Quote:
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.
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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.....