2014 21BHS - Weighty Matters!

[fasteddieb]

Update...

in Peru, IN now, enroute to CanAm RV in London, Ontario, sans trailer.

We have an appointment Tuesday to get the receiver of the Flex reinforced.

I'll see if it's possible to get before/after photos.

We really do appreciate all the cautions, and have taken them to heart. And though we are both pretty conservative, we think with this mod the Flex may be capable of safely towing our 21BHS.

"May be" being the operative words, of course! 

[fasteddieb]

Before:




 

After:




 

The kind of thing they specialize in:




 

And a pretty cool front desk!

[kodabear]

Dang! Must be pretty cold in that showroom.

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/5388/thread" timestamp="1417613522" author="@fasteddieb"]After:


Looks like a lever to keep the receiver from twisting. Like a spring bar for the other side of the weight distribution system. Was that the intention? Looks too long to support weight directly.

[david]

I don't think that hitch modification will do much for absolute vertical load absent a WDH. But as Tinkeringtechie noted, it will counteract the torque that a WDH generates. A WDH puts a vertical torque (upward vertical force on an aft moment arm) on the hitch and that square tubular member transfers the torque forward nicely.

Without it, the torque of a WDH would just twist that hitch mount upwards and might bend it. So it looks like a good mod!!!

But handling hitch weight is not the only criteria that a TV has to meet. The loads on the front and back suspension must be ok- tire loading and suspension compliance. Also don't forget the engine. Many TVs are limited in the weight that they can haul to keep the engine from being stressed unreasonably.

To put it into perspective, my Suzuki 60 hp motorcycle could pull my 16TBS at 60 mph. It might take a long time to get there ;-). But if you pull that much hp from a 650 cc engine (at wide open throttle) it isn't going to last very long.

TV manufacturer's set tow weight values with several criteria in mind not necessarily in this order: 1) to be safe, 2)to limit warranty claims from TV/trailer owners and 3)to give the TV owner a reasonable vehicle life irrespective of warranty issues. You can exceed trailer weight loadings if you are willing to live with reduced engine life but the other issues- tire and suspension loading and hitch weight limits have more immediate consequences.

This modification only deals with one of those issues.

David

[fasteddieb]

[quote source="/post/5392/thread" timestamp="1417645875" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote source="/post/5388/thread" timestamp="1417613522" author="@fasteddieb"]After: