m looking for suggestions. No substitute for experience. Thanks for your help.
  • If you have bikes on the back of a trailer, do not use the bumper, have a hitch welded to the frame. Also, do not use a standard car type bike carrier, make sure you get one designed for trailers. They need to not be able to articulate, fixed position. I have a Yakima 4 bike rack designed for the back of a trailer. We mostly carry 3 bikes but have carried 4. Have never had a problem.
  • Bumper brackets have never worried me when I’m behind a TT with them carrying a bicycle rack with bicycles. The lack of strength of the bumper does however. Note the reenforcement warning on this Amazon page.
  • For a no weld alternative my son-in-law used a bolt on bumper brackets that worked out very well,these are the best on the market.

    Like This One
  • Frame mounted cargo rack. We carry a bike, sewer tote, spare tire, ladder and patio rug on it.
  • rhagfo, I was looking at those, apparently they are so popular that on the sites I’ve looked at, they’re on back order. Just trying to see what other ideas people have. I can actually carry them in the bed of my truck but I’d have to figure out where to put other things that go in the bed when we camp.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Why not get one of the over tongue mounts that are now on the market. Bikes ride smoother and can be seen in your rear view mirror, unless you have a cap full of stuff.
  • I carry my bike on a home built rack above the battery. Pedal is removed on left side. Now even better with the no maintenance Lithium.

  • I ran an anti rattle clamp on the clamp on bumper receiver. And then I ran 2 ratchet straps from the top of the rack to the trailer wall. I ran 2 stainless eyebolts through the vertical stud and horizontal bunk stud (trailer was a rear bunk model, stick and tin construction). Never had a problem in 13 years. I also had a rear camer that I could keep an eye on them.
  • TT, or any "bumper pull" trailer, best idea is to carry bike someplace else.
    IMHO, best idea is build a mount for front of TV. That would put the weight on the axle most likely to have capacity to carry it.