Bike Rack on bumper?

[Barryman]

We have a Keystone Springdale 267BHS and was wondering if a bike rack can go on the back bumper? I purchased from CW the bumper adapater 4". Should i just move the spare tire over to the left to offset the balance?

[labs4life]

Most of these TT bumpers have a 250lb capacity. That is not much and coupled with the bouncing around could spell disaster without reinforcement. You also need to be aware of modifying the frame and the warranty aspect. I would get with your dealer and ask these questions. If hey are ok, then go for the attachment or the mod, but they can be the ones that get past mod issues with Keystone should another problem arise.

[SteveC7010]

We have a Keystone Springdale 267BHS and was wondering if a bike rack can go on the back bumper? I purchased from CW the bumper adapater 4". Should i just move the spare tire over to the left to offset the balance?
Search on bike or bumper

There are dozens of posts all about the same topic. We've answered this question in great detail in these posts.

[Festus2]

If you use our forum search feature and type in bike rack, you will find that there are 5 pages of threads for you to browse through. The answer to your question is found here.

[Jables]

My 267srt already had a receiver welded to the bumper in the middle. The tire sits to the right of it. The SRT is essentially the bhs with an 'off road' package installed.

[warsw]

Should i just move the spare tire over to the left to offset the balance?We have done this exact thing. We have hauled our bikes for over 6000 miles with no adverse affects what so ever. I see no problems in hauling something as lite as a few bikes on a rack connected to the rear bumper.

[Barryman]

thanks all. I found out how to do the search thing and read many a' reviews on this topic. It seems that it is not advisable. Better safe than sorry. Going to find another route.

[rjsurfer]

I just unbolted the spare tire holder and ditched it, I keep the spare in front of the hitch.

This way there isn't any excess weight on the bumper after I installed a 2 bike bumper rack.

Ron W.

[trackmanbfa]

Why not just answer the request instead of referring people to other posts? Is that because you do not have the time or you do not know the answer? THESE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(tx)(tx)"bouncey:"bouncey:"bouncey:

[Festus2]

Why not just answer the request instead of referring people to other posts? Is that because you do not have the time or you do not know the answer? THESE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(tx)(tx)"bouncey:"bouncey:"bouncey:

Members who ask a question that has been asked many, many times before are often requested to use the forum's search function. In the majority of cases, the answers to the member's question can be found by browsing these posts. It may take some time to get used to using the search feature, but once a person becomes familiar with it, it is a valuable tool. As part of Steve's signature shows, the search function and Google are your friend.

Granted, it may take the person some additional time and effort but when the answers to the question have already been answered a number of times, it doesn't seem to make much sense to answer them again and again.

It's not a matter of members not having enough time or can't be bothered to answer. They may have answered this same question a number of times with different members. If the answers are already posted, what is wrong with asking that person to spend some time and effort looking for them?

If, after a person has tried to find the answers using the search feature and cannot, then all he/she has to do is bring that to our attention and someone will help.

Yes, they are asking for help and if no one knows the answer, we try to provide them with some resources or references where they might find the answer.

We are not trying to put them off or are too lazy and can't be bothered to answer- we are suggesting that they too put some time and effort into looking for answers that are easily obtainable. It would seem that Barryman did exactly that, found what he was looking for, thanked everyone and did not appear miffed that it was suggested he use the search function. He appeared to be quite ok with it.

SteveC7010 has put a tremendous amount of time and effort into answering members' questions. His answers are almost always thorough and easily understood. He is very willing to share his knowledge with others and to suggest otherwise is not only untrue but also unfair.

[SteveC7010]

Why not just answer the request instead of referring people to other posts? Is that because you do not have the time or you do not know the answer? THESE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(tx)(tx)"bouncey:"bouncey:"bouncey:
Here's the deal...

We've answered and discussed this bumper issue (and many others) in great detail in several threads and not so very long ago. All of the facts and information are already here for the instant reading. No need to ask the question, just use the search function and read all the good information. No time delay, instant answers, even at zero dawn thirty..

Let me ask you a question back. How many times do you think we should answer the same exact question? What's reasonable? Twice, ten times, 20 times?

I take a lot of time out of my day nearly every day to spend time in this forum helping people. So do quite a few others. My answers are detailed and usually in great depth. I don't argue with people and I try to treat everyone respectfully.

In return, I have this silly expectation that folks will look around a bit and get the lay of the land before asking a question or starting a new thread. I think it is unfair to those of us who offer this help to start a new thread on the exact same topic that is already being currently discussed in another thread. I don't think it's too much to ask that folks use the search function and see if their issue has already been discussed. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that folks at least look at the other current discussions first before asking a question.

On many, many forums across the internet, it is considered impolite or even down right rude to not use the search function before asking a question. On some forums, it will get you banned if you do it more than once. I don't want this forum to ever end up like that. This is too friendly a group to play that game.

So I seek a middle ground. When I know that a topic has been well and truly discussed and answered, I try to steer the user to the search function. But many times, it's something new or different and I jump right in with both feet to help. You should have seen enough of my posts to know that by now. Several other senior users are the same way.

[theeyres]

It's a tough question because many, many people put a bike rack on the bumper and are totally happy and never have a problem. Our next door neighbor in Tucson had a Montana, put a bike rack on the bumper and lost the whole thing going down the road... So guess it is your choice. To be safe is there a way you can weld an extension onto the receiver, bolted to the bumper, and connected to some part of the frame? Then you know you will be safe.

[SteveC7010]

It's a tough question because many, many people put a bike rack on the bumper and are totally happy and never have a problem. Our next door neighbor in Tucson had a Montana, put a bike rack on the bumper and lost the whole thing going down the road... So guess it is your choice. To be safe is there a way you can weld an extension onto the receiver, bolted to the bumper, and connected to some part of the frame? Then you know you will be safe.

Yes, there are several ways to do that. Some involve strengthening the bumper and mounts while others bypass the bumper and connect directly to the trailer's frame. Both methods are covered in great detail with pics in previous threads. Please use the search function if you want to know more. Best keywords might be bumper and frame at the same time. bike and spare tire too.

[SteveC7010]

Why not just answer the request instead of referring people to other posts? Is that because you do not have the time or you do not know the answer? THESE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(tx)(tx)"bouncey:"bouncey:"bouncey:
Let me draw an analogy that might put this in a better light for the new folks and for those that think we are being lazy or pressed for time....

When you go into a library, you're expected to use the card catalog or computer to look up a book or a topic or an author. If you feel you're "special" and just go to the desk and ask, usually the nice person there will politely steer you right back to the card catalog or computer. If your book is listed but not on the shelf, it is then very reasonable to go to the desk and ask if perhaps the book has been returned and is just waiting to be returned to the shelf. It is not reasonable to go to the desk and demand that the person there look up the book for you because you don't want to do that for yourself. It is also very unreasonable for you to expect the desk person to go look for your book if you have not first been down that aisle and looked for the book yourself. If you have a problem that is outside of this basic, common sense use of the library, the desk folks will bend over backwards to help you.

Festus, John, Hank, and others (including me) are all volunteer desk persons at this Keystone library. None of us get paid for our efforts. I do not think it at all unreasonable for us to expect folks to first look around and see what's already being discussed at the moment. I also think it is totally reasonable to ask people to first use the card catalog (search function) before asking for help on a specific topic.

[bfurry78]

I have done lots of research on this forum about this very topic and the answer for me was to install a front hitch on my truck. I have only traveled about 1000 miles with this set up but it has been no issues. I put three mountain bikes on this setup an just wanted the piece of mind that when I get to my destination everything I started with ends up in the same place

[warsw]

Here's the deal...

We've answered and discussed this bumper issue (and many others) in great detail in several threads and not so very long ago. All of the facts and information are already here for the instant reading. No need to ask the question, just use the search function and read all the good information. No time delay, instant answers, even at zero dawn thirty..

Let me ask you a question back. How many times do you think we should answer the same exact question? What's reasonable? Twice, ten times, 20 times?

I take a lot of time out of my day nearly every day to spend time in this forum helping people. So do quite a few others. My answers are detailed and usually in great depth. I don't argue with people and I try to treat everyone respectfully.

In return, I have this silly expectation that folks will look around a bit and get the lay of the land before asking a question or starting a new thread. I think it is unfair to those of us who offer this help to start a new thread on the exact same topic that is already being currently discussed in another thread. I don't think it's too much to ask that folks use the search function and see if their issue has already been discussed. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that folks at least look at the other current discussions first before asking a question.

On many, many forums across the internet, it is considered impolite or even down right rude to not use the search function before asking a question. On some forums, it will get you banned if you do it more than once. I don't want this forum to ever end up like that. This is too friendly a group to play that game.

So I seek a middle ground. When I know that a topic has been well and truly discussed and answered, I try to steer the user to the search function. But many times, it's something new or different and I jump right in with both feet to help. You should have seen enough of my posts to know that by now. Several other senior users are the same way.My thoughts are that there are very few topics that haven't already been discussed on the forum at one time or another and if all everyone did was to go to the search and look up old info there would be no reason to even have the forum. Part of the reason for the forum is to help each other out but the main reason I come here is to share ideas and to have fun.

The other reason I don't like always using the search is that there are always new members with new ideas and updated info. If all we do is use the search all we will ever get is old info and there is never a chance for the new info or new ideas to be brought forward. I do think that there might be some topics that the search might be helpful but not all.

I would think that if you have nothing new to add to a topic and feel that you have already given all the info you have to offer then just don't go there. Just skip it and let other that think they might have something to offer go there instead.

[jergeod]

My thoughts are that there are very few topics that haven't already been discussed on the forum at one time or another and if all everyone did was to go to the search and look up old info there would be no reason to even have the forum. Part of the reason for the forum is to help each other out but the main reason I come here is to share ideas and to have fun.

The other reason I don't like always using the search is that there are always new members with new ideas and updated info. If all we do is use the search all we will ever get is old info and there is never a chance for the new info or new ideas to be brought forward. I do think that there might be some topics that the search might be helpful but not all.

I would think that if you have nothing new to add to a topic and feel that you have already given all the info you have to offer then just don't go there. Just skip it and let other that think they might have something to offer go there instead.

Bravo good answer

[Festus2]

My thoughts are that there are very few topics that haven't already been discussed on the forum at one time or another and if all everyone did was to go to the search and look up old info there would be no reason to even have the forum. Part of the reason for the forum is to help each other out but the main reason I come here is to share ideas and to have fun.

The other reason I don't like always using the search is that there are always new members with new ideas and updated info. If all we do is use the search all we will ever get is old info and there is never a chance for the new info or new ideas to be brought forward. I do think that there might be some topics that the search might be helpful but not all.

I would think that if you have nothing new to add to a topic and feel that you have already given all the info you have to offer then just don't go there. Just skip it and let other that think they might have something to offer go there instead.

warsw &jergeod -

Steve is not suggesting that members refrain from asking questions and instead only use the search function to find answers to their questions. He is not asking people to stop exchanging ideas on various topics or to take a less active part on the forum. No one, including Steve, wants all posting to come to a halt and have everyone start using only the forum's search feature. If you think that is what we are suggesting, then you have missed the point.

There is a lot of valuable information about various topics and issues that can be found in past threads. Much of that information is as current and relevant now as it was "back when". It doesn't become outdated over time. Adding excessive weight to a unreinforced bumper, for example, isn't a smart thing to do. It wasn't a good idea last year and it isn't a good idea this year. So if a person wants to know today if he should add a bike rack to his bumper, what he will be told now is essentially the same as what he would have been told 6 months ago.
What new information can we possibly tell him? What is the problem with having someone refer him to previous threads and posts which contain all sorts of discussions about bike racks on bumpers?

If you want to jump in and share your ideas with him or answer his question, you are free to do that. If someone else suggests that he read the pages of discussions that have taken place previously about this very same topic by using the search function, that is perfectly acceptable as well. The answer to his question has been answered before - many times. All we are suggesting is that the poster take some time and effort, browse through the threads/posts and get the answer that way. If you want to save the poster doing some reading on his own, then give him the answer.

If a new member posts a question about a topic that has been asked dozens of times earlier and there is an abundance of threads with answers, then I will continue to suggest that he use the forum's search feature. Other members are free to join in and contribute answers but I, for one, "won't be skipping it". However, if you want to participate and provide suggestions, then I would encourage you to do that. No one is curtailing discussion or funneling members' ideas to the search function.

[Mighty Ming]

Why not just answer the request instead of referring people to other posts? Is that because you do not have the time or you do not know the answer? THESE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(tx)(tx)"bouncey:"bouncey:"bouncey:

Seriously? I had a mouthful to respond .. But instead ill give kudos to the MODERATORS for their responses which were more than diplomatic. Thanks for all the hard work in keeping OUR forum running n streamlined. 👍


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jsmith948]

[QUOTE=Mighty Ming;79204]Seriously? I had a mouthful to respond .. But instead ill give kudos to the MODERATORS for their responses which were more than diplomatic. Thanks for all the hard work in keeping OUR forum running n streamlined. ��

X2! I think our moderators and senior members do a great job keeping our discussions on track and friendly. I have visited some of the other forums and I hope that OUR forum never becomes a contentious and discourteous 'free-for-all' where there are lots of arguments but no discussion - there IS a difference! I'm off my soapbox and I feel better!(tx):D

[schwalbach]

Just my two cents worth:

I support the efforts of the moderator's, it is very time consuming, but with that being said, I have spent many searches to only find numerous threads that don't address the EXACT problem. I do feel the person posting should give it a shot with the search, and then if he is overwhelmed or does not find what he needs to post the question.

In some cases the moderators are a little quick to respond to do the search, and it effectively shuts down any new input on the subject. I understand the reason is to keep similar threads from developing.

On the subject of similar threads, does it really hurt anything? It usually takes the question in a similar direction as the first one, but more times than not it develops a whole new conversation and drifts in another direction with new viewpoints.

If there is a pattern of similar threads then maybe there should be a thread of most common requested questions in each section, moving the thread there. First two that come to mind is "LED lights' and "rear hitch". these may be under the individual sections but could be in the FAQ section for example. On the new thread section, maybe a header of checking the FAQ section first to be sure the question is not already there?

Again the moderators are doing a great job and is very time consuming, I applaud their efforts and discouraging anyone from targeting them for trying to keep the forum clean. Just some suggestions.

[Festus2]

schwalbach -
Thanks for your constructive comments on the use of the search function. Your point about someone becoming overwhelmed by going through all of the previous threads and posts looking for an answer is a valid one. In view of this, in future when I refer someone to do a search, I will also encourage the person to return to the thread and repost the question or simply say, "I've gone through the posts and can't find what I am looking for". A good suggestion - thank you.

In regards to your second suggestion about placing headers in the FAQ section (or something similar), I'm not sure how effective that would be. I find that in many cases, new members often don't take enough time to familiarize themselves with many of the forum features, policies or forum categories and descriptors. For example, in their "rush" to submit a question, they often post it in the New Member Check In forum or in some other category totally unrelated to the question. You might be surprised in the number of posts that need to be moved from one area to another to keep the topics placed in the most appropriate section. I guess what I am trying to say is that placing more instructions and guidelines doesn't always produce the desired results.

I would hope that by asking a person to use the search feature doesn't send a signal to others that any further input is not welcome. This request is not intended to shut off further discussion and if members want to answer the question or provide suggestions then they should feel completely free to do so.

I do appreciate your suggestions.

[schwalbach]

I agree with the second point, again not bashing the admin's, just giving a objective perception and suggestion-

Keep up the good work, and don't let this get you down, I have gleaned a wealth of information from this site and would like to continue to get answers, ideas, etc. As a group there is many ways to look at things.

Thanks again for the great job!

[Barryman]

Hey guys,
Sorry, didn't mean to open up a can of worms. I'm new to the trailer thing and new to the forum thing. Now I know I can search for a topic. If I search and can't find it.....I'll post. Happy Memorial Day guys and gals!! Remember the fallen....

[Festus2]

Barryman -
No need to apologize - you just asked a question and didn't open up the can. We're the ones who got sidetracked. Glad to hear that you are now able to use the search function when necessary. Now, did you ever get your question answered? LOL

[Barryman]

Festus,
I did get it answered, thanks. I did take off my spare tire and put it under our bed, but have decided not to mount a bike rack. I would be more concerned with them falling off and injuring someone behind me rather than messing up the bikes. Fir this trip this weekend, we are up at Flying Flags in Buellton and put towels down in the trailer and put them inside. I know it's not ideal, but it will have to work while I figure out other options. Thanks anyways!

[schwalbach]

just another thought, see attached