Receiver Hitch for installation on 2013 Alpine 3250RL 5th Wheel

[LZScout]

I've tried ordering one from the dealer and I've asked all the local trailer Hitch shops, but no one has a receiver style hitch that will fit the I-Beam frame of our 2013 Alpine 3250RL 5th wheel. I don't intend to tow anything with it. I just want to be able to use our 4 place bike rack that's designed for use on a 2" receiver hitch. The Alpine has a molded rear cap and no bumper. With a short bed truck, there really is no other place to carry bikes. Inside the RV is not an option.

I tried E-trailer.com which looked like they had one but according to the sales agent, using a bike rack required addition straps from the attached bike rack to the RV, not an option with the molded cap. I tried a local welding shop who said they could make one but it would be around $500. A bit pricy at this point. I'm considering finding some 2" square steel tubing and a receiver hitch end and bolting it together to make my own, getting some additional welding done on it, then bolting it to the frame.

Before anyone comments on it, I know that doing this or anything to the frame of a Keystone RV probably voids the warrantee. Does anyone have a better idea or have any thoughts on materials or design?



LZScout

[3P'sInACougar]

What about mounting a reese receiver hitch to front of ur pickup to haul bikes. Yes I may cut down on air flow but would have to watch temp. Kurt makes one I know for fords I know as well. Just a thought. Good luck.


2002 Cougar fifth wheel 285
2013 F-150 Ecoboost

[JRTJH]

I'd check another welding/fabrication shop. The going rate around northern Michigan is $350 for labor and materials for an "out the door" 3500 lb receiver. It shouldn't be that much price change from here to Minnesota.

[bka4tcu]

We had the same problem. Our solution was to put a rack on the roof of the truck. It's no taller than the 5'er and has worked great thus far.

Good luck!

[bsmith0404]

Our dealer installed a receiver on our 2013 Alpine 3500RE. It is recessed a bit under the rear cap and I had to add an 11" extension tube in order to clear the rear cap and mount our bike rack, but it works great for our 4 bike- tray rack. You can get the extension tubes from e-trailer. I also have a receiver on the front bumper of the truck for our two bike rack. I wouldn't install a 4 bike rack on the front you will most likely be over the legal limit for items in front on the truck, 3' front, 4' rear.

I would contact Apache Village RV in St Louis and ask them what receiver hitch they use and provide that info to your dealer for use on your Alpine.

[bsmith0404]

As promised here are some pics of the hitch on our Alpine. Looks like they welded brackets to the frame and then bolted the hitch to the brackets. You can also see the 11" extension tube I had to add to clear the rear cap. Hope this helps.

[bsmith0404]

One more pic with a close up where the hitch bolts to the bracket.

[Road-King]

I've been trying to figure out how to haul our bikes too. We only take two so I have been thinking about putting a receiver on the front of my 5er on the pin box. I have seen several examples around the net. I have found nothing off the shelf so it would be a custom fabrication job.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by Road-King

I've been trying to figure out how to haul our bikes too. We only take two so I have been thinking about putting a receiver on the front of my 5er on the pin box. I have seen several examples around the net. I have found nothing off the shelf so it would be a custom fabrication job.

We haul 5. I put 3 on the receiver on the back of the camper, the other two go on a receiver on the front of the truck. You can just barely see the hitch under the bumper in this pic. BTW, recently bought a different truck, this was pulled and installed on the new one. Bolts up using the bumper mounting bolts and takes about an hour to install.

[gearhead]

Will this work?
http://www.curtmfg.com/Category/89/RV%20Hitches

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by gearhead

Will this work?
http://www.curtmfg.com/Category/89/RV%20Hitches

That will work, but if you read the first caution at the top of the installation instructions, it warns that the hitch is intended for a "tongue load" not a "static load" and if the hitch is to be used for a cargo carrier/bike rack, that it must be braced to carry the load. Seems the bouncing will weaken "something" and cause the hitch to fail... "So says, CURT"

[bobbecky]

bsmith0404, I hope you aren't hanging too much weight on that hitch, with what looks like one bolt at each end and a very long lever sticking out of the receiver, and probably even more length when the device to carry the intended load is installed. Would have been better to install two extensions, one off of each frame, then install the hitch assembly. That way you reduce the stress on the attachment point. Sorry, just my thoughts on what I am seeing in the photos.

[LZScout]

I decided the receiver hitch wasn't the best option and went with the truck roof rack instead that was suggested above. That way I avoid voiding the warrantee and the rack I ordered for 4 bikes ended up being much cheaper than what I would have been charged for manufacture/install of the receiver hitch. That rack should arrive in 7-10 days so I'll try for a picture when I get it put together. Thanks for all your input. It made the decision easier.


LZScout

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by bobbecky

bsmith0404, I hope you aren't hanging too much weight on that hitch, with what looks like one bolt at each end and a very long lever sticking out of the receiver, and probably even more length when the device to carry the intended load is installed. Would have been better to install two extensions, one off of each frame, then install the hitch assembly. That way you reduce the stress on the attachment point. Sorry, just my thoughts on what I am seeing in the photos.

There is a bolt through the frame on each side as well as being welded to the frame. The extension reduces the tongue rating some, but I only put a 4 bike tray rack on the back and usually only 3 bikes on that. Total weight of rack and bikes is about 150 lbs. It's solid and I have no worries. Much better than most of the cheap so called bike racks I've seen on rear bumpers from the manufacturer.

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

That will work, but if you read the first caution at the top of the installation instructions, it warns that the hitch is intended for a "tongue load" not a "static load" and if the hitch is to be used for a cargo carrier/bike rack, that it must be braced to carry the load. Seems the bouncing will weaken "something" and cause the hitch to fail... "So says, CURT"

I'm thinking I would use a WalMart $9 cinch strap wrapped around that $12 Keystone bumper! lol
Seriously, why not use a thick wall piece of 4inch square stock, well braced and welded to the frame to replace the factory thin wall bumper? Then weld a receiver on that. Or the saddle bolted receiver for a bike rack?

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by gearhead

I'm thinking I would use a WalMart $9 cinch strap wrapped around that $12 Keystone bumper! lol
Seriously, why not use a thick wall piece of 4inch square stock, well braced and welded to the frame to replace the factory thin wall bumper? Then weld a receiver on that. Or the saddle bolted receiver for a bike rack?

When we had a receiver installed on our Springdale, they welded L angle stock to the "thin bumper tube" from side to side and then welded U stock under the existing bumper extensions back to the I beam frame rail. Then welded the receiver to two 3" square tubes that ran between the frame rails and between the two added U stock supports. The rear end (closest to the bumper) was welded to the bottom of that L angle stock. Essentially the receiver was supported by three cross members, 2 that were between the frame rails and one that was on the reinforced bumper tube. We towed our Bass Tracker for 3 years without ever having any problems. I had considered a CURT hitch, but after talking to a local steel fabrication company, I'm glad I went with a professionally installed custom hitch. Total cost, $350 OTD which included a hitch head and ball thrown in as a "courtesy".

So, you'd probably be "good to go" with that $9 cinch strap

[gearhead]

A good welder/fabricator should be able to look at what he has to work with and come up with a decent hitch solution with several support points. I never focused on structural stuff; if it didn't go round and round I wasn't interested. Pumps, turbines, compressors, gearboxes, etc. That said, I would have to do a lot of looking around here to find a welder that wasn't working 6x10's on oilfield/pipeline jobs. If he wasn't, I would wonder why not.
I put a bolt-on receiver on the Cougar and put a bike rack on it. I put the spare tire in the front storage. Carried an all aluminum Sun cruiser bike to Ohio and back. Of course the 4x4 bumper was egged so bad I thought I wouldn't ever get the sewer hose out!