2nd hitch receiver
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12554
Printed Date: 11 May 2025 at 8:45pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 2nd hitch receiver
Posted By: Jakejep
Subject: 2nd hitch receiver
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2019 at 12:58pm
| has any one ever added a second hitch receiver to the back end of their rpod? im looking to do this for my yakima bike rack. where would i get one that i can weld on? |
Replies:
Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2019 at 1:48pm
|
I use my Yakima bike carrier on the 1 1/4 receiver that comes on the R-Pod and move the spare tire. The Yakima bike carrier will fit either a 2" or 1 1/4 receiver. You don't want to put too much weight on that receiver, it's not too beefy. ------------- Jay 179/2019 |
Posted By: Shane
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2019 at 1:56pm
|
If I am not mistaken, I think the limit on the receiver that comes on the pod has a 500# weight limit. ------------- ENGINE 55,TRUCK 44,BATALLION 12 |
Posted By: michaeln
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2019 at 2:08pm
|
I would love to watch a video of someone hanging 500 lbs from that flimsy stock rear receiver. ------------- --- Avery, CA |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2019 at 2:13pm
https://postimages.org/"> ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2019 at 6:47pm
500 pounds!!! No, not by a long shot. What Marwayne said. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Jakejep
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2019 at 9:35pm
| yeah thats what i am doing now eventually i was wanting to weld another one on but maybe not if theyre rated for such a low weight...... |
Posted By: Motor7
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2019 at 6:49am
|
The frame rails on the pods are pretty lightweight steel. Then they are about 57" apart & the bumper that ties them together is even lighter weight steel than the frame. In order to significantly beef all that up to hang more weight off the back would require a lot of welding and engineering. The weight of that addition, plus the weight of the carry item would also take away from hitch weight which would have to be replaced. I am actually surprised it's rated for 250. A couple of bikes or a small hitch hauler with a hundred pounds in it would all I would dare. On smooth pavement things would be fine, but some of our states and Canada have roads in really bad shape. The constant bouncing and banging can crack steel and break welds. ------------- 2016 R-Pod 176T |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2019 at 6:50am
|
I added a second 2" receiver so that I could use my bike rack. However, that was only part of the modification. In order to successfully use the bike rack, more work needs to be done. I also added a 2x2 frame to frame sideways cross member that supported the rear of the receiver and also added triangle gussets between the original receiver and the new receiver. When we use the bike rack, we use a hitch tightner between the shank of the bike rack and the receiver to eliminate up/down and sideways motion inside the receiver. We also use 2 cam straps. one on each side that goes from the top of the bike rack down to an eye bolt mounted at the end of the frame. here are some pictures https://postimg.cc/Y4Xh682C">  https://postimg.cc/V0XfVFwM">  https://postimg.cc/SJvdtcyT">  https://postimg.cc/KRm2Sz3S">  the idea is to eliminate all movement of the racks, the bikes and the shank. keep the shank as short as possible and the bikes as close to the pod as possible. good luck Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
|
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2019 at 6:52am
|
I should have added that I got the 2" receiver at Harbor Freight for about $12 Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
|
Posted By: Motor7
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2019 at 6:59am
|
Pod People, did you also add gussets where the 2x2 meets the frame rails on each side? ------------- 2016 R-Pod 176T |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2019 at 8:26am
|
yes, I added reinforcements everywhere that I could. That included triangle gussets at the original receiver and the new receiver. I'm not sure if you can tell from the pictures, but we also added a short piece of 2x3 angle iron that connected the back end of the 2" receiver to the new 2x2 cross member. The idea is to have as little weight as possible farther from the pod-keep it as close as possible. Also the second important idea is to stop all motion in the shank/receiver and the rack to shank and the bikes on the rack. The nylon cam straps stop the bike rack from moving side to side or front to back. they are attached as high as possible to the top of the bike rack in a welded eye bolt. The bottom of the straps are in an eye bolt that is drilled through the lower frame members at the end. The bikes are clamped onto the bike rack with built in clamps that hold the horizontal upper frame tubes. We tie the bottom of the bikes to the bottom of the rack so they can't move and we attach bungee cords to the tires so they can't move either. We did this mod initially on our 173 and used it for 6 years in many thousands of miles. We have done the same now with our 179. Most of the posts and most manufacturers advise against this practice and it may void your warranty. We went to extreme measures to insure success. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
|
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2019 at 10:54am
| If you have just one bike, would it be easier to leave the spare where it is and put the bike inside the trailer? |
Posted By: Jeepinator
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 8:30pm
| I purchased a front-mount receiver for my Jeep Wrangler. The bikes are low enough where they do not interfere with visibility. Headlights can be an issue due to reflection. |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 8:58pm
I have a front hitch too and you are exactly right about headlight reflection. I really try not to drive at night with bikes on the front, but it can be done. Daytime visibility is fine. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Andy
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 11:57am
|
After having placed both 1 and 2 bikes on the hitch receiver using a 1-1/4" to 2" converter I'm thinking a better option is to place the bike(s) in the TT itself. There is just too much sway and movement. And unfortunately I'm not as handy as Vann. If I can't fix it with a hammer and Phillips head screwdriver I'm lost! Has anyone come up with a way to secure the bike(s) inside? With our 179 I could lean it on the bench seat and rest tires on the shower side wall with some covering to prevent tire tracks on the wall. ------------- 2017 179 2016 Silverado Z71 |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 12:08pm
|
Personally, given the flexion and leverage imposed by bikes on the back of the pod, I wouldn't want to use a bike rack that requires a 2x2 receiver. They're very heavy. There are several 2 bike racks available on Amazon that work just fine with no to minimal modifications for the pod. We got one and it works fine, though I'm probably going to add a little strap to stabilize the bikes a little more that is affixed to the back of our Pod. As usual, I'll probably repurpose a little left over ss marine hardware to fabricate the attachment point. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 12:42pm
|
Depending on how serious you are about cycling you could also consider getting folding bikes and keeping them in the TV. There are a wide range of choices available. Saves worrying about the bike rack, hitch and security for the bikes. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Jeepinator
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 1:27pm
|
I plan to install driving lights so they shine through the middle of the bike frames. I’ve not found a set that I like that has high/low beam and would allow me to shut of the primary lights.
------------- 2018 Jeep Wrangler Willys 2017 179 |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 3:20pm
|
I just saw a nice electric bike here in Medellin that is really cool. It folds up to about the size of a small spare tire. They were asking about $600 for them. It appeared to be from the USA by the stickers. It would be great for pavement, smooth dirt like in a camp ground, though I wouldn't want to take it onto any rough terrain. I'll be back at the same park where they were located next Sunday and will try to get a little more info. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 4:57pm
|
+1 to front hitches. Use them a lot, really handy for more than carrying bikes and stuff. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |