Surface mount hitch receiver on front bumper to carry bikes?

[IDIBRONCO]

If you use the steel plate to reinforce the bumper, you'll have no issues at all. Even two bicycles don't weigh too much. Would that even be 100 lbs?

 

[Cubey]

If you use the steel plate to reinforce the bumper, you'll have no issues at all. Even two bicycles don't weigh too much. Would that even be 100 lbs?

Maybe, with the carrier too. Plus the weight of the receiver itself. Let's overestimate and say 150lbs.

Is 3/8" overkill? I wonder if 1/4" might be thick enough. It's a good bit cheaper. The bumper itself is 1/8" thick.

This is a project for January or February, so I have time to think about it.

I'm gonna try make room in the trailer but i don't know that I can. I thought about leaving them with bug, but then totally forgot.

This is how the bumper bolts up to the frame. Plenty of extra threads on the bolts to put a metal plate between the bracket and the bumper, and it's slotted so the bumper can be adjusted up and down to account for the thickness of a metal plate. I wouldn't trust that for winching the van, but that's not the intended use. Those brackets might be the weak point, but there's one on each side of the frame; 4 total.

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[Cubey]

I went ahead and order this one, because it has the triangle braces on the sides too, so it should be strong against side to side motion, as well as up and down.

https://a.co/d/4Uc1RLf

I have a paid month of Prime because I wanted something else fast (a laptop) and now I'm returning it anyway because I decided on a better one from Bestbuy, before I even get the Amazon one. For this hitch receiver, they offer an extra 2% cash back bonus (7% total) if you choose no-rush shipping. Hey, 80 cents is 80 cents. It pays a little of the month of Prime I paid for that ended up being pointless.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Let's overestimate and say 150lbs.

Is 3/8" overkill? I wonder if 1/4" might be thick enough. It's a good bit cheaper. The bumper itself is 1/8" thick.

Even at 150 lbs, I don't see why the 1/4" wouldn't work. You can stand on the bumper, right? I'm betting that you can. With all of the extra bracing that you're talking about, I don't think the road vibrations will hurt the bumper any.
That receiver mount that you ordered? It looks pretty strong to me. The description says says that it's rated for a 2000 lb trailer so it probably won't even be able to tell that two bikes and a holder are on there. Honestly, if it had a bigger mounting surface, I don't see why it wouldn't handle a trailer twice it's current rated rate. I think it's limiting factor is the small surface area of the mounting plate.

 

[Cubey]

Even at 150 lbs, I don't see why the 1/4" wouldn't work. You can stand on the bumper, right? I'm betting that you can. With all of the extra bracing that you're talking about, I don't think the road vibrations will hurt the bumper any.
That receiver mount that you ordered? It looks pretty strong to me. The description says says that it's rated for a 2000 lb trailer so it probably won't even be able to tell that two bikes and a holder are on there. Honestly, if it had a bigger mounting surface, I don't see why it wouldn't handle a trailer twice it's current rated rate. I think it's limiting factor is the small surface area of the mounting plate.

It's rated 20,000 for towing, not 2,000. Supposedly.

I saw some other cheap one say 15,000. But regardless, if it holds up like a 5000 tow/500 tongue/carry hitch, it'll be fine.

The 1/8" thick bumper does flex/twist down a little if i use the step bolted on it in the very middle where the license plate would go, but nothing too drastic.

 

[WrenchWhore]

I like this idea for adding places to put things and i'm sure it will be strong enough. My only issue is cooling. My buddy used to run around with bikes on the front of his truck and it definitely ran warmer when under a long hill. This is with a nice aluminum rad and fully functioning cooling system.

 

[Cubey]

I like this idea for adding places to put things and i'm sure it will be strong enough. My only issue is cooling. My buddy used to run around with bikes on the front of his truck and it definitely ran warmer when under a long hill. This is with a nice aluminum rad and fully functioning cooling system.

Well again, this is kinda meant as a temporary solution. $100 to do this is cheaper than replacing these bikes.

But.... I might consider using it full time for hauling a cheap portable generator and 5 gallon gas can for running a 5k BTU AC in summer when off grid.

That's one thing I miss about the RV, being able to run an AC in a parking lot or national forest when it's 95 degrees.

This van engine runs pretty cool currently. It got a new water pump, thermostat, radiator cap, and all hoses January 2024. It has a van turbo kit with the k&n filter much closer up front just under the hood/above-behind the radiator, so it gets fairly cool air and lots of it. It has an original factory radiator still.

Bicycles won't really block much wind if they're not tarped over.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

It's rated 20,000 for towing, not 2,000. Supposedly.

You're right. I looked too quickly and read 2000. I'm not sure that I'd trust it with 20,000, but it will hold your bikes without any issues.

 

[Cubey]

You're right. I looked too quickly and read 2000. I'm not sure that I'd trust it with 20,000, but it will hold your bikes without any issues.

I can't find my tape measure but roughly stepping heal to tow, it looks like I'd need a 48" long plate... so 6x48. I need to find the darn thing.

About a $22 price difference between 1/4" and 3/8".

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[Cant Write]

If you mount it to the bumper, my concern would be the constant flexing of the bumper steel weakening a ripping through at some point. Would take some time, but I see it happening. The fulcrum length coupled with bike weight will do it.

See this photo.....

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I messed up mounting that spare tire. I should have rested it on the frame cause it ripped the top of the bed rail in short order due to the constant movement.

Now I know you bumper is thicker metal, and the frame width, etc. it’s just my concern, I would not do it without tying it into the frame horns.

 

[Cubey]

I would not do it without tying it into the frame horns.

That's the idea.

Using the bumper mount brackets to bolt up a long 1/4" steel plate that reaches both brackets, and mounting it behind the bumper. Then mounting the receiver to the bumper, with bolts passing through the bumper and the steel plate.

Shows one of the brackets: https://www.oilburners.net/threads/...ront-bumper-to-carry-bikes.93839/post-1148603

 

[Cubey]

Hm, I'm tempted to order one of these ($135 after 20% off code) and see if i make it line up with the vertical outside edges of the frame, not using the angle parts of the kit.

(Edit: no 20% off on that. but O'Reilly's 15% off code works on the same hitch for the same price)

If not, I can return it to the AutoZone (O'Reilly) in town.

I have until Jan 31 to return the surface mount receiver to Amazon.

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[Cubey]

Well I ordered this clone/knockoff of the Reese for $156.13 with tax via Walmart. Walmart is much better to deal with to return third party stuff. Especially opened.

I measured the frame rail distance and it's about 39.5", so this should work fine. But if not, or it's damaged/bad quality, it's very easy to return in store to any Walmart.

Reese doesn't give measurement specs like this does.

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[The_Josh_Bear]

That oughtta work! Walmart has a really good online game these days, taking back some of the Amazon footprint it seems. Lots of 2-day shipping the last time I checked.

Why do you say Autozone is Orielly's? Can you take stuff purchased at Orielly and return it at Autozone?! Or am I just not getting what you're laying down, lol.

 

[Cubey]

Why do you say Autozone is Orielly's? Can you take stuff purchased at Orielly and return it at Autozone?! Or am I just not getting what you're laying down, lol.

No, no... my original post said/showed the Reese 37042 hitch for $179 at AutoZone. O'Reilly is the same price.

AutoZone won't let you use their 20% off on the hitch, but O'Reilly has a 15% off code that does apply to the same hitch.

AutoZone and O'Reilly might be fussy if I return an opened box though, Walmart won't care. But I'm guessing it'll fit.

It might be recessed more than normal, but it'll probably be fine. I need one that slants forward and drops several inches to clear the sway bar. And that hitch looks like it drops down a lot from the frame. Assuming it doesn't interfere with the tie rods.

At least i kind of have options. I can either try to mount it below the frame as normal, or maybe on the side.

Although the outer side of the frame are all funky above the sway bar mount, with indentations. Unless it'll mount up to where the existing slots are, and drop down/forward enough to clear the sway bar. That might be possible.

But odds are, it'll have to go on the underside of the frame in the less than totally straight section behind the sway bar mount.

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