GD hitch capacity

[james quinn]

for those of you with the factory hitch on the rear of the trailer ... is there a label stating weight capacity ?

 

[TENN22]

300 pounds max.

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Jim,

300 lbs per this discussion with GD . . .
http://www.granddesignowners.com/fo...on-back-receiver-hitch?highlight=Bike+carrier

Rob

 

[boingram]

...hitch only offered on reflection....have a new solitude and cannot add hitch without frame warranty issues...thatz a crock...bo

 

[james quinn]

...hitch only offered on reflection....have a new solitude and cannot add hitch without frame warranty issues...thatz a crock...bo

My understanding is that the reason they added the hitch is to deal with warranty issues. Welding to the frame could affect the design criteria becaus the frames are ordered with a certain camber which supposedly could be affected with welding. So I was told anyways. Why only offered on reflections is good question. Interesting as well that a 2" receiver is only rated for 300 lbs, I would have thought 500

 

[boingram]

...how abt a bolt on...lci offers them in their store...still a crock. ..

 

[Bamaman]

If you have the 4" rear bumper, you can get a bolt on 2" receiver hitch at places like Northern Tool--$64. They'll certainly handle a bicycle rack, but not that much more. The square tubing is actually pretty thin.

With the Reflection receiver, you don't get a rear bumper. That's not good for me, because I've been known to back lightly into small items--like trees.

 

[Second Chance]

If you have the 4" rear bumper, you can get a bolt on 2" receiver hitch at places like Northern Tool--$64. They'll certainly handle a bicycle rack, but not that much more. The square tubing is actually pretty thin.

With the Reflection receiver, you don't get a rear bumper. That's not good for me, because I've been known to back lightly into small items--like trees.

With some manufacturers, a bolt-on receiver on the bumper will actually void your frame warranty. If you cruise the other RV forums, you will find many stories of the flexing of the thin bumpers with a bolt-on receiver and bike rack breaking the bumper ending with the bikes dragging down the road or being run over by the following vehicles. Don't do it.

 

[Bamaman]

If a bumper is not strong enough to hang a couple of bicycles from, it should be made stronger by the frame manufacturer. That's ridiculous to use such light metal and not have better, stronger welds than that.

 

[Second Chance]

If a bumper is not strong enough to hang a couple of bicycles from, it should be made stronger by the frame manufacturer. That's ridiculous to use such light metal and not have better, stronger welds than that.

I agree - it's just the way it is with most RV bumpers. In another bumper-related thread (on this forum, I believe), there was a discussion - with numbers - about the lack of protection the bumpers provide, anyway.

 

[Dave and Monica]

RV bumpers...over-designed for sewer hose storage, under-designed for everything else!

Dave

 

[Cate&Rob]

RV bumpers...over-designed for sewer hose storage, under-designed for everything else!

Dave

And if you crank down the clamp-on bike rack, the thin wall square tube will crush and then you can't get the sewer hose in/out
Not ours . . . saw someone else having this problem. (we just use fold up bikes that ride ahead of the hitch in the bed of the truck).

Rob

 

[goducks14]

There's absolutely no way that welding something at the rear of the frame will do anything to the so called built in camber. You would only be welding about 3-6" from the bumper. Is there really camber that far back? If there is then you have one heck of a curve in that frame. Total BS from Lippert. JMHO but if you welded a 2"x2"x1/4" piece of tubing for support in between the frame near the bumper I honestly think you'd probably make the frame stronger back there. Lippert is not known for the best quality.

 

[LCBoyer]

We do the same as Rob,2 fold up bikes in front of hitch

 

[deserthi]

I have a 2017 Reflection 315rlts with a 300lb hitch on the rear. My motorcycle and carrier total 307lbs. Just wanted your feedback on if you consider this safe.
Motorcycle Yamaha WR450f wet weight is 271 and my rack weighs 36.5lbs

 

[Chiefblueman]

I'm a former WR450f owner, current KTM 950 Adventure and 315RLTS owner. Personally, I wouldn't push that hitch capacity to that extent. The hitch is a long way back there and experiences a lot of vertical movement going down the road. If it fails, all you've got to lose is your very nice off road bike, not to mention the calamity a loose bike might cause on the road. The hitch is a bolt on affair, I'd suggest extending it to the main frame rails and welding it up. Or maybe carrying the bike in the bed of the truck.

Wish I could carry the KTM back there.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

There's absolutely no way that welding something at the rear of the frame will do anything to the so called built in camber. You would only be welding about 3-6" from the bumper. Is there really camber that far back? If there is then you have one heck of a curve in that frame. Total BS from Lippert. JMHO but if you welded a 2"x2"x1/4" piece of tubing for support in between the frame near the bumper I honestly think you'd probably make the frame stronger back there. Lippert is not known for the best quality.

I agree. I would rather weld to the frame than drill holes in it.