Cargo Rack

DKRITTER · 12-09-2013, 11:39 AM

Hello everyone, we recently took delivery on an 2014 Eagle 338RLTS w/o the bike/cargo rack, I checked with the dealer about adding one and the part alone is about $800.00 then there is freight and tax so it would cost about 1K to add it.

I’m looking for an alternative to this so I could carry a 90lb generator and a couple of 5 gallon gas cans. I’m estimating the weight should hover around 200 lbs.

I have done enough research to realize bolting anything to the bumper would end up in disaster so…

I was thinking of building a receiver hitch that would have extended tabs that would run down the frame a little ways so I can spread the twisting force down a longer section of the frame. Then getting a cargo rack I could take on and off as needed.

So the first question is, is there a better idea here?

Secondly, should I just pony up and get the factory unit or should I have the receiver built?

Thanks for the assistance.

BTW, my truck bed has a box in it that takes up almost the whole bed.

lx22f/c · 12-09-2013, 11:50 AM

I believe you will save money by having a new bumper and a rack made to hold everything you need. I bet you can have everything made for less than 800.00 and be alot happier.

clubhouse · 12-09-2013, 12:27 PM

I had a "frame to frame" welded 2" receiver to carry a bike rack installed on my TT. The shop did it for less than $300 and so far it's been rock solid hauling 3 bikes. You could do something like that. The shop that did mine said 300lbs is no problem for it. The bikes and rack I carry are ~100lbs.

A close friend with welding skills fabricated a similar frame to frame receiver but added 3 receivers; a traditional one in the center to fit bike racks or an off the shelf hitch mount cargo carrier, the others are on the sides and support an expanded steel cargo carrier he built that has two mounting points. Obviously he can't use both the cargo carrier and bike rack at the same time, but every trip doesn't require the same equipment so he changes what is used based on the trip.

Ela1948 · 12-09-2013, 12:37 PM

We have the rack and it is very well built and attached. But I think that a good fabrication shop could do it for about half price. In my opinion, it would depend on the availability of a good fab shop that you can trust. Building it off of the frame rail foundation is very important. We carry a generator that weighs 130 lb., a step ladder and extra sewage hoses. I made up a plywood base with tie down chains for the generator complete with 2 key locks. The floor of the carrier was made of corrugated plastic that made me a little nervous. We've used that setup for a couple thousand miles. Has worked well. Because we carry the gen. on the corner of the rack, I made up a steel strap that ties the rack to the frame on that corner for insurance.

clutch · 12-09-2013, 11:30 PM

We bought the factory rack and had it shipped to Idaho. $465 freight. The rack was close to $800 and the labor to install it was $200. Not bad for a $420 option when you order a new trailer. If you go with a hitch type I would use two mounting points to eliminate rocking while traveling. A friend had a single hitch set up and used it for two years until he followed his son pulling the trailer with the generator mounted. He went right back to the welding shop and had extra braces added.

usmc616 · 12-09-2013, 11:53 PM

When we ordered our TT the bike tray was a $400.00 option, after looking at other ideas for carrying the kids bikes we felt the factory bike try was less expensive.
One of the ideas we looked at was a bike rack that sits above the propane tanks , another idea was to have a receiver mounted on the front of our TV.

Seann45 · 12-10-2013, 09:00 AM

Here is my suggestion... Weld 2 receiver tubes one to each frame rail then have the shop weld the mates to them on the rack. This should cost a lot less than the factory set up and be more stable than using a single receiver mount at the center..

eldermike · 12-10-2013, 12:00 PM

I have the same camper. I added a rack to the bed of my truck. I use the rack for kayacks and the bed under the rack for bicycles. They do make attachments for the rack to carry bikes. But I do like Seann's suggestion if you decide to put them on the rear of the camper.

mohok1 · 12-17-2013, 04:52 PM

Suggest you look at your owners manual for bumper weight limitation. My manual states 100 lbs including the spare tire. I bought a Cargo Carrier from Wal-
Mart ($65.00) and ordered a 2" Receiver that fits a 4" Bumper ($28.00) from Amazon, so for less than $100.00 I have a C/C on my TT rear bumper. I took the spare tire and carrier off the bumper and I haul my electric smoker. I have put approx 1k miles on the TT without any problem. I would be comfortable hauling 150 lbs or so with my set up. You can pay whatever you want to for something. Me, I try to met my needs as less expensive as I can. You can also email Jayco Customer Service and ask for the max weight for your particular unit.

clubhouse · 12-17-2013, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mohok1

Suggest you look at your owners manual for bumper weight limitation. My manual states 100 lbs including the spare tire. I bought a Cargo Carrier from Wal-
Mart ($65.00) and ordered a 2" Receiver that fits a 4" Bumper ($28.00) from Amazon, so for less than $100.00 I have a C/C on my TT rear bumper. I took the spare tire and carrier off the bumper and I haul my electric smoker. I have put approx 1k miles on the TT without any problem. I would be comfortable hauling 150 lbs or so with my set up. You can pay whatever you want to for something. Me, I try to met my needs as less expensive as I can. You can also email Jayco Customer Service and ask for the max weight for your particular unit.

I would suggest you be very careful with that set up. Jayco told me directly in an email not to do what you did. 100lbs static is far less than the dynamic force you bumper is enduring with the cargo carrier acting like a lever bouncing up and down while traveling.

Flyrotor · 12-18-2013, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clubhouse

A close friend with welding skills fabricated a similar frame to frame receiver but added 3 receivers; a traditional one in the center to fit bike racks or an off the shelf hitch mount cargo carrier, the others are on the sides and support an expanded steel cargo carrier he built that has two mounting points. Obviously he can't use both the cargo carrier and bike rack at the same time, but every trip doesn't require the same equipment so he changes what is used based on the trip.

I really like this idea, I think it gives more options for securely using the back of the trailer...

Clevelandjim · 12-18-2013, 06:05 AM

There are numerous bolt-on and weld-on trailer hitches here.. I also have a front hitch on my van where I carry my generator.

billb800si · 12-18-2013, 09:38 PM

We put a bike rack on our 4 inch 2007 Jayco Eagle 322FKS bumper and hauled 2 bikes around with us for thousands of miles. Down to Florida, cross country etc... Never had a problem or any cracks. We left the spare tire on it. Like anything frequently check it while on the road.
Happy trails,

dewey02 · 12-18-2013, 11:43 PM

Have you checked out the Trailer Tray? It is about $275.
http://www.strombergcarlson.com/stor...e=Trailer+Tray
They also have an attachment for it called the bike bunk.
http://www.trailertray.com

maromeo · 12-19-2013, 05:23 AM

Interesting idea. One thing I noticed is in all the pictures of the trailer tray there are no batteries installed on the a frame. We have 2 batteries installed on the Eagle and there isn't much room for anything else because we have the enclosed propane tanks.

DKRITTER · 12-19-2013, 01:08 PM

Thanks everyone for the replies, I think what I will do is make a rack as suggested by several folks here that comes off both frame rails to two receiver hitches and custom build a rack that each end will attach to each receiver. There are tabs already welded to the frame I build from.

One of the challenges with the trailer is that it is heavy and the tongue weighs about 1200lbs so adding any weight to the front is really not an option however, by adding the rear rack it helps relieve a little weight off the front. Also one of the reasons we are in a TT is I have a dog box in my bed that takes up practically the whole bed.

I went to one place when we were looking and one guy just would not listen, he really wanted to sell me fifth wheel, I finally walked him outside an showed him my truck with this huge box in the bed.

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