Bumper Scooter Carrier

[timsease]

Well, here goes,,,,, I have a Cougar x Lyte 27RDS 5 er. I am told by the dealer that the rear bumper is rated for 250 pounds. I want to remove the spare and bracket, throw it in the truck, and install an aluminum scooter rack. I want to put a Yamaha scooter on the rack. I think I will be right at 250 pounds. Got any ideas on how to strengthen the bumper or mounts to carry about 50 more pounds? The under side is covered so looking at the frame is rather difficult.

Tim

[Festus2]

I wouldn't consider mounting a 250 lb scooter on the bumper - even one that is strengthened. The bumper is a flimsy piece of tubing which is not suitable for withstanding that much weight. Have you ever followed an RV with the bumper loaded with bikes and noticed the bouncing that takes place?

The scooter rack should be directly attached to the Cougar's frame - either welded or bolted. I'd take it in to a fabricating shop and let the experts design and fabricate something that will be able to safely carry the load.

[deadeye]

I think the first thing to do is get the weight checked of the trailer for each axle with all your stuff in the trailer. You may not have enough extra to add that to the rear axle.

[JRTJH]

Consider that in "years past" a 30' travel trailer weighed in excess of 8000 pounds and was built on a 1/4" or 5/16" frame with 10" or 12" I beams. Today's lightweight and extra light trailers are built on substantially smaller and thinner I beams. They may only be 1/8" or 3/16" thick and possibly as small as 8" I beams. This is possible because the "trailer substance" is significantly lighter. Because of this, the ability to carry "heavy loads" is critically reduced in most models.

Not only might you find a significant "axle/tire/wheel" overload with that much weight hanging off the back of your trailer, you may well cause significant overload of the A frame (trailer tongue), unloading of the tongue weight, bending of the frame rails and damage to the overall trailer structure from the increased flexing caused by the excess weight on the rear.

If I were you, I'd consider that your trailer is very likely at its max already and I'd be very hesitant to add another 250-300 pounds off the back, no matter if it's on the bumper (which won't support it) or on a "frame fabricated shelf"....

[Bowti]

Forget about your bumper carrying anything. Having said that, there are some of us that have had success with a carrier for our scooters. However, the carrier needs to be done by a competent fabricator who will reinforce your trailers frame and build receivers that will carry the described load safely.

My fabricator was recommended by my dealer and had done this many times, so I felt better about the safety factor.

I carry a Honda PCX which comes in at about 286 lbs and have logged in about 15,000 miles with no ill effects. I have a rear view camera to keep an eye on it, and constantly check the welds for any sign of cracks or failure. I am very safety conscience.

As far as pin weight, I am a minimalist so I don't load my trailer with much extra stuff and always travel with my tanks empty. No problems with tracking or pulling the trailer.

[timsease]

Thanks for the comments. You all kind of said the same thing, and burst my bubble. Maybe I will go back to the old days when I had a dirt bike rack mounted in the front of my GMC Jimmy.

Tim,

[nevlarry]

Tim, don't give up. I have a fiver Couger 27 and carry a Vespa scooter. Went to a weld shop recommended by dealer. He removed the rear bumper, custom made a receiver structure and welded to the frame. Added rear bumper back so it is very solid. $500 but well worth it.

Larry

[Mike484]

Look at these: http://mount-n-lock.com/, but still, 250#s is a lot.

[CWSWine]

This is what I researching to carry a Cricket golf cart that weights right at 310 lbs including batteries. They estimate a tongue weighted of 150 lbs to 200 lbs but I'm having a hitch put on and wouldn't try to connect it to the bumper.

http://www.cruiserlift.com/swivelwheel.html

Cricket Golf Cart
http://www.ricksesv.com/