Front rack

[Butch50]

For folks that are carrying a front rack on their trucks, do you get a lot of bounce on them when driving down the road not the truck just the rack? How about when you are on gravel roads that are rough? About how much weight are you carrying on the racks?

I have a Bodiak front mounted hitch (rated for 5000# trailer weight and 500# tongue weight) and want to carry a rack on it with my Honda 2000 and about 7.5 gallons of fuel. This would be in a aluminum tool box with very few other odds and ends. I put it all on there and seems fine but I can bounce it up and down some. Of course I'm just a little guy (not) and am putting quit of bit of weight down on it when bouncing it.

[truckcamperonmy]

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26896276/gotomsg/26896611.cfm#26896611

kerry4951,

Sweet front rack and box. Can you please share the brand/models of each and the width and height measurements from the bottom of the rack to the top of the box. Thanks!

-Chad

[luv2skyski]

Two tube upgrade project.
Sincerely, Dave.

[JimBollman]

I use a center hitch but made pads that lock on the tow hook loops and supports the ends of the aluminum tool box a friend and I modified to use. I then run 1" ratchet straps from eyes in the pads around the box and to the top of the bumper. This locks everything tight and distributes some of the load to the tow hooks/bumper. I also used marker sticks on the corners to remind me it is out there.

Here is a link to a posting I made on the project a couple of years ago. I have improved the pads for the tow hooks for easier removal and went to the retractable ratchet straps since the pictures were taken.

[Jeepers92]

I use straps to tie it back. I costs me about 1 mpg because of the aerodynamics of the box or bikes. We did Alaska a couple of years ago. You will be bounced like you won't believe, especially the Al-Can. Its kind like hitting speed bumps at Hwy speed. Just be aware this will be the case, and brace every thing for it. I built a pourch for mine and put Alum boxes on the porch for genny and fuel. Strap everything in your box down. Its the trip of a lifetime...enjoy

[countrycampers3]

Always best to be over cautious. Sounds like me, the worst possible things seem to happen on a cold or rainy day in the mud, with no cell phone reception, on a Saturday afternoon.

Have fun in Alaska. Be safe and enjoy making memories, for life is to short.

[Butch50]

Well it sounds like everybody elses is steady and does not move. Mine bounces up and down when I lean on it and let it go and it just makes me worry as we are going to be taking the camper to Alaska this year. So I have ordered a Curt front hitch for my truck and I'll install it when I get it and hopefully that makes me feel better and it doesn't bounce up and down. I have snowplow indicators on it and seeing them going crazy on the front would cause me to just watch those and not were I'm going. While using it on the Bodiak also it caused the rack to lean down in the front as the Bodiak is not parrell to the ground. Also I don't have that much weight in mine. I took everything out today and weighed it. It was almost 220# and that includes the tool box and the rack.

I'm a worry wart and I'm sure it would be fine but I would have nightmares of it falling off and running over it on the road, I can't even began to imagine what kind of damage that would do to my truck and it would probably happen in the middle of nowhere in Alaska or the Yukon.

So I should have the Curt in a few days and install it and see how it is going to do.

Thanks for everybodies responses.

[AidenJ]

I have the Bodiak twin tube mount with a custom made rack. Carry my genny and gas and some other odds and ends. Very stable. Only drawback is lining up the 2 receivers. Very stable.

[bwanted]

does it hit the ground? Thinking of one. Seems low. Thanks

[redink]

Drilled and tapped for a 3/8 bolt. I use the bolt and a lock nut for no wobble.

[Raften]

Not sure I would want to carry gas up there. Anyway with a hitch stabilizer there is no bounce.

[kerry4951]

Buy yourself a hitch stabilizer bracket and your carrier/load will be rock solid.

[NRALIFR]

Just Jeff wrote:
NRALIFR - What do you have wired around the rack?

The bumper guides I have mounted on the front of the toolbox have lights on them. They light up with the parking/turn signal lights.

:):)

[Super_Dave]

Butch, an off the shelf rack without some kind of tie off will certainly bounce. The turnbuckles or even a couple of ropes will significantly reduce bounce/vibration.

[Just_Jeff]

NRALIFR - What do you have wired around the rack?

[JoeChiOhki]

Mine is custom built and uses twin tubes, so it has zero vibration when loaded. I traditionally carry 30 gallons of fresh water, a crate of firewood, my splitting maul, a small bbq and 5 gallons of gasoline on it.