Will Using a Hitch Mounted Bike Rack Behind a Grand Design Solitude 3460FL Cause a Failure

Question:

I currently have a 2017 Ram 2500 crew cab and pulling a fifth wheel Solitude 3460FL that’s 40’ tip to tail. It’s has a hitch rated for 300lbs tongue weight/3000 tow rating. I have been using a RV rated bike rack Kuat Transfer V2 and was told that it’s just a matter of time before a failure occurs and that it’ll most likely be the hitch that fails. Are you aware of such a failure? Both bikes weigh 20lbs each.

asked by: Tyan R

Expert Reply:

Since the trailer hitch receiver on your Grand Design Solitude 3460FL was installed and rated from Grand Design you know the frame is strong enough to support the weight of your Kuat Transfer V2 Bike Rack # KU84FR and 20lb bikes. Your Kuat rack was designed to stand up to the additional shock and bounce your trailer has over a standard vehicle receiver. Most people who run into issues is caused by add on receivers in which the trailers frame was not designed to support the additional weight or they overload it based on the capacity of the cargo carrier and not the receiver capacity.

expert reply by: Bud M