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pfidahospud said:

I'm interested in carrying just a little extra gas for the chainsaw (1-gallon container), and maybe some emergency fuel for the car.  I'm considering making a platform off of the sewer hose bumper using some 4″ square U-bolts, and maybe something like this from Blitz.  I know weight will be a concern, but I'm assuming the bumper has the capacity to hold at least a few pounds since the spare tire is mounted there already (the bumper is welded directly to the frame, fyi).  My question is has anyone on the forum ever done anything like this or have any advice?  Has anyone seen a fairly small commercially available cargo platform that's made to mount directly onto the 4″ square bumper?

Thanks!

Stephen

Hi Stephen: I found this citation in my 14RB owner's manual about weight limits for the rear bumper. So you have whatever 100 minus the weight of your spare tire and mount assembly is as extra capacity for a carrier and fuel container(s):

The rear bumper on the frame of your recreational vehicle is NOT designed

to carry over 100 pounds of weight. Installation of items exceeding 100

pounds, including bike racks, generators, cargo containers, etc. could

cause metal fatigue and weld stress. Any such failures could damage your

property and endanger vehicles following your camper during travel, which

could result in an accident. The frame is NOT designed or built to tow any

trailer.

Jim

Weights:

Spare tire mounting bracket + hardware = 12#

Spare tire = 30#.   Total 42# (give or take a little with the bathroom scale).

So it appears I've got around 58# to work with.  Given that gasoline weighs about 6 pounds per gallon, I think the idea still seems at least potentially viable.  Currently I'm thinking I'll use a Jerry Can holder like this (by measurements I think a 2-gallon container will fit) or make a wooden container that would mount on the back of the bumper with 4″ U-bolts.  No jokes about the trailer being the next Ford Pinto

Stephen

Post edited 1:29 am – January 14, 2012 by kayaknut

Kayaknut-

I've tried searching for any sort of transportation regulations, and so far I can't find anything specific to a private party transporting less than eight gallons of gasoline (potentially up to four gallons in my case).  I think it's not any different than transporting Jerry Cans on the back of a Jeep, and a lot better than an unsecured gas can inside a vehicle.  I guess the risk/liability/whatever is something that I'm willing to accept for the convenience.

Stephen