Bumper strength

I took the spare tire off of our previous KZ 5th wheel, put it in the basement and mounted a 2" clamp on receiver to the 4" bumper for our two 26 lb Trek mountain bikes. Never had any trouble with it. We ordered our new 2017 Jayco 28RLS with it's frame mounted 2" receiver just to be sure.
The bumper in the pics looks like it was modified to carry a whole lot more than two bicycles.

This topic comes up frequently. There are many that insist that it's not safe and many that don't. I installed the MnL Safety Struts and used my bike rack many times and haven't seen any evidence of bumper failure. The Struts seem to support it very well, and I haven't found any cracks on any of the bumper welds.

We have a receiver mounted on the front of the truck. The bike rack goes there. It works well.

I cut up an old hitch, made a plate with 5 inch bolts and clamped it to my bumper then mounted my bikes and rack on it. It hasn't failed yet.

I tore mine off with a bike rack and ended up replacing the entire bumper but I would suggest adding a brace like this one:
It's the 2X2 by 1/4" thick angle iron cut at an angle at the end.


As you can see, this bracket runs from under the main frame to under the bumper. It not only supports the bumper but more importantly, it keeps it from being able to rotate and tear away. This is a simple and cheap mod and you dont have to replace the entire bumper.
I've been running this for about 7 years and it is very sound.
Unfortunately it needs to be welded on but with a few hand tools you can make the part and just have a welder weld it on.

gbopp wrote:
Maybe you can have a 2" receiver welded to the frame?

^^^^ Yes this one!

Maybe you can have a 2" receiver welded to the frame?

Yes you're absaloutly right. I'll have to look for an alternative bumper

You don't want this to happen


or this

They do make a device that seems to work very well.


something like this

That 4 inch square tube is made out of 16ga sheet metal. Anything you hang off of it guaranteed will tear it to pieces within just a short time. They are not a bumber,but a sewer hose carrier and nothing more.