Surface mount hitch receiver on front bumper to carry bikes?

[Cubey]

There's no bolt on front hitch for Econolines older than 1991 it seems. Yes, 91, the last year of 3rd gen. No idea why but this front hitch says 91-07:

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Here's a video still of a 2003 E350 RV getting that hitch put on, bolts put into place. Note how far back the sway bar is:

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Now look at my 89. My 85 was the same way. The sway bar mounts where the hitch would have to go:

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So, a front hitch isn't possible, unless I have something custom made to bolt behind the sway bar and drop down and forward pretty far.

I'm thinking instead, I might just bolt one of these the bumper, since it's a solid steel slab. I'd only use it for a bike carrier, so I'm guessing it would probably be fine? I'd probably go with the one on the left, with the larger mounting surface area, with very thick fender washers on the back to support it there.

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I considered it on the RV, but never did.

 

[Clb]

Just no.
Maybe for a pedal bike.
Howz bout a roof rack?
I'm not a fan of staring thru stuff while driving.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

No heavier than a bicycle is, I think you'll be fine.

 

[divemaster5734]

There's no bolt on front hitch for Econolines older than 1991 it seems. Yes, 91, the last year of 3rd gen. No idea why but this front hitch says 91-07:

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I considered it on the RV, but never did.

Before my hobby turned into a full blown addiction I used receiver hitch bike racks to get to the track or back country.
It's carried the Husqvarna dirt bike and Suzuki road racer through all kinds of weather and roads.
Don't have any pictures of a bike on the front receiver with camper hooked up on the back, only used a few times before getting a enclosed trailer to drag everything needed.
The biggest issue was clearance, especially when going off road riding.
My Ram has factory airbags and auto load leveler, but even with that I had to carefully pick my way through the overnight pits to find a staging spot.
Here's a couple pictures of the the bikes, and one I just took of the front hitch.

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When deciding, figure the bike carrier will sit 4" below the hitch to determine the clearance.
When fully loaded I even scrapped on a few speed bumps.
Then you'll have the weight load far in front of the suspension, the track bike is about 300#, dirt one is 250#.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Before my hobby turned into a full blown addiction I used receiver hitch bike racks to get to the track or back country.
It's carried the Husqvarna dirt bike

I LIKE IT! What size is the Husky? Is it a 300?

Then you'll have the weight load far in front of the suspension, the track bike is about 300#, dirt one is 250#.

His bicycle will weigh quite a bit less.

 

[divemaster5734]

I LIKE IT! What size is the Husky? Is it a 300?

It's a '18 TE250i, it was one of the first 100 fuel injected 2 stroke wave. Got it 12/17, didn't want to wait until mid '19 for the 300's to start to ship.

His bicycle will weigh quite a bit less.

Haha, All I read was bike, the only bikes I know go vroom..

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Haha, All I read was bike, the only bikes I know go vroom..

Perfectly understandable.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

It's a '18 TE250i, it was one of the first 100 fuel injected 2 stroke wave. Got it 12/17, didn't want to wait until mid '19 for the 300's to start to ship.

Those 300 2 strokes are AMAZING!!! I'd love to have a bigger, newer, nicer bike, but I can't use what I've got to it's full extent so I can't justify the cost to my right back side. I'm fine with riding my 97 KX250.

 

[divemaster5734]

Those 300 2 strokes are AMAZING!!! I'd love to have a bigger, newer, nicer bike, but I can't use what I've got to it's full extent so I can't justify the cost to my right back side. I'm fine with riding my 97 KX250.

Those KX's kick butt when taken care of.
I owned a company back then, and was able to write it off for advertising after changing the graphics.

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Had the suspension lowered, got a Trail Tech GPS, installed heated grips, custom built a sequential switchback LED lighting system and got it plated for street use, put hydro brake switches on both front and back systems, tore out the OEM fuel pump with the junk filters and upgraded, swapped out the oil reservoir for better capacity, and had a pro rider buddy rewrite the ECM.
Tubliss inserts can run 4PSI on outer.
Run a custom mix of VP C12 and clear pump mixed to 97 octane.
She'll stand up in any gear, or lug 3rd through the goat trails.
Was trying to use a fire breathing YZ 250 built for Team Yamaha that just couldn't be tamed enough to stop the whisky throttle in the technical sections.
Took a sideways dive off a 30' cliff and then wound up face down in a stream in one day and had no choice.
Rode with Cody Webb back when he was still in engineering school and transitioning from trials to hard enduro.
Learned a lot, ate a lot of mud, and got far too carried away for a minute.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Rode with Cody Webb back when he was still in engineering school and transitioning from trials to hard enduro.

Well you had one REALLY good teacher.

 

[Cubey]

Just no.
Maybe for a pedal bike.
Howz bout a roof rack?
I'm not a fan of staring thru stuff while driving.

Yep two pedal bikes.

can't do a roof rack with the fiberglass roof, plus it's covered in solar panels

it would actually just be a temporary solution, used for a couple of weeks. $60 for the hitch receiver and the proper bolts is cheaper than getting rid of two bicycles, unless i can get them crammed into the trailer. it's already jammed full.

Shipping stuff isn't cheap, so that would also cost more than $60.

Maybe I could get the bumper reinforced on the back side? or just bolt it on and hope for the best.

 

[rreegg]

since they're just bicycles a cheap/easy option could be the rear mount units but on the hood and bumper. have seen it a few times. would rather have a receiver but..

 

[Clb]

Could you mount it on the trailer?

 

[Cubey]

Could you mount it on the trailer?

No

since they're just bicycles a cheap/easy option could be the rear mount units but on the hood and bumper. have seen it a few times. would rather have a receiver but..

Trunk carriers cost as much as the receiver does. And it would put the bikes higher up, more in my field of vision.

 

[Cubey]

This is just a random example, I'd have to measure and see the dimensions, but maybe putting this behind the bumper, with holes drilled so that it bolts up with the bumper to the frame. Then drill through the bumper and that for the bolt on hitch receiver. That would strengthen the bumper a good bit.

It might be cheaper to buy the metal from a local shop vs paying shipping.

Yeah it's more expensive in general, but at least that would be useful longer term, if i want to carry bikes on the front full time. Or maybe a carrier and a portable generator and gas can, for off grid AC use.

It's cheaper than a having a custom trailer hitch fabricated.

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