Quahog's Bike Rack

Quahog · 05-09-2012, 02:44 PM

After all the horror stories I've heard about bikes tearing bumpers off TTs, etc., I decided to do something to make sure mine wasn't one of those tragic tales.

To that end, I had a friend weld some reinforcements onto my rear bumper.

Here are the before and after pictures. Please excuse the poor quality of the "after" photos. The TT is in storage and there's not much room back there to take decent pictures.

Haha, you can even see footprints of where both me and my friend were jumping on the back bumper as a strength test.

cbaka27 · 05-09-2012, 02:50 PM

Nice Mod, can you take some pictures of the weld sites?

Quahog · 05-09-2012, 03:04 PM

I may have to wait until I pull the trailer out... there is literally about 18" of clearance now.

If you were to look at it from the side, it would be like this: |\|

The steel is welded on a 45 degree angle from about the upper mid-line of the back of the bumper to the 90 degree turn on the bottom of the frame cross member.

He also strengthened the existing welds from the frame members to the bumper since in some spots, they were pretty light welds.

Get what I mean?

Denise · 05-09-2012, 03:10 PM

Nice idea! How much would something like that *typically* go for to have welded (I know you have to consider state/company/etc LOL).

Quahog · 05-09-2012, 03:25 PM

Twice today, I have closed the editing window losing my entire post! ARGH!

The whole job cost me $75 plus two beers (included the steel) but I did give the lad a tip because he worked his young butt off and it was hot here in Texas. He spent maybe two hours...

Cbaka, I also found one more photo that gives a slightly better view of one of the reinforcing pieces. I do apologize for the lousy photos.

dg1971 · 05-09-2012, 05:43 PM

Good looking mod. That will hold those bikes for sure....no more worries now.

exjay1 · 05-09-2012, 05:45 PM

thanks for the added pics and update, looks pretty stout!

taylorj · 05-10-2012, 07:31 AM

I have a 2010 365 BHS and my bike rack caused the bumper to almost fall off. All of the welds broke and I was only carrying 2 bikes. I took the camper in to have it repaired under warranty. Jayco refused to fix the bumper because, "the camper is not designed to carry bikes on the rear bumper!" This is the first issue I have ever had, that Jayco did not back their warranty. I took it and had it welded!

Camper 10
2010 365 BHS

Quahog · 05-10-2012, 08:37 AM

Yeah, Jayco's documentation says not to exceed 100 lbs on the bumper and with the spare tire there already, you can see how you would easily exceed the limit with two bikes, a rack, a 2" hitch receiver, etc.

When we looked at the factory welds, they were very thin in some places which is why I had him redo them along with adding the steel reinforcements. It's solid now.

Seann45 · 05-10-2012, 09:59 AM

I came across this in RV Lifestyle magazine and thought you might be interested.. they have a bike mount that goes on the A frame..

http://www.arvika.ca/

Here is a video on it..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHudvwfpAN0

Quahog · 05-10-2012, 11:53 AM

Thanks, Seann

I couldn't get the first link to work but the video looks pretty nifty. Unfortunately, it wouldn't work for me since I've done the upgrade on my batteries and added a toolbox up front on the A frame.

Seann45 · 05-10-2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahog

Thanks, Seann

I couldn't get the first link to work but the video looks pretty nifty. Unfortunately, it wouldn't work for me since I've done the upgrade on my batteries and added a toolbox up front on the A frame.

They were down for a few hours this am back up now...

Quahog · 05-10-2012, 01:48 PM

They do look nice but they are pricey little dudes... even a used on Kijiji was going for $600.

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