Weight capacity of my 5er pooper tube bumper on a fleetwood? - Diesel Forum

468LC · 08-29-2006, 07:51 PM

Let say I weld a standard 2" reciever onto the back bumper of my trailer to mount a motorcycle rack onto.

Would said motorcycle break off from the back bumper?

Motorcycle would be around 300 pounds.

Thoughts and ideas would be appreciated.

Gravel · 08-29-2006, 08:04 PM

I saw several fifth wheels pulling little trailers behind them while going through either Idaho or Montana, can't remember. Gotta be possible!

468LC · 08-29-2006, 08:06 PM

I have also heard of guys pulling doubles in the south as well.

Never seen it and I cannot believe it is legal. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Cool_Canuck · 08-29-2006, 08:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Let say I weld a standard 2" reciever onto the back bumper of my trailer to mount a motorcycle rack onto.

Would said motorcycle break off from the back bumper?

Motorcycle would be around 300 pounds.

Thoughts and ideas would be appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]
That bumper is pretty thin. Said motorcyle would have scratch. Very big scratch.

My receiver is actually bolted to the trailer frame and has a metal strap around the bumper which gives it the appearance of being attached to the bumper.

468LC · 08-29-2006, 08:23 PM

Thank you canuck.

Is this something you bought or had fabricated?

Any pics?

ritschner · 08-29-2006, 08:28 PM

Don't do it. The standard 4 inch bumper is only 3/32 inch steel. You will tear it off. I know [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]. There are two options, either a separate hitch assembly welded to the frame of the trailer or you can remove the current bumper an install a heavier 3/16 or 1/4 inch steel tube to replace it and then weld up a reciever plate. If you use a heavier replacement you will need to cut it short and double butt the ends of your current bumper to be able to still use it for your sewer hose.

468LC · 08-29-2006, 08:36 PM

I can weld and I can fabricate.

Just might have to bust out and buy some materials.

I like the whole new bumper idea Uturn.

Anybody with pictures would be awesome. That is how I learn the best.

ritschner · 08-29-2006, 08:59 PM

Sorry no pictures. That particular setup was on a 95 Jayco. I took a 4 inch 3/16 steel tube and cut it 16 inches short and then beveled the inside edges so I could slide the sewer hose in and not tear it. I then cut 8 inches off of each end of the old bumper and welded them to each end of the larger tube using the aluminum bumper cover as a guide. You can also do just one end, but the reason for butting the old tube is that the sewer hose end fitting will not fit into the heavier tube and neither will the same end caps. Then you can weld the new bumper to the trailer frame. Depending on trailer frame thickness (the Jayco's was also 3/16 inch retangular steel tube) you should also use some gussets between the inside of the trailer frame and a spot a few inches in on the new tube along with any other reinforcing deemed necessary. Weld up the reciever plate, install the pretty aluminum bumper cover and you are ready to go.

468LC · 08-29-2006, 09:09 PM

That explanation helps a ton.

Thanks again.

I now understand what you were talking about for making the sewer hose fit right.

Cool_Canuck · 08-29-2006, 11:17 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Thank you canuck.

Is this something you bought or had fabricated?

Any pics?

[/ QUOTE ]
This might be factory even though Jayco says not to tow with the trailer. It was on the trailer when I bought it.

Sorry, no pics. There is a 3X1.5" U member that runs between the trailer frame. It has end plates which are bolted to the frame. It is mounted ahead of the bumper and the top of this U member is somewhat level with the bottom of the bumper. (The frame is deeper than the bumper) The receiver is welded into the U of this and runs under the bumper. There is a 8" wide metal plate welded to the top of the receiver that sits under the bumper. A 8" wide U shape strap fits over the bumper and is bolted down to the receiver plate with 4 - 1/4 bolts on each side. The trailer plug and chain hooks are also attached to this receiver plate.

While this works good for towing, I wouldn't want to mount anything heavy on it.

V10 man · 08-30-2006, 03:14 AM

You could try something like this: http://www.hitchesonline.com/rv_hitch.htm

07HEMI4ME · 08-30-2006, 07:36 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Let say I weld a standard 2" reciever onto the back bumper of my trailer to mount a motorcycle rack onto.

Would said motorcycle break off from the back bumper?

Motorcycle would be around 300 pounds.

Thoughts and ideas would be appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

My bumper has a sticker on it that says:

"Direct and rotational load not to exceed 250 lbs"

So I would say NO

468LC · 08-30-2006, 10:34 AM

Thanks to all the great ideas in here.

V10 man got me searching and found some other links.

My tentative plan is

build a new 4 inch tube bumper that is 3/16 wall thickness and cut it short like Uturn mentioned. Then weld on pieces of the old bumper to the ends so that the poop tube and end caps still work.

I will then add this piece to it and weld it on.

http://www.drophitch.com/index.asp?P...amp;ProdID=238

New bumper mounts will have to be fabricated as well.

bsays · 08-30-2006, 12:24 PM

I have Curt Hitch that bolts to my TT rear bumper, I put a rear carry rack in the hitch, I carry my generator, Gas Cans(2) and Ice chest. Total weight approx. 400lbs. I have don this for 4 years and about 15,000 miles of travel, no problems at all. My only warning is that the rear of a trailer bounces drasticly and anything that is on the back will have to straped down well.

justruck · 09-01-2006, 05:40 PM

I Have seen were they install hitches and wiring from the factory on fifth wheel trailers, I pull a 28 ft Cardinal with a 20 ft trition bass boat behind that, have been all over the south, and as far west as New Mexico, with no problems. been all the way to the Hudson River in upstate New York also.

Just got to know what your limits are and make sure you keep your equiment checked and maintained