hitch for bike rack

Pic

 

This is a close idea. My main tubes Down the center were 2x4” and I went up about 2’ as the tube was a 12 footer when I bought it.

 

Excellent ideas!

 

For the people who bought a Swagman that fits into a 2" receiver do you still like the quality? Looks like this thread is a year old.

https://www.amazon.com/Swagman-Cros...07XCX5TZP/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Does it fit loose? This will be on the back of an A frame which tends to jump around a little.

Promise me it will lower my tongue weight 50% <GG> I'm over 20%.

You can only wish you had my rear bumper. It came off a H2 <GG>

 

It seems to me that in many threads on this site, people have constantly been saying never add a bike rack to the rear of the pup because it will diminish tongue weight and cause trailer sway. What am I missing that in this thread it hasn't been mentioned?

 

The weight is not the problem unless you have a hundred-plus pounds of bikes back there. The problem is that the C-channel bumpers aren't designed to hold any weight and will most likely fail unless they are either reinforced or replaced with something heavier.

 

1) <<<<<<What am I missing that in this thread it hasn't been mentioned?>>>>

It has been mentioned in this thread and this forum. Ad naseum. It is one thing to recite something and another to understand why and how it works. Read my original post

2) <<<The problem is that the C-channel bumpers aren't designed to hold any weight>>>> Anyone who has been around Aliners has heard the stories of Aliners from 10 years ago and the weak c channel bumpers.

Please note my sarcastic comments in my previous post above yours. Early in this thread someone has stated that a bike rack will reduce your tongue weight by 50%. My reply above is "Promise me it will lower my tongue weight 50% <GG> I'm over 20%." Those who have studied tongue weight, how it causes sway and not recite folklore by rote know that tongue weight is supposed to be between 10 and 15% of gross trailer weight. Some propose that it should be between 12 and 15% and fine tuned to the individual trailer . I think mine is possibly pushing 25%. I am planning on possibly moving batteries to the extreme rear trying to lighten the tongue. This will be done in a scientific process after weighing the camper and the tongue after I buy the rack.

2) The rear bumper. Even the Aliner factory eventually learns. They are hanging the spare tire on the factory rear bumper. Note my comment above about having an H-2 bumper on mine. H-2 is the base model for the Army "Hummer" Jeep. I guarantee you, my rear bumper is not stock.

Can anyone comment on the Swagman bike rack quality.

 

Two dual suspension bikes, or a couple Wal mart bikes could easily bump 100 lbs on the rack.
I've looked at the bumper on our camper, I'd never trust thousands of dollars of bikes to it.
I bet I could twist/tear it with a pipe wrench.

Thought about building another bumper, but don't know how strong the frame rail is.

 

I put on a front receiver hitch on my truck, couldn't be happier

 

I’m not going to get in on the rack on the back of the pup debate, but to answer the question about Swagman racks, I’ve had the upgraded version of the linked one, the XTC2 for almost 10 years now and love it. It came with an anti-rattle bolt for the hitch so it’s rock solid. It also has better hoops for the wheels and is worth the price difference over the XC2 in my opinion. It is hefty though, so the rack plus 2 bikes will add quite a bit of weight.

To be fair, Swagman does not rate the XT2 or the XTC2 for the back of trailers. They do make a few that they specify are up to the extra bouncing and jarring of a trailer.