Rear bumper

[HFD170]

OK,


why no rear bumper on most trailers now.


you get it at 5 mph and your rear is toast

[Ibdagriz]

Originally Posted by HFD170

OK, why no rear bumper on most trailers now.
you get it at 5 mph and your rear is toast

Most are just above "ornamental" with a 300 lb. weight limit. Barely holds a spare tire or small rack. Stores a sewer hose decently though.

A decent one could be fabricated and welded to the frame by a competent shop if truly desired.

Griz

[sourdough]

I think the only purposes of the rear bumper was to be ornamental, hold a slinky and then rust out, pop the rubber caps off while traveling, entice owners to overload with some sort of rack or give you a spare tire rack placed perfectly to hang the pavement on an incline and bend the wazoo out of all the components. Hmmm.....I think I would have dropped it off too. As far as hitting something at 5mph; the old bumpers would have been about as effective as a swim noodle.

[ewbldavis]

I have my spare in a hitch mount right now - maybe 5MPH they'll just bounce off!

[JRTJH]

This is just "my best guess" on why rear bumpers are disappearing.

It starts with the RVIA mandate on how trailer length is measured. Previously, a manufacturer could use any measurement they chose, so the actual length didn't matter. Now, it's a specific standard for the entire industry and every trailer is measured the same. So, a rear bumper is included in the trailer length, making "floorplan space" important and "bumper additional length" a problem when the competition skips it. If you've got a 26' trailer with a smaller living space than the competition, who has more "inside space in the same 26' length"....

Second, it's significantly cheaper to leave it off.

Third, most "painted steel bumpers" either rust or the paint dulls over the years, increasing maintenance on the trailer.

Fourth, It becomes a "source of dissatisfaction" when an owner hangs something heavy on the bumper, usually something the factory didn't want to happen, but which the aftermarket products made possible.

Fifth, people are no longer using it for "sewer hose storage" since many trailers have incorporated "sewer hose storage devices" either under the chassis or in the sidewall. These devices are typically made of plastic and which don't rust like the rear bumper.

Sixth, few trailers are involved in "rear end incidents" on the highway, and most "rear end damage" is done at very low speed, typically with a spotter, in the campground or at home/storage yard, where damage is minimal.

So, the "cleaner look of a bumperless trailer" moves the trailer line into a "more fashionable group" of trailers.

Sort of like the vinyl roof era, only with square tubes hung on the back of boxes.

[dutchmensport]

I had similar disparencies with no bumper on my current Montana 5er. But it is, what it is. Over 2years now, and haven't missed the bumper at all.

Rear collision? That's what insurance is for.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

This is just "my best guess" on why rear bumpers are disappearing.

It starts with the RVIA mandate on how trailer length is measured. Previously, a manufacturer could use any measurement they chose, so the actual length didn't matter. Now, it's a specific standard for the entire industry and every trailer is measured the same. So, a rear bumper is included in the trailer length, making "floorplan space" important and "bumper additional length" a problem when the competition skips it. If you've got a 26' trailer with a smaller living space than the competition, who has more "inside space in the same 26' length"....

Second, it's significantly cheaper to leave it off.

Third, most "painted steel bumpers" either rust or the paint dulls over the years, increasing maintenance on the trailer.

Fourth, It becomes a "source of dissatisfaction" when an owner hangs something heavy on the bumper, usually something the factory didn't want to happen, but which the aftermarket products made possible.

Fifth, people are no longer using it for "sewer hose storage" since many trailers have incorporated "sewer hose storage devices" either under the chassis or in the sidewall. These devices are typically made of plastic and which don't rust like the rear bumper.

Sixth, few trailers are involved in "rear end incidents" on the highway, and most "rear end damage" is done at very low speed, typically with a spotter, in the campground or at home/storage yard, where damage is minimal.

So, the "cleaner look of a bumperless trailer" moves the trailer line into a "more fashionable group" of trailers.

Sort of like the vinyl roof era, only with square tubes hung on the back of boxes.

Not to mention the manufacturer are probably tired of getting warranty claims on the bumpers falling off after the owner decides to strap/bolt thousands of pounds to it.
The bumper was designed as sewer hose storage, not very good for that, & nothing more.

[Customer1]

Would you rather have a faux bumper that is worthless, or a receiver that is actually usable?