Can I Use the RockyMounts BackStage on 2021 Ram Promaster 3500 with Rear Spare Tire

Updated 08/05/2021 | Published 08/03/2021

Question:

Appreciate your advice: have a Pleasure way 2021Ram promaster 3500 based RV camper - planning on placing a Landed GearLandedgear.com spare directly on the passenger side door takes 11 inches from door to outer tire edge. The bumper ledge from door to outer edgejust about same edge as the 2 inch hitch receiver , with the hitch receiver pin hole being 1.5 inch inches towards front of vehicleis about 4 inches. Do you think I could fit the backstage 2 swing away on hitch without an extender. Does the hitch weight count towards total weight. I ask because if the 8 inch extender reduces carrying weight by 50 this could be an issue. The RAMdoes not seem to publish hitch receiver limit but does state the tow capacity is 2200 pounds and the manufacturer verbally says hitch limit is 220 pounds.... seems conservative. Other non company experts say the promaster hitch can take 500 pounds without an extender and that of course would count towards rear axle weight limits. I plan to place two 56 pound bikes on the rocky mount. attached are two pictures of the door spare mount plan. Also hoping the Rocky mount would swing wide enough for the promaster. So my choices seem to be Rocky mount without extender plus spare if it fits, rocky mount without spare to avoid an extender if extender is needed or to ignore manufacturer hitch limit of 220 as being too conservative. Thanks for any advice you might be able to give me.

asked by: Alex R

Helpful Expert Reply:

I'll start out by saying that if the manufacturer of the vehicle states a 220-lbs tongue weight limit, then that is the safe limit they've tested for the frame; there may be other items at the rear of your coach that will also put stress on this portion of the frame. You will always be limited by the lowest rated component in any hitch/vehicle/accessory combo and in this case the vehicle's frame can only handle 220-lbs of tongue weight, so what the hitch is rated for won't matter.

In order to use the RockyMounts BackStage # RKY10011 you'll need 9-1/2" from the center of the hitch pin hole to the edge of your spare tire to make sure there's not interference with the bikes. The BackStage extends out 45-5/8", so you'll want to measure from the receiver to the hinge of the van door to make sure that it will extend away from the RV enough.

If you can get a better idea of where the hitch pin hole on the hitch sits in relation to the rear door, that would be the best way to determine if this will fit.

expert reply by: Erik B