Bumper Hitch and Load Question for Bikes - 2019 Coleman Lantern 244BH Travel Trailer

I agree with the other posters, TT bumpers are not engineered with withstand the kind of force 4 bikes will have. I like your thought of additional bracing, but the bumper itself is thin wall. I would suggest a dual hitch receiver and mount the bikes from the truck hitch in front of the TT. 

The square tubes on the back of many RVs are sewer hose holders (and not great as the moisture causes them to rust. They are thin sheet metal, so not great for any kind of loading. This is at best a band aid.

With 4 bikes, the rack will extend back 3-4ft and likely weigh over 100lb giving it a lot of leverage to twist the sheet metal sewer hose holder off as you bounce down the road.

You can get actual hitches that connect to the frame. A far better idea.

I know someone who had his kids bikes back there when they left on a trip and when they arrived at their destination they were gone. Broke off! The rear end of the trailer is the roughest, bounyest ride, adding a lot of stress.

Thank all of y’all for the responses! Much appreciated. Yes, that’s what I was thinking as well. I just don’t see that bumper being able to take a load like that either. I do like the idea of a mounted hitch to the frame. Any suggestion on a brand?

Hi Russell,

I know you are new to the travel trailer scene, you told us.   Please tell us what year/brand/model camper, if you use a weight disturbing hitch, and what brand model is that and what the truck is.

Taking bikes to camp many times is a problem.  I have had them on the back of the camper, never do that again.  I had them on the front of the 2500 Suburban, that worked well for the bikes, but created lighting issues and potential legal lighting law issues.  And with 4 bikes, a tranny heat issue. We only had 2 bikes and a mild tranny heat change, my camping buddy had the same truck with 4 bikes and it over heated one hot summer day.  He had to take the bikes apart and store them in pieces to get home. 

The rear bumper of the travel trailer in my view is a "no".  There are just too many issues to overcome.  I suspect your camper does not have shock absorbers and we do not know the rear overhang of the camper aft of the rear axle hanger.  The wrong combo on the back of a camper can really take a beating on the bike rack and the camper frame pending what you have.

The double receiver idea presented, until we know what tow vehicle and if you are using a WD hitch, the double receiver may not be a working option. 

What I ended up doing, after and knowing some of what not to do, was create a 2 bike rack on the A-frame of the TT.   This works well, BUTTTTT the A frame has to be able to handle it, the WD hitch has to be able to handle it, the truck suspension has to be able to handle it and the truck receiver has to be able to handle it. 

Give us some more info on your setup and we may be able to help with something that might fit. 

Hope this helps,

John