Bike Rack for Trailer hitch?

[mkenyon2]

I wanted to get a bike rack to bring along our 2 bikes when we go camping. My initial thought was getting a hitch rack, so we could use it on the truck or on the back of the trailer with a bumper hitch. (I did get a bumper hitch for the trailer already.)

However, I'm seeing product descriptions that make me think twice. I get the concept that the rear of trailer is going to bounce, putting more strain on the bike rack and the point where it connects to the bumper.

I'm looking to spend < $200, but wondering if I'd be able to get something of good quality that won't break the bank.

Note: This is the receiver I bought.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZBN1IC

[trailernovice]

Ditto on the 'don't use a bumper hitch without reinforcements' advice...personal experience...going down the road, people startzed pointing at our rig....our bikes are on the ground, dragging....the bike rack and the connections between the bumper and the frame rails stayed intact...what happened was, the thin metal of the bumper got jiggled and joggled one two many times, and the walls of the bumper peeled open like a banana...the bikes were at a 45 degree angle, and didn't go all the way flat only because the ground blocked them from falling further...

That would have been hugely dangerous and a huge liability if the bikes had actually disconnected from the trailer, as generally a person can be responsible for any damage caused by a falling load. I ride a motorcycle as a daily driver, and realize how extremely hard it would be to avoid a crash when two strapped-together bicycles suddenly appear on the road ahead, bouncing around unpredictably....run over those with a motorcycle or even a car, BIG problems....alternative of swerving could ALSO create big problems

After the fact, I got a welder to take the factory bumper off and replace it with one of much, much thicker metal...and even then, I only use the bumper rack when the truck bed is full

It's not the dead weight that's the bumper-killer...it's the lever action of however much the bikes weigh. extended above and behind the the bumper, bouncing up and down with every dip in the road.

Truth to tell, folks warned me about it.....but, given that I'm smarter than everyone else, I took my own path until they were proved right

[Boomerweps]

RV bumpers are not designed as bumpers. They are more like sturdy black sewer hose storage tubes.
They are made of thin metal and the welds to the frame rails have been known to fail when weight is carried by the bumper.
They sell reinforcements that bolt to the frame and cup around the bumpers. Highly recommended if adding a bolt on receiver to the bumper for bikes or small platform racks.
My Wolf Pup came with a factory rack. It looks like it rests on the bumper when extended. It does not. It has two pins on each side that hold it and the other hinge part clamps around the frame rails.

[ktmrfs]

IMHO $200 and a bike rack on a trailer is not going to pan out. First, few bike racks are rated for TT use, those that are cost much more than $200 and are much beefier than the typical bike rack.

Now that said on our trailer I cut off the factory " bumper" and fabricated a new bumper welded to the frame with a 2" reciever welded on. We use the hollywood rack RV rider on the trailer (even though hollywood racks says 5th wheel only)

Expect to pay in the $400-600 range for a good rack AND add in $$ for making sure the attachment is adequate.

Every bike rack I've seen rated for TT use warns NOT to use a bolt on reciever like the OP posted.

[MFL]

I would not use the receiver you purchased on the TT rear bumper, unless the bumper has been strengthened by additional frame support. Yes even then the rear will bounce, so a good bike carrier is needed.

Jerry