RV Bumper Adapter

[5er707]

I was planning on buying a RV bumper adapter for my 2013 Heartland Prowler 31 TBS. I was only planning on using it for a bike rack that will have two bikes on it. Anyone have any input on this?

[Beverley_Ken]

Read on. Saw a trailer earlier this summer with a similar setup. The welds holding the bumper tube to the frame held, but the tube was twisted about 30 degrees, wonder if the sewer hose would come out. Saw another today leaving FW and whenever the 5th wheel hit a bump, the bikes moved about 6 inches in every direction.

Beverley & Ken

[Halmfamily]

A trip to my dealer last year and he had a fiver just like mine there having its rear bumper replaced due to a bumper Mount bike rack. The bumper has a 250 lb rating and was only carrying around 100lbs but the actual bouncing is what did the bumper in. He said the owner never did find his bikes.

[JohnBoyToo]

WAY back when I actually added one of those to my class C and towed a cj-5 behind it !

BUT, that was a LONG time ago and the bumper was AT least 1/4 steel, now they are probably tin foil 🙂 🙂 🙂


Glad I was following a buddy with his new 5th wheel that had a bumper attached spare tire -- as we watched, the spare tire slowly twisted toward us going up I-55 through Miss...

got on the cell and stopped just in time to demount the spare before we were wearing it !!!

[msjdbman]

A lot depends on the bumper. The bumper on my 5er has a stated weight limit. I don`t recall what that limit is, but it was cabale of holding my spare with frame, and a 2 place bike rack with the bikes.

[deleted-2]

As a former machinist welder (we're talking way back now)...also bear in mind that strength is governed by the material used for the bumper vs. the weld.

A 1" weld filet can handle up to 10,000# depending on the grade and thickness of the steel used.

[AZ_T_T]

Every manufactures bumpers are different. What you have to worry about is the flexing that occurs while driving. There will be a lot more stress on the bumper while driving than just sitting in the drive way.

[robsouth]

Camper bumpers are more decoration than anything else. I see lots of folks with spare tires mounted on the rear bumper and have never seen one fail. I have seen folks with bikes mounted on the rear, but don't know if it was on the bumper or on a hitch welded to the frame. In general, I would not use the rear bumper for much weight.

[deleted-2]

5er707 wrote:
Anyone have any input on this?

We have the Swagman two bike carrier with the bolt on bumper adapter.
Frankly I do worry about it and keep an eye on the bumper.

No problems yet however.
I will get around to installing a frame receiver one of these days.

[MainerBob]

According to what I have read on this and other sources, attaching anything to your bumper is probably a bad move. No matter how light your bikes are their weight plus the weight of the rack will exert a twisting force on the bumper mounting, which it was not designed for. This is basic physics of the lever arm, which will eventually fail.

My wife and I travel with two road bikes which weigh 19lbs each. Our rack is about 50lbs. We had a regular hitch receiver welded to our 5'er's frame. That is really the best way to go. Otherwise somewhere down the road you will be replacing the rack, the bikes, and the bumper.

Bob

[Hondavalk]

JMO, I wouldn't add any weight to the back of my bumper. A frame welded receiver would be much safer.