80 Bumper Hitch Receiver/Bike Carrier

[VFRMAN]

Just a few shots of today's quick project to let me carry my mountain bikes on my Thule 4-bike carrier, and still allow me to pull my trailer. Nothing special, but for $15 for the tube pre-made, and some plate i had laying around, it works great. I shouldn't have cut the tube to angle the rack upward though. Ended up too far and the rack doesn't sit flat enough. Something to play with another day.

Not sure how steep of a hill I could take before the rack will contact the trailer, but this is really just for back and forth to the lake usage for now. I could see using it with my hitch carrier to carry coolers or storage tubs with some clearance.

It was the first time I burned some welding wire in about 5 years. Albeit only about 8" of weld.

 

[VFRMAN]

more.......

 

[Ebag333]

Nicely done! Good use for both the bumper mount and the hitch.

 

[voorland80]

That turned out sweet.
And it looks like you can still drop the rack to open the hatch even with the trailer in place.
The angle may be an advantage there. Does the fold-down gate clear? (I had to mod my setup for it to clear due to the design).
Well done!
Nice bike too.

 

[VFRMAN]

Thanks.

Yeah, I can drop the rack to get the hatch open without taking off the bike.

Tailgate? Oh s***. Now there was the design criteria I forgot about when I was playing with the angles. I had it measured out and test fit to let the tailgate miss the rack by a hair. I bet it hits since I angled it up. I haven't even dropped the gate to see.

Potential "re-design" coming I have a feeling.

 

[jonheld]

Been using the same thing for a bike rack. Works well. Bought mine pre-made.

Receiver Tubes and Mounts

 

[VFRMAN]

There was the inspiration for it. I probably would've just bought one too if I could've found one in town.

I had the 2 1/2" OD tube from a previous project and just threw it together with some 3/4" plate laying around.

On that note if anyone wants one, I could make more. And probably beat that $75 price by a few bucks.

 

[Flank]

And.... It is guaranteed to go straight through the radiator of any tailgating cars that may happen to tap you in a moment of in-attention....

I started keeping my trailer hitch on full time for this very reason. When I was in Dallas and it rained, it was like an ice rink. I had one truck get rear ended 3 times....

 

[VFRMAN]

After looking closer at the Thule carrier, I just took out the bolt where it pivots and put it back through the back side. The bikes sit almost perfectly level again. Not sure if this was an adjustment design idea from Thule, but it worked great. So simple a dumbass like me could do it. I'll upload pics another time.

flipman,
your inbox is full. bolts were 12mmx40mm. might want to go a little longer on the bottom holes. thanks.

 

[carlosfj80]

That's freaking awesome!!! Nice work, how much are you going to be selling yours for?