Can Swagman Roamer LT Roof Rack be Installed on a Cargo Trailer?

Question:

Thanks for your response. The roof of the trailer is a thin sheet of aluminum. It is definitely not sturdy/rigid enough to hold a bike rack. I’m wondering if the rack can be attached safely to the ribs across the ceiling of the camper (photo attached), and if so, how to do it. Thank

asked by: Seth

Expert Reply:

The Swagman Roamer LT Roof Rack for Pop-Up Campers and Camper Shells - Steel - 7' Long - 150 lbs # S80510 can be safely installed on your cargo trailer. You will simply want to account for the weight capacity of the rack, the trailer components, and the height of the trailer with whatever you add to that rack. It will make it more top heavy the higher the load which will impact cornering and wind or passing vehicle sway. Swagman designed it for pop up trailer use which is much lower and often a wider base as well for greater stability with items loaded.

The installation requires drilling holes in the roof for the feet to mount. I recommend using a sealant around the holes and the instructions say to put a generous amount of silicone into the holes and around the surface. I recommend using the Loctite RTV 598 High-Performance Silicone Gasket Maker - Black - 2.7-Fl Oz Tube # LT37467.

expert reply by: Jason S

click to enlarge

Seth

5/15/2019

Jason S.

5/15/2019

You definitely wouldn't want to just attach it to the aluminum sheet metal. It would need to be installed into a frame location. The ribs you show in the picture you just sent will work very nicely if you can't attach it all the way out to the edge support. In either case you can use the longer screws included or get self-tapping screws to install. I found a photo we had of this installed on a cargo trailer to assist.