Mod Description:

The bumper-mount cargo carrier is great way to haul some of the bigger things you just can’t put inside your tow vehicle, like generators, gas cans, BBQs, and even coolers. But there are some limitations you should consider before you do this mod. Weight is a big concern and must be carefully accounted for when hauling anything on the rear of your RV. Having too much weight on the rear of your RV can adversely affect its handling, particularly when you have a towable RV, as well as the potential for bumper failure if not modified to handle the additional weight.

Mod Difficulty:

Custom Bike Rack and Cargo Carrier Frame Mount Receiver

Curt Adjustable/Expandable Frame-Mounted Hitch - End Plate

Curt Adjustable/Expandable Frame-Mounted Hitch - Full View

Cargo Carrier Platform

Bumper-Mount Receiver Adapter

Gear Deck Cargo Carrier Frame

Gear Deck Generator Cargo Carrier on Back of 5th Wheel

Gear Deck Mounted to Back of Travel Trailer

Aluminum Bumper Mounted Cargo Carrier Installed

Class A, class C, and truck campers have a distinct advantage in that they already (or most likely) have a frame-mounted receiver hitch so a cargo carrier can be easily mounted and weight is not so much a concern. It’s when you want to add a cargo rack to a 5th wheel or travel trailer that makes this mod a little more involved.

You have a few options here. Have a welder build a custom rack on the rear of the frame or use an adjustable width hitch/receiver and bolt the hitch to the rear of the frame. Much will depend on what you want to haul. If you want to transport some lightweight but bulky stuff, then the adjustable hitch should work well. Anything heavier, like a generator, you should have a welder build something up designed for the weight you want to carry.

There are many types of platforms you can use for hauling your cargo. These fit in to a 2″ receiver and are usually used for SUVs but can be used in the same manner on the back of your RV. Try to find the lightest weight carrier possible. Aluminum or polyethylene carriers are super lightweight but tend to be a little more expensive than their steel counterparts. If you need a lockable carrier, Stowaway makes a really nice weatherproof enclosed carrier that swings out for easy access. But keep in mind that these are much heavier and have less capacity than the standard basket carriers.

To reduce cargo carrier movement over bumps, use a hitch tightener device. This device bolts on to the carrier’s main tube and clamps together the carrier and the receiver, reducing carrier movement and possible receiver failure.

ModMyRV recommends these parts for this mod:
StowAway2 Fixed Cargo Rack
StowAway2 LT Hitch-Coupling Tightener
RV Bumper Hitch/Receiver
Adjustable/Expandable Hitch/Receiver
High-rise fixed frame carrier for ground clearance

Cargo Carriers
Generator STO Cargo Carrier (GearDeckâ„¢ 17)
http://www.stowaway2.com/catalog.aspx?cid=36
Wide Assortment of Hitch-Mounted Cargo Carriers

5 Comments For This Mod

1. cccale (February 28th, 2009 at 9:25 pm)

   We have two that aren’t mentioned here. One that carries multiple bikes and another that carries a dirt bike. Much easier than bringing the whole trailer.
2. Bob Vaughn (March 2nd, 2009 at 8:09 am)

   My rv does not have a rear bumper…..I would love to do this to haul some lite things but with the rear of my TT being molded fiberglass and the under belly enclosed plus the spare tire is mounted in a cavity under there so I would not have a clue which receiver would fit my frame….How would I know which receiver would fit the frame????
3. ModMyRV (March 2nd, 2009 at 10:32 am)

   Do you have a picture of the underside near the back of your TT? It is likely you would need something custom fabricated from the sound of it.
4. James (April 27th, 2009 at 2:01 pm)

   I would like to see how the aluminum cargo carrier (the one with the kipor generator on it) was attached to the bumper.
5. ModMyRV (April 27th, 2009 at 3:38 pm)

   Here is the link to the post on rvpics.com where member stugpanzer did the aluminum carrier mod:

   http://www.rvpics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=392

1 Trackbacks For This Post

1. Portable Generator Securement - Page 3 - Expedite Trucking Forums (February 17th, 2010 at 12:18 pm)
   

   [...] genset. $1168.99 Garvin IndustriesEXT Series Bumper System, 84-02 XJ Cherokee Additional ideas: RV Bumper Mount Cargo Carrier | ModMyRV See the last one lower left, set it up to pivot on one of the corners. Since Big Al said he can [...]

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