Slee Rear Bumper Receiver Install

[Romer]

I bought the Slee Rear Bumper last summer and have been real happy with it. Slee came out with an option for a Rear Bumper Hitch receiver system:

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/..._receivers.htm

The adapter is if you want a bike rack but has no strength. I am thinking about towing a camper to Moab this year, so I bought the receiver system. Although it's not officially rated for load, I should have no problem towing a camper over the mountain passes.

The hardest and longest part of the job is cutting the hole in the crossmember. Since I have a fairly new bumper, it already had a cutout for this receiver.

I elected to cut the hole with the bumper on. The die grinder can't get the corners without cutting through the bumper, so I used a drill to make enough notches around the corner. The other option is to remove the bumper and cut the slot, then you don't have to worry about cutting parts of the bumper. The die grinder and drill method worked just fine for me.

Next, you have to cut a hole in the backside of the crossmember. You want it wide enough you can get the nut plates in and hold while you thread the bolts. You also need to make sure the hole is tall enough. I cut the hole and then there was a 1/4" lip preventing the receiver from fitting properly. The crossmember and you are at an angle, so its easy to mis-judge (at least that's the way I see it!)

Once you get the reciver in, install the two side brackets. They mount to were the spare tire plate was. Then tie the brackets to the reciever and tighten everything down.

Using the holes on the front plate, drill the holes using a 1/2" bit. I don't have a drill doctor and it took me two bits. If the drill stops chewing, time for a new or sharper bit.

Then hold the nut plates while threading the bolts. This was easiest from the bottom so you could see both sides.

[cabron]

Looks like it is braced enough to not have a problem, especially with just a camper

[Walking Eagle]

Originally Posted by cabron

Looks like it is braced enough to not have a problem, especially with just a camper

depends on if it's a 1500lb pop-up or a 5,000 hard side.

[apcoleman]

Looks real nice Romer!

[cruiserdan]

Christo's production version is likely plenty stout for a class 2 application,maybe a 3. It was designed to be easily shippable for a reasonable ammout of money yet provide a solid receiver-type mount. My original version has a solid crossmember that spans the frame at the forward end of the receiver tube and the tube is longer. I have towed my 3,700 lb boat just fine with mine.

Do remember that this is NOT RATED FOR TOWING and the end user does so at his own risk. However, if you study the mounts and the tube you can see that what is there is every bit as good as a "real hitch", it is just not represented as such and there is no liability implied as to the suitability of this device for towing....Yadda, yadda, yadda...

[FirstToy]

Nice work Romer! I saw the link and do you guys think this one could be used for recovery or too dangerous?

[Romer]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

Nice work Romer! I saw the link and do you guys think this one could be used for recovery or too dangerous?

I wouldn't think that one is worth more than to use for a bike carrier, certainly not pull the weight of the vehicle for recovery.

[Rich]

I get a bad feeling seing hitches sold and used for towing that aren't engineered and rated for towing.

[firetruck41]

Then you shouldn't get one, don't try to make our world too safe, or we won't be able to go offroad, 'cuz it's dangerous

[Romer]

Rich - The hitch pictured above is clearly stated not for towing. If you look on Slees site, it says, "It allows for the use of 2" accessories like bike and ski racks. This receiver is not rated for towing" Christo wouldn't even sell it to someone who wanted to use it for towing.

The one I installed, is also stated not rated for towing, but it is beefy enough it could be. In my opinion, it's probably as worthy as the OEM hitch that I took off, only it has not been tested. BUT, Slee's site again clealrly states that it is not rated for towing.

[Walking Eagle]

Originally Posted by cruiserdan

Do remember that this is NOT RATED FOR TOWING and the end user does so at his own risk. However, if you study the mounts and the tube you can see that what is there is every bit as good as a "real hitch", it is just not represented as such and there is no liability implied as to the suitability of this device for towing....Yadda, yadda, yadda...

yep, then the liability of using a non-rated hitch for towing is on the user.... wonder where the liability of a home built lies - probably also on the builder.

[bucky]

On the user, but think of the other people on the road. Before you go high fiving down the road with a heavy camper, most often than not your tow kills the other guy in the on coming lane. This means that they sue the pants off you when it was your decision to use a non tow rated reciever. In addition, let me know the roads you drive so I can stay off the other way while your on them. Lost a great friend to a trailer that came off the hitch from a bad install.

[Tooth Fairy]

I didn't know the bumpers came w/o reciever. Hunh.

Something in the works for a bumper with one?

[Romer]

Originally Posted by bucky

In addition, let me know the roads you drive so I can stay off the other way while your on them. Lost a great friend to a trailer that came off the hitch from a bad install.

Well thanks Bucky on your vote of confidance on my installation skills. Sorry about your friend, but I am not stupid enough to tow something to heavey for this set-up. Stay out of Colorado and Utah and you should be safe.

Geez, any nay sayers engineers or have any specific technical skills or knowledge. If you look at those who are saying it is stout for what I am intending it, you will find a lot of experiance.

[Rich]

Romer, how are you going to determine what is too heavy for that hitch?

From what has been pictured I haved compared it to commerical frame mount hitches that accept 2 inch drawbars. To my eye it does not look as strong as the ones that I have used. That is my honest opinion.

Having towed a 7500 lb trailered boat over 50K miles, you can take my experience for what ever you want.

Were I to market a trailer hitch, I would invest in the engineering to be able to confidently rate it appropriately, and would stand behind my product for its intended use. If I couldn't do that and make a profit, then I would leave the market to others.

Just sharing my opinon, well received or not.

[Romer]

Rich,
No problem with your opinion. I admidt Buckey rubbed me the wrong way. I do not intend on towing anything like what you have done relative to 7500 pounds. I do not intend on towing anything with a GVW of greater than 2500 pounds, and more like 2000 pounds. i.e. a small pop-up camper. 4 1/2" bolts through the crossmember and two beams out to the frame attached with 3/4" bolts is more than stout enough for my application.

I thinks this is much stronger than the hitch that is welded to the tube bumper on my 40.

I am an aerospace (or use to to be) engineer who dealt with structural integrity as part of the job. I admidt that I am a EE and not an ME, but working spacecraft for 20 years, your skill base broadens. Am I basing this on an educated guess, yes.

BTW- The cost to actually take these through the official ratings test has to be expensive and running a business you need to understand return on investment.

Christo properly cautions people on his web page and in person. I am sure Christo would be grateful to anyone who could help rate this. Slee off road is not set up for that.

I need this hitch and am glad Christo came to the market with it and I am fully aware of the disclaimers that come with it.

[Dusty]

"testing" and "rating" aside that "bike rack" bolt on hitch from slee looks mighty strong to me. over in other parts of the world people are bolting hitches to that rear crossmember using the holes toyota put there just for that purpose. I immagined toyota "tested" that crossmember for at leaste a few thousand pounds. I can only reasonably supose that Slee's big ol bumper even reinforces the crossmember. This newer towing attachment/go-through-the-crossmember thing looks even beefier. The only thing to question are the welds and they look darn redundant. Having grown up a farm kid in a huge agricultural setting in Fresno California I can assure you there are lots of home made hitches out there on the road-few that look anything as sturdy as these slee jobs-Not that this makes it right to design your own-just fact-use the chain. and what about all those zillions of home made trailers on the road-do you trust the welds on the neck of the trailer that hooks to the ball? I'm for safety too it just doesn't seem like these slee hitches are the least common denominator.

If someone has used one of these slee hitches and has a resultant horror story I will eat my post-otherwise they look good to me

[reffug]

It'll be fine Romer.

Don't sweat the small stuff IYKWIM.

[nuclearlemon]

i just like the way you pimp the club romer

[Walking Eagle]

Originally Posted by Romer

I do not intend on towing anything with a GVW of greater than 2500 pounds, and more like 2000 pounds. i.e. a small pop-up camper.

That is a very important piece of information that you hadn't shared. For that I think it'd be ok. I wouldn't tow 5,000 with it though.

[ripleykantoo]

Use safety chains and you should be fine. My trailer hitch broke at 65 while towing my classic mustang and the chains held up with no worries. Just make sure you use safety chains, becuase they are mandatory for a reason and you'll make Bucky feel better when you pass him at 80.

[Walking Eagle]

Originally Posted by ripleykantoo

Use safety chains and you should be fine. My trailer hitch broke at 65 while towing my classic mustang and the chains held up with no worries. Just make sure you use safety chains, becuase they are mandatory for a reason and you'll make Bucky feel better when you pass him at 80.

safety chains won't help with this paticular hitch, unless you place them somewhere other than the spots for them on the hitch. If the hitch fails, the safety chains are attached to the failed part!

[Dusty]

you could put the chain through the d-rings.

[NorCalDoug]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

Nice work Romer! I saw the link and do you guys think this one could be used for recovery or too dangerous?

James,
I have that one and agree with Romer -- I wouldn't use it for recovery. It might be okay, but I wouldn't trust a life on it.

That said...I...uh...know of someone, who might of might not have towed a StarCraft 11RT to Surf-n-Turf with that same not-rated-for-towing dealie.

I think I'll get the larger one that Christo has now and try to install it before CM06.

[Walking Eagle]

I'd just go to the local Atwoods or trailer supply and get a reciever, then weld in a 2x2" from frame rail to frame rail... but I like doing stuff myself.

If I'm going to take the liability myself by using a non-rated hitch, might as well.