Cargo in truck bed versus extended tray at trailer rear

[Mr Mojo]

[flybouy]

If the rear tray is rated for 300 lbs then I'd get 300 lbs worth of people to stand on it and jump in unison for say 10 - 20 min. That should simulate what will happen going to happen going down the road.

But first, buy a new bumper and set up an appointment with the RV shop or welder. I think you'll be needing it.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Mr Mojo

The top pic looks almost identical to the one I referenced in post 17. Not a good thing to have bouncing along behind you, unseen, at 65 mph.

[wiredgeorge]

Another person posted in a different thread about their frame breaking and having to be re-welded. I looked up the Lippert 3 year warranty and a bike rack will likely void the frame warranty if I read correctly. I think the one in the pictures above makes it pretty clear why. I think the only reason they put a "bumper" on the rear based on the material it is made of is to: 1. store a sewer hose 2. make a noise before you back into a tree and break your camper's rear.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by flybouy

If the rear tray is rated for 300 lbs then I'd get 300 lbs worth of people to stand on it and jump in unison for say 10 - 20 min. That should simulate what will happen going to happen going down the road.

But first, buy a new bumper and set up an appointment with the RV shop or welder. I think you'll be needing it.

To "expand on Marshall's suggestion of finding 300 pounds of people to jump for 10-20 minutes".... Consider that doing exactly as he suggested, will provide you with a simulation of "the first 10 (10 minutes of jumping) or the first 20 (20 minutes of jumping) miles of a 1000 mile trip towing at 60MPH....

Sometimes you can simulate an event in a "shortened time frame" but metal fatigue becomes more critical with each 'flexing of the bumper"... Try bending a piece of thin steel bar stock repeatedly, every time you bend it, it will get weaker and weaker until it reaches the "breaking point" and suddenly you have two pieces of thin steel bar stock, one in each hand.... It's the same with your bumper.....

I wholeheartedly agree with his last sentence, and would further suggest that you keep a "friendly mobile welder" on retainer.....

[ewbldavis]

Interesting as our 2020 doesn't have tray or even a bumper.

"Sales gimic" is now a 300# rated hitch - which is probably worse. I know it's not for towing, but I bet someone will triple-tow with that thing.

I just wanted the bumper for mounting my spare. I bought the Curt hitch mount for now - got it out of my front bay where stuff "should" be placed

[Javi]

Originally Posted by ewbldavis

Interesting as our 2020 doesn't have tray or even a bumper.

"Sales gimic" is now a 300# rated hitch - which is probably worse. I know it's not for towing, but I bet someone will triple-tow with that thing.

I just wanted the bumper for mounting my spare. I bought the Curt hitch mount for now - got it out of my front bay where stuff "should" be placed

Yeah, I'll most likely never use the 300 pound hitch either.. But at least my Avalanche came with a BAL Hide a spare..

[Mr Mojo]

This my rack and I wouldn't trust it to hold anything while driving. I currently only use it to hold the toolbox off my truck when I need the full bed, otherwise it stays in the up position. I have thought about the bike rack since our two bikes together weigh less than 50 lbs not including the rack.