What Determines Cargo Weight Limit for Hitch Carrier Installed on RV Bumper Hitch

Published 09/26/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Ultra-Fab 2" Motor Home Trailer Hitch Receiver for 4" x 4" Bumpers

(635)

$55.32

20x60 Curt Cargo Carrier for 2" Hitches - Steel - Folding - 500 lbs

(1153)

$256.81

Erickson Re-Tractable Ratchet Straps w/ Push Button Releases - 1" x 10' - 400 lbs - Qty 2

(1224)

$26.89

CargoBuckle Cam Buckle Tie-Down Straps w/ S-Hooks - 1" x 6' - 267 lbs - Qty 4

(20)

$35.87

Question:

Regarding: RV and Camper Hitch/Ultra-Fab Products/Bumper Mount item UF35-946401 I have a 500 lb capacity cargo tray that goes into a Class III hitch. Im considering getting a bumper mount for a Starcraft Launch camper trailer with a 4inch square bumper on the rear to use for that cargo tray. How much weight can the bumper mount note above handle in the cargo tray? Is 200 lb TW referencing Tongue Weight, and does the length of the tray matter? Regarding the Starcraft camper, is the bumper capacity significantly more than the bumper mount, or could the bumper be the component that determines maximum load for the tray?

asked by: Paul H

Expert Reply:

The amount of actual cargo weight you can safely transport on a hitch cargo carrier installed in a bumper-mounted hitch is determined by the lowest-rated component. Those components consist of the RV's bumper, the hitch such as # UF35-946401 that is mounted on it, and the cargo carrier itself. The lowest-rated of the three items will determine overall capacity.

If you have a 500-lb-rated cargo carrier like Curt # C18151 and install this in the 200-lb-rated Ultra-Fab RV Hitch # UF35-946401 then the lower-rated hitch limits overall capacity to 200-lbs and this limit must include the actual empty weight of the carrier itself, which is about 70-lbs. The length of the carrier does not affect capacity in this case.

Your Starcraft Launch travel trailer's bumper may or may not have a weight rating that can be confirmed with StarCraft using the trailer's VIN. The owner documentation may include this information but I recommend confirming with the VIN. Some RV bumpers may not be rated to carry any weight.

I can give you some examples to help clarify. If the Launch's bumper were to have a weight rating of 150-lbs, then this would mean that after you deduct the 70-lb weight of the Curt carrier you would have left a remaining cargo weight capacity of 80-lbs (150 - 70 = 80). If the bumper itself were to be rated for 500-lbs then once you deduct the 70-lbs for the carrier you would have left a cargo weight capacity of 130-lbs (200 - 70 = 130) since the 200-lb-rated hitch would be the limiting component.

No matter what the ultimate weight capacity is I suggest that you use a set of straps like # EM34415 or # IMF12637 to help support and steady the cargo carrier. Straps like these can also be used to secure the cargo items inside the carrier.