Rear bumper weight capacity

[Treebzl]

Hi all, I want to put a storage platform on the rear bumper of an Outback 330RL rig but cannot find the maximum weight capacity of the bumper. Any idea where I can find this data? Thanks! Tim

[Balvar24]

Originally Posted by Treebzl

Hi all, I want to put a storage platform on the rear bumper of an Outback 330RL rig but cannot find the maximum weight capacity of the bumper. Any idea where I can find this data? Thanks! Tim

You'll probably be hard pressed to find a rating in print anywhere.

If its one of the hollow 10 gauge "bumpers", probably not much. It's more of a storage compartment for your sewer hose and not a whole lot more at 70 MPH.

I would proceed cautiously.

[JRTJH]

You mean the "maximum weight capacity of this kind of bumper" ?????

[Balvar24]

Fatigue stress. Just when you thought YOU were wore out.

[Treebzl]

I will rethink this obviously bad idea. Thank you for the help.

[Balvar24]

Originally Posted by Treebzl

I will rethink this obviously bad idea. Thank you for the help.

It's a great idea. Unfortunately, many of the bumpers out there are just not up to the task.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Treebzl

I will rethink this obviously bad idea. Thank you for the help.

This has come up on the forum many times. There are alternatives so I suggest you use the search (or advanced search) and look at some of the past threads.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

You mean the "maximum weight capacity of this kind of bumper" ?????

Well Stated!!

[Pharphr]

This is my favorite thread of the day! ����

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by Treebzl

Hi all, I want to put a storage platform on the rear bumper of an Outback 330RL rig but cannot find the maximum weight capacity of the bumper. Any idea where I can find this data? Thanks! Tim

How much does your sewer hose weigh?
That's what that flimsy tin can bumper was designed to carry & not much more, as evidenced by the posted photos.
If you want carry more than that find a welder, if you're not one, to remove that waste of metal & custom fabricate whatever you're wanting to haul whatever you have planned to load onto it.

[notanlines]

If you still happen to be hell-bent to carry a couple of bicycles, here is a photo of two brackets we bought on 'Ebay/Amazon/who-knows-where' that will give you just enough support to insure the bumper at least stays with you.
I believe I paid $35.00 for the pair and took about 30 minutes for the install. If I had to do it again I would shop a little harder and install two pairs. It won't make it safe for a generator in my opinion, but okay for two-three bikes and a carrier.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by notanlines

If you still happen to be hell-bent to carry a couple of bicycles, here is a photo of two brackets we bought on 'Ebay/Amazon/who-knows-where' that will give you just enough support to insure the bumper at least stays with you.
I believe I paid $35.00 for the pair and took about 30 minutes for the install. If I had to do it again I would shop a little harder and install two pairs. It won't make it safe for a generator in my opinion, but okay for two-three bikes and a carrier.

By adding these you simply move the stress point a 1/2" further either side of the welds. They add absolutely no strength to the light gauge metal used for the bumper.

[notanlines]

I won’t argue the point, but you see the welds break in the photos, not the bumper itself. These simply hold up the weight at the welds.

[flybouy]

If you look at the top photo John posted the weld is intact, the metal on the bumper peeled away.

[mskeyspirate]

I had 1/4 inch steel plates welded from my frame to the top of my bumper to hold my bike carrier. I wouldn't put anything on there without serious reinforcement.

[Jdavis8981]

I called Keystone and they told me it's rated to 300lbs. The frame modifications being suggested will work, however it will void the frame warranty if you're still under it. Tons of people do it though.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Jdavis8981

I called Keystone and they told me it's rated to 300lbs. The frame modifications being suggested will work, however it will void the frame warranty if you're still under it. Tons of people do it though.

I would have no issue with placing a 300 lb static load on my bumper. My pare tire is mounted to it and I've stood on it before. I wouldn't however trust my bumper to jump up and down on it (a dynamic load). There is a huge difference. There's also a huge difference between a 50 lbs tire & carrier mounted directly over the bumper and 40 lbs of weight (bicycle or other) hanging in the air 2' higher and 2' away from the top of the bumper. That will act as lever inducing a torsional load (twisting) force upon the bumper tube. If you look at the pictures of the failures it's not from the weight as the damaged/failed welds are jot from shearing vertically but rather from ripping away which is torsional.

Bottom line, it's your stuff so do as you desire. In regard to voiding the warranty well it would depend on what the warranty claim was for. If the axle failed and they tried to blame a Weld on the bumper then they would first get an argument from me.. if that failed they would get an argument from my attorney. JMHO, YMMV

[rlh1957]

Just the repeated stress of spare tire alone will weaken the bumper and it will crack and rust. Many people add on a lightweight rack for bicycles which exacerbates the vibration and stress.
Next time on the road watch the bicycles on these racks and how they slightly vibrate and oscillate. This slight repeated movement can weaken the structure.

[Bandit12]

The concern over the strength of the bumper holding just the spare tire is the main reason for my next modification. I'm going to install an under frame spare tire hoist. I have a Cougar Half Ton bumper pull and it came from the factory with a 2 inch receiver welded to the frame. According to the literature, that hitch is rated for 300 lbs. The tray I got is rated for 500 lbs. The only thing I ever carry on the tray going down the road is my 100 lb generator.

[JRTJH]

Put a 12x12x1 inch concrete pad on a wet sand base, set a 10 pound sledge hammer on the pad. It'll sit there until it rusts away even if the sand base dries completely and the pad starts to sink into the sand...

Now, place that same concrete pad on 4 little wood blocks, one at each corner, set the sledge hammer on it and it'll still support the hammer. Lift the sledge 3' into the air and drop it onto the concrete. Chances are very good that it'll crack into multiple pieces....

It's the same with anything hanging off the rear bumper. As Marshall posted, when static, it'll sit there "supporting its own weight" indefinitely. But, start towing the trailer and every bump, every pothole, every "trailer wiggle" and every railroad crossing will act like that sledge hammer falling onto that concrete block. It may not crack the first time you "drop the hammer" but, when you least expect it and when it's the most inopportune time, you're going to either have someone riding next to you blowing their horn or you're going to walk behind your trailer to find your spare tire and bikes are MIA.....