KZ Sportsmen 16BH, Bike Rack on Rear Bumper

[Olli]

Hi all, new forum member and owner of 2010 KZ Sportsmen 16BH. Towing with 2013 Kia Sorento EX V6. I know, it's pushing it, but we might be changing our tow vehicle for next season, but will need to stick to something that can be my wife's daily driver. So the following challenge will likely stick around.

We often haul around 3-4 bicycles on a Thule T2 rack with 2 bike add on. So the rack weighs around 100 lbs and bikes on the rack 50-80 lbs. Hith receiver tube and hardware to mount everything on the TT rear bumper probably another 10-15 lbs. Total weight pushing 200 lbs or might sometimes be over depending on the bikes we take with us. This makes me doubt the option of mounting the rack on the rear bumper for two reasons. 1) Fair bit of weight and leverage. Is the bumper strong enough? 2) 200 lbs with the leverage would reduce the tongue weight. I could test this myself and weigh everything, but I was hoping that somebody would have experience.

If we stick with the Sorento, the tongue weight "window" is quite narrow. Trailer dry tongue weight is 290 lbs and Kia max 350 lbs. Based on my feel, I feel the bike rack pretty much the same as our 2200 lbs "training" PUP, except of course not when braking, so I think a 4' long 200 lbs bike rack assembly at the back of the trailer might change the tongue weight quite a bit. Or I might just have to carry the bikes in the trailer...which is starting to encroach into the "park and go to sleep" option that we are looking for with the TT.

[krobbe]

I carry 3 bikes over the dining table. I'll have to fit 4 when my DD moves up to a 24". The Sunlite fork mount brackets were $16 ea. The front wheels store under the table.
It's important to me to keep the bikes out of the road grime when towing in bad weather. Also, the bikes weight is almost over the axles.

[Olli]

The tongue weight is limited with the current vehicle and possibly with any new vehicle as well, but I'll keep that bike rack in mind. Need to put the bikes inside.

[camperforlife]

alexleblanc wrote:
take a serious look at a front mount Arvika rack, I ran one on my last two trailers with great success. It will add about 150lbs to your tongue weight though so make sure your TV will allow that.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This is what I have after fighting a rear mounted rack on a custom built reinforced hitch. The bikes bounced a lot and I had a very robust set up. Once you own an Arvika, you will never carry your bikes any other way.

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

[alexleblanc]

take a serious look at a front mount Arvika rack, I ran one on my last two trailers with great success. It will add about 150lbs to your tongue weight though so make sure your TV will allow that.

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

[mkirsch]

It doesn't matter what the rack weighs, the whole rack+bikes arrangement will still pull too much weight off the trailer tongue for a stable tow.

Put the bikes in the camper, or on the roof of the Kia, or leave them home. When you won't compromise on the tow vehicle, you have to compromise on what you bring with you and/or how you haul it.

[jfkmk]

I looked up your rack because 100# seems awful heavy for any bike rack and the info on Amazon specifically states not to mount it to a trailer. Seems to me that the weight of the bikes, hitch, rack would cut down on the carrying capacity of a small trailer significantly. I was passing a trailer with bikes on a hitch mounted bike rack and was amazed at how much they bounced around. Must be a lot of fun towing!

[rexlion]

There are a few people with the experience, and most likely their bikes and bike racks bounced along the pavement for some distance. 😉

[Olli]

Figured it would be too much weight and in bad place. Back to the drawing board, but I do have bike bags I put bikes for plane travel.

There are some interesting or scary photos online with dirt bikes at the back of little TT's. ..

[GordonThree]

I know from being under my KZ 200 several times, the rear bumper is barely well enough attached to carry itself and the spare, let alone anything else.

A quick google didn't reveal any new options for your Kia - they all seem to rely on rear mounting or roof mounting. I could find nothing for a front mount receiver, or front mount bike rack.

Icanon's suggestion is valid, let the bikes travel inside the trailer?

[icanon]

If your interested here's a link of someone in this forum who did an interior bike install?

[Oasisbob]

Sorry but have to agree with previous poster. Badidea for reasons stated. We put bikes inside trailer and kayaks on top of the Sadona roof via Thule racks. I too tow with a KIA. So far great at 84K . I did add rear air bag assist.

[BarneyS]

VERY bad idea! Your concerns, as expressed above, are 100% correct. That amount of weight projecting from the rear of that little trailer is, in my opinion, going to make it almost un-towable.

Also, I doubt that the frame of that trailer is designed to carry that amount of weight in the rear - even if it is on a separate receiver mounted to the frame. As far as a receiver tube mounted on the rear bumper, don't even think about it. The bumper will not carry that weight and the up/down motion of the bikes will most likely quickly rip it off of the trailer.

I would re-think this idea if I were you.
Barney