Seen plenty of these (hitch haulers, bike racks, canoe racks, even small motorcycles) on the steel frame TT's rear bumpers , but what about these welded aluminum ones we have ? I dont see anything as far as a load rating, even if its '0'. Curious if anyone has successfully installed and used anything more substantial than a plastic black tank discharge hose holder back there.
There are a few threads on this forum and in the archives about using the bumper. They always entail reinforcing it with another horizontal square tube welded to the support arms. Even still I wouldn't put more than 100 lbs on it, and zero without reinforcing.
David
I didn't take pics but on further inspection (not too awfully thorough) I see how your reinforcing suggestion would be one of the few workable solutions. Not many other options since is a large tank inboard right there - other than adding another welded in Aluminum 'doubler' to the existing single cross member there now.
I will add that the "doubler" must be properly positioned forward of the existing bumper and welded to the frame rails to protect the factory weld joints. This has been discussed and pictured in previous posts on this forum.
I installed the doubler and was using the rear bumper for a couple of bikes with a 2" receiver hitch. This worked great for about 4 years. Last year while driving HWY 11 near Jasper there was a huge dip in the road where the asphalt was missing and the hwy crews had replaced it with gravel. Not a big deal except the sign for reduced speed was way to close to the dip, so everyone that hit the gravel was full on their brakes. this splashed out the gravel and left about a 2 foot drop in road surface. I am sure my trailer got air going through that. Needless to say the welds were ripped from the frame. ( The weld did not fail, it tore the base metal) I now have a front receiver hitch on the ford for the bikes...
Wow, quite the story! Not much could take a hit like that!
Front mounted hitches on the tow vehicle are an undervalued approach.
Just added this rear mounted accessory today. I have a factory installed 4X4 rear bumper.
Quote from: Chappy133 on March 12, 2021, 06:22:11 PM
Just added this rear mounted accessory today. I have a factory installed 4X4 rear bumper.
I need to set up a portable tank carrier like that. in addition to the 4x4 bumper, what did you do for mounting?
Camco @ Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Rhino-Bumper-Mount-Carrier/dp/B07P8B9WHD
Easy just bolted around our 4X4 bumper.
http://www.camco.net/img/product/39010_out-B.jpg?fv=FC9CDB1ECE34159820946B81CBDC0B93-15327
Quote from: Chappy133 on March 14, 2021, 08:43:59 PM
Camco @ Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Rhino-Bumper-Mount-Carrier/dp/B07P8B9WHD
Easy just bolted around our 4X4 bumper.
http://www.camco.net/img/product/39010_out-B.jpg?fv=FC9CDB1ECE34159820946B81CBDC0B93-15327
Thanks! I will definitely look into that. I'm hoping to find a way to install something like that with reinforcement to take the torque strain off the bumper welds.
I just put a tongue mounted bike bunk on this weekend. Short vid below
https://youtu.be/I9x81UyupU0
Looks good, and as the former owner of that trailer I know that the extra weight on the tongue should be no problem. It was a little light already. That tongue mounted bike rack is a much better solution than trying to reinforce the back bumper and putting it there.
I also note that Stu added an on/off switch on the side of the former break away battery box. Much easier to access than the breaker I installed on the back of the box. I hope he still has that breaker in place. It is needed as LL didn't protect the wire from the battery back to the converter with a fuse or breaker.
David
yes, still in place David. I wouldn't remove something that makes sense! (except my brain). Hope you've been well!
Quote from: DavidM on March 16, 2021, 10:26:12 AM
Looks good, and as the former owner of that trailer I know that the extra weight on the tongue should be no problem. It was a little light already. That tongue mounted bike rack is a much better solution than trying to reinforce the back bumper and putting it there.
I also note that Stu added an on/off switch on the side of the former break away battery box. Much easier to access than the breaker I installed on the back of the box. I hope he still has that breaker in place. It is needed as LL didn't protect the wire from the battery back to the converter with a fuse or breaker.
David
I reinforced the rear bumper by welding full length piece of aluminum to the bumper and frame, with some gussets for additional strength.
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/004001318568/media/1694583379165905/medium/1616080818/enhance)
I also added some corner bracing which (not shown in photo) was also welded.
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/004001318568/media/1694583422517316/medium/1616080716/enhance)
Purpose of all this was to add a spare tire mount (for tow vehicle tire). Mounting frame also used to hold some folding chairs.
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/004001318568/media/1694583382901621/medium/1616080716/enhance)
Survived a 6,000 mile trip around Alaska a couple of years ago without any evidence of stress.
.....David
Nice job on that bumper with the bottom piece and triangular gussets - especially for anti-torque. I am about to pull the trigger on a 60" (58" net needed) rectangular piece of 2 x 4 x 1/8" wall 6061 Aluminum extrusion, weld it inboard of the existing bumper as others have indicated is the 'right' way to do it. I also observed a doubler outboard would accomplish nothing but adding net thickness to bumper, not strength. The T-straps you added at the intersection of the bumper and longitudinal frame member are clever, may consider that, too (after).
Quote from: gzelna on March 19, 2021, 09:51:34 AM
Nice job on that bumper with the bottom piece and triangular gussets - especially for anti-torque. I am about to pull the trigger on a 60" (58" net needed) rectangular piece of 2 x 4 x 1/8" wall 6061 Aluminum extrusion, weld it inboard of the existing bumper as others have indicated is the 'right' way to do it. I also observed a doubler outboard would accomplish nothing but adding net thickness to bumper, not strength. The T-straps you added at the intersection of the bumper and longitudinal frame member are clever, may consider that, too (after).
Is this what you are buying? I've had this on my Amazon wish list forever and if your install goes well, I'll get one too and have it welded on the inside bumper. Thanks!
https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-6063-T52-Rectangular-Tubing-Length/dp/B000H9LMTW/ref=pd_sbs_2?pd_rd_w=Iwnl9&pf_rd_p=651d64d1-3c73-45b6-ae09-e545600e3a22&pf_rd_r=GYKMW7998B4FA33DGY8D&pd_rd_r=0ae6ebbd-b304-473e-a8ee-4c6e43c9de7b&pd_rd_wg=xr7LS&pd_rd_i=B000H9LMTW&psc=1
Hey, sorry for the slow reply- just saw your question. Check this out from Onlinemetals.com - quite inexpensive, arrived today, 60" length (I need approx 58") Shipped, about $66.00
2" x 4" x 0.125" Aluminum Rectangle Tube 6061-T6-Extruded 60.0" $45.01 (Part Number 7038) . Now to figure out how to get it welded in, I'd be set !
I live in a small town of 18k in the interior of BC Canada. In our equally smallish industrial area is a fabricating shop. Whenever I need a piece of aluminum stock, the owner lets me rummage through his bin of cut offs. I've not needed but noticed up to 6' of various 2x stock every time I'm there. I predict that for the $45 piece mentioned in the last post, the owner would ask at most $25 ($15 USD!!) 'for their Christmas party fund'. Of course, if I do need alum welded, I know the shop will do a good job. Isn't this scenario also possible in small town USA or is this just a fortunate coincidence for me? GK