Gulf Stream Amerilite bumper question?

I have an Amerilite 21mble 2009. I asked basically the same question about 2 years ago, about putting a rack on a receiver hitch for 2 bikes.
I used it once before asking. No problems. Everyone told me not to do it, the whole bumper/sewer hose storage tube can fall off during transit. They are not made to hold weight.
I already had the receiver on it, so I bought a small cargo carrier that holds a rubbermaid tote with some light things in it.

It made the trip with the bikes by sheer luck. What is on there now doesn't exceed about 40 pounds total. Since the bikes weighed a lot more, I hope this is fairly safe, but I am still very conscious of weight.
You'll hear a lot more from people who know a lot more than me, but that is an experience of someone with the same trailer. I've had it about 2 years, no troubles. How do you like yours?

I have a 2011 Ameri-lite 25bh and the first thing I wanted to do is get a bolt on hitch and use the storage rack we have. Luckily I read a few threads on the subject here before I acted on it. Not only can it damage the bumper, it can throw off the tongue weight.

We love our Ameri-lite, 3 seasons and no issues yet.

no its not strong, was not ever made to hold more than its own weight, have a weld shop make you a frame mount for your misc stuff.

Thanks for the responses. It just appears to be welded to the frame so I assumed it would be able to take a little weight. Back to the drawing board.
I haven't had it out yet so I can't attest to how much I like it, but we've been looking for a newer model for some time and the walk around bed sold us. It's just my wife, myself and two dachshunds now with the potential for the occasional grandchild so we wanted compact, and one where we didn't have to crawl over each other just to get up for something in the middle of the night. We found this one at Camping World, the price was right and it looks like it hasn't seen a lot of use. Time will tell. We can't wait for the weather to break a little so we can get it out. We had a 19 footer while the kids were growing up, then went to a tiny travel trailer I built when the kids went off on their own. Love the tiny, but miss the amenities. Nothing like having your own bathroom with a shower.
Thanks again for the responses. I'm going back to researching to see if anyone else has come up with any other potential storage options. Never give up!

You could buy an adjustable hitch from etrailer.com and then buy one of those cargo carriers that mount in a trailer hitch... Harbor Freight has aluminum cargo carriers too.

Here's the link to the adjustable hitch.

Adjustable Width Trailer Hitch

The price is $311.45,:E free shipping & no tax.

I could build that for around $75.00 but I wouldn't bolt it on, I would weld it on!

Thanks, Caverun. I was actually up underneath last night greasing the screws on the stabilizers and I got a good look at the layout. That system is just what I was thinking of building. I've got a pretty good stock of steel in the shed and a welder so I'm going to rig something up permanently this weekend. There's just not enough storage inside the camper and necessity is the mother of invention.

Thanks again for all the replies.

Brian;)

drnosty wrote:
Thanks, Caverun. I was actually up underneath last night greasing the screws on the stabilizers and I got a good look at the layout. That system is just what I was thinking of building. I've got a pretty good stock of steel in the shed and a welder so I'm going to rig something up permanently this weekend. There's just not enough storage inside the camper and necessity is the mother of invention.

Thanks again for all the replies.

Brian;)

You're welcome!

I'm a welder too and when I plan to build something, I look for it online and then build it!:B

Be sure to post pictures when you get it done!

Will do. We just bought this one so I'm going through it inch by inch now, making sure everything's the way it needs to be so we can get it out in the woods within the next few weeks. Nothing sadder than a TT sitting in the driveway.