Spare Tire Relocation

Beachnuts · 04-18-2017, 11:01 AM

I have a 2017 Fun Finder 21rb. I have recently added my swagman bike rack to the bumper. The combination of the spare tire and the bike rack really crowds the bumper. For the purposes of seeing the license plate and the back lights it would be better if I relocated the spare tire and centered the bike rack.

I have seen a number of campers with the spare tire under the front of the trailer frame and wondered if I could relocate my spare tire there. Has anybody done this and if so, is there a modification kit to do that?

Silverado · 04-18-2017, 04:10 PM

I just moved mine from the rear bumper to underneath the trailer. I looked at putting it under the A frame but chose to mount it further back on the trailer. The model is a 2014 210UDS and I mounted it just forward of the front stabilizer jacks to a 2" cross member. I used the bumper mount bracket and drilled holes and used 2" X 3/8" square U-bolts to attach the mount to the trailer. If you need pictures I can take some. Silverado

PaintyLiz · 04-21-2017, 01:12 PM

I am thinking about adding a bumper to the back of my fun finder which doesn't have one. I would appreciate pictures because the spare tire would need to be moved. thanks in advance!

Liz

Silverado · 04-22-2017, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaintyLiz

I am thinking about adding a bumper to the back of my fun finder which doesn't have one. I would appreciate pictures because the spare tire would need to be moved. thanks in advance!

Liz

Here is my set up so far, the pictures are not that great as it is hard to take decent ones in the shop. When I get a chance I will take pictures of the new spare tire mount that is now under the trailer if needed. The last picture is the original set up for the spare. Silverado

**LJAZ** · 04-22-2017, 08:35 AM

BAL makes this kit for mounting a spare below the trailer.
BAL - Innovative Products for the RV Industry

PaintyLiz · 04-22-2017, 08:48 AM

Silverado: thanks for the pictures. I'm thinking we need to make whatever we put on the back removable because we barely fit at some of the relatives homes where we park. Yours looks great though! Somewhere in this forum I saw where someone had posted a rack like that that folded up.

Ljaz: thanks for showing me that tire mount! We don't know a good welder so something we could buy and mount ourselves would be wonderful.

PaintyLiz · 04-22-2017, 08:53 AM

Wait a minute! Wow I was looking at little pictures on my phone and totally missed that you have three receivers across the back! Now that's a cool idea. How wide is that camper? Mine is only 7 feet wide would that fit?

Liz

Silverado · 04-22-2017, 10:42 AM

Yes it has three receivers and is removable, I put a lot of thought into it to allow for any type of traveling I do. I also used zinc coated hardware and materials that would not rust or deteriorate. My trailer is 8 feet wide and the two bins are 36" wide each, they just barely fit in between the lights. Silverado

PaintyLiz · 04-22-2017, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverado

Yes it has three receivers and is removable, I put a lot of thought into it to allow for any type of traveling I do. I also used zinc coated hardware and materials that would not rust or deteriorate. My trailer is 8 feet wide and the two bins are 36" wide each, they just barely fit in between the lights. Silverado

Oh duh! I just realized your receivers are bolted to your bumper. Problem is my camper doesn't have a bumper.

We are debating between adding a bumper or just adding a receiver or maybe 3...

Liz

Michigantraveler · 04-23-2017, 04:04 PM

Maybe not wise to trust the bumper to carry a load.
https://youtu.be/YIwtglKiBwk

crlagger · 04-23-2017, 04:40 PM

Thats a great video Michigantraveler. We mounted our bikes on our rear bumper and had no problems for the first year then this past winter we pulled into Yuma and I noticed that our rear bumper was starting to tear on one side. Fortunately we noticed it before we lost our bikes and got the bumper beefed up at a local welding shop before continuing on. I hate to think of the hazard it would have created had we not noticed it and lost it on the highway.

Silverado · 04-23-2017, 05:54 PM

I am aware of that video, I checked and my bumper is a heavier gauge than the one in the video as well as I put extra supports under it. Even before that I stood and jumped on the platform and had no flex or deflection what so ever. Trust me I would not have continued any further if there was any chance of it failing or flexing. The bikes carriers I have seen mounted on bumpers can act like a lever and combined with the play in the receiver will tear a bumper off if allowed to flex over and over.

Eagle · 04-23-2017, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigantraveler

Maybe not wise to trust the bumper to carry a load.
https://youtu.be/YIwtglKiBwk

I agree ~ hanging items on the rear of a travel trailer where the mfg did not provide for same can result in costly issues.

Michigantraveler · 04-24-2017, 03:44 AM

Yes, best not to rely on the manufacturer's engineering and quality of workmanship in a case like this. Silverado did it correctly. If there is a failure and whatever is attached back there ends up behind us sailing down the road it could mean death fo someone, not just that expensive bike in the video. And the manufacturer would have no liability.
And the same would go for mounting things on the roof that were not there in the first place.

Silverado · 04-24-2017, 08:25 AM

Very good advice guys, people should be very careful when modifying RV'S always use safety x 3 as a minimum. The last thing I wanted to do was cause a hazard on the road or lose anything. Be sure to inspect any additions put on your RV as you travel because things can change quickly. Silverado