Hi
New to this forum and new owner of a 2016 Camplite 16ft TBS. I'm looking to do a few mods on it. However a few items I need to order are on hold till I find out how wide and deep the rear bumper of the new camper is. It is not being delivered till next week. I want to add a small cargo carrier to the rear bumper. The hitch receivers they sell for bumpers are plenty. However most seem to be to big. I have found a few that are smaller. one is for a 2 x 4 bumper. Most the others are for a 4 x 4 bumper and I could adapt them , but would prefer not to. Can anyone tell me the dimensions of this bumper please. Would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jim T
The rear bumper on my 2015 16TBS is 2X4. However, I would never mount a hitch receiver on it without substantial reinforcement. Some have welded another 2X4 to the original to make a 4X4, but even that has to be done right to take the torque load of a hitch receiver. Bottom line: unless your new TBS is very different than mine, don't add a hitch receiver!
I used u-bolts to fasten a 1X10 pine board flat on the rear bumper so I could carry the patio mat, door mat, and sewer hose box on top of the bumper more easily. There is no torque on the bumper, just some light extra weight straight down. It keeps the messy stuff outside on the bumper and is very convenient for use at a campsite to set stuff on.
[quote source="/post/24432/thread" author="@sandroad" timestamp="1473296990"]The rear bumper on my 2015 16TBS is 2X4. However, I would never mount a hitch receiver on it without substantial reinforcement. Some have welded another 2X4 to the original to make a 4X4, but even that has to be done right to take the torque load of a hitch receiver. Bottom line: unless your new TBS is very different than mine, don't add a hitch receiver!
[/quote][font size="3"]Merlin,
Let me amplify and clarify your statement so as to be crystal clear to Jim T. Simply welding an additional 2x4 to the original 2x4 bumper is not sufficient. I know you understand this, but I want to make sure it's perfectly clear for new owners. The additional 2x4 must be welded ahead (in front of) the existing bumper and must be welded to the frame members as well.
Jim T: There is a thread on this forum detailing the issue and the necessary construction to achieve a safe and functional rear hitch.
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I have a 2016 16TBS manufacturered in Jan 2016 and delivered in Feb. It also has the 2x4 rear bumper.
Thanks for the additional information Charlie. The receiver hitch I'm going to use is made to bolt on to a campers bumper.
I'm not putting more than 150lbs in the cargo carrier and the system is made to hold 500lbs. At most all weights together will be around 200lbs. If when I have it all together I think it needs to be welded I will do so at that time.
I'm not towing anything with this hitch. Here is the item I speak of. ( CURT 19101 RV Bumper Hitch )
Here is what I'm putting on it. ( Goplus® 60" x 22" Aluminum RV 2" Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier Truck Luggage Basket 500LBS )
Just google them. They come right up .
AZdan , Thanks for letting me know it is a 2x4. I thought as much , but was not sure.
Thank you both for your response and help on this.
Jim T
[font size="3"]The problem is failure of the bumper, not the carrier or hitch. The failure modes are twofold: Twisting/bending of the 2x4 bumper, and failure of the welds attaching the bumper to the frame members. The whipping motion of a bouncing trailer amplified by the long moment arm of the carrier create a significant torque load on the bumper. The torque puts the top of the bumper-to-frame welds in tension which is the weakest mode for a weld. Weld failure can be gradual or catastrophic. If you do pursue this mod I recommend securing the load with a strong cable tied to the trailer frame itself. This will deter theft and, in the event of failure, prevent the load from endangering traffic following behind you on the road.
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Oy. Groundhog Day came early. Or late. Whatever.
Again, it isn't the strength of what you attach to the bumper. It's the strength of the bumper that is insufficient.
Please see [a href="http://livinlite-owners.com/thread/2159/rear-deck-problem"]http://livinlite-owners.com/thread/2159/rear-deck-problem[/a]. We're not making this up. Physics works. Attaching to the bumper does not.
This is the only thing I would ever do with the flimsy aluminum "bumper" on my Camplite. (and yes it's wood).
l[attachment id="1698" thumbnail="1"]
[quote source="/post/24467/thread" timestamp="1473360711" author="@sandroad"]This is the only thing I would ever do with the flimsy aluminum "bumper" on my Camplite. (and yes it's wood).
l[/quote][font size="3"]Well and properly done, Merlin. Load vertically on the frame with minimal torque load on the welds. But wood? Four stars. Do it in AL angle and you get five stars! Camp On! 8-) [/font]
Thank you all for the information on the bumper. I will have to rethink it out , but still make it work. Just have to do a little unexpected welding now. Sadly this thing will never even see 100lbs weight back there.
Mods are never easy. *&&^&^* dag nag it.
Thank you all again.
Jim T
If anyone tries to steal the "battery" in the box, all they will find is sewer tube connectors and gloves. P-)
And does it count if the wood is finished in Epifanes boat varnish (leftover) that's $60/quart, or does it really have to be Al to get the full 5 stars?
We order our LL 16' TBS from the factory with a 2x4 bumper to allow us to attach a bike rack.
[attachment id="1704" thumbnail="1"]
Thanks to the folks on this forum for suggesting that prior to us ordering.
If yours has left the factory you may have to mod after delivery as Merlin has suggested.
[quote source="/post/24512/thread" timestamp="1473514273" author="@charleschapman"]We order our LL 16' TBS from the factory with a 2x4 bumper to allow us to attach a bike rack.
Thanks to the folks on this forum for suggesting that prior to us ordering.
If yours has left the factory you may have to mod after delivery as Merlin has suggested. [/quote]
"Simply welding an additional 2x4 to the original 2x4 bumper is not sufficient. I know you understand this, but I want to make sure it's perfectly clear for new owners. The additional 2x4 must be welded ahead (in front of) the existing bumper and must be welded to the frame members as well."
The above quote from @charliem might apply to the way LL attached the additional 2X4?
[quote source="/post/24512/thread" author="@charleschapman" timestamp="1473514273"]We order our LL 16' TBS from the factory with a 2x4 bumper to allow us to attach a bike rack.
Thanks to the folks on this forum for suggesting that prior to us ordering.
If yours has left the factory you may have to mod after delivery as Merlin has suggested. [/quote]I am very surprised to see that LL did it that way. When we ordered our trailer, we also had them reinforce the rear bumper in order to properly support a bike rack, and this is how they did it (the way that Merlin and Charlie described). I wonder why they didn't do it this way for charleschapman......
[attachment id="1706" thumbnail="1"]
[quote source="/post/24525/thread" author="@gbpack" timestamp="1473532213"][quote timestamp="1473514273" source="/post/24512/thread" author="@charleschapman"]We order our LL 16' TBS from the factory with a 2x4 bumper to allow us to attach a bike rack.
Thanks to the folks on this forum for suggesting that prior to us ordering.
If yours has left the factory you may have to mod after delivery as Merlin has suggested. [/quote]I am very surprised to see that LL did it that way. When we ordered our trailer, we also had them reinforce the rear bumper in order to properly support a bike rack, and this is how they did it (the way that Merlin and Charlie described). I wonder why they didn't do it this way for charleschapman......
[/quote]If "they" are the dealer and all they did was double up the bumper, but did nothing to how the bumper attaches to the frame, I would proceed with caution.
Our 4x4 bumper was done at the factory and not the dealer. BTW the I have driven over a 1000 miles with bikes attached and haven't had an issue.
[quote source="/post/24537/thread" author="@charleschapman" timestamp="1473547782"]Our 4x4 bumper was done at the factory and not the dealer. BTW the I have driven over a 1000 miles with bikes attached and haven't had an issue.[/quote]This ^^^^^ is the correct way to address the need for rear bumper carrier.
OK it is hard to explain what has been done and I did my best with images to show what's been done.
Bottom line this thing is going to hold more weight than I ever thought. The bracket system and welds they came up with are great and well executed. Using the bumper and frame and steal . They put it through some testing with 300lbs of weight
and pushed down with a tow motor on it too. It did not even start to give. The big guy ( about 350 lbs ) jumped up and down on it and the camper bounced up and down , but the bracket system held firm. You just can tell it is not going to give way.
It was not however cheap. I now have $250 in to it.
Here are the images best I can do with it. Maybe I can do a short video later.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/45000801@N03/albums/72157674018993336
Sooner or later I'll figure a way to post images on here. The link to my Flickr account will have to do for now.
Jim T
Are those brackets tied into the frame rails? Are any of the welds tied into more than just the bumper? I think this concept has potential I just can't see what it's attached to and as others have shown if it's just the face bumper then it always has a chance of failure.
[quote timestamp="1474329438" source="/post/24753/thread" author="@admin"]Are those brackets tied into the frame rails? Are any of the welds tied into more than just the bumper? I think this concept has potential I just can't see what it's attached to and as others have shown if it's just the face bumper then it always has a chance of failure. [/quote]You can't weld aluminum to steel. The frame, bumper and carrier are aluminum, but he showed and mentioned steel straps/plates. To me that's a bolt situation. Which is fine, if sufficiently sized and designed. Can't tell from the photos.
Quote from: @pinstriper" source="/post/24755/thread" timestamp="1474330769[quote source="/post/24753/thread" author="@admin" timestamp="1474329438"]Are those brackets tied into the frame rails? Are any of the welds tied into more than just the bumper? I think this concept has potential I just can't see what it's attached to and as others have shown if it's just the face bumper then it always has a chance of failure.
You can't weld aluminum to steel. The frame, bumper and carrier are aluminum, but he showed and mentioned steel straps/plates. To me that's a bolt situation. Which is fine, if sufficiently sized and designed. Can't tell from the photos.
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I assumed the rack frame was a aluminum rack which I hoped was welded to the frame. I did see what looked like the steel brackets bolted to the attachment points which is why I said tied into the frame rather than welded to the frame ;)
All the steel is bolted to the frame and a long running part is bolted to the bumper on the inside and that long part is welded to the part bolted to the frame under the jacks. This in turn makes the bumper even stronger than a double up bumper would be. As I said. It is very hard to explain , but also, so it is clear to all, NO it is not supported in any way buy the bumper. It may look like it , but it is not. It is just a added touch to have welded the bracket to the bumper. The angle brackets are welded to the long part and as they pass under the bumper 2 bolts were screwed in to the bumper for a more stable support , but not for weight support. The big plate you see is sitting under the jack stands and run past about 3 inches. The jacks were bolted back in place along with 4 more bolts on that plate.
Bottom line the entire rear frame will have to give way now for it to fail. It will never see such weights as to cause that.
Again I saw what this thing can hold in weight and it is way way more than I will ever use it for. 300lbs it held and bounced around easy enough. It will never see more than maybe 125lbs.
It is over kill for what I needed.
Jim T
Another better way to explain it may be this. Think of it as a steel bumper that has been bolted to the frame underneath and on the side of the frame. That bumper is steal and now supports the aluminum bumper and more. A 2nd bumper built in so to speak made of solid steel.
Hope maybe that helps.
Jim T